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.

Punta Huarapasca is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.815m (15,797ft) above the sea level, located in the Huascarán National Park of Peru.

Laguna Marcapomacocha is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.470m (14,665ft) above the sea level located in Yauli Province in the Junín Region in Peru.

Located in the province of Yauyos, in the Lima Region of Peru, the road through the Ushco canyon is, truly, one of the most spectacular drives in the world. It’s called Garganta del Diablo (Devil's throat).

Laguna de Pacucha is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3.100m (10,170ft) above the sea level, located in the Andahuaylas Province in the Apurímac Region, in Peru.

Meseta Marcahuasi is a high mountain plateau at an elevation of 4.100m (13,451ft) above the sea level, located in the Andes Mountains of Peru. The place is known for curious shapes of human faces and animals visible in granite rock.

Abra Condorillo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.993m (16,381ft) above sea level, located in the Arequipa region of Peru.

Carretera PA-106 is a high mountain gravel road located in the province of Pasco in Peru. The road is very rough--only try driving it in a 2wd car, if you're planning to buy a new car.

Carretera 1NC is a spectacular road located in the Andes of Peru. The road unfolds for over 47 km, almost entirely over 4.500 meters above the sea level. The highest point of the road is Abra Antajirca, at 4.780m (15,682ft) above the sea level.

Punta Pumacocha is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.990m (16,371ft) above the sea level, located in the Laraos District, one of thirty-three districts of the province Yauyos in the Lima Region in Peru. The top few kms are brutal.

Pista Palambla-Huancabamba is a high mountain track located in the province Huancabamba, in Northern Peru. In many places the road is bordered by a drop of hundreds of meters (many hundreds of feet) unprotected by guardrails. Words can’t describe the road and pictures don’t do it justice.

Located in the province of Tacna in Peru, Paso de los Vientos is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.012m (16,443ft) above the sea level.

Located in the Andahuaylas Province in the Apurímac Region, in Peru, the Andahuaylas Airport is a high mountain airport at an elevation of 3.444m (11,300ft) above the sea level.

Abra Rit'ipata is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.947m (16,230ft) above the sea level, located in the Apolobamba mountain range in the Andes of Peru.

Abra del Negro Bueno is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.647m (15,246ft) above the sea level located in the province Concepción in Peru.

Llanganuco Chinancocha is a high mountain crystal blue lake located in the Cordillera Blanca in the Andes of Peru at an elevation of 3.850m (12,631ft) above the sea level.

Laguna Chuchon is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.465m (14,648ft) above the sea level, located in the Lima Region, in western Peru.

Abra Suijo, also known as Abra Suyoc, is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.706m (15,439ft) above the sea level, located in central Peru.

Abra de Porcuya is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.137m (7,011ft) above the sea level, located in the province Huancabamba in Peru.

Laguna Pallarcocha is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.740m (15,550ft) above the sea level located in the Arequipa Region, Condesuyos Province, Andaray District of Peru.

Quebrada Honda is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 4.901m (16,079ft) above the sea level, located in the Carhuaz Province, in the Ancash Region of Peru.

Abra Chucopampa is an extreme high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.858m (15,938ft) above the sea level, located in the Cajamarca department, in Peru. The climb is brutal and cruel.

Refugio Salkantay is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 3.849m (12,627ft) above the sea level, located in the Cusco Region, in Peru. Your wheels will be astounded at the wonderful views of the mountains spread out before you! They are terrible for drivers who are prone to vertigo. In many places the road is bordered by a drop of hundreds of meters (many hundreds of feet) unprotected by guardrails.

Located in the province of Pallasca in Peru, Carretera 101 is one of the most dangerous roads in the world. There are vertigo-inducing depths of up to 1.200m. Only the suicidal, the insane, or the paid-to-do-this should ever drive down.

Located between the departments of Tacna and Puno, in the Andean Cordillera, near Peru’s border with Bolivia, Carretera 38 is an extreme high mountain road running entirely over the 3.200m above the sea level.

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 LM-108 is a mountain road located in central Peru, in the region Lima. There are some narrow sections impassable for two cars at the same time.

Laguna Yantac is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.641m (15,226ft) above the sea level located in the Andes, in the Yauli Province in the Junín Region in Peru.

Abra de Toroya is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.750m (15,583ft) above the sea level, located in the Puno department, in southeastern Peru.

Carretera 110 is a high mountain road located in northern Peru. Hair raising stuff ! There is absolutely no room for mistakes.

Punta Ushuayca is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.930m (16,174ft) above the sea level, located in the Lima Region, Huarochiri Province of Peru.

Laguna Paucarcocha is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.284m (14,055ft) above the sea level located in the province of Yauyos in Peru.

San José de Parac is a high mountain town at an elevation of 3.815m (12,516ft) above the sea level, located in San Mateo District, in the province Huarochirí of Peru.

Carretera Puquina-Salinas Moche is a high mountain road located in the Andes of Peru. It runs entirely over the 3.600m above the sea level.

Laguna Aricota is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3.106m (10,190ft) above the sea level, located in the Tacna Region in southern Peru.

Llanganuco Orconcocha is a high mountain crystal blue lake located in the Cordillera Blanca in the Andes of Peru at an elevation of 3.850m (12,631ft) above the sea level.

Located within the Huascarán National Park, in the Ancash Region of Peru, Laguna de Querococha is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3.980m (13,060ft) above the sea level.

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