
The Scenic Unpaved Road to Vientos Pass in the Andes
Peru, south-america
154 km
5,012 m
extreme
Year-round
Alright, adventure seekers, listen up! Wanna experience a road trip that'll take your breath away - literally? Head to Peru and tackle Paso El Viento, clocking in at a whopping 5,012 meters (16,443 feet) above sea level! Yeah, it's one of the highest you'll find in Peru.
Nestled below the Huancune volcano, this pass, also called Paso de los Vientos (the Pass of the Winds), lies in the Tacna Region, down south near the Chilean border.
Forget smooth tarmac - we're talking pure, unadulterated dirt road on Ruta 40. Expect a thrilling ride full of twists, turns, seriously steep climbs, and some gloriously curvy bits. A high-clearance vehicle is practically a must, especially if it's been raining.
Perched high in the Cerro Barroso range of the Andes, the views are incredible, but don't forget about the altitude! It can mess with both you and your ride, so take it easy.
This epic route stretches for 154 kilometers (96 miles), running from Tripartito, a town bordering Bolivia, all the way south to Tacna. Get ready for an unforgettable journey!
Where is it?
The Scenic Unpaved Road to Vientos Pass in the Andes is located in Peru (south-america). Coordinates: -8.7965, -77.0842
Road Details
- Country
- Peru
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 154 km
- Max Elevation
- 5,012 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- -8.7965, -77.0842
Related Roads in south-america
hardHow to get by car to Abra Condor?
🇦🇷 Argentina
Alright, adventure-seekers, buckle up for Abra Cóndor, a mountain pass that'll steal your breath – literally and figuratively! We're talking serious altitude here, a whopping 4,495 meters (14,747 feet) above sea level in the wild, beautiful landscapes of northern Argentina. You'll find this beauty straddling the border between Jujuy and Salta provinces. The road, Ruta Provincial 69 (RP69), is unpaved, so get ready for some dust! But don't worry, it's generally in good nick and easily tackled by most vehicles. Just be prepared for narrow stretches, some seriously steep climbs, and enough hairpin turns to make you dizzy (in a good way, of course!). This epic route stretches for 88.2 km (54.80 miles), running from San José (a cute little town in Jujuy near the Bolivian border) down to the charming village of Nazareno in Salta. Get ready for views that'll make your jaw drop!
moderateRoad Trip Guide: Conquering Milagrosa Waterfall
🇪🇨 Ecuador
Okay, adventurers, listen up! Wanna chase a miraculous waterfall high in the Ecuadorian Andes? Then you NEED to check out Cascada Milagrosa! This stunner is tucked away at a whopping 3,806 meters (that's nearly 12,500 feet!) in Napo Province, Ecuador. It's about an hour from Quito, inside the Cayambe Coca National Park, and the drive there is an adventure in itself. The road, known as Carretera Papallacta - Laguna Baños, is paved, but it's a bit of a climb, so a 4x4 is a good idea. They call it "milagrosa" (miraculous) because it's hidden in a Polylepis forest and used to be a spot for shaman rituals! Starting from Papallacta, one of the highest towns you can drive to, it's about 7.6 km (around 4.7 miles) to the checkpoint near the falls. In that short distance, you'll climb 569 meters, making for an average gradient of around 7.5%. Once you park, it's a super scenic 900-meter walk on a wide, gravel path to reach the falls themselves. Trust me, the views are worth it!
hardLaguna Gallococha
🇵🇪 Peru
Okay, thrill-seekers, listen up! Deep in the heart of Central Peru, nestled high in the Department of Lima, lies Laguna Gallococha, a shimmering lagoon way up at a lung-busting 15,797 feet! Getting there? Buckle up, buttercup, because the gravel road is a bumpy ride. Seriously, this ain't your grandma's Sunday drive. You'll definitely need a 4x4 to conquer this beast. And be warned: even a little rain turns this track into a slippery, unpredictable mess. Keep an eye out for sudden patches of loose gravel that can throw you for a loop. But hey, if you come prepared, you're in for an unforgettable adventure with views that will blow your mind!
moderateWhere is Salar de Maricunga?
🇨🇱 Chile
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through the Atacama Region of Chile, heading towards this unreal, dazzling white salt flat called Salar de Maricunga. This place is seriously high up, like 3,700m (12,139ft) high! It's in the Nevado Tres Cruces National Park, way out east. The air is super dry, and the temperature swings are wild – scorching hot in the daytime sun, then freezing cold at night. Why should you go? Well, besides the fact that it’s absolutely stunning, this salt flat is loaded with lithium. It's the southernmost of Chile's huge salt flats. The road there? It's Ruta 31-CH, about 280 km (173 miles) of mixed adventure. You'll find some smooth paved sections on either end, but the middle is all gravel, so keep your eyes open. It runs all the way from Copiapó to the Argentinian border. Most of the time, a 2WD car can handle it. Get ready for some seriously epic scenery.