Where is La Cumbre Choroni?

Where is La Cumbre Choroni?

Venezuela, south-america

Length

50 km

Elevation

1,611 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, picture this: you're in Venezuela, about to tackle La Cumbre Choroni, a wild ride up to 1,611 meters (5,285 feet)! This mountain pass snakes through Aragua state, right in the heart of Henri Pittier National Park.

The road, Carretera Maracay (also known as Via Choroni or Carretera Local 6), is paved—though with some concrete sections to keep things interesting. It's a throwback, originally built way back in the 1920s, but fully paved only by 1990.

Get ready for 50 kilometers (32 miles) of twisty, narrow mountain road. You'll start in Maracay, the lively capital of Aragua, and wind your way north down to Puerto Colombia, one of Venezuela's best Caribbean beach getaways.

Now, don't let the beautiful scenery fool you. This road is not for the faint of heart. Expect cracks in the road, random obstacles, and be on alert for floods and landslides, especially after rain. Seriously, it’s narrow, windy, and packed with hairpin turns that’ll test your driving skills. You'll be navigating cloud forests one minute and descending towards the sea the next. Even taxis bomb around blind corners like they’re auditioning for a stunt driving movie. Buckle up and keep your eyes on the road!

Share this road

Road Details

Country
Venezuela
Continent
south-america
Length
50 km
Max Elevation
1,611 m
Difficulty
hard

Related Roads in south-america

Palambla-Huancabamba Roadextreme

Palambla-Huancabamba Road

🇵🇪 Peru

Okay, picture this: You're deep in the northern Peruvian Andes, practically on the border with Ecuador, tackling the Pista Palambla-Huancabamba. This 65.5 km stretch of gravel road, part of Route 2, connects the tiny towns of Palambla and Huancabamba, nestled in the province of Huancabamba. And wow, what a ride! We're talking serious elevation here, climbing to a dizzying 3,240 meters. The scenery is incredible, classic Piuran Sierra vibes, with those healing energy vortices the area is known for - sacred lagoons and ancient ruins dotting the hills. But hold on tight, because this road is not messing around. Think nail-bitingly narrow sections where passing another vehicle means someone's doing a *lot* of reversing. We're talking kilometers, people! And did I mention the unprotected drops of hundreds of meters? Yeah, you really don't want to misjudge a turn. Plus, this area gets foggy, and buses and trucks use this road, so visibility can be a challenge. If it's been raining, forget about it, the road turns into a muddy, slippery mess that even a 4x4 might struggle with. Seriously, ordinary cars need not apply, especially during the wet season. This road has seen more than its fair share of accidents and is absolutely not for the faint of heart or those prone to vertigo. But if you're an experienced driver looking for an unforgettable adventure, this could be your ultimate test.

Abra de Zamora: enjoy a road among the cloudsmoderate

Abra de Zamora: enjoy a road among the clouds

🇪🇨 Ecuador

Okay, Ecuador road trippers, listen up! You HAVE to experience Abra de Zamora, a sky-high mountain pass straddling the Zamora-Chinchipe and Loja provinces in southern Ecuador. We're talking about a dizzying 2,802 meters (that's 9,192 feet!) above sea level. The good news? The entire Ruta Panamericana (E45 and E50) route is paved and in great shape. This scenic stretch is nearly 60 kilometers (37 miles) long, winding from Loja in the west to Zamora in the east. Be prepared for some serious climbing! The ascent from Loja alone stretches over 14 kilometers, with a 757-meter gain in altitude. That's an average gradient of over 5% – get ready for those views, though! Keep in mind that the Troncal Amazonica is the easternmost main road in Ecuador, so be prepared for some remote, unforgettable scenery! This drive truly is one for the books!

Is the Road to Abra Culipampa Unpaved?moderate

Is the Road to Abra Culipampa Unpaved?

🇵🇪 Peru

Alright, adventure seekers, listen up! I've got a killer road for you in the Apurímac region of Peru: Abra Culipampa. This bad boy clocks in at a whopping 4,834m (15,859ft) above sea level! Heads up: forget the smooth asphalt. This is a 98km (61 miles) dirt road adventure from Antabamba to the Arequipa border. Some parts are decent, others are sandy, so you'll want a high-clearance vehicle for this one. It's Carretera 111, a mining road, meaning you'll be sharing the road with trucks. But hey, the views are worth it! Think stunning lakes and majestic volcanoes. Just keep your eyes peeled for those mining trucks, and get ready for an unforgettable ride.

Where is Carirriñe Pass?extreme

Where is Carirriñe Pass?

🇦🇷 Argentina

Paso Carirriñe, nestled high in the Andes at 1,150m (3,772ft), marks the border between Chile and Argentina. It's one of those lesser-known routes that's absolutely bursting with beauty! This pass links the Los Ríos region of Chile with the stunning Patagonian landscapes of Argentina. The adventure stretches for 133 km (82.64 miles), from the Chilean town of Coñaripe (right on Lake Calafquén) to San Martín de los Andes in Argentina. Expect seriously amazing scenery! Think hot springs, rivers of solidified lava, and all sorts of evidence of volcanic activity. Heads up: the pass is usually open from November 15th during the summer months, from 8 am to 8 pm. Snow, landslides, and road work can close it for much of the year, though. On the Chilean side (Ruta CH-201), the road's mostly paved but pretty narrow. The final 15km are gravel, but keep an eye out, it might be paved soon. Once you cross into Argentina (Ruta Provincial 62) get ready for a bumpy ride! It's a narrow, unpaved forest road and hasn't been maintained in a while. It's doable, but maybe not in your average sedan. Weather's a big factor here too, especially in winter. Locals with 4x4s use it often, though!