Road 38

Road 38

Peru, south-america

Length

74 km

Elevation

3.2 m

Difficulty

extreme

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, adventure junkies, buckle up for Carretera 38 in Peru! This wild ride snakes through the Andes, straddling the Tacna and Puno regions near the Bolivian border. We're talking serious altitude here – you'll be cruising entirely above 3,200m!

Forget smooth asphalt, this 74km stretch is a mix of gravel and sand, and when it rains? Impassable. No guardrails to be found, just jaw-dropping drops as you hug the mountainside inside the Vilacota Maure Regional Conservation Area. You'll connect the town of Tarata (3,120m) to Challapalca (4,277m).

Speaking of Challapalca, this route is the main artery to its infamous prison, known for its harsh conditions. But the real challenge is the road itself: oxygen is thin, and the steepness is relentless. Prepare for altitude sickness! And those hairpin turns? Over 50 of them! This whole area is known as the "Siberia of Peru" for a reason: it is wild, desolate, and incredibly beautiful.

Where is it?

Road 38 is located in Peru (south-america). Coordinates: -9.8370, -75.8253

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Road Details

Country
Peru
Continent
south-america
Length
74 km
Max Elevation
3.2 m
Difficulty
extreme
Coordinates
-9.8370, -75.8253

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