Death Road (North Yungas Road)

The North Yungas Road, Once Labelled The Most Dangerous Road In The World By The Inter American Development Bank (1995) For Its Sheer Drops And Traffic Deaths. A New Road Has Taken The Traffic, And The Old Road Is Now A Popular Downhill Mountain Bike Ride Run By Licensed Operators. · Coroico, La Paz

The North Yungas Road, known as the Death Road, drops about 64 km from the La Cumbre pass at roughly 4,650 m to the Yungas town of Coroico at about 1,200 m. It is mostly unpaved, single lane, cut into a cliff with drops of around 600 m and no guard rails. Once among the deadliest roads in the world, it lost most of its traffic when a new road opened in 2006, so today it is ridden mainly by mountain bike on a guided downhill from La Paz. The ride takes four to five hours and runs from cold cloud at the top to hot, humid forest below, past waterfalls and green slopes. It is not technical, but it is dangerous if you are careless, and a number of riders have died. Choose a licensed company with good bikes and guides, stay on the inside, and follow instructions. Finish with a pool and lunch in Coroico. The road is also a memorial to the drivers and passengers who died here, so ride with respect. Go with a calm head, enough sleep, and time to enjoy the views of the Yungas, because rushing is how most accidents happen.

Old mountain road of about 64 km dropping from La Cumbre pass at 4,650 m to Coroico at about 1,200 m, ridden downhill by mountain bike from La Paz, Coroico, La Paz, Bolivia

The road is open all day and every day, but tours run in daylight only, leaving La Paz early in the morning and returning by evening. Dry season April to October is best. In heavy rain, fog or landslides the ride is CLOSED or changed, so confirm with your operator the day before.

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