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 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 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 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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Abra Canchenita is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.827m (15,836ft) above the sea level, located in the Carhuaz Province, Ancash Region, Peru.

Abra Achallaque is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.962m (16,279ft) above the sea level, located in the Departamento de Arequipa, Peru.

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.

Located in Peru's Apurímac region, north of Abancay, the road through the Túneles de Karkatera, also known as Túneles de Carcatera, is one of the most dangerous drives in the country.

Carretera 1SC is one of the most extreme roads on Earth. Located in southern Peru, your wheels will be astounded at the wonderful views of the mountains spread out before you! They are terrible for drivers who are prone to vertigo.

JU105 is a high mountain road located on the eastern slopes of the Andes, in the middle Tarma Province in Peru.

Laguna Huaroncocha is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.580m (15,026ft) above the sea level located in the province of Huaral in Peru.

Laguna Uchucchacua is a high mountain lagoon at an elevation of 4.390m (14,402ft) above the sea level located in the province of Oyón in the Department of Lima, in Central Peru.

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

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.