Abra Arcata, a Most Tricky Scenic Drive
Abra Arcata is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.101m (16,735ft) above the sea level, located in the Arequipa region, in southwestern Peru. The road to the summit crosses a section inside a mine. It's one of the highest mountain roads of Peru.
The road to the summit is unpaved, but in good condition the whole way. It’s called AR-611. The road runs from Arcata (19km) to Pichirihuay (9km). After arriving to the Arcata gold and silver mine, at 4,700m above the sea level, there is a very steep kilometer, but after this it is a gentler and very beautiful climb up to the pass. Views from the top are excellent and the descent into the valley beyond the pass is fantastic.