
The unpaved road to Abra Huarcaya
Peru, south-america
N/A
5,057 m
extreme
Year-round
Okay, adventure junkies, buckle up for Abra Huarcaya, a beast of a mountain pass tucked away in the Cotahuasi Subbasin Landscape Reserve in Peru's Arequipa Region! We're talking serious altitude here – a whopping 5,057 meters (16,591 feet) above sea level. This isn't just a high road; it's one of the highest in the entire country!
The road, officially named AR-105, is completely unpaved. Think sandy stretches and hairpin turns that'll make you grip the wheel. Keep an eye out for patches of loose gravel that can sneak up on you. Rainy days? Forget about it. Even a little drizzle can turn this route into an absolute nightmare. The unpaved bits become impassable when wet. This climb is brutal. Expect a serious lack of oxygen that'll test your lungs. And those steep inclines? Killer! This road's got a rep for unpredictable snowstorms and blizzards. Driving through that is NOT for the faint of heart! You might even spot a mine vehicle or two along the way.
Where is it?
The unpaved road to Abra Huarcaya is located in Peru (south-america). Coordinates: -10.5640, -72.3125
Road Details
- Country
- Peru
- Continent
- south-america
- Max Elevation
- 5,057 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- -10.5640, -72.3125
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