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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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”.

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 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.

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.

Abra Llullita is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.658m (15,282ft) above the sea level, located in southern Peru, in the region of Apurímac.

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.

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.

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.

Punta Seis Lagos is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.826m (15,833ft) above the sea level, located in the Andes 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Loriscota is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.550m (14,927ft) above the sea level, located in Puno Region, Peru.

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.

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Paso Esperanza is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.782m (15,689ft) above the sea level, located in the Puno region, in Peru.

Punta Chanca is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.852m (15,918ft) above the sea level, located in the Department of Lima, in Central Peru.

Queropalca is a high mountain town at an elevation of 3.971m (13,028ft) above the sea level, located in the Andes of Peru, in the Lauricocha Province, Cauri District.

Carretera Sacaycacha-Pallasca is one of the scariest roads in the world. Located in the Pallasca Province of the Ancash region in Peru, the road has countless hazards: narrow, severe drops, very steep, without protections and a terrible weather.

Abra Alpamarca is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.711m (15,456ft) above the sea level, located in Central Peru, in the province of Junín.

Abra Tolconi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.860m (15,945ft) above the sea level, located in the Andes of Peru, in the Arequipa Region.

Punta Yahuarcocha is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.980m (16,338ft) above the sea level, located in the Angaraes province, in the region of Huancavelica, Peru

Punta Caudalosa Chica is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.990m (16,371ft) above the sea level, located in the Angaraes province, in the region of Huancavelica, Peru. It’s one of the highest drivable passes in South America.

Abra Turpo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.798m (15,741ft) above the sea level, located in the Huancavelica Province, Peru.

Chicarhuapunta is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.289m (14,071ft) above the sea level, located in the Ancash Region in Peruthe Ancash Region in Peru

Carretera Yuracmarca-Mirasanta is a high mountain road located in the Huaylas Province in the Ancash Region of Peru. The road is bordered by a drop of hundreds of meters (many hundreds of feet) unprotected by guardrails.

Abra Mio is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.764m (15,629ft) above the sea level, located in the Huaral Province, Peru.

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