Driving the forbidden border road to Portezuelo de Chaxas in the Andes
Bolivia, south-america
N/A
4,494 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! If you're hunting for a seriously off-the-beaten-path experience, check out the Portezuelo de Chaxas. This wild border crossing sits way up in the Andes, clocking in at a lung-busting 4,494 meters (that's 14,744 feet!).
You'll find it straddling the line between Chile's Antofagasta Region and Bolivia's Potosí Department. Fair warning: this isn't a Sunday drive. The road is rough, rugged, and completely unpaved, so you'll need a 4x4 to even think about attempting it. Be advised, though, that the road is closed to private vehicles due to dangerous conditions. There's even a mined area on the Chilean side. Still, the scenery is absolutely epic, with stunning views that stretch for miles.
Where is it?
Driving the forbidden border road to Portezuelo de Chaxas in the Andes is located in Bolivia (south-america). Coordinates: -16.0271, -64.2029
Road Details
- Country
- Bolivia
- Continent
- south-america
- Max Elevation
- 4,494 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- -16.0271, -64.2029
Related Roads in south-america
extremePuente Mal Paso: The Historic Icon of the Escoipe Gorge
🇦🇷 Argentina
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through Northwest Argentina, Salta province to be exact, and BAM! You hit Puente Mal Paso, a seriously cool historic bridge. Think of it as the ultimate entrance to the legendary RP33, the road that winds its way up to Cuesta del Obispo and the dreamy Calchaquí Valleys. Trust me, this bridge is epic. Nestled in the Quebrada de Escoipe, this bridge is surrounded by dramatic reddish rock formations. It's located on Provincial Route 33 (RP33). While the fancy new road now swooshes right next to it, the original bridge is still standing proud, ready for its close-up. "Mal Paso" literally means "Bad Pass", and back in the day, it lived up to its name. Imagine horse-drawn carriages and mule teams trying to navigate this narrow gorge – river crossings were a nightmare, and the steep terrain made it super treacherous. These days, you won't actually drive *over* the old Puente Mal Paso when you're heading from Salta to Cachi. They built a wider road right alongside it for safety and smoother traffic. But the old bridge? Total photo op. The rugged structure against those red mountains? Insta-gold. Even though the modern road bypasses the bridge itself, the drive through the gorge is still a bit of an adventure. The road is paved, but it's narrow, with towering cliffs on one side and the Escoipe River on the other. And watch out during the summer months (December to March) – flash floods can still make "Mal Paso" live up to its reputation.
hardLaguna Ampatune
🇵🇪 Peru
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! I just discovered this insane route up to Laguna Ampatune, a stunning lake way up in the Peruvian Andes at a lung-busting 14,041 feet! You'll find it in the Quispicanchi Province. Think gravel roads, epic vistas, and seriously snowy peaks towering over 18,000 feet in the distance. This used to be part of the old Trans-Amazonian Highway before they built the new Ruta 26, so it's a bit off the beaten path. Now, this isn't a Sunday drive. This "shortcut" off Ruta 26 is only 33 miles long, but packed with 33 hairpin turns and climbs to a whopping 15,590 feet! Trust me, pace yourself on the snacks; altitude sickness is real, and you might be tempted to hurl your lunch. Plus, the road can get super muddy and slick after rain, even a 4x4 might struggle. Snowfall can shut this road down at any time, and heavy fog can make things downright treacherous. But, oh the views! Even though you're practically on the equator, you'll be cruising past year-round glaciers on mountains like Cayambe and Colque Cruz. Just be prepared for a brutal climb – the air is thin, and the slopes are steep. If you're prone to altitude sickness, be warned that it hits most folks around 8,000-9,000 feet. This road is not for the faint of heart, but the reward is out of this world!
extremeAn old mine road to the summit of Cerro Aucanquilcha
🇨🇱 Chile
# Cerro Aucanquilcha: Chile's Extreme High-Altitude Adventure Towering in the Antofagasta Region of northern Chile, Cerro Aucanquilcha is a behemoth stratovolcano sitting right on the edge of the Alto Loa National Reserve, just west of the Bolivia border. Once upon a time, this mountain held an impressive title: home to the world's highest drivable road. Today? It's a hauntingly beautiful reminder of mining ambitions at the edge of the sky. The story here is pretty wild. Back in 1913, miners started extracting sulfur from the volcano using llamas as pack animals—yes, really. Fast forward to 1935, and they'd installed a 22-kilometer aerial cable system to send buckets of sulfur down the mountainside. But the real game-changer came in 1972 when a switchbacking dirt road was completed all the way to the summit, capable of handling 20-ton trucks. For decades, this was genuinely the highest mine on Earth, sitting around 5,500 meters (18,044 feet) above sea level. Here's where things get interesting (and brutal): that road doesn't work for vehicles anymore. Since the mine closed in 1993, landslides have reclaimed significant portions, and the unpaved surface has deteriorated considerably. If you're thinking of tackling this on a bike, brace yourself. The terrain is relentless—expect to push your loaded bike roughly 80% of the way between 4,000 meters and the 5,130-meter high point. Yes, sections are technically rideable, and some hardy souls have made it to the summit, but this isn't a leisure cruise. On foot, it's more manageable if you're properly acclimatized. The old mining camp at 5,280 meters makes a solid basecamp with natural windbreaks for your tent. Just know that the winds here are absolutely merciless, and winter nights? Bone-chilling cold.
hardAbra Sotacocha
🇵🇪 Peru
Okay, adventure junkies, buckle up for Abra Sotacocha! This epic mountain pass tops out at a lung-busting 13,979 feet in the Ayacucho region of south-central Peru. You'll find it about 50 km outside of Andahuaylas, heading towards Ayacucho, on Route 3S. The good news? It's paved! The not-so-good news? This isn't your average Sunday drive. This long, challenging route will test your mettle as it winds through remote Andean landscapes, crossing multiple high passes. Be warned: the road quality can be rough, the air is thin (you'll be above 4,000m for a whopping 60km!), and the steep inclines are relentless. Plus, heavy mist is common, turning the road treacherous with low visibility. So, pick your weather wisely – this is NOT a road you want to tackle during a storm. But if you're prepared for a tough but rewarding journey, the stunning mountain views will be worth every gasp of air.