Ruta Nacional 23 Paso de Sico High Puna Crossing

The Paso de Sico sits at 4,079 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest international border crossings accessible by vehicle in the Americas. This remote route cuts through the Puna de Atacama’s volcanic wasteland, where vicuña herds graze among ancient lava flows and the horizon shimmers with mirages. The crossing itself is marked only by scattered border posts and wind-carved stone cairns, with the nearest fuel station over 200 kilometers away in either direction.

This is expert-level high-altitude driving requiring serious preparation and mechanical reliability. Altitude sickness hits hard above 3,500 meters, and breakdowns here mean potential rescue delays of days. Travel only during dry season (May-October) with spare fuel, water for three days minimum, and cold-weather gear. The reward is absolute solitude in one of Earth’s most alien landscapes, where you’ll drive for hours seeing nothing but endless volcanic peaks and salt-crusted playas stretching to infinity.