The Experience of Riding Death Road In Bolivia
Guided Tours
What to Expect
These days most adventure-seekers opt to join a guided tour, who transport everything, also ensuring that all correct equipment is provided, and experienced guides are present, followed by a briefing where the rules and risks are laid out.
Cost and Booking
Tours cost between $50 and $120 dollars, depending on who you go with and the quality of the dive company; since your life is in their hands, it’s best to opt for the better gear.
Self-Guided Adventures
Pros and Cons
You need not cross cultures to gain new self-awareness, but you do need to accept autonomy, and adaptability. The central idea of an extended trip abroad often revolves around the imagery of freedom and iconic, transformative experiences: from the early backpacker to the eternal nomad. Yet freedom carries with it responsibility to care for ourselves – in a medical emergency, we stand alone. Weigh the risks.
Navigation Tips
If you’re flying solo, have a good map on you, a charged phone, and let someone know where you’re going and when you’re expected back.
Thrilling Tales
Most people who make it down alive have stories of close shaves and thrilling moments, including a cyclist who said he nearly plunged off the edge after a thunderstorm caused the route to turn into a mudslide.
The Downpour Dilemma
Here you are halfway down the Death Road, heart pounding, adrenaline racing, and the heavens open. You are riding down a steep, narrow, winding track when a monsoon arrives. The dusty bumpy surface becomes an oily mess. One rider, Mike, described how ‘my bike started slipping sideways to forward, as if it was on an oil-slick. I pulled on the brakes to try and stop any more movement, and was trying to get round the next turn.’ His bike ‘tried to take me down to the very edge’. He brought himself up short and ‘looked up the edge. Then I eased out the brakes, and some sort of magical crouching suction thing cleared the back wheel and I was back on the track.’ When he reached the bottom, he got off his bike and pumped his fists in the air. ‘Fucking brilliant,’ he said. ‘That was the scariest moment of my life. I rounded that last corner and I could see it on the edge. It’s over.’
The Rockslide
Another close call came from Sarah, who was caught in the midst of a rock slide. She was riding with a group of others when she heard some rumbling noises up above. The group stopped and looked around – and just as they came to a halt, rocks started to fall over the edge of the mountain. The group scattered quickly, with some running to either side of the road, while Sarah’s bike was smashed by a rock that caused her to fall down. She walked away with just a few bruises, but was shaken all the same. ‘Death Road is really unpredictable’, she told me.
The Near Miss
Jake, a veteran mountain biker, told me that he nearly died on the road when he almost collided with a truck. Although traffic from vehicles declined drastically, trucks of local supply sometimes continue to use the road. Jake was heading down one particularly tight corner of the road when he heard the roar of an engine. Looking over his shoulder, Jake saw a truck in front of him, shooting down the road towards him. Jake hugged the cliff wall and braced for impact. As the truck slid by inches to his left, Jake felt the heat from the truck’s engine. ‘It was close,’ Jake said. ‘Too close.
The Lost Trail
Being lost on Death Road was a lot easier than you might think. Emma and her friends had taken a wrong turn, and found themselves on a wild, overgrown, abandoned section of the road. They backtracked through dense vegetation, increasingly defeated by fatigue and dehydration, before managing to retrace their steps after several hours. ‘It was a great adventure,’ Emma said. ‘Something I won’t be doing again anytime soon.
The Wildlife Encounter
Though the most dangerous aspects of Death Road are its tight corners and steep edges, wildlife can become quite unexpected at times. Tom, an inveterate cyclist, told me that he was caught by a group of monkeys. Rounding a corner, he came up on a bunch of monkeys sitting in the road. Tom skidded to a halt. The monkeys chattered and ran off into the trees, and his bike just narrowly escaped a fall from underneath him: ‘A bit of a shock, a bit of a scare, but it’s a great story at the end of it.
Lessons Learned
Survivors stress the need to respect the road. Pride has no place here. Humility is key. Keep your wits about you. Know your limits.
The Impact on Local Communities
Economic Influence
Their visit helps support the local economy, breathing life into towns such as Coroico, which have flourished in areas once reliant on tourists riding the Death Road.
Environmental Concerns
But growth in tourism numbers has led to fears about the conservation of one of the last areas of rainforest that remains. Measures are now being taken to ensure that economic development and environmental concerns can be reconciled.
Conclusion
Is it worth your time to dare Death Road? Can you deal with the spills and the thrills of the World’s Most Dangerous Road, known as De Muerte or Yungas Road in Spanish? For those who are bold enough, La Paz becomes the departure point for an invigorating 37-mile journey. ‘Respect the road,’ says Depp. ‘Prepare, and savor your ride.’
FAQs
Is Death Road suitable for beginner cyclists?
No. Death Road is not a good place for beginner cyclists. It is quite rough and dangerous.
What is the best time of year to visit Death Road?
The dry season (May to October) is a safer time since the roads are more stable.
Can I drive a car on Death Road?
It’s doable, but I wouldn’t recommend it – it’s very narrow, has no impressive views, and is quite dangerous. Most people take bicycles or a tour.
How long does it take to complete the Death Road route?
In 4, 5 hours you do a bike trip down from La Paz to Coroico, depending on how you are and on the weather.
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