Oquepuño Pass is one of the highest paved roads of South America

Abra Oquepuño is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.883m (16,020ft) above sea level, located in the province of Carabaya, in Peru. It’s said to be one of the highest paved roads of South America.

Abra Oquepuño

Where is Oquepuño Pass?

The pass is located in the region Puno, in the southern part of the country.

Is Oquepuño Pass paved?

The road to the summit is totally paved. It’s called Ruta nacional PE-34B, also known as Carretera Interoceanica.

How long is Oquepuño Pass?

The pass is 44km (27.34 miles) long, running north-south from Macusani (capital of the province Carabaya) to Puerto Arturo.

Is Oquepuño Pass challenging?

Set high in the Andes mountain range, at this elevation oxygen levels drop and visitors need to take adequate precautions against AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness). The summit hosts a small chapel, known as Santísima Cruz. The road to the summit is very steep, hitting an 11% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps, and has 10 hairpin turns.

 

 

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