
The Ultimate Road Trip To Abra de la Cruz in Jujuy
Argentina, south-america
50.4 km
4,556 m
extreme
Year-round
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! If you're heading to the extreme northwest of Argentina, you HAVE to check out Abra de la Cruz. This beast of a mountain pass sits way up high in Jujuy province, clocking in at a whopping 4,556 meters (that's nearly 15,000 feet!). Seriously, it's one of the highest roads you'll find in the country.
The road, officially Ruta Provincial 15, stretches for about 50 km (31 miles) between Rodeo Colorado (Salta Province) and Casillas (Jujuy Province), and let me tell you, it's an experience. Forget smooth asphalt; this is strictly unpaved territory. You'll need a high-clearance vehicle, and after a bit of rain, you might even want to think about 4x4. Expect endless hairpin turns, crazy steep climbs, and views that will blow your mind. Just take it slow and soak it all in!
Where is it?
The Ultimate Road Trip To Abra de la Cruz in Jujuy is located in Argentina (south-america). Coordinates: -38.0868, -64.1444
Road Details
- Country
- Argentina
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 50.4 km
- Max Elevation
- 4,556 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- -38.0868, -64.1444
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