Bolivia’s Road of Death

The Road of Death, properly known as the North Yungas Road, is the only road connecting several small villages in the Yungas region of Bolivia to the rest of LaPaz and the outside world. In Spanish, the road is known as El Camino de la Muerta (the Road of Death).There are actually two treacherous roads in the area: the North Yungas Road and a southern Yungas Road. Each are approximately 40 miles long and have been the site of dozens of horrible deaths as those who were a little too daring plunged to their deaths.

The road was originally built in 1930 at the time of the Chaco War. The road begins by ascending an incredible 5 kilometers (three miles) before falling 300 meters. The road is the width of one car lane and has absolutely no guardrails, making any trek along this road a harrowing experience.

While the number of casualties on the Road of Death is not officially published, it is believed that between two and three hundred people die on it each year. Drivers, hikers, and bicyclists alike have plunged to their deaths as the road twists and turns. If the conditions of the roads weren't enough, the area is frequently blanketed by rainy conditions and fog, both of which make visibility and safety even more difficult.

As you carefully drive the dirt roads, be cautious of embankments and areas where the road has begun to crumble away. The one lane road is the site of many arguments, as vehicles going in opposite directions will meet and battle over who will reverse or, frighteningly, try to pass the other vehicle on the outside edge of the road.

In one year alone over 25 vehicles flew off the side of the cliff, an average of one car every other week. Bus crashes have killed hundreds of people and bikers who aren't careful have been known to hit rocks and flip off of their bikes. Those who don't fall over the edge need to worry about cars that can't see them coming around the curves.

Despite the dangers associated with the road, the search for an adrenaline rush has made the Road of Death a popular tourist attraction, especially over the past 15 years. Mountain bikers, particularly, seem to enjoy the idea of starting at the top and biking the entire path downhill. I'd personally prefer to keep my feet on solid ground.

While the site of the Road of Death is incredible, the stories we've been told tell of nothing but accidents and horror. The road was born out of necessity, but need not cause more harm than it already has. Fortunately, a safer path between La Paz and Corioco is under construction and will be completed in the near future , with the potential to save hundreds of lives.