Ruta Nacional 52 Abra del Acay High Pass
Highest road in the Americas at 16,043 feet
At 4,895 meters above sea level, Abra del Acay stands as the highest navigable pass in the Western Hemisphere, where RN52 cuts a brutal line across the Puna de Atacama between snow-capped peaks and windswept altiplano. The 240-kilometer route from Salta climbs relentlessly through San Antonio de los Cobres, past abandoned mining camps and salt flats that stretch to impossible horizons, before the final 40-kilometer assault to the pass where altitude sickness hits like a sledgehammer.
This expert-level route isn’t about technical driving — it’s about surviving 16,000 feet of elevation in a machine that’s gasping for air like you are. Any vehicle can make it if mechanically sound, but carry spare fuel, water, and altitude medication. Weather windows are critical — May through September only, and even then storms can shut the pass for days. Chilean border crossing adds bureaucracy, but the payoff is joining the thin ranks of drivers who’ve touched the roof of the Americas on four wheels.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Expert |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route |
| Surface | Mixed |
| Features | High Altitude, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 149 mi / 240 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 16043 ft |
| Best season | May-September |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock vehicle with good condition |
| Nearest town | San Antonio de los Cobres, Salta |
| Land manager | Argentine National Road Administration |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock SUV handle Abra del Acay or do I need a lifted rig?
A stock vehicle in solid mechanical condition can technically make it, but your engine will be gasping — naturally aspirated motors lose roughly 40% power at 16,000 feet. Turbocharged engines handle the altitude better; worn cooling systems, carbureted engines, and anything already running rough should stay home.
What months is Abra del Acay actually passable?
May through September is the dry season and your best window. December through March brings Andean summer storms that can wash out sections and make the high pass genuinely dangerous — snow, ice, and flash flooding are all real risks outside the dry season.
Do I need any permits or pay fees to drive Ruta 52 through Abra del Acay?
No permit or fee is required to drive the route itself — it's a national road administered by Argentina's vialidad nacional. If you're crossing into Chile at the far end, have your vehicle documentation, passport, and CITES paperwork sorted if you're carrying any restricted items.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually expect?
The switchbacks climbing to the Abra del Acay summit are the crux — steep, narrow, and partially unpaved with loose rock and sheer drop-offs. At that altitude, brake fade is a real concern on descent, and altitude sickness hits fast; if anyone in the vehicle starts showing serious symptoms, you turn around, no debate.
How far is the nearest fuel stop and should I carry extra?
San Antonio de los Cobres has fuel but supply can be unreliable — fill completely there and carry at minimum 20 extra liters. The route is 149 miles through remote altiplano with zero services, no cell signal anywhere on the pass, and the nearest serious help is hours away in Salta.
Trail track
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