Where Is Cerro Paranal?
Chile, south-america
8.6 km
2,635 m
hard
Year-round
Alright, adventure junkies, listen up! Let's talk about Ruta Observatorio Paranal, the road to Cerro Paranal in Chile's Antofagasta Province. This isn't your Sunday drive!
You'll find yourself smack-dab in the west-central part of the country, climbing to a whopping 2,635 meters (8,645 feet) above sea level. Why bother? Well, Cerro Paranal is home to the Paranal Observatory, a seriously futuristic-looking spot—so much so that James Bond himself filmed some scenes here!
The road itself? Buckle up for 8.6 kilometers (5.34 miles) of Ruta Observatorio Paranal, starting from the B-710. It's a steep climb, averaging a 6.58% gradient, with ramps hitting a maximum of 12%! You'll gain 566 meters in elevation, so your engine's gonna work for it. Fair warning: the very last bit is blocked by a checkpoint. Get ready for killer views as you ascend!
Road Details
- Country
- Chile
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 8.6 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,635 m
- Difficulty
- hard
Related Roads in south-america
extremeRoad 101
🇵🇪 Peru
Okay, thrill-seekers, buckle up! If you find yourself in the Pallasca province of Peru and fancy a drive on the wild side, Carretera 101 is calling your name. But fair warning: this isn't your average Sunday cruise. We're talking about a high-altitude mountain road, mostly sitting around 3,500m above sea level. Picture this: roughly 87 kilometers of a mix of gravel and asphalt, twisting and turning with hairpin curves carved right into the mountainside. The road narrows constantly, demanding a steady hand. Oh, and did I mention the dizzying drops of up to 1,200m? Seriously, don't look down if you're prone to vertigo! Some sections are so narrow that passing another car can involve a multi-kilometer reversing ballet to find a wider spot. After rain, the asphalt gets super slick, adding another layer of challenge. Keep an eye out for potholes from a past asphalting project, and be aware of security concerns in the region. Extreme caution with kidnapping and banditry occur often in the region and ongoing armed assaults with some attacks targeting tourists and convoys. But if you're brave enough to tackle Carretera 101, you'll be rewarded with absolutely stunning scenery. Just be prepared for an adventure – this road will test your skills and your nerves!
hardWhere is Ruta Nacional 25?
🇧🇴 Bolivia
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because Ruta Nacional 25 in Bolivia is a wild ride! This high-altitude beauty snakes its way across the country's western spine, south of the famous Salar de Uyuni. Think seriously epic mountain landscapes. What's cool is that RN25 connects the sleepy town of Colquechaca (the highest town in Bolivia, no less!) to the vibrant "City of Eternal Spring," Sucre. Starting near Sucre, you'll climb to a lung-busting altitude before dropping down to Colquechaca. Spanning around, this isn't your Sunday drive. Expect sections that are more like goat paths than roads, and be prepared to ford a river or two! The whole route is a rollercoaster of steep climbs, white-knuckle descents, and hairpin curves that demand your undivided attention. Seriously, think twice about tackling this one at night or in bad weather if you're not experienced. Rain can wash out sections faster than you can say "landslide!" Plus, prepare for non-stop switchbacks and solitude – traffic can be sparse. And if your passengers get carsick easily, maybe pack some ginger ale – those twists and turns are not for the faint of stomach!
moderateDriving to Punta Callan through one of the windiest roads ever built
🇵🇪 Peru
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! Punta Callán in the Ancash Region of Peru is calling your name. Perched way up in the Cordillera Negra mountains at a whopping 4,228 meters (that's 13,871 feet!), this mountain pass is an experience. You'll be cruising on Carretera 14A, a fully paved road that's famous for being seriously twisty. I'm talking thousands of turns! So, if you get carsick easily, maybe pack some ginger ale. But trust me, the views are worth it. You'll be treated to incredible panoramas of the Cordillera Blanca peaks. This epic road stretches for 83.1 km (about 51.63 miles) from Huaraz to Pariacoto, running east to west. Punta Callán marks the highest point before the road descends all the way down to sea level near Casma on the Pacific coast. Get ready for a wild ride!
extremeSumbilca-Pacaybamba Road
🇵🇪 Peru
Okay, adventure seekers, buckle up for the Sumbilca-Pacaybamba Road in the Huaral province of Peru – it's a wild one! This isn't your average Sunday drive; it's a 39 km stretch of gravel connecting Sumbilca and Pacaybamba that'll test your mettle. Picture this: hairpin curves, switchbacks galore (we're talking 100 turns!), and sheer drops of hundreds of meters with absolutely zero guardrails. Yeah, you read that right. One slip-up, and it's curtains. This route demands your full attention – no daydreaming allowed! Located high in the Andes, the scenery is breathtaking, but don't let it distract you. Starting at 1,385 meters above sea level, you'll climb nearly 2,000 meters, making for an average gradient of over 5%. This road definitely earns its fearsome reputation. It's not for the faint of heart (or those afraid of heights and landslides). Trust me; photos barely scratch the surface of how intense this road is!