Portezuelo de Chapiquiña: this road is not for timid drivers
Portezuelo de Chapiquiña is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.453m (14,609ft) above the sea level located in the Andes, in the Arica and Parinacota Region, in northern Chile.
The road to the summit is called A-201. It’s unpaved and very steep. Do not travel this road in severe weather conditions. The climb is simply terrible, with a notorius lack of oxygen that tests the organisms and a high degree of steepness. Most people feel altitude sickness at around 2,500-2,800 meters. Located west of the pass, a minor gravel road climbs up to 4.760m (15,616ft) above the sea level, via 16 hairpin turns and a 15% grade. At the summit are many communication towers.
Pic: Jose Luis Urrutia Oliva