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.

Laguna Aguascocha is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.370m (14,337ft) above the sea level, located in the Andes, in the Cordillera Blanca in northwestern central Peru.

Laguna Lulicocha is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.285m (14,058ft) above the sea level located in the province of Pasco in Peru. The road is very rough--only try driving it in a 2wd car, if you're planning to buy a new car.

Puente Chucusvalle is a metallic modular bridge located on the boundary between the regions of La Libertad and Ancash in northwestern Peru, crossing the Tablachaca River. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

Laguna Tototral is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.342m (14,245ft) above the sea level located in the province of Yauyos in Peru.

The Cacanapunta Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.162m (13,654ft) above the sea level, located in the in the Ancash Region of Peru.

Laguna Huascachoca is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.485m (14,714ft) above the sea level, located in the Lima Region, in western Peru.

Abra de Lares is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.443m (14,576ft) above the sea level, located in Calca Province of Cusco Region of Peru.

Paso Pacoorcco is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.758m (15,610ft) above the sea level, located in the Andes of Peru, in the Moquegua Region, General Sánchez Cerro Province, Ubinas District.

Abra Ares is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.018m (16,463ft) above the sea level, located in the region of Arequipa, in Southern Peru. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Mina Corihuarmi is an open-pit gold mine at an elevation of 4.883m (16,020ft) above the sea level, located in Junín, a region in the central highlands and westernmost Peruvian Amazon.

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Wamp'una is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.843m (15,889ft) above the sea level, located in Lima Province in Peru.

Located in the province Huaral in Peru, Carretera Sumbilca-Pacaybamba is one of the most extreme roads of the country. Drivers must remain cautious as the journey has been known to claim the lives of careless drivers. Drive with care as this is a mountain road with hairpin curves and dangerous dropoffs.

Carretera Chicrin-Cerro de Pasco is a high mountain road located in the Pasco region, in central Peru. The road runs entirely over 3.500m above the sea level.

Laguna Oshgomachay is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.430m (14,534ft) above the sea level, located  in Central Peru, in the province Junín in the region Junín.

Paso Don Mario is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.739m (15,547ft) above the sea level, located in the Junín region, in central Peru.

Laguna Cochachuyo is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.324m (14,186ft) above the sea level located in the province of Pasco in Peru. The road is very rough--only try driving it in a 2wd car, if you're planning to buy a new car.

Paso Wiswillani is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.807m (15,771ft) above the sea level, located in the Arequipa Region of Peru.

Alto de Tapacocha is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 4.732m (15,524ft) above the sea level, located in the province Recuay in Peru.

Paso Huachococha is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.366m (14,324ft) above the sea level, located in the region Ancash, in central Peru.

Laguna Tarusmachay is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.443m (14,576ft)  above the sea level, located  in Central Peru, in the province Junín in the region Junín.

Hatun K'irawniyuq is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 4.407m (14,458ft) above the sea level, located in the Arequipa Region in the Andes of Peru.

Nevado Huayracancha is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.045m (16,551ft) above the sea level, located on the border between Lima and Junin regions of Peru. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Abra Tucuccasa is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.496m (14,750ft) above the sea level, located in the region Ayacucho of Peru.

Laguna Pumacocha is a high mountain lagoon at an elevation of 4.370m (14,337ft) above the sea level, located in the Yauyos Province, in the Lima Region of Peru.

Abra Mañazo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,518m (14,822ft) above sea level, located in the Puno Province of southern Peru. This remote Andean route offers a high-altitude adventure through one of the most desolate landscapes in the region.

Abra de Rumualdo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.434m (11,266ft) above the sea level, located in the Caylloma Province of Peru.

Abra Sotacocha is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.261m (13,979ft) above the sea level, located in Ayacucho region, in south-central Peru.

Carretera PA-100 is a high mountain road located in the Pasco region, in central Peru. The road runs entirely over 4.000m above the sea level.

Abra Huaytire is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.768m (15643ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Moquegua and Tacna departments in southern Peru.

Carretera LM-119 is one of the scariest roads in the world. It’s located in Santo Domingo de los Olleros District, province Huarochirí in Peru.

Abra Tiabaya is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.747m (9,012ft) above the sea level, located in Peru’s Arequipa Region.

Abra Livini-Tarata is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.803m (15,757ft) above the sea level, located in the Tacna Region in southern Peru.

Laguna Jochauma is a high mountain lagoon at an elevation of 4.947m (16,230ft) above sea level, located in the Arequipa Region, Castilla Province, Orcopampa District of Peru.

Cerro Choquecota is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 5.001m (16,407ft) above the sea level, located in the Puno Region, in southern Peru.

Azufrera Tacora is an abandoned sulphur mine at an elevation of 4.518m (14,822ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Chile and Peru.

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