Abra del Acay — South America’s Highest National Road Summit

This is the real deal. Abra del Acay sits on Ruta Nacional 40 between Cachi and San Antonio de los Cobres, punching above 4,900 meters through a raw volcanic landscape of frost-shattered rock, yellow paja brava grass, and thin blue sky. There’s no infrastructure — no sign, no guard rail, no fuel. Just altitude, silence, and the occasional viscacha watching you overheat. Acclimatize before you run this; altitude sickness at the summit is no joke, and the nearest medical help is hours away in either direction.

The road surface deteriorates significantly above 4,000m — expect loose rock, off-camber sections, and mud if weather has rolled through. No trailers. High-clearance 4WD strongly recommended. Best tackled mid-morning before afternoon thunderstorms build from November through March. Winter (June–August) can bring snow and ice; the road may close without notice. Carry extra fuel — the leg from Cachi to San Antonio is long and exposed.

Highest national road summit in South America.