Reaching the Sky on the Winding Road to Alto Pacuni in the La Paz Department
Bolivia, south-america
22.6 km
4,900 m
hard
Year-round
Ready for an epic Bolivian adventure? Head to the La Paz Department and tackle Alto Pacuni, a mountain pass that'll leave you breathless – literally! We're talking about 4,900m (16,076 ft) above sea level, making it one of Bolivia's highest drives.
Located near the town of Pacuni in the Inquisivi Province, get ready for a true off-road experience. This isn't your Sunday cruise; Camino a Choquetanga is a completely unpaved, 22.6 km (14.04 miles) stretch from Pacuni to Choquetanga that demands respect (and a 4x4). Think endless turns, hairpin bends that'll test your skills, steep inclines, and narrow passages. Keep an eye out for mining trucks – Mina La Argentina is nearby, so you'll be sharing the road.
But hey, the views! Despite the challenging drive, you'll be rewarded with incredible mountain scenery, a few tunnels carved in overhanging cliffs, and glimpses of stunning lakes like Laguna Recompensa and Laguna Miguillas.
A word of caution: altitude sickness is a real concern here. Take it slow, stay hydrated, and listen to your body. Headaches, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue are all signs to take seriously. If things get worse, descend immediately. Be careful and enjoy the ride!
Where is it?
Reaching the Sky on the Winding Road to Alto Pacuni in the La Paz Department is located in Bolivia (south-america). Coordinates: -17.4786, -62.8645
Road Details
- Country
- Bolivia
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 22.6 km
- Max Elevation
- 4,900 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- -17.4786, -62.8645
Related Roads in south-america
extremeCarretera Picada 108: Crossing the Wild Chaco to the Bolivian Border
🇧🇴 Bolivia
# Picada 108: Where the Chaco Swallows the Unprepared Deep in the heart of the Gran Chaco lies Picada 108—a raw, unforgiving 212-kilometer (131-mile) corridor that cuts through one of South America's most remote wilderness areas. This isn't your typical highway; it's a "picada," a narrow dirt track originally carved through dense scrubland for military or oil exploration, linking Mariscal Estigarribia in Paraguay all the way to the Bolivian border via Mayor Pablo Lagerenza. Welcome to the Northern Chaco: brutally hot, impossibly isolated, and absolutely relentless. The landscape is a maze of thorny scrubland where the horizon stretches endlessly and civilization feels like a distant memory. Temperatures regularly exceed 40°C, and the closest gas station? You left it hours ago. Here's where things get real: the road itself is pure gravel and talcal—fine dust that hides deep ruts and vicious rocks. During the dry season, visibility drops to nearly zero in a dust cloud. But rain? That's when Picada 108 transforms into a muddy nightmare. The clay-heavy soil becomes impassable quicksand, trapping even heavily equipped 4x4s for days. Creek crossings appear without warning, turning sections into temporary rivers that can force complete closures. Expect a full day of driving—minimum—at crawling speeds. There are zero amenities out here: no towns, no fuel, no repair shops. Every kilometer demands your full attention to avoid "guadales" (hidden pockets of deep mud and dust) that'll high-center your vehicle in seconds. This is expedition territory, not a casual road trip. Bring 400 kilometers worth of fuel, 20 liters of water per person, two full-size spares, a high-lift jack, and sand ladders. Your phone won't work; you'll need a satellite messenger. Never go alone—travel in at least two vehicles. Check the weather obsessively; if rain is forecast, don't even think about entering. And before you depart, notify the local police—this is border country, and you'll need your papers in perfect order. The Chaco doesn't forgive mistakes. Respect it, prepare thoroughly, and you'll experience one of the world's most extreme road journeys.
extremeWhere is Uturuncu?
🇧🇴 Bolivia
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Deep in the Potosí Department of Bolivia, near the San Pablo de Lípez Municipality, lies Cerro Uturuncu, a stratovolcano boasting one of the highest roads on the planet! This ain't your Sunday drive, folks. We're talking about a gravel track that claws its way up to a staggering 6,008 meters (19,711ft)! Built originally for a sulfur mine back in the day, the road is now maintained only for tourists by local guides. A 4x4 is a MUST. While the track is generally decent, be prepared for rogue rocks or even a dusting of snow, depending on the season. Now, here's the deal: most reports suggest you can only drive to within a few hundred meters of the summit (somewhere between 5,200 and 5,900 meters), as a landslide has blocked the way further up. However, satellite imagery suggests you can make it to 5,700 meters. A French team even managed to cycle (or push!) their bikes to the top! The lower section is super sandy, and above 5,000 meters, the lack of oxygen is a REAL issue for your engine (and you!). Expect gradients of around 8% for the first five kilometers, ramping up to over 10% between 5,100 and 5,600 meters. The road can get a bit narrow in places, with a seriously steep drop on one side. But, oh, the scenery! Think gigantic landscapes, active volcanoes, and vividly colored lagoons. This is an adventure you won't forget!
extremeRoad 38
🇵🇪 Peru
Okay, adventure junkies, buckle up for Carretera 38 in Peru! This wild ride snakes through the Andes, straddling the Tacna and Puno regions near the Bolivian border. We're talking serious altitude here – you'll be cruising entirely above 3,200m! Forget smooth asphalt, this 74km stretch is a mix of gravel and sand, and when it rains? Impassable. No guardrails to be found, just jaw-dropping drops as you hug the mountainside inside the Vilacota Maure Regional Conservation Area. You'll connect the town of Tarata (3,120m) to Challapalca (4,277m). Speaking of Challapalca, this route is the main artery to its infamous prison, known for its harsh conditions. But the real challenge is the road itself: oxygen is thin, and the steepness is relentless. Prepare for altitude sickness! And those hairpin turns? Over 50 of them! This whole area is known as the "Siberia of Peru" for a reason: it is wild, desolate, and incredibly beautiful.
extremeIs Cerro Machin Volcano dangerous?
🇨🇴 Colombia
Okay, thrill-seekers, listen up! If you find yourself in the Tolima Department of Colombia and you've got a serious itch for adventure, point your 4x4 towards Cerro Machín! This stratovolcano punches way up to 2,650 meters (8,694 feet), and the road to get there, Ruta Toche – Salento, is a wild ride. Now, Cerro Machín is a bit of a sleeping giant—she's quiet now, but she's got a history of HUGE eruptions, so keep that in mind! The road itself is unpaved, narrow, and super steep in sections, climbing to about 2,800 meters. Expect loose gravel, especially near the edges. But, oh man, are the views worth it! I'm talking seriously stunning. And here's a quirky bonus: all that volcanic activity means there's a super rustic thermal bath right by the road, in a curve, just past the summit. Perfect for a post-drive soak with a view!