
Road D-447
Chile, south-america
41 km
N/A
moderate
Year-round
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! If you're cruising through Chile's Coquimbo Region, specifically Elqui Province, you HAVE to check out Carretera D-447. This isn't your typical paved paradise – think gravel roads stretching for 41 kilometers. A high-clearance 2WD vehicle should be fine if you take it slow and steady, especially when the road's dry.
Keep in mind this track can turn into a mudslide after it rains. Seriously, it can get super slippery. After a big storm, you might not even be able to pass through, even with a 4x4. This route links the town of Andacollo with the D-457 road. Overall, it’s a beautiful drive!
Where is it?
Road D-447 is located in Chile (south-america). Coordinates: -37.0698, -66.8441
Road Details
- Country
- Chile
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 41 km
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- -37.0698, -66.8441
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