This is a beautiful ride to the base camp of Pissis, the third highest peak in the Andes. The unpaved road is not in too awful condition for the most part, and there are good views of a number of lakes and many of the Puna’s highest peaks.
There are only a couple water sources en route to the base camp, and nowhere to buy supplies after Fiambala.
| Dist | Alt | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 3290 | Turn off paving at Pastos Largos/Coipa. |
| 5.1 | 3550 | House, water. By stream. |
| 18.6 | 4430 | Last water this side of pass. |
| 18.9 | 4440 | R. L to ? |
| 21.1 | 4550 | Abra Aparejos. Bonete comes into view. |
| 32.3 | 4230 | R – signed ‘Laguna Azul 19km’. (L goes to mine buildings by Laguna Aparejos) |
| 40.0 | 4570 | R. |
| 40.6 | 4630 | High point. |
| 41.5 | 4550 | Low point. |
| 44.4 | 4730 | Abra Laguna Celeste |
| 50.6 | 4460 | By Laguna Celeste. |
| 54.0 | 4550 | Balcon del Pissis. Great views of Pissis and Lag Negra. |
| 67.1 | 4100 | Leave shores of Laguna Negra and begin climbing. |
| 75.5 | 4170 | L – signed ‘Monte Pissis’. |
| 76.6 | 4180 | Cross river from Valle Ancho. Bit salty, wormy, but drinkable. |
| ~90.5 | 4580 | Pissis ‘Mar del Plata’ base camp. |
| Pissis BC | Details |
| Distance (of which paved) | 90km (0km) – one way |
| Time taken | 3 days – one way |
| Amount climbed | 2,750m |
| Traffic | 1 car in 3 days. |
| Best time to cycle | Nov-Jan, Mar |
| When we cycled | Jan 2014 |
| Difficulty | 5 |
| How much we had to push on this route | 6km |
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