Bolivia
The road up to volcan Uturunco is closed with a iron barrier at this point. Motor cycles can get around it. If you are an excellent offroad driver with a light and well equipped 4x4 (and a bit nuts as well) you could drive around it (maybe). In Quetena Chica you can organize a key and you have to hire a guide as well. The road to the highest point is not very steep, graded and only at 5630m is a tricky and steep passage. A strong car will master it. The walking track to the top is easy to find and technically very easy.
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barrier moved up the hill for 300m, definetly not passable with a car. so you can show your rear driving skills on this narrow road, until you can Turn/Park at the old barrier. It's Not okay, that for this easy walking mountain a guide is mandatory...so it will be a long day from this point to the summit today.
Check your navigation system while driving up the hill. Take the road from Quetena Chico...i almost got stuck driving a supernarrow other trail osmand recommend;)
you need a guide to do the volcano. it’s 450 bob for a group of 6 (same price if you go alone. absolutely fair price for what you get. the tour takes about 8 hours. drive up to 5.733m then walk about 2,5 hours. only 4x4 and good drivers. when we drive 2-3 very difficult passages. very cold and windy. diesel cars might get in trouble. no big cars possible. digno is a very nice and well experienced guide. absolutely recommended.
Report Check-InWe spent 1 hour to find Marcelo Berna (the guy from the information centre in Quetena Chico, look at photos there is his mobile number), but no luck so we drove 16 kilometres to check the barrier. Well, it's still there! Tried to drive the barrier around, but our car was too heavy (4runner full of stuff!). Last 2 metres of the hill were soft sand and the car didn't manage it.
When we gave up and started to drive back one tour car showed up- we asked to let us in, but the guide said we had to pay 450 BOB per car (in the meantime other overlanders came and it was 4 people/2 cars, 2x450 BOB). Rip off (£90 for opening the gate, what?!), so we said no and drove away.
Btw, there is another gravel road leading to Uturunku (and an iron barrier) so if you want to pass a checkpoint... Coordinates: -22.149706 -67.114455 The road is covered by OSM.
Report Check-InThe guide costs B$450 for a group of max 6 persons. You need 2h to get from Queneta to the end of the road and 1-1.5h to reach the summit (leaving the car below the steep part at 5610m adds 30 minutes) and 20-30 minutes to descent. Great views from the top at sunrise and very easy hike. Oh, it is hard to imagine expedition vehicle, which could by-pass the iron blockade.
Report Check-InThe road up to volcan Uturunco is closed with a iron barrier at this point. Motor cycles can get around it. If you are an excellent offroad driver with a light and well equiped 4x4 (and a bit nuts as well) you could drive around it (maybe). In Quetena Chica you can organize a key and you have to hire a guide as well. The road to the highest point is not very steep, graded and only at 5630m is a tricky and steep passage. A strong car will master it. The walking track to the top is easy to find and technically very easy.
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