Volcanos Valley Road, one of the world's top drives

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.

Carretera del Valle de los Volcanes
Carretera del Valle de los Volcanes

Valley of Volcanoes road is 44.3 km long. It’s gravel and links the town of Andagua and the Cañon del Colca. The journey is famed for its unusual geological features. The drived offers breathtaking, passing through dizzyingly deep river valleys and over several 3000 meters mountain passes. This is a maintained road where a high clearance 2WD vehicle is able to travel safely at low speeds on long dry straight-of-ways, without losing control due to wash boarding, ruts, or dips.

The drive is definitely worth it. A drive not to be missed! There are many excellent photo opportunities. Don't forget your camera with lots of film/memory, fully charged batteries and an empty memory card! The valley of the volcanoes is scattered with thousands on volcanic rock formations, many of which have been carved into animal forms. Visitors seeking a destination full of natural wonders and virtually untouched by travelers will rejoice in this remote setting. The remoteness and lack of tourists make it a really special place. 
Pic: César Luque Fernández