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.

Located within the Huascarán National Park, in the Ancash Region of Peru, Laguna de Querococha is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3.980m (13,060ft) above the sea level.

Llanganuco Orconcocha is a high mountain crystal blue lake located in the Cordillera Blanca in the Andes of Peru at an elevation of 3.850m (12,631ft) above the sea level.

The challenging Pan-American Highway is one of the biggest adventures in the world. It’s a network of roads covering almost 30,000 kilometres (19,000 mi) from North America to South America. It’s said to be the longest road on Earth.

Abra Rapaz is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.937m (16,197ft) above the sea level, located in the highlands of Lima, in the high cordillera of central Peru. The road is bordered by a drop of hundreds of meters (many hundreds of feet) unprotected by guardrails.

Located in central Peru, Carretera Singa-Yunguilla is one of the most dangerous routes in the world. In many places this high mountain road is bordered by a drop of hundreds of meters (many hundreds of feet) unprotected by guardrails. It’s definitely not a “Sunday drive”.

Pacaraos is a high mountain town at an elevation of 3.331m (10,928ft) above the sea level, located in the province Huaral in Peru. The road to reach the town is terrible. In some places is only wide enough for one vehicle, and in many places is bordered by a drop of 300 meters unprotected by guardrails.

Abra de Viscos is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.695m (15,403ft) above the sea level, located in the Departament of Arequipa, in Peru.

Paso de Mojon is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.291m (14,078ft) above the sea level, located in the Departament of Ancash, in Peru.

Laguna Chuspi is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.395m (14,419ft) above the sea level located in the province of Yauyos in Peru.

Abra Lliullita is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,645m (15,239ft) above sea level, located in the Grau Province, in the heart of Apurímac Department in Peru.

Abra Tres Cruces is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.738m (12,263ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Yauyos in Peru.

Laguna Lauricocha is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.041m (13,257ft) above the sea level, located in the Andes of Peru, in the Lauricocha Province, Cauri District.

Abra Milloc is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,826m (15,833ft) above sea level, located in the Andes of Peru.

Laguna Shegue is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.580m (15,206ft) above the sea level located in the province of Huaral in Peru.

Laguna Viscacha is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.614m (15,137ft) above the sea level, located in Mariscal Nieto Province, in Peru.

Punta Fierro Cruz is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.823m (15,823ft) above the sea level, located in the Yauli province, in Peru.

Laguna de Choclococha is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.529m (14,858ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Castrovirreyna in Peru.

Laguna Alcacocha is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.350m (14,271ft) above the sea level located at the top of the Andean mountains in the Pasco region of Peru.

Laguna Orcococha is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.625m (15,173ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Castrovirreyna in Peru.

Laguna de Suches is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.491m (14,734ft) above the sea level, located in Candarave Province, in Peru.

Abra Acopunco is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.042m (13,261ft) above the sea level, located in the Departamento de Cusco, Peru.

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Laguna La Viuda is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.560m (14,960ft) above the sea level, located in the Lima Region, in western Peru.

Laguna Loriscota is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.550m (14,927ft) above the sea level, located in Puno Region, Peru.

Paso Esperanza is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.782m (15,689ft) above the sea level, located in the Puno region, in Peru.

Punta Yahuarcocha is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.980m (16,338ft) above the sea level, located in the Angaraes province, in the region of Huancavelica, Peru

Abra Alpamarca is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.711m (15,456ft) above the sea level, located in Central Peru, in the province of Junín.

Queropalca is a high mountain town at an elevation of 3.971m (13,028ft) above the sea level, located in the Andes of Peru, in the Lauricocha Province, Cauri District.

Chicarhuapunta is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,289m (14,071ft) above sea level, located in the Huaylas Province of Peru.

Punta Chanca is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.852m (15,918ft) above the sea level, located in the Department of Lima, in Central Peru.

Abra Tolconi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.860m (15,945ft) above the sea level, located in the Andes of Peru, in the Arequipa Region.

Carretera Sacaycacha-Pallasca is one of the scariest roads in the world. Located in the Pallasca Province of the Ancash region in Peru, the road has countless hazards: narrow, severe drops, very steep, without protections and a terrible weather.

Punta Caudalosa Chica is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.990m (16,371ft) above the sea level, located in the Angaraes province, in the region of Huancavelica, Peru. It’s one of the highest drivable passes in South America.

Abra Turpo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.798m (15,741ft) above the sea level, located in the Huancavelica Province, Peru.

Paso Caliz is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5,206 meters (17,080 feet) above sea level, located on the boundary between the Canchis and Quispicanchi provinces of Peru. It is one of the highest roads in the country.

Carretera Yuracmarca-Mirasanta is a high mountain road located in the Huaylas Province in the Ancash Region of Peru. The road is bordered by a drop of hundreds of meters (many hundreds of feet) unprotected by guardrails.

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