Sico Pass is a scenic border pass in the Andes

Sico Pass is a scenic border pass in the Andes

Argentina, south-america

Length

337 km

Elevation

4,092 m

Difficulty

extreme

Best Season

Year-round

Get ready for an epic border crossing! Paso de Sico sits way up high in the Andes, straddling Chile and Argentina at a staggering 13,425 feet above sea level. This isn't your average Sunday drive.

We're talking a 209-mile trek across a super arid, high-altitude plateau, connecting San Pedro de Atacama in Chile with San Antonio de los Cobres in Argentina.

The Chilean side, Route 23, is smooth sailing thanks to recent paving. But Argentina's Route 51? Let's just say it's an unpaved adventure, though there's talk of changing that!

Keep an eye on the weather. Summer highs hit a mild 23 degrees Celsius, but winter plunges to a frigid -12. It's cold, dry, and can get seriously windy up there. But with views like this, it's a trip you won't soon forget! The pass is open year round.

Where is it?

Sico Pass is a scenic border pass in the Andes is located in Argentina (south-america). Coordinates: -38.9125, -62.6007

Share this road

Road Details

Country
Argentina
Continent
south-america
Length
337 km
Max Elevation
4,092 m
Difficulty
extreme
Coordinates
-38.9125, -62.6007

Related Roads in south-america

Travelling the challenging Ruta A-23extreme

Travelling the challenging Ruta A-23

🇨🇱 Chile

Get ready for the ride of your life on Ruta A-23 in the remote northern reaches of Chile! This isn't your average Sunday drive. Picture 114km (70 miles) of unpaved adventure that will take you over 6 hours to conquer. While technically a 2wd road (weather permitting!), you'll be navigating everything from smooth surfaces to teeth-rattling washboards. Starting near Putre at a lofty 3,500 meters, the climb is brutal. Expect your lungs to burn in the thin air as you hug the Tapaca Volcano, eventually reaching a staggering 5,242 meters above sea level. Snowfall can shut things down in a heartbeat, and heavy mist can make things seriously sketchy. The gravel and sand can turn treacherous and muddy after rain, so keep an eye on the forecast. Speaking of isolation, expect to see more vicuñas and alpacas than people after you leave Putre. The road ends in Visviri, near the Bolivian border. Be warned: this route earns its reputation for danger! Unpredictable snowstorms, avalanches, and landslides can strike without warning. Patches of ice are common, so only tackle this adventure in good weather. But if you're up for a challenge, the scenery is absolutely breathtaking!

Driving the challenging 365 turns of Ruta del Año in the Andeshard

Driving 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!

A paved road to Laguna Miscantimoderate

A paved road to Laguna Miscanti

🇨🇱 Chile

Okay, adventure awaits in the Chilean altiplano! We're heading to Laguna Miscanti, a stunning mountain lake chilling way up at 4,120 meters (that's 13,517 feet for you imperial system folks!). The road there? Newly paved, which is a bonus. But don't think it's a cakewalk. This climb is a real lung-buster, thanks to the seriously thin air. Prepare to feel the burn, and maybe a bit of altitude sickness – most people start feeling it way before you even get there! The views are incredible, though. It's one of those drives where you'll be stopping every five minutes to snap photos, even if you’re gasping for breath.

Where Is Cerro Paranal?hard

Where Is Cerro Paranal?

🇨🇱 Chile

Alright, adventure junkies, listen up! Let's talk about Ruta Observatorio Paranal, the road to Cerro Paranal in Chile's Antofagasta Province. This isn't your Sunday drive! You'll find yourself smack-dab in the west-central part of the country, climbing to a whopping 2,635 meters (8,645 feet) above sea level. Why bother? Well, Cerro Paranal is home to the Paranal Observatory, a seriously futuristic-looking spot—so much so that James Bond himself filmed some scenes here! The road itself? Buckle up for 8.6 kilometers (5.34 miles) of Ruta Observatorio Paranal, starting from the B-710. It's a steep climb, averaging a 6.58% gradient, with ramps hitting a maximum of 12%! You'll gain 566 meters in elevation, so your engine's gonna work for it. Fair warning: the very last bit is blocked by a checkpoint. Get ready for killer views as you ascend!