The North Yungas Road or “El Camino de la Muerte” (Road of Death) is notoriously known as one of the world’s most dangerous roads and is found in Bolivia, just near the northern Amazon Rainforest. Less vehicles drive along North Yungas today but it has become a popular tourist destination – read on to find out why.
North Yungas Road, Bolivia
Before 2006, this was the only road leading from La Paz to Coroico and was one of the few routes that allowed travelers to go from the Amazon rainforest in Bolivia to Yungas. From Le Paz, the road ascends 5km and then descends to 330 meters through steep hillside roads. The width of North Yungas is a single-lane width with no guard rails. When rain, fog, rocky terrain and mud come into play – the road becomes that much more dangerous.
When driving along North Yungas, the rule for two way traffic is that the vehicle going downhill does not have the right of way and must take the side closer to the edge.
Traveling to the Highway of Death?
After a 20 year building project, a new road finished being built to go between La Paz to Coroico. Thus, today, Yungas Road it is less utilized by motorized vehicles and the main traffic leading from La Paz to Coroico – but became a travel destination in the 1990’s especially for mountain bikers, adventurous travelers and thrill-seekers.
The treasure for bikers? The 64 km continuous downhill trail. While many bikers and tourists make it down alive, it is estimated that approximately 13 bikers have died from the dangerous cliffs: at some points of Yungas Road, the cliff-side drop-offs total up to 2,000 feet or just over 600 meters to the bottom. It has been estimated that anywhere from 200 to 300 people are killed annually while traveling on Yungas Road.
Shudder. Be careful!