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 on the eastern-central region of Ancash, in 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 is a cirque glacier at an elevation of 4.955m (16,256ft) above the sea level, located in the Andes mountain range, in Northern Peru in the Ancash region.

Abra Antajirca is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.783m (15,692ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary between Lima and Pasco regions, in Peru.

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

Abra Huacullo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.002m (16,410ft) above the sea level, located in the Apurímac region of Peru. It's one of the highest mountain roads of Peru.

Mina Santa Rosa is an open-pit mine at an elevation of 5.133m (16,840ft) above the sea level, located in the Puno Region, Puno Province, in the south of the Acora District, in Peru. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of the country.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

Located in the Lima Region of Peru, Carretera Autisha-Chaclla is one of the most challenging 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.

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.

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).

Abra Yanashalla is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.689m (15,384ft) above the sea level, located in the Ancash department, in Peru.

Punta Huarapasca is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.815m (15,797ft) above the sea level, located in the Huascarán National Park of Peru.

Laguna Marcapomacocha is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.470m (14,665ft) above the sea level located in Yauli Province in the Junín Region in Peru.

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.

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 Condorillo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.993m (16,381ft) above sea level, located in the Arequipa region of Peru.

Carretera PA-106 is a high mountain gravel road 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.

Carretera 1NC is a spectacular road located in the Andes of Peru. The road unfolds for over 47 km, almost entirely over 4.500 meters above the sea level. The highest point of the road is Abra Antajirca, at 4.780m (15,682ft) above the sea level.

Paso El Viento is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5,012m (16,443ft) above sea level, located in Palca District of Tacna Province, in Peru. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.

Pista Palambla-Huancabamba is a high mountain track located in the province Huancabamba, in Northern Peru. In many places the road is bordered by a drop of hundreds of meters (many hundreds of feet) unprotected by guardrails. Words can’t describe the road and pictures don’t do it justice.

Punta Pumacocha is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.990m (16,371ft) above the sea level, located in the Laraos District, one of thirty-three districts of the province Yauyos in the Lima Region in Peru. The top few kms are brutal.

Abra Negro Bueno is a high mountain pass situated at 4,648m (15,249ft) above sea level, nestled in the central Peruvian Andes.

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