Road C-173

Road C-173

Chile, south-america

Length

104 km

Elevation

3 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Alright, adventure junkies, listen up! I've got a killer route for you in Chile's Atacama region: the C-173. This isn't your Sunday drive – we're talking serious altitude here, the whole track is above 3,000m!

Clocking in at 104km, this bad boy connects El Jardin (off the C13) to Ruta 31. Word to the wise: check the forecast before you go. This gravel road gets seriously loose, especially on the edges, and turns into a mud pit after rain. Trust me, you don't want to be stuck out there. Even 4x4s can struggle in bad weather, and the road can become totally impassable during and after a storm. The highest point hits 3,660m, so the views are absolutely insane! Get ready for some unforgettable scenery, just make sure you're prepared for the conditions.

Where is it?

Road C-173 is located in Chile (south-america). Coordinates: -34.9133, -70.4421

Share this road

Road Details

Country
Chile
Continent
south-america
Length
104 km
Max Elevation
3 m
Difficulty
hard
Coordinates
-34.9133, -70.4421

Related Roads in south-america

Punta Olimpica is the highest tunnel in the Americasmoderate

Punta Olimpica is the highest tunnel in the Americas

🇵🇪 Peru

Hey adventure seekers! Get ready to experience the incredible Punta Olimpica Tunnel in the Ancash region of Peru. Nestled high in the Cordillera Blanca mountains, this beauty connects the Callejón de Huaylas and Conchucos valleys. We're talking serious altitude here – 4,735m (15,535ft) above sea level! This fully paved tunnel is part of Ruta AN-107 and stretches for 1,384 meters. It's usually open year-round, but keep an eye out for occasional snow closures. Fun fact: it's named after Peru's epic football win against Austria at the 1936 Berlin Olympics! Built under crazy tough conditions, the tunnel opened in 2013 and totally changed the game. It bypassed the old Punta Olimpica Road (now a bit worse for wear with boulders and subsidence, so be careful!) and slashed travel time from a whopping 9 hours to just 2.5 hours for the 80 km distance. For years, it was the highest tunnel in the world! So, if you're up for breathtaking views and a serious adrenaline rush, add this to your bucket list!

Where is Sol de Mañana?hard

Where is Sol de Mañana?

🇧🇴 Bolivia

Alright adventure junkies, listen up! If you're heading to the Sur Lípez Province of Bolivia, you HAVE to check out Sol de Mañana! We're talking a geothermal wonderland sitting at a whopping 4,921m (16,145ft) above sea level. What is it? Think intense volcanic activity, bubbling mud pools, and geysers blasting water and steam up to 50 meters high. Seriously, it feels like you've stepped back in time to the Earth's primordial soup! Getting there is no walk in the park. You'll need a sturdy 4x4 for the roughly 225km (139 miles) of road that cuts through this crazy landscape, connecting the Chilean border to Road 701 near Villa Alota. Is it worth it? 100% YES! Imagine wandering among steaming geysers, feeling like you're on another planet. The best time to go is early morning when the light hits the rising steam just right. Word to the wise: there are no guard rails, and the ground is unstable. One wrong step and you could be in some seriously scalding water! Bundle up, too – the weather is brutal. Expect temperatures around 0°C to 5°C in summer and between -5°C to -20°C in winter. Sol de Mañana is located in the Potosí Department, deep in the southwestern part of Bolivia near the Chilean border, nestled within the Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa. It's a bit out of the way, but if you're exploring the region, this otherworldly experience is a must! Just be careful, and get ready for some epic photos!

Laguna del Inca o del Portillohard

Laguna del Inca o del Portillo

🇨🇱 Chile

Okay, picture this: you're winding your way up into the Chilean Andes, near the Argentina border, on Ruta 60. This isn't just any drive; you're headed to Laguna del Inca (or del Portillo, if you prefer), a stunning lake shimmering at a cool 9,360 feet above sea level. The road itself? Paved, but hold on tight! It's a steep climb with hairpin turns galore that'll test your driving skills. Weather is a serious factor here. We're talking potential -30°C in winter, so definitely check conditions before you go. But trust me, the views are worth it. The stark mountain scenery reflecting in the lake's surface is something you won't soon forget!

Where is Llano Chajnantor?hard

Where is Llano Chajnantor?

🇨🇱 Chile

Okay, picture this: you're in Chile, in the heart of the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on Earth. You're heading towards the Llano Chajnantor plateau, way up in the Andes Mountains. This place is seriously remote, about 40 km east of San Pedro de Atacama, and the landscape is straight out of a sci-fi movie – so much so, they've even filmed Mars scenes here! The air is thin, almost lunar. This high-altitude spot, reaching a whopping 5,042 meters (16,541 feet), is home to ALMA, the world's largest astronomical observatory. Why here? Because the extreme dryness and clear skies are perfect for peering into the universe. Now, about getting there: the unpaved road stretches for 14.3 km (8.88 miles) from Ruta 27, winding its way up to the plateau. But here's the catch – this isn't your average road trip. The altitude is no joke. If you have respiratory issues or heart problems, seriously reconsider this one. And kids under 16? They're not allowed. Plus, only ALMA-certified vehicles and drivers with a special license can make the drive. While you may not be able to drive up there yourself, the views from the area will make your jaw drop.