Cañón del Pato

The canyon stretches along the Rio Santa River where the Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera Negra mountain ranges converge to within 6 meters of each other.

Construction of the highway through the canyon started in 1952 at Caraz, leading to the creation of 35 tunnels carved directly into the mountain rock.

The name derives from the former name of Huallanco town, which was called Patos, rather than from the Spanish word for duck.

The road spans 52 kilometers from Caraz to Yuracmarca, featuring narrow passages that require careful navigation and additional time for two-way traffic.

Engineers created a system where water from Rio Santa is diverted through tunnels to power the hydroelectric facility at Huallanca.

Location: Ancash Department

GPS coordinates: -8.66667,-78.05000

Latest update: May 27, 2025 11:30