
Oquepuño Pass is one of the highest paved roads of South America
Peru, south-america
44 km
4,883 m
hard
Year-round
Alright, adventure junkies, buckle up for Abra Oquepuño! This baby clocks in at a whopping 4,883 meters (that's 16,020 feet!) above sea level, nestled high in the Carabaya province of Peru. Word on the street is, it’s one of the highest paved roads you’ll find in South America.
You'll find this beast in the Puno region, way down south. The whole route is paved and goes by the name Ruta Nacional PE-34B (aka Carretera Interoceanica).
Get ready for a 44km (27.34-mile) stretch of road, winding its way from Macusani to Puerto Arturo.
Keep in mind you're playing in the big leagues here! Oxygen is thin, so take it easy and watch out for altitude sickness. At the very top, you’ll find a cute little chapel called Santísima Cruz. Also, this road doesn’t mess around: we’re talking steep climbs, hitting 11% grades in places, and hairpin turns galore. Ten of them, to be exact.
Where is it?
Oquepuño Pass is one of the highest paved roads of South America is located in Peru (south-america). Coordinates: -9.2566, -75.9873
Road Details
- Country
- Peru
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 44 km
- Max Elevation
- 4,883 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- -9.2566, -75.9873
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