Arequipa · Peru
Abra Patapampa
PE-34AChivay to Arequipa
A fully paved high-altitude road from Colca Canyon to Arequipa, cresting Abra Patapampa at 4,879 m, one of the highest paved passes in the Americas, with panoramas of the active volcanoes Sabancaya and Ampato.
From Chivay at the head of the Colca Canyon the paved road climbs steadily across altiplano grasslands of vicuñas and alpacas. At 4,879 m, Abra Patapampa is marked by stone apachetas and a viewpoint taking in Hualca Hualca, Sabancaya and Ampato, three volcanoes in one panorama. The surface is good, gradients gentle, traffic light, before the long descent through puna to Arequipa.
On the road
The road runs from Chivay to Arequipa. It climbs out of the Colca valley to the pass. On the way down to the city it crosses the Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve. The reserve was created in 1979 to protect this high puna country, with its vicuñas and its wetlands, known locally as bofedales.
The driving is easy, but the altitude is not. Near 5,000 metres, soroche, or altitude sickness, is a real risk. Climb gradually if you can, drink plenty of water and move slowly at the top. Head down if symptoms get worse. Coca tea is a local habit, not a cure.
At the pass, small stone cairns called apachetas stand around the viewpoint, left by travellers as offerings to the mountains. Look, but leave them as they are. Local sellers offer woollen hats, gloves and scarves. On a clear day you can pick out up to seven volcanoes, including Sabancaya, which has been erupting since 2016. Lower down, Pampa Cañahuas is the best place to see wild vicuñas. The dry season, roughly May to November, gives the clearest skies, while December to March brings the rains.
Scenery
Best seasons
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Abra Patapampa on the map89.3 mi · point to point
Navigate to the start: Apple Maps · Google Maps
Character
Higher than 9 in 10 roads in the catalogue.
Corners
busiest around mile 72Elevation
under 4%4 to 8%over 8%2,336 to 4,874 mPoints of interest3 stops
- Mirador de ChilinaViewpoint85 mi in
- Mirador de los AndesViewpoint18 mi in
- Mirador de Carmen Alto ChilinaViewpoint86 mi in
Hazards
- Altitude sickness above 4,500 m
- Short gravel sections near the summit
- Ice and snow November to April
- Limited rescue services
Sources
“The road to the summit is totally paved. There is little traffic, and the gradients are mostly gentle, which means that despite its height, it is a reasonably easy drive.”
Route traced from OpenStreetMap, with its stats measured from that line. How the roads are mapped
Routes for iPhone carries Abra Patapampa offline, with live weather and a 7 day forecast.
Nearby roads
The closest great drives to Abra Patapampa.
