San Pedro de Atacama to Paso de Jama

Chile’s road to Paso de Jama climbs about 2,400 m from San Pedro de Atacama to 4,832 m at Portezuelo Paranal, then crosses salt flats and lagoons in Los Flamencos National Reserve with no fuel until the border.

Ruta 27 leaves the eastern edge of San Pedro de Atacama, at about 2,400 m, and climbs long and steep towards Licancabur, past the Chilean post for the Hito Cajón crossing into Bolivia; the steepest ramps reach 12.6%. It tops out at 4,832 m at Portezuelo Paranal, one of the highest paved roads in South America, then runs across an arid high plateau past the Salar de Pujsa and the Salar de Tara and Aguas Calientes sectors of Los Flamencos National Reserve. Much of the plateau is straight and the best views come on the descent from the pass; the wind-carved pillars of the Monjes de la Pacana stand just off the road, with a rough track on towards the Salar de Tara. Past the Salar de Quisquiro the road reaches the Argentine border at Paso de Jama, 4,283 m, where it becomes RN 52. Opened in 1991 and paved throughout by 2005, it carries trucks between northern Argentina and the Chilean ports, and there is no fuel after San Pedro.