Driving the wild 4x4 road to Cerro Tuc Tuc in Salta
Cerro Tuc Tuc is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,624 m (15,170 ft) above sea level, located in the Santa Victoria department of Argentina. It's one of the highest roads in the country.
Where is Cerro Tuc Tuc?
The pass, also known as Cerro Tuc Tuca, is located to the west of the iconic Abra Fundición, in Salta province, near Jujuy province, in the northern part of the country.
Is the road to Cerro Tuc Tuc unpaved?
The road through the pass is called Camino a Bacoya. It is entirely unpaved and recommended for vehicles with high clearance, with a 4x4 vehicle recommended, especially after rains. Driving this road is very risky. It's so narrow that two regular cars can't easily pass, and there are dangerous drop-offs that get worse with oncoming vehicles. You can't make mistakes here, and the weather is often extreme. Being high up, plus the chance of altitude sickness, changing weather, steep hills, and it being hard to get to, makes the pass unsafe and driving to the summit tough.
How long is the road to Cerro Tuc Tuc?
Starting from Santa Cruz de Aguilar, the road to the summit is 18.66 km (11.6 mi) long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 624 m (2,048 ft) and the average gradient is 3.34%. The road is surrounded by colorful mountains and eroded rock walls.
Road suggested by: Hugh Wilson
Pic: Vicky Yened