The Yungas Road, better known as Death Road, is a 64-kilometre (40 mi) route for cyclists and vehicles that connects La Paz to the Yungas region of Bolivia. Built in the 1930s by the Bolivian government to link the capital with the northern Amazon Rainforest, much of its construction was carried out by Paraguayan prisoners during the Chaco War. With some stretches less than 3 metres (9.8 ft) wide and frequent rain, fog, landslides, waterfalls, steep slopes, and cliffs, it has earned a reputation as one of the most dangerous roads in the world.
Unlike most roads in the country, the Yungas Road had left-hand traffic, making it easier for drivers to judge how close they were to the road’s edge. It has since been replaced by a modern two-lane asphalt road with guardrails and drainage systems.
Famous for its extreme danger and a staggering 3,500 metres (11,500 ft) of descent, the Death Road attracts around 25,000 tourists each year, making it a hotspot for adventure seekers, especially mountain bikers. Until the mid-1990s, it saw between 200 and 300 fatalities annually, and since 1998, at least 18 cyclists have lost their lives there.
Please note, this page was correct when written in February 2025.