Where is Kahuish Tunnel?
Peru, south-america
25 km
4,516 m
moderate
Year-round
Cruising through Ancash, Peru? You HAVE to check out the Tunel de Kahuish! This baby sits at a whopping 14,816 feet above sea level, making it one of the highest tunnels on the planet. You'll find it nestled in the northern part of the country, right inside Huascarán National Park in the Cordillera Blanca mountains. Keep an eye out for the awesome Christ statue (Cristo Blanco) overlooking the valley right after you exit.
Built as part of a big road project that kicked off way back in 1927, constructing this tunnel was no joke! Lots of dynamite and some serious risks went into blasting through the rock. Finally completed in 1941, it got a facelift in 2007.
The AN-110 highway runs right through it, connecting Huaraz and Chavin. It carves its way through the valley of the Santa River, over the Cordillera Blanca, and down to the Marañon valley. Expect pavement on the west side of the tunnel, but things get a little more rugged with mostly unpaved sections on the east side.
At 1,587 feet long, this unlit tunnel marks the highest point of the main road and is one of the longest in the country. Cyclists, be warned: there’s no alternate route, you have to go through the tunnel!
Road Details
- Country
- Peru
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 25 km
- Max Elevation
- 4,516 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
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