Famous for being one of the most dangerous roads in the world, this adrenaline-rushing activity is definitely not for the faint hearted. It had been on my bucket list for some time and it certainly did not disappoint!

After an early morning and extremely windy bus journey, you are dropped off in the clouds at a whopping 4700m above sea level. From here the exhilarating 55km downhill journey begins. Whilst tightly gripping the breaks around the hair pin bends and reminding yourself of the 1000m vertical drop below, you are surrounded by the most magnificent scenery of the jungle and rainforest- a truly spectacular sight.

Why is it called the death road?

The death road (Yungas road) was constructed in 1930 by Paraguayan prisoners during the Chaco war. The narrow 3-metre road stretches for over 40miles and for over 80 years was the only route connecting the city of La Paz and Coroico. It is estimated that in the mid 1900’s, 200-300 drivers were killed yearly on this road. One of the worst accidents took place in 1983 when a bus slid over the edge of the cliff, killing over 100 people. As you ride the death road, you will see a large number of crosses and altars marking the spots where individuals have lost their lives.

Thankfully over the last 20 years, the road conditions have improved. Yes of course, it is still dangerous, but I truthfully did not feel unsafe. The road is wider than I thought it would be.  The majority of it is still an unpaved dirt track with thousand metre drops, however due to a new bypass that was created in recent years, the number of drivers that use the old road has reduced significantly and now the most dangerous part of the old road is only really used by locals who are travelling to rural destinations only accessible by this road. Accidents do still occur however they are much less frequent. If you feel uncomfortable and are not enjoying the experience, you can seek support from the guides and they will let you ride in the bus and enjoy the scenery from there. There is a bus at the front leading the group and at the back of the group.

How difficult is it?

You do not need to be an expert cyclist to bike the death road. I rarely go bike riding and I managed it just fine. Cycling over 50km does sound intense but it is pretty much all downhill and you are going at a fast speed so it flies over. As long as you are not scared of heights, can ride a bike confidently, know how to keep control and use the breaks, you will more than likely manage just fine.

The itinerary of the day

• You are picked up at your hotel/ hostel at 6.00AM by a shared mini-bus. You will travel for a couple of hours in the van to the starting point. (Tip- if you get travel sickness, I would suggest taking some sickness tablets prior to getting into the van… it is a bumpy ride!)
• The starting point is La Cumbre at 4700m above sea level. When we arrived, it was freezing up here. I was so thankful I had brought lots of extra layers of clothing.
• You will be given the protective clothing to wear- trousers, jackets, gloves and the helmet but it is good to also have some of your own to wear underneath.

• Listen to the safety precautions, signals and then practise using the bikes.
• The first leg is tarmacked road and will take around 1 hour. You may need to overtake cars, lorries and vans or they will overtake you. You must stick to the side allowing them to overtake if needs be.
• After this you will stop for refreshments and the leaders will load the bikes back onto the bus for a 10- minute uphill journey.

• You will then begin the ‘real’ death road- a 40km bumpy dirt road. It will take around 4 hours and you will descend significantly to a height of 1200m passing by streams and waterfalls. It is an incredible scenic bike ride which is super fun. The further we descended the clearer and warmer it became. We were able to see the fantastic views and also begin to take layers off.
• You will stop for snacks and you also have an opportunity to ride a zip wire if you wish. This is not included in the price but it was a reasonable price.
• The tour finishes around 4.30/5.00 and you will finish at a hotel spot where you can enjoy a buffet, take a shower and relax in the swimming pool before travelling back to La Paz. You will get back to La Paz around 7pm depending on the traffic.

How long does it take?

It is a whole day activity so be prepared for a long day. You will be picked up around 6:00/6.30 am and return around 7/8.00pm on the evening.  The cycle route is around 55km and will take around 4-5 hours in total.

Choose the right company

There are a large number of companies in La Paz offering mountain bike tours of the death road and the prices differ greatly.

Given the reputation of this road, I was strongly advised by my mam especially, to book with a good reputable company with professional guides and well-maintained safety equipment. You can’t put a price on your life, right?

After some research, I decided to book my tour with the company ‘Altitude travel’ and I can honestly say it was excellent throughout. You can book your tour in advance using the website https://www.altitudealliance.travel/  or at the office in La Paz. If you’re a last-minute person like me, not to worry, you can book the tour a day or two before. I booked my tour through the hostel booking desk at ‘Wild Rover’ hostel.

When booking a tour, make sure you research the companies and find a reputable company to take the tour with. You should look at the company’s reviews, quality of bikes and equipment, safety of the bus, the driver and the instructors. Your tour should also provide protective equipment, helmet, bikes with suspension and gloves. This company provided all this and you could choose between two bikes- SPECIALIZED: Mountain bike, front and rear suspension (220mm), hydraulic brakes or SCOTT GENIUS: Mountain bike, front and rear suspension (160mm), hydraulic brakes. Both were well-maintained but I wanted to ensure I had the best one- just to be sure.

Price

The tour cost £73.00 GBP or $95.00 USD for the specialised bike with suspension and £62.00 or $80.00 USD for the normal one. This included pick up and drop off at the hostel, safety equipment and protective clothing, snacks and a buffet lunch and a free t-shirt.

It did not include the 50 bolivianos entrance fee in Unduavi or travel insurance. Make sure you check that your insurance covers you for this activity or add it as an extra. Accidents can and do happen and it is important you are covered.

What to take

• Warm clothes- bring extra layers, hat, gloves. It is freezing at the top.
• Trainers or hiking boots
• Sun cream- the lower you descend the warmer it gets.
• Sunglasses
• Swimming costume if you want to go in the pool at the end of the day.
• Towel/ shower gel to take a shower afterwards.
• Go Pro if you have one – you can attach it to the helmet. (The guides do take photos and videos and share them with you at the end so not to worry if you haven’t got one).

If you love adventure and thrilling activities, this activity is definitely for you. I loved biking the death road – it was one of the most scenic bike journeys I have ever been on. If you have any questions about biking the death road, I would love to hear from you so please comment below.