Road B-245
Chile, south-america
176 km
4.565 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, adventurers, buckle up for the B-245 in northeastern Chile, a seriously epic high-mountain road trip through the Andes! This isn't your average Sunday drive – it's 176 km of pure, unadulterated 4x4 gravel track magic, linking Ruta 21 near San Pedro to the awesome San Pedro de Atacama.
Prepare to be wowed by insane views of volcanoes and shimmering lakes, but heads up: this road is REMOTE. Pack accordingly! And seriously, stick to the marked track, folks – you do NOT want to wander off (minefield, no joke!).
The climb is a BEAST, topping out at a lung-busting 4,565 meters above sea level. The air gets thin up there, and trust me, you'll feel it. Most people start feeling the altitude sickness around 2,500-2,800 meters, so take it slow, drink lots of water, and listen to your body. Oh, and one last thing: if the weather turns nasty, bail. This road is not for tackling in a storm.
Where is it?
Road B-245 is located in Chile (south-america). Coordinates: -37.6506, -72.4165
Road Details
- Country
- Chile
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 176 km
- Max Elevation
- 4.565 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- -37.6506, -72.4165
Related Roads in south-america
hardOjos del Salado is one of the highest accessible points by car on Earth
🇨🇱 Chile
# Ojos del Salado: The World's Highest Volcano Road Standing at a jaw-dropping 6,891 meters (22,608 feet), Ojos del Salado is the world's highest volcano and sits right on the Argentina-Chile border. It's not just impressive for its elevation—it's also one of the most accessible ultra-high peaks you can actually drive to, making it a magnet for adventure seekers and record-breakers alike. Nestled in the Andes, roughly 600 kilometers north of Aconcagua, this massive stratovolcano connects Chile's Atacama Region with Argentina's Catamarca Province. The volcano sits just south of the Atacama Desert, creating an otherworldly landscape where snow clings to the peak only during winter months. The rest of the year? Bone-dry conditions dominate. ## A Playground for Record-Seekers Ojos del Salado has become legendary for altitude records. In 2007, a heavily modified 1986 Suzuki Samurai driven by Chileans Gonzalo Bravo and Eduardo Canales Moya reached 6,688 meters, smashing the previous vehicle record. That modified little beast had supercharger upgrades, reinforced axles, and custom suspension—necessary equipment for such an insane climb. Since then, the records keep coming. A Mercedes truck hit 6,675 meters, a solar-powered e-vehicle reached 6,500 meters in 2024, and motorcycles have pushed higher too. In 2015, Chilean rider Gianfranco Bianchi set the motorbike record at 6,472 meters on a Suzuki RMZ 450. Even cyclists have joined the party—Guido Kunze pedaled an astonishing 6,233 meters in 2013, covering over 342 kilometers from the Pacific coast in just over 37 hours. ## The Real Challenge Don't let the "accessible by vehicle" part fool you—this is genuinely brutal. The terrain throws everything at you: steep climbs, massive boulders, snow, glaciers, and deep volcanic sand. Most roads don't combine all these obstacles in a single journey, but Ojos del Salado does it gleefully. Add in hurricane-force winds, temperatures plummeting to minus 30°C (minus 22°F), and the relentless effects of extreme altitude, and you've got a recipe for serious danger. Medical help? Forget it—you're looking at a day or more for evacuation, and helicopter rescue is virtually impossible in these conditions. This is one of South America's most unforgiving roads, and it demands respect.
hardThe Ultimate Guide to Conquering Cerro Tecar
🇨🇱 Chile
Alright, adventure junkies, buckle up for Cerro Tecar in Chile's Atacama Desert! This isn't your Sunday drive. We're talking serious elevation – a whopping 5,088m (16,692ft)! Nestled high in the Antofagasta region, near the Argentinian border, this road is one of Chile’s highest. Forget smooth pavement; this is a curvy, unpaved climb from Monturaqui on Road B55. Clocking in at about 25.3 km (15.72 miles), you'll gain a massive 1,647 meters in altitude. Expect some seriously steep sections, with gradients hitting a maximum of 13%! The average incline is around 6.5%, so make sure your vehicle is ready for a workout. The scenery? Absolutely unreal, but keep your eyes on the road – this is an adventure that demands respect!
hardLaguna Tuni
🇧🇴 Bolivia
Laguna Tuni is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.494m (14,744ft) above the sea level, located in La Paz Department, in Bolivia. The road to the lake, located within the Cordillera Real of the Bolivian Andes, is gravel, rocky, tippy and bumpy at times with several hairpin turns. Great trail for experienced wheelers. Avoid driving in this area if unpaved mountain roads aren't your strong point. 4x4 recommended. With such a high summit altitude the road can be closed anytime due to snowfalls. Stay away if you're scared of heights. Expect a trail pretty steep. Wet conditions may make for tough driving along the muddy road. Drive with care as this is a mountain road with hairpin curves and dangerous dropoffs. The climb is simply terrible, with a notorius lack of oxygen that tests the organisms and a high degree of steepness. Most people feel altitude sickness at around 2,500-2,800 meters. Carretera Picada 108: Crossing the Wild Chaco to the Bolivian Border Embark on a journey like never before! Navigate through our to discover the most spectacular roads of the world Drive Us to Your Road! With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.
hardDriving an unpaved mining road to Abra Qillwa Quta in the Andes
🇧🇴 Bolivia
Ready for an off-the-beaten-path adventure in Bolivia? Abra Qillwa Quta pass is waiting for you at a breathtaking 4,940 meters (16,207 feet)! This isn't just any road; it's one of Bolivia's highest, nestled north of Sunchulli Pass in the La Paz Department, practically kissing the Peruvian border within the Ulla Ulla National Fauna Reserve. Forget smooth asphalt; this is raw, unpaved terrain that might just test your mettle after a good rain. A 4x4 isn't just recommended; it's a necessity. This is a mining road, so expect narrow passages, hairpin turns, and some seriously steep climbs. Before you rev your engine, a heads-up: you'll need permission from the SERNAP office in La Paz. Once you're cleared, you're in for a treat. This 24.1 km (14.9 miles) stretch runs from Hilo Hilo to San Miguel de Thapi, carving through the stunning Apolobamba range of the Andes.