Where is Pircas Negras Pass?
Argentina, south-america
40 km
4,175 m
hard
Year-round
Alright, adventure junkies, buckle up for the Paso de Pircas Negras – the Black Stone Walls Pass! This insane mountain pass straddles the Argentina-Chile border, clocking in at a lung-busting 4,175m (13,697ft).
Where do you find this beast? Deep in the Andes, connecting the Atacama Region of Chile with Argentina's La Rioja province. Trust me, the views alone are worth the trip. People come from all over to soak in the wild scenery.
Wanna drive it? You'll be cruising along Ruta Nacional Nº 76 (in Argentina) and Carretera C359 (in Chile). Word of warning: most of it's unpaved, and gets super skinny in places. You'll need a 4x4, no question. Only about 40km around the highest point, between the border post and Laguna Brava, is actually paved.
How long is this epic journey? We're talking 427 km (265 miles) of seriously remote road. You'll be heading from Copiapó, Chile, all the way to Villa Unión, Argentina.
When can you go? Usually it's open from November 1st to April 30th, 9am to 6pm...weather permitting! Snow can shut it down fast. We're talking potentially over 2 meters of snow at the top in winter!
Road Details
- Country
- Argentina
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 40 km
- Max Elevation
- 4,175 m
- Difficulty
- hard
Related Roads in south-america
extremeRoad 38
🇵🇪 Peru
Okay, adventure junkies, buckle up for Carretera 38 in Peru! This wild ride snakes through the Andes, straddling the Tacna and Puno regions near the Bolivian border. We're talking serious altitude here – you'll be cruising entirely above 3,200m! Forget smooth asphalt, this 74km stretch is a mix of gravel and sand, and when it rains? Impassable. No guardrails to be found, just jaw-dropping drops as you hug the mountainside inside the Vilacota Maure Regional Conservation Area. You'll connect the town of Tarata (3,120m) to Challapalca (4,277m). Speaking of Challapalca, this route is the main artery to its infamous prison, known for its harsh conditions. But the real challenge is the road itself: oxygen is thin, and the steepness is relentless. Prepare for altitude sickness! And those hairpin turns? Over 50 of them! This whole area is known as the "Siberia of Peru" for a reason: it is wild, desolate, and incredibly beautiful.
easyRuta de los 7 Lagos, an iconic drive in Patagonia
🇦🇷 Argentina
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through northwest Patagonia in northern Argentina, wind in your hair (maybe!), on the legendary Ruta de los 7 Lagos – the Seven Lakes Route! This baby is paved from start to finish, winding you through some of the most breathtaking landscapes you've ever seen. Think crystal-clear, deep-blue lakes reflecting snow-capped Andes mountains, lush forests, and cascading waterfalls. You'll be driving through Lanín and Nahuel Huapi National Parks, so keep your eyes peeled for incredible wildlife. The road gets its name from the seven stunning lakes it connects: Machónico, Escondido, Correntoso, Espejo, Lácar, Falkner, and Villarino. The whole shebang is about 107km (66 miles) between Villa La Angostura and San Martin de los Andes. I'd say dedicate a full day to really soak it all in, with plenty of stops for photos and maybe a picnic by one of those gorgeous lakes. Just a heads-up: you might share the road with some semi-trailer trucks, so stay alert and enjoy the ride! Trust me, this is one road trip you won't forget.
hardWhen was the road to Abra del Acay built?
🇦🇷 Argentina
Dude, you HAVE to check out Abra del Acay in Argentina! Seriously, it's a mountain pass sitting way up high at 4,956m (16,259ft) in Salta Province. Word is, it's the highest national highway pass in the Americas. Picture this: a 133 km (83 mile) stretch of unpaved road, winding from Payogasta to San Antonio de los Cobres. We're talking about a solid 3-hour drive if you don't stop, but trust me, you'll WANT to stop. This part of Argentina's famous Route 40 was built in the 60s (inaugurated in 1960 to be exact), so you KNOW it's got some stories. But hold up – this isn't your average Sunday drive. The road is narrow gravel, and you need ALL your focus. Expect super tight bends, crazy drop-offs, and winds that'll try to blow you off course. Plus, zero cell service out there, so pack supplies! Is it worth it? A thousand times yes! The views are absolutely unreal. Just be prepared for a wild ride and maybe even some snow and ice in winter. It's a tough road, but honestly, the scenery is so worth the challenge.
extremeCordón de Inacaliri: Driving the 5,395m mining track on the Chile-Bolivia border
🇨🇱 Chile
Buckle up for Cordón de Inacaliri, a mind-blowing volcano straddling the Chile-Bolivia border! We're talking serious altitude here – topping out at a dizzying 5,395m (17,700ft)! This isn't your average Sunday drive. Originally hacked out for mining, it slices through one of Earth's harshest landscapes. You'll be flirting with both the Bolivian province of Nor Lípez and Chile's Antofagasta Region. The adventure kicks off near Inacaliri, but forget precise GPS – the relentless Andean winds and ever-shifting scree mean the path is constantly morphing. This is raw, untamed territory where the road can get seriously "tippy" and bumpy, demanding a driver laser-focused on navigating every obstacle. Forget smooth asphalt, this is a gnarly mix of gravel and unforgiving rock. Built for tough mining equipment, not comfort, the surface is in constant flux, thanks to relentless erosion. A 4x4 isn't just recommended, it's your lifeline. This climb demands nerves of steel, as the track clings to the volcano's slopes with zero guardrails. Always scout ahead – at this altitude, one wrong move – getting high-centered or losing traction on a tricky patch – can have major consequences. The real kicker? The crippling lack of oxygen. At the summit, you're breathing roughly 40% less than at sea level, testing both your body and your engine's combustion. Altitude sickness hits most people hard above 2,500m, but up here at 5,395m, the risk of severe *soroche* (altitude sickness) is extreme. Even simple movements become a slog, and your heart rate will skyrocket. People with respiratory or heart issues and babies should absolutely skip this one. Driving demands razor-sharp focus, even when your brain feels like it's wading through molasses. And a word on the weather: winter isn't messing around in the Central Andes. Your window of opportunity is slim – maybe mid-summer, if you're lucky. Even then, expect rapid shifts in weather, with snow possible at any time. High winds are a constant companion, and winter temperatures can plunge way below -20°C. Ice and snow can suddenly turn the rocky surface into a treacherous skating rink. Pack extra fuel, oxygen, and all the cold-weather survival gear you can fit. Trust me, you'll need it.