Paso Cacanapunta
Peru, south-america
N/A
4,162 m
hard
Year-round
Alright, adventure junkies, listen up! Wanna tackle a beast of a pass in Peru? I'm talking about Cacanapunta Pass, chilling way up high in the Ancash Region at a staggering 13,654 feet!
This isn't your Sunday drive, folks. We're talking gravel, rocks, bumps, and a whole lotta shaking. Winter? Forget about it – impassable. This one's for the seasoned off-roaders. If you're not comfy on unpaved mountain roads, maybe grab a postcard instead.
But hold on, because the reward is HUGE! Picture this: insane, wide-open views of the wild Huayhuash mountains. Seriously breathtaking. 4x4 highly recommended, and if heights aren't your thing, maybe skip this one too. It's STEEP. And when it's wet? Muddy mayhem!
Heads up: you're climbing high, so take it easy. The air gets thin, and you'll feel it. Most people start feeling the altitude around 8,200-9,200 feet, and up here near the top, oxygen is scarce. But you know what? It's SO worth it. You'll be straddling the South American Continental Divide, with views of snow-capped peaks like Ninashancaa and Rondoy, plus the stunning Pucacocha Lake. Unforgettable!
Where is it?
Paso Cacanapunta is located in Peru (south-america). Coordinates: -8.0248, -74.5602
Road Details
- Country
- Peru
- Continent
- south-america
- Max Elevation
- 4,162 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- -8.0248, -74.5602
Related Roads in south-america
hardLaguna Llancanelo: Driving the Challenging Ruta 186
🇦🇷 Argentina
Alright, adventurers, listen up! Deep in the south of Argentina's Mendoza Province lies the otherworldly Laguna Llancanelo (Llancanelo Lake), a high-altitude, salty gem just begging to be explored! Perched at a cool 1,280 meters (that's nearly 4,200 feet!), this lake isn't just stunning; it's an ecological treasure. The gateway? Ruta Provincial 186 (RP-186), a gravel road stretching 87 kilometers (about 54 miles) from the paved RN40 (south of Malargüe) to the unpaved RP180, near the tiny village of Agua Escondida. The road surface is ripio (think gravel), and usually it's in decent shape – mostly sandy with a few bumps along the way. Stick to the 60 km/h speed limit, and you should be fine in a regular car if it's dry. But, and this is a big but, this is semi-desert country! Rain turns that gravel into a muddy, slippery mess. So, after a downpour, you'll definitely want a 4x4 to tackle those tricky sections. After a storm, this road can be impassable. And why brave this remote road? Because Laguna Llancanelo is a Ramsar Site – a wetland of global importance. This salty lake is a haven for wildlife, especially flamingos and other migrating birds. So, grab your camera, pack your binoculars, and prepare to be amazed by the unique beauty and incredible biodiversity of Laguna Llancanelo!
hardChicrin-Cerro de Pasco Road
🇵🇪 Peru
Alright, adventure junkies, buckle up for the Chicrin-Cerro de Pasco road! This high-altitude Peruvian path sits way up in the Andes, entirely above 3,500m. We're talking serious mountain vibes. This gravel road stretches for about 26 km between Chicrin (right off the 3N road) and Cerro de Pasco. Word to the wise: after it rains, this road gets tricky. You'll be facing some seriously steep climbs and navigating around 21 hairpin turns. But the views! Oh, the views! You'll be topping out at a staggering 4,349m above sea level. Get ready for some breathtaking scenery!
hardWhere is Abra de Chorrillos?
🇦🇷 Argentina
Okay, road trip enthusiasts, buckle up for Abra de Chorrillos! This high-altitude pass punches through the border between Jujuy and Salta provinces in northwest Argentina, topping out at a whopping 4,555 meters (14,944 feet)! Imagine yourself cruising along Ruta Nacional 51 (RN51), mostly on unpaved roads, but totally doable in a regular car, *if* the weather's dry. You'll be tracing the path of an old, abandoned railway for much of the way, adding to the vintage vibe. Stretching nearly 58 kilometers (36 miles) from San Antonio de los Cobres to Olacapato, this route serves up some serious scenery. Think arid landscapes, shimmering salt flats, and the kind of wide-open spaces that make you feel truly small. The weather is a bit extreme, with daytime temps varying from 14°C to 21°C (57F to 70F). Nightime temperatures in midsummer go to 6°C (43F) and in midwinter to -8°C (18F). Expect the chance of rain exclusively in the summer. Prepare for a ride that's both challenging and breathtaking!
hardDriving the challenging 365 turns of Ruta del Año in the Andes
🇦🇷 Argentina
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! If you're anywhere near the Chilean border in western Argentina, you HAVE to check out Ruta Provincial 52. Locals call it "Ruta del Año" - Route of the Year - and trust me, it lives up to the hype. Located in the Las Heras department, northwest of Mendoza Province, this bad boy is a winding, unpaved masterpiece stretching for about 94 km (58 miles) from Uspallata. Forget speeding - you'll be lucky to hit 30 km/h on this curvy, mountainous track! Think you can handle 365 turns? Most are hairpin, so buckle up if you get car sick easily! The views are insane, seriously some of the most dramatic scenery you'll find anywhere in the region. This route climbs high into the Andes, peaking at a breathtaking 2,960m (9,711ft) above sea level at Cruz de Paramillo. Word of warning: avoid this road between July and October as it can get super dicey. The road leads to Villavicencio, an abandoned resort spa nestled in a protected ecological area. Even though the spa has been closed for decades, the thermal waters still flow, and you can wander through the gardens and check out the old chapel. Definitely worth a stop!