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.

Carretera del Valle de los Volcanes is a high mountain road located in the province of Castilla, in Arequipa, in southern Peru. The drive is a great tourist circuit offering more than 85 volcanic cones.

Laguna Yantac is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.641m (15,226ft) above the sea level located in the Andes, in the Yauli Province in the Junín Region in Peru.

Carretera LM-108 is a mountain road located in central Peru, in the region Lima. There are some narrow sections impassable for two cars at the same time.

Abra de Toroya is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.750m (15,583ft) above the sea level, located in the Puno department, in southeastern Peru.

Carretera 110 is a high mountain road located in northern Peru. Hair raising stuff ! There is absolutely no room for mistakes.

San José de Parac is a high mountain town at an elevation of 3.815m (12,516ft) above the sea level, located in San Mateo District, in the province Huarochirí of 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.

Abra Huamanripa is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.879m (16,007ft) above the sea level, located in the Departamento de Ancash, Peru.

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.

Located on the border of La Libertad and Ancash regions in northwestern Peru, Tablachaca Canyon has been carved by the Tablachaca river over millions of years.

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.

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.

Located within the Huascarán National Park, in the Ancash Region of Peru, Laguna de Querococha is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3.980m (13,060ft) above the sea level.

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.

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.

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”.

Pacaraos is a high mountain town at an elevation of 3.331m (10,928ft) above the sea level, located in the province Huaral in Peru. The road to reach the town is terrible. In some places is only wide enough for one vehicle, and in many places is bordered by a drop of 300 meters unprotected by guardrails.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 Lauricocha is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.041m (13,257ft) above the sea level, located in the Andes of Peru, in the Lauricocha Province, Cauri District.

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.

Google Earth lets you enjoy the virtual journey through all over the world for free but often shows some confusing sights around the world. If you thought it was just for getting directions, you're sorely mistaken. Half the fun of Google Earth is using it to explore the world.

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.

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