Yungas Road Road

The Yungas Road in Bolivia is a steep, narrow mountain road linking the high-altitude Bolivian altiplano around La Paz with the Yungas lowlands and the town of Coroico. It became widely known for its hazardous single-lane sections carved into steep cliffs and for the intense elevation change along the route.

The road was constructed in the early 20th century and is commonly described as being expanded in the 1930s; reports attribute much of the hard manual work to prisoners. It served for decades as a vital connection between La Paz and the Yungas agriculture zones before the modern bypass reduced through-traffic and changed the route’s role toward tourism.

The route descends east from the high road corridors near La Paz into Bolivia’s Yungas region, ending in the tropical town of Coroico; the old road runs along steep Andean slopes and jungle-covered valleys below La Paz.

• Route length: Most tourist trips use the original single-track section of the old road, roughly 40-60 km long, while regular vehicular traffic now mainly uses a newer paved bypass opened in the 2000s.
• Best time to visit: Dry season months typically offer more stable conditions for biking and sightseeing; heavy rain brings increased rockfall and slippery surfaces on the exposed sections.

What to See#

• La Cumbre / Start: Serves as the high-altitude start point for guided downhill mountain-bike tours; many operators begin rides near the La Cumbre pass and finish in the town of Coroico.
• Coroico: A small mountain town at the lower end of the route that functions as the common finish for tourist rides and a base for local accommodation and restaurants.

The Yungas Road (the so‑called “Death Road”) connects the outskirts of La Paz with the town of Coroico in Bolivia’s Yungas region. The usual access point for visitors is La Cumbre pass on the outskirts of La Paz, where the road begins its descent into the Yungas; most tour operators in La Paz provide hotel pickup and drive participants up to the start at La Cumbre.

By road the route between central La Paz and the Yungas start is typically on mountain roads requiring an hour or two depending on traffic and exact start point; many visitors join guided cycling or driving tours that handle transport logistics from La Paz.

• If you want the classic experience on Yungas Road, book with a reputable downhill biking operator from La Paz who provides quality bikes, helmets and experienced guides familiar with traffic and weather patterns.
• Start early in the day-operators run the descents at first light to avoid afternoon fog, poor visibility and increased vehicular traffic on the route.
• Consider the new sealed road for regular vehicle travel and reserve the old 'death road' for guided cycling or controlled excursions; many visitors miss how remote the surroundings feel once you descend into the cloud forest, so bring a camera and plan time in Coroico afterwards.