
Paso Cacanapunta
Peru, south-america
N/A
4,162 m
hard
Year-round
Alright, adventure junkies, listen up! Wanna tackle a beast of a pass in Peru? I'm talking about Cacanapunta Pass, chilling way up high in the Ancash Region at a staggering 13,654 feet!
This isn't your Sunday drive, folks. We're talking gravel, rocks, bumps, and a whole lotta shaking. Winter? Forget about it – impassable. This one's for the seasoned off-roaders. If you're not comfy on unpaved mountain roads, maybe grab a postcard instead.
But hold on, because the reward is HUGE! Picture this: insane, wide-open views of the wild Huayhuash mountains. Seriously breathtaking. 4x4 highly recommended, and if heights aren't your thing, maybe skip this one too. It's STEEP. And when it's wet? Muddy mayhem!
Heads up: you're climbing high, so take it easy. The air gets thin, and you'll feel it. Most people start feeling the altitude around 8,200-9,200 feet, and up here near the top, oxygen is scarce. But you know what? It's SO worth it. You'll be straddling the South American Continental Divide, with views of snow-capped peaks like Ninashancaa and Rondoy, plus the stunning Pucacocha Lake. Unforgettable!
Where is it?
Paso Cacanapunta is located in Peru (south-america). Coordinates: -8.0248, -74.5602
Road Details
- Country
- Peru
- Continent
- south-america
- Max Elevation
- 4,162 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- -8.0248, -74.5602
Related Roads in south-america
hardWhere is San Francisco Pass?
🇦🇷 Argentina
Okay, adventure junkies, buckle up for the Paso de San Francisco! This high-altitude gem straddles the border between Argentina and Chile, clocking in at a breathtaking 4,760m (15,616ft). We're talking serious altitude here! Nestled deep in the Andes, it connects Argentina's Catamarca province with Chile's Atacama Region, winding through a landscape of towering volcanoes, jagged peaks, shimmering salt flats, and serene lagoons. The Argentinian side (Route N 60) is a fully paved 201 km (125 miles) run from Fiambala, a winding climb that'll test your driving skills. Over in Chile, Route CH-31 offers a smooth 280 km (174 miles) paved journey from Copiapó, taking you past the stunning Maricunga salt flat in Nevado Tres Cruces National Park and the otherworldly Laguna Verde. Keep your eyes peeled – the scenery is absolutely epic!
extremeAlto de Tapacocha
🇵🇪 Peru
Okay, thrill-seekers, buckle up for Alto de Tapacocha, a Peruvian peak soaring to 15,524 feet! You'll find this bad boy in the Recuay province. The road to the top? Gravel, baby! But don't think it's gonna be a leisurely cruise. This climb is seriously steep – think up to an 18% grade. And pro tip: skip it if the weather's looking dicey. Even in summer, ice and snow can be a real problem, so keep your wits about you. Winter snowfalls can shut it down completely. Heads up – the altitude is NO joke. We're talking seriously thin air. If you've got any heart or breathing issues, maybe sit this one out. Most people start feeling altitude sickness way lower, around 8,000-9,000 feet. Up here, there’s about 40% less oxygen than at sea level, so breathing gets tough, your heart races, and even walking feels like a workout. Altitude sickness can hit anyone, so be prepared. Oh, and your engine might struggle with the lack of oxygen too! Definitely bring a 4x4. Things get muddy after it rains. The high elevation, the risk of altitude sickness, the crazy steepness, and how remote it is all combine to make this a tough trip. The views, though? Totally worth the challenge.
hardRuta 23 CH, a 5 stars road in the Andes
🇨🇱 Chile
Okay, picture this: Ruta 23 in Chile. You're cruising across a super dry, high-altitude plateau in the Andes, right in northern Chile. It's seriously stunning! This road trip clocks in at about 304 kilometers (that's 188 miles for my American friends), kicking off in Calama, a city chilling on the Loa River in the Antofagasta region, and then taking you all the way to the Argentinian border at Paso de Sico. Word of warning, though: this is mountain country, so you're heading way up! The air gets thin, so take it easy. And the weather? Intense! Think mild 23°C in summer, but brace yourself for a freezing -12°C in winter. It's usually cold and dry up there. The good news is the road was totally paved in 2018! The highest point is Abra El Laco, a mountain pass sitting pretty at 4,569 meters (or a whopping 14,990 feet) above sea level. Get ready for views that'll blow your mind!
extremeSumbilca-Pacaybamba Road
🇵🇪 Peru
Okay, adventure seekers, buckle up for the Sumbilca-Pacaybamba Road in the Huaral province of Peru – it's a wild one! This isn't your average Sunday drive; it's a 39 km stretch of gravel connecting Sumbilca and Pacaybamba that'll test your mettle. Picture this: hairpin curves, switchbacks galore (we're talking 100 turns!), and sheer drops of hundreds of meters with absolutely zero guardrails. Yeah, you read that right. One slip-up, and it's curtains. This route demands your full attention – no daydreaming allowed! Located high in the Andes, the scenery is breathtaking, but don't let it distract you. Starting at 1,385 meters above sea level, you'll climb nearly 2,000 meters, making for an average gradient of over 5%. This road definitely earns its fearsome reputation. It's not for the faint of heart (or those afraid of heights and landslides). Trust me; photos barely scratch the surface of how intense this road is!