Laguna Chichis

Laguna Chichis is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.539m (14,891ft) above the sea level, located in the Andes of Peru, in the province Huarochirí.

The road to the lake is extreme. It’s called LM-116. Only 4x4. It’s a very dangerous cliff road unprotected by guardrails. The climb to the lake is simply terrible, with a notorius lack of oxygen that tests the organisms and a high degree of steepness. Most people feel altitude sickness at around 2,500-2,800 meters. 

One mistake and it's a free fall to your death. It’s a mind numbing vertical drop of hundreds of meters so you might want to give it a miss on a windy day. Do not travel this road in severe weather conditions. Avalanches, heavy snowfalls and landslides can occur anytime, being extremely dangerous due to frequent patches of ice. The surface on this gravel road is often loose, especially along the sides of the road. Due its unique location and the climb in elevation over thousands of feet, and passing through remote areas, it is important when driving in these conditions to be prepared. 

 

• Laguna Alcacocha
• The Road to Caliz Pass in the Andes: Be Ready to Make Room for Oncoming Vehicles