Where is Jama Pass?
Argentina, south-america
160 km
4,283 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, picture this: Paso de Jama. It's this crazy-high mountain pass chilling right on the border of Chile and Argentina, clocking in at a whopping 4,283 meters (that's 14,051 feet!).
This epic route is your go-to if you're trying to get from Jujuy in Argentina to San Pedro de Atacama in Chile. Think of it as the ultimate shortcut between these two countries. Plus, it drops you super close to that tri-country point where Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina all meet.
Once you're past the border, you've still got about 160 kilometers (100 miles) to go before you hit San Pedro de Atacama, cruising through parts of the stunning Los Flamencos National Reserve. You'll probably see some big rigs too, since this pass is a major truck route linking northern Argentina and Paraguay with Chile's northern ports.
The road's been open since '91, and thankfully, it's been paved smooth since 2005. You can usually drive it year-round, but keep an eye out for snow closures. One minute you're baking in 30°C sunshine, the next you're freezing your tail off – especially at night and in winter.
Oh, and hold onto your hats – the wind can get pretty intense up there! You're in the Andes, remember? It's a pretty desolate, semi-desert landscape, and you're riding high at an average altitude of 3000 meters.
Pro tip: pack warm clothes, and don't stuff your face before you head up – altitude sickness is real!
The road is CH-27 in Chile and National Route 52 in Argentina. The highest point on the Chilean side is even higher, like 4,832m (15,853ft), about 100 km west of the border. From Jujuy, it's pretty much uphill the whole way to Jama, about 349 kilometers. After the pass, it's another 160 kilometers of smooth, downhill cruising to San Pedro de Atacama. Boom.
Road Details
- Country
- Argentina
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 160 km
- Max Elevation
- 4,283 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
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