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Santa Teresa Travel Guide powered by advice from Real Travelers

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The most dangerous road on earth.

From Cuzco, Peru in Santa Teresa, Peru on May 01 '07

Litos has visited no places in Santa Teresa
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For the next 45 minutes my life is in the hands of the unknown driver of "Mountain Bus" # XI-3453.
For the next 45 minutes my life is in the hands of the unknown driver of "Mountain Bus" # XI-3453.
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OK. Maybe it wasn't the most dangerous ride on the planet that day, but I would argue it was one of them. Our truck moved quickly through a small river, an active landslide, jungle-like foliage, and across unbelievably narrow roads. The pictures do not lie - there were times when our tire was right at the edge of a 1,500 ft cliff (road). One very small move and we would absolutely die. It was the ultimate ride, and it is no longer available to travelers. Two days later our guide Miguel told us that 150 feet of road was destroyed by a massive landslide. It wiped out part of a town! We made it out by the skin of our teeth.

Just 5 minutes into the ride we cross over waterfall!
Just 5 minutes into the ride we cross over waterfall!
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From Santa Teresa we took yet another harrowing mini-bus ride to the train station at La Oroya - Hydroelectrica. From there, we caught the train through the backside of Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes "Hot Springs". This is where everyone goes on their way to the great Machu Picchu.

Have you ever seen the ground move below your feet?

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