Where is Pasamayo Serpentine?
Peru, south-america
22.6 km
N/A
extreme
Year-round
Okay, thrill-seekers, buckle up for Pasamayo Serpentín, a coastal road in Peru's Lima Province that's not for the faint of heart! This notorious stretch of highway winds between the districts of Aucallama and Ancón, hugging the cliffs between Huaral and Lima.
Locals call it "Curva del Diablo," or the Devil's Curve, and trust me, it's earned the name. Imagine driving 22.6 km (14 miles) with zero safety fences, just a sheer drop of over 100 meters straight into the Pacific. Oh, and did I mention the dense fog that rolls in, especially between April and December, mixing with the constant humidity to create super-slippery conditions? Add in winds whipping sand across the pavement, and you've got a recipe for pure adrenaline!
Originally carved out in 1940 from an old railway line dating back to the 1870s, this paved road (part of Carretera Nacional 001B) was meant for heavy vehicles. A new road, Ruta nacional PE-1, now bypasses it, but heavy traffic still braves the original route.
The scenery is stunning – you're wedged between the ocean and the mountains – but keep your eyes on the road! Sadly, Pasamayo has a reputation for fatalities. It's especially treacherous at night, with low visibility, high humidity and slippery asphalt as it follows 52 endless turns. It's so infamous that it inspired a song, "Pasamayo Maldito," by the Peruvian rock group Nosequien y Los Nosecuantos. Definitely a road to approach with respect and caution!
Road Details
- Country
- Peru
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 22.6 km
- Difficulty
- extreme
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