Where is Punta Olimpica Tunnel?
Peru, south-america
80 km
4,735 m
moderate
Year-round
Nestled high in the Peruvian Andes, in the Ancash region, lies the incredible Punta Olimpica Tunnel! At a staggering 4,735m (15,535ft) above sea level, it’s one of the highest tunnels you'll ever drive through.
Where exactly is this beauty? You'll find it snuggled in the Cordillera Blanca range, on the road connecting Acochaca to Carhuaz, linking the Callejón de Huaylas and Conchucos valleys.
This fully paved tunnel, part of Ruta departamental AN-107, stretches 1,384 meters (0.860 miles) long, is 7.20 meters wide, and stands tall at 6.5 meters. Though generally open year-round, keep an eye out for occasional snow closures. Oh, and the name? It's a nod to Peru's epic football victory at the 1936 Berlin Olympics!
Completed in 2013 after a pretty quick construction period, this tunnel isn’t just a marvel of engineering, it’s a HUGE time saver! It bypasses the old Punta Olimpica Road, which has fallen into disrepair, complete with boulder obstructions and subsidence. The tunnel cut the 80 km journey time from a whopping 9 hours to a much more manageable 2.5 hours!
For a while, it was the highest tunnel in the world and remains the highest in South America. Get ready for some seriously breathtaking views on either side of the tunnel, too!
Road Details
- Country
- Peru
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 80 km
- Max Elevation
- 4,735 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
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