Cuesta de la Chilca
Located in Catamarca Province, Argentina, Cuesta de la Chilca is an astonishing piece of mountain road engineering. It climbs sharply via 27 hairpin turns tightly stacked one on top of another. It's an improbable road clinging to the edge of the cliff.
The road is called Ruta Provincial 48. It’s a dirt narrow path of difficult access. This road tests the skill, and courage, of any driver. It’s definitely not for anyone suffering from vertigo or a fear of landslides. Expect heavy traffic, rains and fog all year. The zone is prone to heavy mist and can be dangerous in low visibility conditions. Don’t stuff your belly too much. Eventually, you might feel vomiting temptations while climbing circuitous roads at higher altitudes. In many places the road is bordered by a drop of hundreds of meters (many hundreds of feet) unprotected by guardrails.
The road is very narrow and steep. Cuesta de la Chilca is 14.5km long. The climb starts at 1.175m above the sea level and ends at 1.875m. Over this distance the elevation gain is 700 meters. The average percentage is 4.82% with sections up to 10%. The surface on this gravel road is often loose, especially along the sides of the road.
Due its unique location and the climb in elevation over thousands of feet, and passing through remote areas, it is important when driving in these conditions to be prepared. This track can get very muddy and slippery after rain making it challenging to get through. During and after a storm the road may be impassable, even with a four-wheel-drive vehicle.
Road suggested by: Hugh Wilson
Pic: MARCELO SOSA