Mecoya-Mecoyita Pass

Mecoya-Mecoyita Pass

Argentina, south-america

Length

N/A

Elevation

2,373 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, adventure seekers, buckle up for the Paso de Mecoya-Mecoyita, straddling the Bolivian-Argentinian border at a lung-busting 2,373m (7,785ft)!

On the Bolivian side, you'll be tackling the RN45, while its Argentinian counterpart remains nameless. Prepare for some serious climbing, folks! The altitude is a real beast, so listen to your body – altitude sickness is no joke up here.

Connecting Mecoya in Bolivia with Ruta Provincial 5 near Santa Victoria in Argentina, this gravel track demands respect. Expect loose surfaces, especially near the edges, and be warned – rain turns it into a slippery, muddy mess. Storms can render it impassable, even for 4x4s.

But hey, the views! Imagine panoramic mountain vistas stretching as far as the eye can see. Just be aware that some sections are seriously narrow, requiring expert reversing skills if you meet oncoming traffic. And if you're afraid of heights, this might not be your cup of tea: sheer drops of hundreds of meters are common, with no guardrails to save you!

Where is it?

Mecoya-Mecoyita Pass is located in Argentina (south-america). Coordinates: -40.3660, -63.3443

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Road Details

Country
Argentina
Continent
south-america
Max Elevation
2,373 m
Difficulty
hard
Coordinates
-40.3660, -63.3443

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