Take the Scenic Route and Discover Abra de Lares in Cusco
Abra de Lares is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.443m (14,576ft) above the sea level, located in Calca Province of Cusco Region of Peru.
Set high in the Andes mountain range, the road to the summit is totally paved but very narrow, impassable for 2 cars at the same time. The road, without guardrails and with huge drops, is not for the sissies. Avoid it during rains.
Tucked away in the southern part of the country, the road features countless sharp hairpin turns. To drive the road without stopping will take most people between 1.5 and 2.5 hours.
The pass is 56km (34.7 miles) long running from Calca (the capital of Calca Province) to Laris. The road to the summit is very steep, hitting a 10% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps.
Pic: Audric Laverdière