Where is Laguna Parón?
Peru, south-america
29.7 km
1,000 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're in Peru, east of Caraz, smack-dab in Huascarán National Park, heading toward Laguna Parón, a huge, unbelievably turquoise lake nestled way up high. We're talking serious elevation here! The road? Forget smooth sailing. This 30-km (18.45-mile) stretch from Caraz is pure, unadulterated dirt.
The climb is intense, like 1788m (5866ft) intense, averaging around a 6% gradient. Think hairpin turns, and I mean *lots* of them—over 300, apparently! As you wind your way up, you're swallowed by a massive canyon. Imagine towering granite walls, some reaching a kilometer high, with crazy steep drops right beside the road. It's both stunning and a little terrifying, in the best way. But the views! Oh, the views. Keep your camera ready because the lake itself, the Cordillera Blanca peaks like Artesonraju (yep, the Paramount Pictures mountain!), Chacraraju, Pisco, and Huandoy, will blow your mind. This drive is worth every single bump and hairpin, trust me.
Road Details
- Country
- Peru
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 29.7 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,000 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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