Ojos del Salado is one of the highest accessible points by car on Earth

# Ojos del Salado: The World's Highest Volcano Road

Standing at a jaw-dropping 6,891 meters (22,608 feet), Ojos del Salado is the world's highest volcano and sits right on the Argentina-Chile border. It's not just impressive for its elevation—it's also one of the most accessible ultra-high peaks you can actually drive to, making it a magnet for adventure seekers and record-breakers alike.

Nestled in the Andes, roughly 600 kilometers north of Aconcagua, this massive stratovolcano connects Chile's Atacama Region with Argentina's Catamarca Province. The volcano sits just south of the Atacama Desert, creating an otherworldly landscape where snow clings to the peak only during winter months. The rest of the year? Bone-dry conditions dominate.

## A Playground for Record-Seekers

Ojos del Salado has become legendary for altitude records. In 2007, a heavily modified 1986 Suzuki Samurai driven by Chileans Gonzalo Bravo and Eduardo Canales Moya reached 6,688 meters, smashing the previous vehicle record. That modified little beast had supercharger upgrades, reinforced axles, and custom suspension—necessary equipment for such an insane climb.

Since then, the records keep coming. A Mercedes truck hit 6,675 meters, a solar-powered e-vehicle reached 6,500 meters in 2024, and motorcycles have pushed higher too. In 2015, Chilean rider Gianfranco Bianchi set the motorbike record at 6,472 meters on a Suzuki RMZ 450. Even cyclists have joined the party—Guido Kunze pedaled an astonishing 6,233 meters in 2013, covering over 342 kilometers from the Pacific coast in just over 37 hours.

## The Real Challenge

Don't let the "accessible by vehicle" part fool you—this is genuinely brutal. The terrain throws everything at you: steep climbs, massive boulders, snow, glaciers, and deep volcanic sand. Most roads don't combine all these obstacles in a single journey, but Ojos del Salado does it gleefully.

Add in hurricane-force winds, temperatures plummeting to minus 30°C (minus 22°F), and the relentless effects of extreme altitude, and you've got a recipe for serious danger. Medical help? Forget it—you're looking at a day or more for evacuation, and helicopter rescue is virtually impossible in these conditions. This is one of South America's most unforgiving roads, and it demands respect.