Travelling the challenging Ruta A-23
Chile, south-america
114 km
5,242 m
extreme
Year-round
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!
Where is it?
Travelling the challenging Ruta A-23 is located in Chile (south-america). Coordinates: -36.0828, -72.1790
Road Details
- Country
- Chile
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 114 km
- Max Elevation
- 5,242 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- -36.0828, -72.1790
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