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.

Paron Lagoon

How to Get to Paron Lagoon in Ancash by Car

Laguna Parón is a high mountain lagoon at an elevation of 4,200m (13,779 ft) above sea level, located in the Caraz District of Peru.

Abra Pirhuayani

Driving a great paved road to Abra Pirhuayani in the Andes

Abra Pirhuayani is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,725m (15,501 ft) above sea level, located in the Quispicanchi Province of Peru. The pass is higher than any mountain in the lower 48 states of the US.

Abra Culipampa

Driving the Wild Unpaved Road to Abra Culipampa in Apurimac

Abra Culipampa is a high mountain pass located in the Apurímac region of Peru, sitting at an elevation of 4,834m (15,859ft) above sea level.

Laguna de Patón

A wild road to Laguna de Paton in the Andes

Laguna de Patón is a high mountain lagoon at an elevation of 4.150m (13,615ft) above sea level located in the province of Oyón in the Department of Lima, in Peru.

Acantilados de Ocoña

Driving through the lethal Ocoña Cliffs

Acantilados de Ocoña is a very scenic and dangerous cliff drive over the Pacific Ocean in Peru.

Carretera Cincha-Huanca

Driving the 200 curves and hairpin turns on the road from Cincha to Huanca

Carretera Cincha-Huanca is a high mountain road located in the Andes of Peru, in the Caylloma Province, running entirely over 2,500m above sea level.

Crucero Alto

Road trip guide: Conquering Crucero Alto

Crucero Alto is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.528m (14,855ft) above sea level, located in the Puno department of Peru.

Abra Yanama

Conquering Abra Yanama in Peru

Abra Yanama is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,654m (15,269ft) above sea level, located in the Cusco Region of Peru.

Carretera 663

Road 663 in Peru Has Drops of 300 Meters to the Marañon River

Carretera 663 is one of the scariest roads in the world. Located in Huamalíes Province of Peru, the road is only wide enough for one vehicle, and in many places, it is bordered by a drop of 300 meters, unprotected by guardrails. It’s one of the most hairpinned roads in the worldhairpinned roads in the world.

Abra Arcata

A Most Tricky Scenic Drive to Abra Arcata

Abra Arcata is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5,101m (16,735ft) above sea level, located in the Arequipa region of Peru. It's one of the highest roads in Peru.

Mina Santa Rosa

How to get by car to Santa Rosa Mine near Pavico?

Mina Santa Rosa is an open-pit mine at an elevation of 5,133 m (16,840 ft) above sea level, located in Peru. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.

Laguna Llaca

How to drive the breathtaking unpaved road to Llaca Lagoon in the Ancash region?

Laguna Llaca is an alpine lagoon with turquoise-green waters at an elevation of 4,467m (14,655ft) above sea level, located in the province of Huaraz, in Peru.

Punta Olimpica old road

Is It Possible to Drive the Washed-Out Punta Olimpica Old Road in Peru?

Located in the Ancash region of Peru, the Punta Olimpica Old Road is a scary experience running near the abyss. Rock falls have blocked this road and it’s no longer passable in a car but is okay on a bike.

Pastoruri glacier

How to drive to Pastoruri Glacier in the Andes?

Pastoruri Glacier is a cirque glacier at an elevation of 4,955m (16,256ft) above sea level, located in the Ancash region of Peru.

Abra Loncopata

The road to Abra Loncopata in Arequipa is pure adventure

Abra Loncopata is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.100m (16,732ft) above sea level, located in the Arequipa region of Peru. The road features 20% gradient sections. It's one of the highest roads in the country.

Abra Huacullo

A Memorable Road Trip to Abra Huacullo in the Andes

Abra Huacullo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5,002 m (16,410 ft) above sea level, located in the Apurímac region of Peru. It's one of the highest roads in the country.

