Where is Pasamayo Serpentine?
Peru, south-america
22.6 km
N/A
extreme
Year-round
Okay, thrill-seekers, buckle up for Pasamayo Serpentín, a coastal road in Peru's Lima Province that's not for the faint of heart! This notorious stretch of highway winds between the districts of Aucallama and Ancón, hugging the cliffs between Huaral and Lima.
Locals call it "Curva del Diablo," or the Devil's Curve, and trust me, it's earned the name. Imagine driving 22.6 km (14 miles) with zero safety fences, just a sheer drop of over 100 meters straight into the Pacific. Oh, and did I mention the dense fog that rolls in, especially between April and December, mixing with the constant humidity to create super-slippery conditions? Add in winds whipping sand across the pavement, and you've got a recipe for pure adrenaline!
Originally carved out in 1940 from an old railway line dating back to the 1870s, this paved road (part of Carretera Nacional 001B) was meant for heavy vehicles. A new road, Ruta nacional PE-1, now bypasses it, but heavy traffic still braves the original route.
The scenery is stunning – you're wedged between the ocean and the mountains – but keep your eyes on the road! Sadly, Pasamayo has a reputation for fatalities. It's especially treacherous at night, with low visibility, high humidity and slippery asphalt as it follows 52 endless turns. It's so infamous that it inspired a song, "Pasamayo Maldito," by the Peruvian rock group Nosequien y Los Nosecuantos. Definitely a road to approach with respect and caution!
Road Details
- Country
- Peru
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 22.6 km
- Difficulty
- extreme
Related Roads in south-america
extremeWhere is Paso Salar de Ollagüe?
🇧🇴 Bolivia
Alright, adventure seekers, listen up! Wanna straddle the border between Chile and Bolivia in the most epic way possible? Then get ready to tackle Paso Salar de Ollagüe! This high-altitude gem sits way up at 3,695m (that's over 12,000ft!) in the majestic Andes, smack-dab in the Reserva Nacional Alto Loa. Think stunning mountain views and pure, unadulterated wilderness. Just a heads-up, you can only cross between 8 AM and 8 PM. Now, let's talk about the road itself. Forget smooth tarmac, this is a wild, unpaved ride from start to finish. On the Chilean side, it's known as CH-21, morphing into Carretera 701 once you hit Bolivia. We're talking rugged, remote, and definitely an adventure. Thankfully, it's usually open year-round. Clocking in at a hefty 254km (157 miles) between Calama (Chile) and Maicota (Bolivia), this isn't a quick jaunt. Given how remote this area is, consider hooking up with a local driver who knows the ropes. Trust me, it'll make the journey way more enjoyable. Get ready for an unforgettable off-the-beaten-path experience!
extremeLaguna Quequerane
🇵🇪 Peru
Okay, picture this: you're in Peru, high up in the Puno region, ready for an adventure. You're heading to Laguna Quequerane, a stunning high-altitude lake sitting pretty at 4,034 meters (13,234 feet)! Now, getting there? That's half the fun, right? The road is an absolute beast – think gravel, narrow squeezes, and mud galore (especially after rain!). Seriously, you'll want a 4x4 for this one. Be warned, the climb is steep, and the air gets thin, so listen to your body. Altitude sickness can kick in way before you reach the top, around 2,500-2,800 meters. Plus, keep your eyes peeled for avalanches, heavy snow, and landslides. Patches of ice can pop up anytime and make things extra dicey. But hey, the scenery is incredible!
hardCan you drive to Refugio José Rivas?
🇪🇨 Ecuador
Refugio José Rivas is a high mountain refuge on Cotopaxi volcano, at an elevation of 4,639m (15,219ft) above sea level, located on the boundary between Pichincha and Cotopaxi provinces of Ecuador. It's one of the highest roads in the country Can you drive to Refugio José Rivas? Located about 50 km (31 mi) south of Quito, in the Andes Mountains, the road to the hut, locally known as Refugio Cotopaxi, is totally unpaved. It’s called Subida Parqueadero Refugio Cotopaxi. It’s a bumpy gravel road that has been eroded by rainstorms. It’s dusty in dry weather and muddy in wet. The road ends in the parking lot for the refuge. Is the road to Refugio José Rivas worth it? Set high on the northern flanks of Volcán Cotopaxi, the second-highest volcano in Ecuador, within Cotopaxi National Park, the refuge has a capacity for 86 people. It was built in 1971 and extended in 2005. It is owned and operated by Grupo Ascensionismo del Colegio San Gabriel. On a sunny day, you’ll get magnificent views of the peak and its famous conical shape. The hut used to be an overnight destination for mountaineering teams acclimatizing before making an ascent on the peak. Since 1738, records show Cotopaxi has exploded more than 50 times. It’s said to be the highest active volcano in the world. Be prepared for high-altitude sickness. Is the road to Refugio José Rivas difficult? The drive is not for the faint of heart. Weather conditions can pose a problem with bad weather conditions, wind, and thunderstorms. Make sure the gas tank is full. You’ll need a 4WD high-clearance vehicle. Your vehicle needs to be in good shape and prepared for a lag in power. At this altitude, the thin atmosphere can affect the car’s engine and decrease acceleration or climbing power. Is the road to Refugio José Rivas steep? The remote and exposed road to the refuge is very steep, hitting a 14% maximum gradient through some of the ramps. Starting at Ovejería, the ascent is 8.2 km (5.09 miles) long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 763 meters. The average gradient is 9.30%. Papallacta is one of the highest towns accessible by car on Earth 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.
extremeLlanganuco Chinancocha
🇵🇪 Peru
Okay, picture this: you're cruising up Carretera de Yungay (or Carretera 106), headed towards the insanely gorgeous Laguna Chinancocha in the Peruvian Andes. This isn't your average Sunday drive, folks. We're talking a gravel track clinging to the side of a mountain, with a serious drop on one side and towering stone cliffs on the other. Get ready for some seriously tight hairpin turns and switchbacks as you climb to 3,850m (12,631ft). You'll be smack-dab in a narrow glacial valley, surrounded by the giants of the Cordillera Blanca – Huascaran, Huandoy, and a whole crew of other peaks. The scenery is mind-blowing, with views of the María Josefa path and the Quebrada Demanda, all within the Huascaran National Park. Now, a word of caution: this road ain't for the faint of heart. If unpaved mountain roads make you nervous, or heights aren't your thing, maybe skip this one. Even experienced drivers will find this route challenging, and the altitude will definitely test you. Oxygen gets thin up there, so be prepared for potential altitude sickness. And those unprotected drops of hundreds of meters? Yeah, they're real. One wrong move and… well, let's just say pay attention! It is not a road for beginner drivers. It is not recommended to travel this road in severe weather. It's steep, the air is thin, and there are no guardrails, so take it slow and steady!