The Pan American Highways are also known as being extremely dangerous. These roads run for nearly thirty thousand miles from Alaska to South America. The Guiness Book of World Records has named this road as the longest motorable road in the world as well.
This road has rough terrain and goes through a number of different types of land formations as well as running through different various climates and temperatures. There are some common problems with these roads which include that there is a high chance for flash floods and landslides as well as there being narrow curves and steep cliffs.Pan American Highway is nicknamed Hill of Death and has drastic insane portions. It’s the stretch from San Isidro de El General to Cartago and is filled with steep curves and potholes.
The Pan-American Highway has plenty of dangerous stretches, but the old road that passes through the Costa Rican mountains to link San Isidro de General and Cartago is especially hazardous. The high point in the pass is known as Cerro de la Muerte, or Mountain of Death – not technically because of the road, but because people traveling through the pass before the road existed often didn’t survive the cold journey.
The drivable track from the highway leads to the summit, with its cluster of telecommunications aerials. At this altitude, overnight temperatures can dip below freezing, but the sun soon raises the temperatures in the morning, with a high risk of sunburn in the thin clear air.
However, the name happens to be an apt descriptor for the road itself, which tests drivers with excessive potholes, steep, narrow curves, and plenty of fog. The road’s height (13,000 feet) can also cause altitude sickness, further impairing drivers. In addition to these perils, you can also expect to deal with the imprudent habits of local bus and truck drivers, who tend to drive very aggressively and irresponsibly despite the unsafe conditions. Fortunately, a new paved road between Quepos and Dominical has recently been completed, which will give travelers an alternative to the Mountain of Death route.
Cerro de la Muerte is the highest point in the Costa Rican section of the Inter-American Highway. Its name means "Mountain of Death", since in the past crossing the mountains from the Valle Central meant a three or four day journey, on foot or on horseback, and many ill-prepared travelers succumbed to the cold and rain. However, the peak is now easily accessible since the highway runs close by.