Puente Upamayo

Crossing Puente Upamayo, a high mountain bridge

Located in the Junin Region of Peru, the wooden Upamayo Bridge is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

Puente Tablachaca

How to cross the scenic Puente Tablachaca

Located in northwestern Peru, the Tablachaca bridge is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world. The bridge is 36m long.

Tipon ruins

A curvy paved road to Tipon ruins

Tipon Inca ruins are located in southeastern Peru, near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes mountain range.

Abra de Acjanaco

The road to Abra de Acjanaco is not for timid drivers

Abra de Acjanaco is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.502m (11,489ft) above the sea level, located in the province Paucartambo of Peru.

Garganta del Diablo

Driving through the defiant Garganta del Diablo

Located in the province of Yauyos, in the Lima Region of Peru, the road through the Ushco canyon is, truly, one of the most spectacular drives in the world. It’s called Garganta del Diablo (Devil's throat).

Carretera La Pampa-Sihuas

La Pampa-Sihuas (Road 12A)

Carretera 12A is a very scary high mountain road located in central Peru. It’s one of the most extreme roads in the world, bordered by a drop of hundreds of meters unprotected by guardrails. It’s definitely not for anyone suffering from vertigo.

Laguna Conococha

Laguna Conococha

Laguna Conococha is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.050m (13,287ft) above the sea level located in the Andes-Cordillera in north-western Peru.

Abra Quenco

The wild road to the summit of Abra Quenco

Abra Quenco is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.020m (16,469ft) above the sea level, located in the Cotahuasi Subbasin Landscape Reserve, in the Arequipa Region, Peru. It's one of the highest roads of Peru.

Abra Viraco

A curvy gravel road to Abra Viraco

Abra Viraco is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.940m (16,207ft) above the sea level, located in the Viraco District, one of fourteen districts of the province Castilla in Peru.

Cañon del Rio Mala

Take An Unforgettable Drive to Cañon del Rio Mala

Mala River Canyon is located in the central region of Peru. The route demands 100% concentration. This road has humbled many egos.

Laguna de Pacucha

Laguna de Pacucha

Laguna de Pacucha is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3.100m (10,170ft) above the sea level, located in the Andahuaylas Province in the Apurímac Region, in Peru.

Abra Huarcaya

The unpaved road to Abra Huarcaya

Abra Huarcaya is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.057m (16,591ft) above the sea level, located in the Cotahuasi Subbasin Landscape Reserve, in the Arequipa Region, Peru. It's one of the highest mountain roads of Peru.

Abra Apacheta

A memorable road trip to Abra Apacheta

Abra Apacheta is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.762m (15,623ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary between Huancavelica and Ayacucho regions of Peru.

Puente Tincoc

Puente Tincoc

The Tincoc bridge is situated in the Paruro Province, Ccapi District, in the Cusco Region of Peru. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

CA-109 (Bambamarca-Celendín)

Road CA-109 (Bambamarca-Celendín)

CA-109 is a very dangerous high mountain road located in northern Peru. This route is not recommended if your passengers are prone to car sickness. Don’t stuff your belly too much. Eventually, you might feel vomiting temptations.

Mirador de Tres Cruces

Mirador de Tres Cruces

Located in the Paucartambo province of Peru, the Tres Cruces is a high mountain viewpoint at an elevation of 3.641m above the sea level.

Abra Anta Q'asa

An epic climb to Abra Anta Q'asa in the Andes

Abra Anta Q'asa is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.881m (16,013ft) above the sea level, located in the Andes of Peru.

Meseta Marcahuasi

Meseta Marcahuasi

Meseta Marcahuasi is a high mountain plateau at an elevation of 4.100m (13,451ft) above the sea level, located in the Andes Mountains of Peru. The place is known for curious shapes of human faces and animals visible in granite rock.

Abra Ojelaca

Abra Ojelaca is a paved road heading deep into the high mountains

Abra Ojelaca is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.606m (15,111ft) above the sea level, located in the Andes of southern Peru, in the Moquegua Region.

Karkatera Tunnels

Travelling through the dangerous Karkatera Tunnels

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.