National roads 3N and 3S – the essence of the Peruvian adventure

You will step into the colorful world of alpine regions inhabited by the descendants of indigenous people of Peru. The straight asphalt road ends there and a spiral of sensations begins. For 70 km you can enjoy the view of beautiful mountains and little villages that emerge at every corner and observe people working in the field or grazing animals. The route is very pleasant, with good quality gravel, although at the exit from Santiago de Chuco we encountered road works and it was stressful on a short stretch of marshy sand. The altitude fluctuates at 3,000 m above sea level, so the air temperature is very good for driving, it is neither too cold nor too hot.

We made this stretch in about 3 hours, taking our time for many stops and taking photos.

This is probably the most twisted section on the entire PE-3N road. It leads through the slopes of two mountains, literally it descends from one mountain, plunges into the canyon of the Tablachaca River at an altitude of 2 100 m a. s. l. and through amazing serpentine it enters the top of the other mountain. The view of the zig-zags carved in the slope is amazing. The route is asphalted, and the highest point of the route rises to a height of 3,153 m a. s. l., so the temperature is perfect for the ride.

It took us about 2 hours to drive this part, and we stopped many times to take photos.

The section from Pallasca to Chuquicara runs partly along route no. 100 by the canyon of the Tablachaca River. A steep, narrow road with blind bends and numerous chasms is considered one of the most dangerous roads in South America. Add to this crazy Peruvian drivers plus large buses that cover the entire width of the road. I must admit that driving there gives a good shot of adrenaline. The canyon views are amazing, and the winding road provides as many as 100 corners for the first 18 km. There are also rock tunnels and wooden bridges. The route starts at an altitude of 3,132 m and ends at 500 m a. s. l., so it gets really hot down there. Initially, we traveled a good gravel road, then asphalt of various quality.

It takes about 2 hours to cover the distance.

Another section of the road classified among the most dangerous roads in the world. The route winds along the Rio Santa River, where the two mountain ranges meet: Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera Negra, which are situated parallel along the road creating an amazing gorge. The dangers include a narrow road with precipices for several hundred meters and dozens of tight tunnels in which you pray not to meet Peruvian drivers. In addition, there are sometimes rocky landslides. Today the road is asphalt, but a few years ago it was gravel and much more dangerous. The maximum altitude is 2,284 m a. s. l. and it does not fall below 1,200 m throughout the entire stretch.

Driving 51 km of this route with photo-stops takes about 1.5 hour.

It is a 190-kilometer section, which captivated us with views of the snow-capped peaks of Cordillera Blanca and silver waterfalls falling from the majestic mountains. From Huaraz, located at an altitude of 3 052 m a. s. l. the route rises to 4,684 m on the Yanashallash pass.

The whole route is paved and it takes about 3 hours to drive it.

It's a very interesting part of the PE-3N route, which leads along green, mountain slopes, and hence, with muchas curvas, that is a lot of corners. A large difference in height results in numerous, winding ramps and descents. Small, Indian villages with local products on the way add charm to the ride. You can eat, for example, a delicious potato stuffed with meat for as little as 30 cents (yes, we do understand now the striking farmers who get pennies for their harvest). The road is partially paved with gravel sections, and here and there with a lot of holes, which are difficult to omit even by motorbike.

It's about 4 hours to cover this part of the route.

The national road PE-3N in Peru connects with the road PE-3S, which runs to Cusco and further south to the border with Bolivia. The southern sister seemed to be less wild and with bigger traffic, although some parts made our hair stand. Certainly the Canyon del Rio Mantaro running along the river was unforgettable. Dangerous and demanding, because we had to cross the deepest river in our journey. Crosses placed along the road remind everyone that from time to time death collects its harvest there. Taking into account the driving style of Peruvian drivers, this sad truth is not surprising. Excessive speed on the route like this, where the road is narrow and winding, and the chasms are deep to several hundred meters, ends tragically for some.

It takes about 3 hours to cover the route.