The road with 65 hairpin turns to Christ the Redeemer of the Andes

Okay, adventure junkies, buckle up for the ride of your life! We're heading to Cristo Redentor de los Andes, a colossal 4-ton statue perched way up at 3,832m (that's 12,572ft!) straddling the border between Argentina and Chile.

This used to be the OG route linking the two countries through La Cumbre Pass, before some tunnel came along and stole its thunder in 1980. Think of it as connecting Mendoza, Argentina, with Valparaíso, Chile.

Now, the road itself? Epic. We’re talking about the scenic Paso Internacional de los Libertadores. Heads up, though – it's only open in the summer. Winter brings crazy snow and bone-chilling temps down to -30°C. Even in summer, it can randomly close because of snow or rockfalls.

This unpaved stretch of road connects Las Cuevas (Argentina) and Parada Caracoles (Chile), clocking in at 17.1km (or 10.62 miles). Don't let the distance fool you—it's a wild one! Get ready for 65 hairpin turns and some seriously steep sections, with gradients hitting 15% in places!

Budget about 50 minutes to conquer it, assuming you don't stop to soak in the insane views. It’s a challenging drive, no doubt. We’re talking curves, steep climbs, hairpin nightmares, and dramatic drop-offs, sometimes with zero guardrails! Despite all that, it's become a popular tourist route, all for that incredible statue.

And about the statue: the bronze Cristo Redentor de los Andes was erected back in 1904 to celebrate Argentina and Chile calling a truce on a border dispute. It's one of the highest monuments on the planet, and a symbol of peace.