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.

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.

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.

Google Earth often displays unusual sights during virtual exploration. In the Andes of Peru, the silhouette of a large aircraft appears in a remote high-altitude location, creating interest among virtual travelers.

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.

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”.

Laguna Paucarcocha is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.284m (14,055ft) above the sea level located in the province of Yauyos in Peru.

Punta Ushuayca is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.930m (16,174ft) above the sea level, located in the Lima Region, Huarochiri Province 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.

Carretera Puquina-Salinas Moche is a high mountain road located in the Andes of Peru. It runs entirely over the 3.600m above the sea level.

Laguna Aricota is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3.106m (10,190ft) above the sea level, located in the Tacna Region in southern Peru.

Pacaraos is a remote high-mountain town sitting at an elevation of 3,331m (10,928ft) above sea level in the Huaral Province of Peru. The road to reach this settlement, known as Camino a Pacaraos, is famous for its extreme narrowness and the vertiginous drops that flank the route.

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.

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.

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.

Chicarhuapunta is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,289m (14,071ft) above sea level, located in the Huaylas Province of 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 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 Canchis is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.475m (14,681ft) above the sea level, located in the Andes of Peru, in the province Huarochirí.

Abra Chaucha is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,728m (15,511ft) above sea level, located in Peru.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 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.

Abra Mio is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.764m (15,629ft) above the sea level, located in the Huaral Province, Peru.

The road to Gruta Huagapo, officially known as JU-105, is a spectacular mountain route located in the Tarma Province of Peru. Connecting the towns of Acobamba and San Pedro de Cajas, this road serves as the main access to one of South America's deepest and most fascinating natural wonders.

Abra Sandia is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.495m (14,747ft) above the sea level, located in the Sandia Province, in Puno Region, Peru. The zone is prone to heavy mist and can be dangerous in low visibility conditions.  Avalanches and landslides can occur anytime.

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

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.

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.

Laguna Chichis is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.539m (14,891ft) above the sea level, located in the Andes of Peru, in the province Huarochirí.

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