
Oswaldo Cruz Highway: 1st gear all the way down
Brazil, south-america
91 km
N/A
extreme
Year-round
Okay, adventure-seekers, let's talk about the Rodovia Oswaldo Cruz in Brazil! This isn't just any road; it's a wild 91km (56 miles) ride through the stunning Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar in São Paulo. Picture this: you're cruising from Taubaté in the Paraíba Valley to the coastal paradise of Ubatuba.
SP-125, completed in 1976, isn't for the faint of heart. Get ready for some seriously steep climbs – think first gear practically the whole way! You'll also be navigating hairpin turns that'll put your driving skills to the test. Make sure your car is in tip-top shape, especially the brakes and tires, because you'll need them! But hey, with views like this, it's totally worth it!
Where is it?
Oswaldo Cruz Highway: 1st gear all the way down is located in Brazil (south-america). Coordinates: -12.6493, -52.0599
Road Details
- Country
- Brazil
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 91 km
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- -12.6493, -52.0599
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