Cocachacra-Santiago de Tuna Road
Peru, south-america
19.9 km
1.426 m
extreme
Year-round
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! If you're headed to the Huarochirí province in Peru and you're craving a serious adrenaline rush, the Cocachacra-Santiago de Tuna road is calling your name. This isn't your Sunday drive; it's a true test of skill and nerve.
Connecting the villages of Cocachacra and Santiago de Tuna, this roughly 20-kilometer stretch of gravel is narrow. Think one-car-at-a-time narrow. And did I mention the sheer drops of hundreds of meters? Yeah, those are there, and they're totally unprotected.
Nestled in the Andes, the views are stunning, assuming you can peel your eyes off the road long enough to enjoy them. Expect over 20 hairpin turns on a seriously steep climb. We're talking about an elevation gain of nearly 1,500 meters from Cocachacra. Vertigo sufferers, beware! Landslides are a possibility, and one wrong move could send you tumbling. This isn't for the faint of heart (or lungs, or legs!). Trust me, this road is an experience, and photos just don't capture the full intensity of it.
Where is it?
Cocachacra-Santiago de Tuna Road is located in Peru (south-america). Coordinates: -11.7024, -73.1563
Road Details
- Country
- Peru
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 19.9 km
- Max Elevation
- 1.426 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- -11.7024, -73.1563
Related Roads in south-america
extremeDriving the road to Katantika Pass in La Paz is for brave drivers only
🇧🇴 Bolivia
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Paso Katantika, aka Paso de Keansani, is calling your name! This Bolivian bad boy tops out at a staggering 4,717m (15,475ft) in the Franz Tamayo Province. We're talking La Paz Department, way up in the northwest corner of the country, practically winking at Peru inside the Ulla Ulla National Fauna Reserve. Nestled high in the Apolobamba range, this 19km (12-mile) stretch from Pelechuco to Hilo Hilo is strictly unpaved, seriously challenging, and weaves its way through abandoned mines. Forget your sedan; a 4x4 is a MUST. And leave the oversized vehicles at home – things get tight. Speaking of tight, if you have a fear of heights, this isn't your road. Think narrow ledges and unprotected drops of around 600 meters, especially around those summit hairpin turns. Locals often prefer to walk it – that tells you something! Oh, and after the snow melts, be prepared to ford some seriously rushing waterfalls. Respect the water's power! But hey, for views and bragging rights, it's an absolute winner.
moderateWhere Is Abra Arcata?
🇵🇪 Peru
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! I just found the ultimate off-the-beaten-path experience in the Arequipa region of Peru: Abra Arcata. At a staggering 16,735 feet above sea level, this pass is one of the highest roads in the whole country! You'll find it snaking through the Cotahuasi Subbasin Landscape Reserve in the southwestern part of Peru. The entire road is unpaved, taking you past the Arcata gold and silver mine at about 15,419 feet. The climb is pretty intense until you hit the mine, but after that, it mellows out into a gentler, seriously gorgeous ascent to the summit. Expect some seriously rocky sections, water crossings, and tight switchbacks, but don't worry, the surface is generally pretty decent, and the gradients won't kill you. Just be warned that the road does cut through a mine at one point—how wild is that?! The whole route is a great experience that plunges you into total isolation before beginning its descent into the valley.
hardEl Angosto
🇦🇷 Argentina
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! I just discovered the coolest, most challenging route in the Jujuy province of Argentina: El Angosto! This isn't your average Sunday drive. Picture this: you start in Santa Catalina, cruising along a decent gravel road that leads you straight into the mountains. El Angosto itself is perched way up high at 3,581 meters (that's 11,748 feet!). But that's not all, folks! The road then just keeps climbing, pushing you up to an unnamed mountain pass at a lung-busting 4,180 meters! Seriously, the air gets THIN. Be prepared for a test of your endurance, and maybe pack some altitude sickness remedies. The gravel surface can be loose, especially near the edges, so stay alert. And if it's been raining? Forget about it! This track turns into a muddy, slippery mess that even 4x4 vehicles might struggle with. Seriously, if the weather looks bad, just don't go. But if you time it right? The views are supposed to be incredible. This is an old mining road near the Tuzgle Volcano in the Andes, and well worth the challenge, if you are prepared!
extremeThe Road to Salinas Lake is One of the Toughest Tracks in the World
🇵🇪 Peru
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Deep in the Arequipa Region of Peru, nestled way, way up in the Andes, lies the Laguna de Salinas – a shimmering salt lake sitting at a staggering 14,222 feet. Getting there? Buckle up, buttercup! We're talking Ruta 34C, a 40-mile dirt track that’ll test your nerve and your vehicle's suspension. This isn’t your Sunday drive. Think hairpin turns galore, super narrow stretches (sometimes only wide enough for ONE car!), and seriously exposed drop-offs – hundreds of feet down – with zero guardrails to save you. Oh, and did I mention the tunnels? Starting near Arequipa, one of Peru’s biggest cities, give yourself at least two hours to conquer this beast of a road, and that's without stopping to admire the killer views (if you can bear to take your eyes off the road, that is!). Confidence in your 4x4 and your driving skills is an absolute must. This one’s for the thrill-seekers!