Travel Guide to La Virgen Pass
La Virgen Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,071 m (13,356 ft) above sea level, located in Ecuador.
Where is La Virgen Pass?
The pass, also known as Papallacta Pass, is located east of Quito, on the boundary of Pichincha and Napo Provinces, in the north-central part of the country, within the Parque Nacional Cayambe Coca.
Is the road through La Virgen Pass paved?
The road through the pass is totally paved. It’s called E20 and crosses the Andes just off the Eastern Cordilleras.
How long is La Virgen Pass?
The road through the pass is 85.3 km (53 miles) long, running west-east from Pifo to San Francisco de Borja.
Is La Virgen Pass worth it?
Located on the road from Quito which leads into the Amazon jungle, at the summit you can experience the altitude effect. The drive offers stunning views of mountains and glaciers. The pass is home to a small chapel, known as Virgen del Paramo Papallacta. North of the pass, a defiant unpaved road climbs up to Pico de las Antenas, a high mountain peak at an elevation of 4,350 m (14,271 ft) above sea level.