Mecoya-Mecoyita Pass
Paso de Mecoya-Mecoyita is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.373m (7,785ft) above the sea level, located on the Bolivian-Argentinian border.
On the Bolivian side, the road is called RN45 and it’s unnamed on the Argentinian side. It’s steep. Do not travel this road in severe weather conditions. The climb is simply terrible, with a notorius lack of oxygen that tests the organisms and a high degree of steepness. Most people feel altitude sickness at around 2,500-2,800 meters. There are some narrow sections -scarcely wide enough for two cars- where if two vehicles have to pass each other, one might have to reverse for some kilometers of winding narrow road to get to a place wide enough to pass. It shouldn’t be attempted by those who don't know how to reverse.
The road links Mecoya in Bolivia and the Ruta Provincial 5, near Santa Victoria, in Argentina. The surface on this gravel road is often loose, especially along the sides of the road. This track can get very muddy and slippery after rain making it challenging to get through. During and after a storm the road may be impassable, even with a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Your wheels will be astounded at the wonderful views of the mountains spread out before you! They are terrible for drivers who are prone to vertigo. In many places the road is bordered by a drop of hundreds of meters (many hundreds of feet) unprotected by guardrails.
Pic: Jorge Morato