Anyone who thinks you can only find insane climbs in Europe has not looked enough on our site. We love destinations 'off the beaten track' and with, for example Taiwan, Patagonia or the US, beautiful alternatives can already be found. One of the gems abroad is the Paso Nacional de los Libertadores. Many an instagram account shares pictures of this monster climb in South America. Not only because of the beauty of the hairpin bends, 29 in total, which appear to have been constructed against the mountain almost by an artist. The initial altitude of the climb (2800 metres) and the sometimes bizarre weather conditions also give the climb mythical status. Also, did we mention the heavy freight traffic?
(c) Karora - Own work
The beautiful side
Highway 60 from Chile to Argentina. The connecting road between Santiago de Chile and the city of Mendoza in Argentina. You can speak of a beautiful side and a less beautiful side here. Because the bizarre amount of hairpin turns, divided into several sections, are on the Chilean side of this climb. Just before the hamlet of Rio Blanco, the road starts to ascend. Take note: you are already at an altitude of 1,200 metres here and you end up bridging almost 2,900 (!) altimeters in this climb.
Stumbling 20 kilometres
Note: the first 20 kilometres of this climb are almost a straight line uphill. It is not so steep yet here, as you ride a total of 850 altitude metres over this section, but then you start the real climb. Then the first hairpins appear and the percentages quickly go into double figures! There is actually one really steep section in the first 20 kilometres, between kilometre six and kilometre eight. There you briefly get into the double digits (11 a 12%).
Cross
At the junction near the Refugio Regimiento Yungay and the road to the hamlet of La Yesera, you will finally see them: the famous hairpin bends. You'll want to catch your breath here at this junction and make a cross too. Because you've just covered 20 kilometres, but now you have to go up another 24.5 kilometres. The hairpin turns start at an altitude of around 2250 metres. The air is thin here and you will really have to find the right rhythm to avoid breaking down completely here. Again: the steepness of the climb is not the problem. It's the combination with the high altitude, the length and the traffic. That's the trick. Hence: strike another cross in Catholic Chile. A little help from above is no luxury.
Equally steep
You don't expect it, but the first kilometre is wonky. You really go up at 11-12% and you will really have to have the right gear and legs to cope. After about a kilometre it flattens out a bit, but the climb is very irregular. After 28 kilometres, you come to a second section of hairpins. You are now at 2600 metres altitude here. This section with seven curves is also irregular. Sometimes 4% and sometimes 14(!). Little time to get into a rhythm.
The real climb
At 37 kilometres from the start, with nine kilometres to go, you come to the second section of hairpin turns. This is the familiar image you see passing by on the internet and actually the real start of the climb. But then again, you don't get there by being dropped by helicopter, so the other part is part of it.
Here you have winding bends with trucks overtaking you tightly. Snow-covered peaks in winter. That work. The hairpin bends here follow each other in rapid succession and in terms of steepness, you have to expect double digits here too. This section is really high, you climb from 3100 to 3800 metres and it averages around 8%. European peaks are really nothing here, as there the 'fun' stops at about 2800 metres. Don't forget to look around once in a while?
Redemption
Once towards the top, you still have to pass through a tunnel, that of Christ the Redeemer. It will also be real and redemption when you get there. When you get to the top you will also see a big Christ statue and here you have finally reached the border with Argentina. This is where you rightly sit down for a while. And not just to recover from the immense feat you have accomplished. The descent is one to do later. Towards Argentina, it is a very long, almost straight runner. Back to the starting point you will have to be really sharp. Those hairpin turns up is cool, but down, with all the traffic....
Weather
We mentioned it briefly, but the weather on this high mountain pass is treacherous. It can be brilliantly sunny, but you will really have to take into account the factors of snow, wind, cold and a combination of everything. Not for nothing have people been stuck there because of the bad weather conditions. So make sure you carry enough food, drinks, clothes, gloves, the whole shabang. Better to be along for the ride, than to be uninvolved.
