Is Garganta del Diablo paved?
Peru, south-america
10.8 km
3.4 m
hard
Year-round
Peru's got some seriously epic drives, and the Ushco Canyon road, snaking through the Yauyos province near Lima, is right up there. Locals call it "Garganta del Diablo" – Devil's Throat – and trust me, it lives up to the name!
This stretch of the 24 Nacional Route is completely paved, which is a bonus, but don’t let that fool you. It’s *narrow*, like squeeze-through-the-rocks narrow. We're talking about a signed width of 3.2 meters (10.5 feet) with some rock overhangs as low as 3.4 meters (11.2 feet), so keep an eye on your vehicle’s height. Tackling this at night? Get ready for an adrenaline rush.
The most intense part, the actual Devil's Throat, clocks in at 10.8 km (6.71 miles). It's a jaw-dropping drive along the canyon floor, and the towering rock formations are incredible.
Now, about those unlit tunnels… They're a one-car-at-a-time situation. Proceed with major caution, and maybe say a little prayer you don’t meet another vehicle coming the other way. Reversing skills are a MUST. Since it is not a one-way road, head on collisions are common. Whoever has more space is responsible for backing up.
Despite the nail-biting moments, the views are unreal. You're driving through a super deep, winding canyon that's as beautiful as it is intimidating. Definitely one for the bucket list, but maybe not if you're a nervous driver!
Road Details
- Country
- Peru
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 10.8 km
- Max Elevation
- 3.4 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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