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Great Roads in South America - what are they? Great Roads in South America - what are they?
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Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
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Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 18 Dec 2007
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Great Roads in South America - what are they?
Too many to name, but just in Argentina, Rta. 9 between Salta and Jujuy is pretty OK with it's one-lane, yet two-way traffic on a smooth tarmac surface with its 60 km length and 2000 turns. Then there is the gravel road 52 between Upsallata and Mendoza that goes through Villavicencio. The scenery is more than spectacular. Oh yeah, the dirt road, Rta. 173, south of San Rafael that goes to El Nihuil is real nice as well. Then there's .............

Steep
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  #2  
Old 20 Dec 2007
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agree with knetic, theres to many to mention, but the one that stands out in my memory and will always be there is the dirt road from chuquibamba to cotahausi in southern peru. About 130km of brutal dirt, sand, loose boulders, single track with drops into the abyss and generaly everything a road could through at you.... accending to around 15500 feet... rode it in may 07 and i think they are trying to upgrade the road, so if you want a test, ride it as soon as ya can.. leave enough daylight though. we ended riding half of it at night. was the most testing experience i have ever experienced.... had to ride back out the same route, coz its the only way in and out of cotahausi... but in the daylight it was amazing, the scenery is spectacular. The cotahausi canyon is one of the most idealic places i have ever been lucky enough to see, absolutly stunning beauty..... mind you, where in peru isnt it the most stunning beauty !
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  #3  
Old 20 Dec 2007
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Cuzco to Nazca, unbelievable.

Oruro in Bolivia directly west to Iquique, Chile, awesome. Arica, Chile, to La Paz via the place starting with "P" (sorry, forget the name). Basically anytime you're going from the Altiplano down to sea level (or vice versa) is awesome.

Also, Potosi to Oruro (Bolivia).

These above are all tarmac (except Oruro to the border to Chile). For dirt kicks the Careterra Austral is hard to beat. Junin de los Andes to Pucon also very good (head south from Junin by about 5 k's and turn right). There's a lovely looking lakeside campsite on this road as well and a tiny, very friendly, border crossing.

From Futulefu to El Bolson there is a natinonal park you can ride thorugh which is gravel, great fun and loads of nice camping too.
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Old 20 Dec 2007
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Best combination of fun riding and beautiful landscape is Carretera Austral, especially the southern end around Lago General and then continuing down ruta 40. Dirt/ sand from Uyuni to Chile via Laguna Colorado and Laguna Verde. For paved twisties there are too many to mention. Mendoza - Santiago was good. Nazca - Cusco was good but it has a long boring ride through the altiplano.
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Old 18 Feb 2008
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For me, the (mostly) smooth almost 800 km pavement between Nazca and Cusco had everything I want. Hundreds of curves in all kinds, long flat high plains, sudden drops into canyons, very little traffic... and a fantastic arrival.
My monthly ride up the Andes to Huaraz is still exciting after a hundred runs..
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Old 25 Feb 2008
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Thumbs up can recomend it!
Just done it this february again and allways a pleasure to do.Speedy curves and stunning views all the time.Changing climates zones too.From rainy wet cordoba into the semi desertic traslasierras!You see and smell the diferences on both sides.
Passing by Cordoba don´t skip this one.
Can return by "el paso de los gigantes" or take the route from Merlo up the sierras through La cruz!
This area is mostly missed,a true beauty.
Look at my blog for few pictures
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Old 25 Feb 2008
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I'm sitting in Mina Clavero at the moment, doing the internet thing waiting for the rain to stop. It's been raining every day in this area the five days I've been around here. So its funny this thread was updated the last 24 hours.

Quote:
Originally Posted by waterfox View Post
I'll propose the road betmeen Villa Carlos Paz and Mina Clavero in Cordoba Argentina, 160 Km very tight curves, a bit cold at the top, and never rains in winter....
Ah...don´t want to waste this opportunity (RP20) riding in the rain.

Quote:
Originally Posted by BCK_973
Can return by "el paso de los gigantes" or take the route from Merlo up the sierras through La cruz!
This area is mostly missed,a true beauty.
And this road (RP5) from Merlo over to La Cruz is currently closed - suspect the rain caused a slide or perhaps killed a bridge - the police won't let anyone through.

One of the best roads I've done in SA was the 100km or so of pavement up from the south into Coyhaique, Chile. Excellent pavement, well engineered road, no sheep/goats/cows/llamas/etc. to contend with. At least, after doing Ruta 40 up from TDF and then the Carretera Austral down to Villa O'Higgins and back up, finally hitting a patch of pavement made a lasting impression.
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Old 25 Feb 2008
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Rainy summer
Hey Quastadog,sorry to read that.The days i did that was a bit cloudy but not rain.The next day was totaly clear and i was in San Javier.
The road to the top of "merlo´s mountain" is paved and with heavy rains tends to washed away!
But stunning to do.Hopefully you get a chance.If so stay for a sleep in Lutti.On the other side.
CU at Dakar?
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Last edited by BCK_973; 25 Feb 2008 at 17:54. Reason: grammer!
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Old 26 Feb 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BCK_973 View Post
CU at Dakar?
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  #10  
Old 27 Feb 2008
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Nominations
Agree with previous noinations (especially Carretera Austral, Ruta 40 and North from Salta) and would also like to add the Road of Death in Bolivia (both the old and the new roads from La Paz to Coroico) and have just done part of the Colca Canyon, which could be fantastic if it wasn´t so foggy!
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Old 1 Mar 2008
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Best Road in South America?
The road you are on! xfiltrate
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  #12  
Old 2 Mar 2008
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para los amigos del ripio
hola amigos
the road from concepcion,tucuman to andalgala,catamarca,is a must if you love ripio and scenerie,lot's of hair pin bends and loose gravel.
in conection with cafayate,tafi del valle, concepcion,andalgala,belen,cafayate it's a nice round trip and wortwhile a detour.
all the best geri
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Old 20 Mar 2008
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Ipiales to Popayan, Columbia
Just went from the border with Ecuador at Ipiales to Popayan yesterday for a lovely 300+kms of muchas curvas peligrosas y sinuosas, with some potholes, rockslides and oncoming lorry action to add some spice - a lovely road and highly recommended....
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Old 23 Mar 2008
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Actually.......
...all the way to Medellin from Cali is pretty spectacular too....
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Old 27 Mar 2008
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Peru, Huancayo to Ayacucho to Andahuaylas
The road from Huancayo (in the Peruvian Andes) to Ayacucho to Andahuaylas is rugged, yet awesome! Here are a few pics:






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