The road to San José de Parac is said to be the scary of scaries
Peru, south-america
11.2 km
3,815 m
hard
Year-round
# San José de Parac: Peru's Most Terrifying Mountain Drive
Nestled high in the Andes at a breathtaking 3,815 meters (12,516 feet), the remote mountain town of San José de Parac in Huarochirí Province will test your nerves like nothing else. And getting there? That's half the adventure—if you can call it that.
The Camino a San José de Parac is genuinely one of Peru's scariest roads, and for good reason. This 11.2-kilometer (6.95-mile) cliff-hugging route climbs 604 meters with an average gradient of 5.39%, but the numbers don't do it justice. Picture hairpin turns so tight you literally can't make them in one go—you'll need to reverse and try again. The road is unpaved, narrow enough that two cars can't pass each other, and bordered by hundreds of meters of sheer drop. Guardrails? Don't count on it.
The scenery is genuinely surreal as the road weaves through rocky terrain high above the void, but the views come with a heavy dose of adrenaline. While passenger vehicles can technically make it through, this route absolutely isn't for beginners, nervous drivers, or anyone who breaks into a cold sweat at heights. One wrong move isn't just inconvenient—it's potentially catastrophic.
Starting from San Mateo, this is a drive that demands respect, skill, and nerves of steel. It's navigable, sure, but it's definitely not for the faint of heart.
Where is it?
The road to San José de Parac is said to be the scary of scaries is located in Peru (south-america). Coordinates: -7.5310, -72.9186
Road Details
- Country
- Peru
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 11.2 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,815 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- -7.5310, -72.9186
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