What are the most spectacular roads in Peru?

Located in the heart of the Andes, in the western part of South America, Peru is very challenging for drivers due to its geography that comprises the coast, the Andes Mountains, and the Amazon Rainforest. With such topography, it has more than 230 roads listed as the most spectacular in the world.

When traveling to the country, you can’t miss Curvas de Huanchaca, a series of 24 hairpin turns located on the boundary between Cusco and Apurimac. It’s one of the most hairpinned roads in the world, offering travelers a spectacular, vertigo-inducing drive. Or the harrowing paved road to Anticona Pass in the Andes, at an elevation of 4,824m (15,826ft) above sea level. The pass is often incorrectly said to be the highest paved road in South America.

If you want to try scary drives, don’t forget the Pasamayo Serpentine, a lethal coastal road known for fatal traffic accidents. The road has no safety fences, and one mishap, and you plunge off the cliff and into the sea. Or Pato Canyon Road, a path hewn out of sheer rock, located in the Ancash Region. And if you’re up for paved mountain roads, don’t miss the awe-inspiring drive to Punta Olímpica in the Andes, climbing up to 4,732m (15,525ft) above sea level. It's one of the highest paved roads in the country.

Curvas de Huanchaca is the name of a series of 24 hairpin turns located on the boundary of Cusco and Apurimac regions, in Peru. The ideal time to travel is during daylight, and night driving is not advised. It’s one of the most hairpinned roads in the world, offering travelers a spectacular and vertigo-inducing drive.

Abra Anticona is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,824m (15,826ft) above sea level, located on the boundary between the Lima and Junin regions of Peru. The pass is incorrectly said to be the highest paved road in South America.

Artesonraju is a mountain peak located in the Caraz District in the southeastern part of the Huaylas Province, Peru. It has been suggested that the peak is the mountain depicted in the live-action Paramount Pictures logo.

Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca site at an elevation of 2,430m (7,970ft) above sea level, located in the Urubamba Province of Peru.

Serpentín Pasamayo is a very dangerous coastal road located in the Lima Province of Peru, known for fatal traffic accidents. The road has no safety fences. One mishap, and you plunge off the cliff and into the sea.

Carretera Chivay-Arequipa is the name of a spectacular curvy mountain road located in the Arequipa region of Peru.

Cañón del Pato (Spanish for Duck Canyon) is a scenic but dangerous canyon located in the Huaylas Province of the Ancash Region in Peru.

Located in western South America, Peru extends for nearly 1,500 mi (2,414 km) along the Pacific Ocean. Ice-capped and imposing, the highest mountains in the country rise up from the Andes, reaching heights above 20,000 feet.

Punta Olimpica is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,732m (15,525ft) above sea level, located in Ancash, Peru. It's one of the highest paved roads in the country.

Paso Portachuelo Llanganuco is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,717m (15,475ft) above sea level, located in the Yungay province of Peru. It’s one of the most hairpinned roads in the world.

Carretera Santa María-Santa Teresa is a very scary drive with dangerous drops, located in the Cusco Region, in the central part of Peru.

Abra Malaga is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,343m (14,248ft) above sea level, located in the Cusco Region of Peru.

Mirador Cruz del Cóndor is a natural vantage point at an elevation of 3.794m (12,447ft) above sea level, located in the Department of Arequipa, Caylloma province, Peru. The lookout is the most popular place for condor watching.

Abra Patapampa is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.879m (16,007ft) above sea level, located in the Caylloma province of the Arequipa region, in Peru. It’s said to be one of the highest paved passes in the Americas.

Abra Oquepuño is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.883m (16,020ft) above sea level, located in the province of Carabaya, in Peru. It’s said to be one of the highest paved roads of South America.

Abra Huayraccasa is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.971m (16,309ft) above sea level, located in the region Huancavelica, in Peru.

Located in the region Ancash of Peru, the defiant Carretera 3-N is one of the most dangerous roads in the world, with vertigo-inducing depths of up to 1.000m.

La Rinconada is a small mining town at an elevation of 5.130m (16,830ft) above sea level, located in the Ananea District, San Antonio de Putina Province, in Puno region of Peru. It’s one of the highest towns accessible by car on Earth.

Abra la Raya is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.352m (14,278ft) above sea level located on the boundary between Puno and Cusco regions in Peru.

Abra Azuca is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.190m (17,027ft) above sea level, located in Peru in Departamento de Apurimac, on the boundary between Cusco and Apurimac regions. It's one of the highest roads in Peru.

Tunel de Kahuish is a high mountain tunnel at an elevation of 4.516m (14,816ft) above sea level, located in Ancash, a region of Peru. It’s one of the world's highest tunnels.

Punta Callán is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.228m (13,871ft) above sea level, located in the Ancash Region of Peru.

Carretera 106 (LM-106) is a very challenging road straddling Ancash and Lima regions of Peru.

Camino a Salinas is a scary high mountain road between Arequipa and Lake Salinas, a salt lake in Peru. The road, officially called Ruta 34C, has a length of 61km. Arequipa is the capital and largest city of the province of Arequipa and the second most populous city in Peru.

Ubicado en la parte oeste del continente sudamericano, Perú se extiende por cerca de 1,500 mi (2,414 km) a lo largo del Océano Pacífico. Cubiertas de nieves e imponentes, las montañas más altas del país se sitúan en los Andes, alcanzando alturas por encima de los 6.000 metros.

Located in the region of Cajamarca, in northern Peru, the road from Balzas towards Celendín tests the skill, and courage, of any driver. Hair raising stuff. There is absolutely no room for mistakes.

Mina Acumulación Mariela is an open-pit mine at an elevation of 5.298m (17,381ft) above the sea level, located in the Mariscal Nieto Province, in the Moquegua Region of Peru. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of the country.

Located in the region of Ancash of Peru, Punta Olimpica Tunnel is one of the highest vehicular tunnels in the world, at an elevation of 4.735m (15,535ft) above the sea level.

Carretera Celendín-Yerbabuena is a very scary winding mountain road located in the region of Cajamarca, in northern Peru. Hair raising stuff! There is absolutely no room for mistakes.

Carretera Púsac-Uchumarca is a high mountain road located in the Bolívar Province of Peru. This road tests the skill, and courage, of any driver. It’s definitely not for anyone suffering from vertigo or a fear of landslides.

Lago Junín is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.082m (13,392ft) above the sea level, located in the Junin Region, in Peru.

Cañon del Rio Mantaro is located in the central region of Peru. The road through the canyon is extreme. Words can’t describe the road and pictures don’t do it justice.

Abra Chonta is a high mountain pass located in the central Peruvian department of Huancavelica, at an elevation of 4.875m (15,994ft) above the sea level.

Cañon de Cotahuasi is the name of a very challenging canyon located in the Department of Arequipa, in the Province of La Union of Peru. It’s said to be the deepest canyon in the Americas.

Located within the Bahuaja Sonene National Park in the province Sandia in Peru, Puente del Rio Inambari is a short wooden bridge located near the Bolivian border over the Inambari River. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

Abra Culipampa is a high mountain pass located in Peru in Departamento de Arequipa, at an elevation of 4.834m (15,859ft) above the sea level. 

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