Le Paso Jama is at 4,440m altitude. Suffice to say it gets really cold at night! But most people only pass through on their way to the Atacama Desert. It's a pleasant cross-border route if only just for a brief stopover. If you have your own car, you can stop for a picnic by one of the two lakes that are below the pass and home to flocks of pink flamingos.
The route is stunning - an endless landscape of ochres, yellows, browns, greens, blues set against a snowy, mountainous backdrop. Hardier travellers have been known to cycle along the pass; for my part, admiring the breathtaking view from the comfort of a car was perfect!
One piece of advice...make sure you fill up on petrol at the border. Although it may be more expensive than elsewhere, you'll have a hard time finding a petrol station along the pass. If needs be, you can head to one of the two border towns that sit on either side of the frontier.
Le Paso Jama is at 4,440m altitude. Suffice to say it gets really cold at night! But most people only pass through on their way to the Atacama Desert. It's a pleasant cross-border route if only just for a brief stopover. If you have your own car, you can stop for a picnic by one of the two lakes that are below the pass and home to flocks of pink flamingos.
The route is stunning - an endless landscape of ochres, yellows, browns, greens, blues set against a snowy, mountainous backdrop. Hardier travellers have been known to cycle along the pass; for my part, admiring the breathtaking view from the comfort of a car was perfect!
One piece of advice...make sure you fill up on petrol at the border. Although it may be more expensive than elsewhere, you'll have a hard time finding a petrol station along the pass. If needs be, you can head to one of the two border towns that sit on either side of the frontier.