Driving Route PE-20C: The Unpaved 116 km Mountain Road in Peru

Ruta Nacional PE-20C is a high-altitude mountain road straddling the Lima and Pasco regions in east-central Peru. The route connects the Pacific coast watershed with the high Andean plateau, running through the western range of the Andes.

Road facts: Route PE-20C
Location	Lima and Pasco Departments, Peru
Length	116 km (72 miles)
Max Elevation	4,783 m (15,692 ft) at Abra Antajirca
Surface	Unpaved / Dirt & Gravel

How long is Route PE-20C?

The road is 116 km (72 miles) long, running west to east from the coastal city of Huaral in the Department of Lima to the mining town of Huayllay in the Pasco Department. For more than half of its length, the road runs above 4,500 meters sea level, cutting through rock walls and high mountain basins.

Is Route PE-20C unpaved?

The road surface is entirely unpaved, consisting of a single-lane track made of packed dirt, loose river stones, and gravel. The route features narrow sections with vertical drop-offs lacking steel safety barriers. Due to nearby mining activity, multi-axle mineral haulage trucks use the route daily, creating traffic bottlenecks on the single-lane curves and cutting deep ruts into the dirt layers.

What are the mountain passes on Route PE-20C?

The track climbs over several high-altitude landmarks and water basins, including:

Abra Antajirca: A mountain pass at an elevation of 4,783m (15,692ft) above sea level, marked by a stone chapel at the summit.
Laguna Huaroncocha: A high-altitude lake flanking the roadbed at an elevation of 4,580m (15,026ft) above sea level.
Laguna Shegue: A mountain lagoon positioned along the track at an elevation of 4,580m (15,206ft) above sea level.

How challenging is Route PE-20C in winter?

Between December and March, the Andean rainy season brings flash floods and mud accumulation onto the unpaved track. At elevations near 4,800 meters, precipitation turns into snowstorms and hail, burying the road markings and freezing the surface overnight.