The Road To Caldera La Pacana Has it All

Caldera La Pacana is a resurgent caldera at an elevation of 4.983m (16,348ft) above the sea level, located on the eastern part of the Atacama Desert of northern Chile in the Antofagasta Region. It’sone of the highest mountain roads of Chile.

Caldera La Pacana

Set high in the Central Andes of northern Chile, just north of the Tropic of Capricorn, the road to the summit is totally unpaved. This trail passes through remote areas, so you need to be prepared. 4x4 vehicles only. Surrounded by a lunar landscape, the drive is pretty scenic.

Expect harsh conditions: high winds, cold and heavy snowfalls. Do not travel this road in severe weather conditions. The road to the summit is pretty steep. Starting at Ruta 27, the ascent is 9.65km long. Over this distance the elevation gain is 705 meters. The average gradient is 7.30%.