Chollay-Punta Colorada road is one of the most scenic drives in Chile. The road climbs several mountain passes. There are more than 30 hairpin turns.
The road is 209km long. It was asphalted in 2012, so the road surface is incredible. This is an exquisite winding mountain drive with sharp and blind curves and hairpin switchbacks leading the traveler over the mountains. Located near the Argentinian border, the road links Chollay (Atacama Region) and Punta Colorada (Coquimbo Region). The road is very steep and its highest point is at 3.573m above the sea level. With such a high summit altitude the road can be closed anytime due to snowfalls. 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.
