Yungas Road - also called Grove's Road, Coroico Road, Camino de las Yungas, Road of fate or Death Road - is a 69- kilometer stretch from La Paz to Coroico about 56-kilometers northeast of La Paz in the Bolivian Yungas Region.
Yungas Road - also called Grove's Road, Coroico Road, Camino de las Yungas, Road of fate or Death Road - is a 69- kilometer stretch from La Paz to Coroico about 56-kilometers northeast of La Paz in the Bolivian Yungas Region.
In 1995, Inter-American Development Bank christened the road as the 'most dangerous road in the world'. The road takes the lives of 200-300 travellers every year. It has cross markings on the hundreds of places where different vehicles have rolled.
The road connects the Amazon Rainforests with the Bolivian Yungas Region. Upon leaving La Paz, the road climbs the scenic views of La Cumbre Pass at a whopping 4,650 meters (15,260 ft.). It traverses through cool Altiplano terrain to rainforest. The largely single lane road winds through steep hills and cliffs that can make even the bravest souls weak in the knees.
The dangerous road is a tourist magnet. Its dangerous hills and curves make it one of the top tourist attractions. 25,000 thrill seekers were attracted to the road in the 1990s - perhaps in search of one more thing that can keep their adrenaline on a hyper drive. The road is popular with mountain bikers despite having killed at least 18-cyclists.
The road has been featured on BBC's Shows such as World's Most Dangerous Roads and Top Gear: Bolivia Special. It was also the setting of the Mitsubishi Outlander TV commercial.
If you get your thrills from 'tempting fate', then I dare you to try driving around the road. For those of us who love their lives a little bit more, there are tens of tour companies that offer rides and tour guides to take you through the road.
You can make your tour here much more iconic by carrying your camera to capture the scenic hills, cliffs, valleys and other physical features. While at it, do not forget to take a look at the 64-kilometer stretch that connects La Paz to Chulumani. The road is called South Yungas Road or Chulumani Road. The overall Bolivian experience should be capped with a fine dinner at one of the Bolivian exotic eateries.