Driving to Punta Callan through one of the windiest roads ever built
Peru, south-america
83.1 km
4,228 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! Punta Callán in the Ancash Region of Peru is calling your name. Perched way up in the Cordillera Negra mountains at a whopping 4,228 meters (that's 13,871 feet!), this mountain pass is an experience.
You'll be cruising on Carretera 14A, a fully paved road that's famous for being seriously twisty. I'm talking thousands of turns! So, if you get carsick easily, maybe pack some ginger ale. But trust me, the views are worth it. You'll be treated to incredible panoramas of the Cordillera Blanca peaks.
This epic road stretches for 83.1 km (about 51.63 miles) from Huaraz to Pariacoto, running east to west. Punta Callán marks the highest point before the road descends all the way down to sea level near Casma on the Pacific coast. Get ready for a wild ride!
Where is it?
Driving to Punta Callan through one of the windiest roads ever built is located in Peru (south-america). Coordinates: -8.3828, -75.9873
Road Details
- Country
- Peru
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 83.1 km
- Max Elevation
- 4,228 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- -8.3828, -75.9873
Related Roads in south-america
moderatePaso la Chapetona, pure adventure in the Andes
🇨🇱 Chile
Alright, thrill-seekers, buckle up for Paso la Chapetona! This high-altitude gem straddles the border between Argentina and Chile, clocking in at a lofty 3,654 meters (almost 12,000 feet!). Tucked away in the majestic Andes, this pass, also known as Paso del Azufre Norte, links Calingasta in Argentina with Chile's Coquimbo Region. Heads up: winter slams the door shut on this route – totally impassable! Now, for the nitty-gritty: We're talking a seriously unpaved road here – Ruta Lapislázuli, to be exact. Forget your sedan, a 4x4 is a must! This old mining road was built to service the Los Azules and Los Altares mines. The Chilean side is where the action is (25km of drivable road from Monte Patria), but the Argentinian side? Let’s just say it's more suited for mules than motors.
moderateWhere is Parinacota?
🇨🇱 Chile
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! Want to experience driving at a seriously high altitude? Head to Putre in the Arica and Parinacota Region, snuggled way up in the Lauca National Park. We're talking 4,400 meters (that's 14,400 feet!) above sea level, making this one of the highest drivable towns on the planet. The drive itself? Get ready for breathtaking scenery. Think snow-capped volcanoes piercing the sky, steaming hot springs bubbling away, and incredible high-altitude lakes reflecting the vastness of it all. Keep your eyes peeled for the unique plants and animals that call this place home! The road leads to Parinacota, a small village that's actually the capital of the General Lagos commune. This is more than just a drive; it's an immersion into a landscape unlike any other.
extremeCuesta del Clavillo
🇦🇷 Argentina
Okay, adventure seekers, buckle up for the Cuesta del Clavillo in Tucumán Province, Argentina! This isn't just a road; it's a wild ride carved into the mountains within the Parque Nacional Campo de los Alisos. Think Ruta Nacional 65—but forget the smooth tarmac. We're talking a narrow, dirt track that clings impossibly to the cliffside, snaking up via 14 crazy-tight hairpin turns. This 5.5km stretch throws you from 1,625m to 1,867m above sea level, packing in a 242-meter climb with some sections hitting a serious 10% gradient. Translation: it's steep! The gravel surface can be loose, especially on the edges, so stay sharp. Heads up: this route isn't for the faint of heart! Expect heavy traffic, year-round rain and fog. Landslides, anyone? Visibility can drop to zero in an instant. And those views? Stunning, but remember that in many spots, it's a sheer drop of hundreds of meters with zero guardrails. If you’re prone to motion sickness, maybe skip that extra empanada before you go! Oh, and be prepared. This track gets seriously muddy and slippery after rain, so even a 4x4 might struggle. During and after a storm, it can be totally impassable. But, for the skilled and the brave, Cuesta del Clavillo offers an unforgettable, adrenaline-pumping experience.
moderateDriving the international San Francisco Pass in the Andes
🇦🇷 Argentina
Okay, buckle up, adventurers! We're heading to Paso de San Francisco, a seriously epic international mountain pass straddling the Argentina-Chile border. We're talking sky-high – a whopping 15,616 feet above sea level! This beauty connects Argentina's Catamarca province with Chile's Atacama Region, carving right through the heart of the Andes. Think volcanoes, towering peaks, shimmering salt flats, and stunning lagoons as your backdrop. On the Argentina side, you'll be cruising on Ruta 60, a fully paved road stretching 125 miles from Fiambala. Get ready for some steep climbs and twisty turns as you wind your way up. Chile's side, Ruta CH-31, is also paved as of 2019! This stretch clocks in at about 174 miles from Copiapó. Along the way, you'll hug the Maricunga salt flat in Nevado Tres Cruces National Park and pass the unreal Laguna Verde.