Bolivia Death Road
Death Road Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

80.4
PDI
38.7 mi
DISTANCE
11,624 ft
GAINED
5.5 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
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INTRO

Cycling THE Death Road - the most epic bike climb in the world. With jungle scenery, an extremely treacherous road along sheer cliffs and climbing by bike above 15,000', not much touches the Death Road for an exceptional cycling experience.

Mitch Boyer's epic video of our 2023 Death Road Adventure (a professional and entertaining video).   

PLAN YOUR ROUTE

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Other than about nine kilometers that are flat or with a slight decline (nearly all on the paved second half of the climb) the climb gradient varies between 5-9%.  The steepest 500 meters is along the cliff at kilometer 22 and the steepest continuous five kilometer segment is 8.3%, beginning at kilometer 19.5.  Depending on the time of year, there may be two streams you will traverse (cautiously) on your bike. 
Roadway:  The first half of the climb is on dirt that I rode with my Specialized Roubaix and 32mm knobby tires which, while rough going at times, was manageable - I never had to walk my bike.

Traffic:  Minimal on the dirt first half of the climb.  Busy with commercial trucks the second and paved half.  However, although there was a lot of traffic, there is a shoulder and traffic moved at what seemed to be lower than normal highway speeds - we did not feel in danger on the paved highway half of the climb.

Parking:  We had SAG for the climb and strongly recommend support if you do this ride.  If you go unsupported, you could park in the village at the start of the climb. 
Provisions:  There are places to eat at the start and also once you merge onto the highway after kilometer 31.

Gear:  Gravel bike is recommended although my Roubaix with 32 knobby tires worked fine for me. 

Weather and Clothing:  It can be extremely windy and cold at the top of the climb which ends 3,400 meters higher than where you begin - therefore, consult the PJAMM "Full Forecast" feature for the time you expect to arrive at the finish to assess what clothing to bring on your ride. 
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
You may want to stay in La Paz (11,942' / 3,639 meters) for a few days to acclimate.  Beware that the traffic in La Paz is absolutely horrendous.  We were able to secure a SAG for the climb via the manager at the airport Hertz rental office.  If you are intending to do the climb you may also try one of the two or three downhill bike mountain bike businesses in La Paz that lead groups down the death road.  If you intend to be one of the very few people to climb this road by bike, you are welcome to contact me at john@pjammcycling.com, for any advice I may provide and because I would like to follow your epic adventure. 

We are climbing the Death Road again in 2023 and are using Voyage Bolivia and  Clement Pivin at Voyage Bolivia contact@terra-bolivia.com . 

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MEMBER RATING

Difficulty: Extreme
3
Road
4
Traffic
5
Scenery

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Jun 2, 2023
difficulty: Extreme
scenery: 5
traffic: 4
road: 3
Jun 2, 2023
scenery: 5
traffic: 4
road: 3
Why so hard? The Death Road climb is full of challenges: >11,000ft/3500m of climbing to a >15,000ft/4600m summit. The first 20 miles/30 km is on gravel. Not smooth, compacted clay gravel; it's loose, rocky, body-battering and relentless. Riding down the Death Road on full suspension mountain bikes is very popular; riding up the Death Road on rigid gravel bikes is not. Four hours of posterior pummeling while you climb ~6000ft/1800m, oxygen availability diminishing, constantly losing momentum to the loose, bumpy, rocky surface and the constant spectre of 2000ft/600m cliffs to your right; it all takes its toll. The terrain and scenery are jaw-droppingly spectacular, though. The expanse of jungle, the towering mountains, precipitous ravines, the waterfalls cascading onto and over the road and the snowy peaks in the distance...just incredible. Climbing above the jungle/gravel is no less epic ..just in a different way. Easier because it's paved. Harder because oxygen left the chat.
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CLIMB SUMMARY

2 cyclists sitting on cliff on Death Road Bolivia Postcard Corner

Cycling the Death Road, the most epic bike climb in the world.

World's Most Epic Bike Climb

Climb summary by PJAMM’s John Johnson.

This may very well be the greatest road of all!  Words cannot describe it, but thankfully our photos and drone video do some justice to this climb.  It is a magnificent and otherworldly experience complete with Indiana Jones and Jurassic Park-like surroundings.  North Yungas Road, nicknamed “Death Road,” was carved out of the mountainside in the 1930s by Paraguayan prisoners during the Chaco War with Brazil.  The road connects La Paz with the town of Coroico, effectively connecting the Amazon rainforest and those who dwell there, with Bolivia’s capital city (Curiosity).

Before heading to Bolivia for this once in a lifetime cycling adventure, be sure to rely on our list of Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip, and use our interactive checklist to ensure you don't forget anything.

2 cyclists sitting on cliff on Death Road Bolivia Postcard Corner

How to Cycle the Death Road:

To climb the death road by bike you must train seriously for the challenge.  This is the third hardest climb by bike in the world (Mauna Kea and Scanuppia take the first and second spots) and the first 30 km are on dirt and gravel, but manageable on a road bike with 32mm tires (I used a Specialized Roubaix with 32mm tires).  The grade is never tortuously steep (the steepest half km is 10.2%), but its a long one, at 62 kilometers (38.5 miles).  Altitude is also a major factor as this is the highest Top 10 World Climb, topping out at 4,629 meters (15,187’).  Staying in the La Paz area for a few days (3,650 m) is helpful in order to acclimate.

When to Climb Bolivia's Death Road: 

May through October is the best time to do this ride (La Paz Average Weather).

 

 This is just one amazing road!

We stayed in Coroico, located about two and a half to three hours (70 miles) from El Alto International Airport (in La Paz) and about five miles down amazing, though rough, cobbles to the start of the Death Road.

Cyclists riding on cobbles on North Yungas Road near Coroico, Bolivia 

Free vector graphic: Caution Sign, Speed Bump Ahead - Free Image ... Bumpy and absolutely epic descent on five miles of cobbles to the start. Free vector graphic: Caution Sign, Speed Bump Ahead - Free Image ...

    Bicyclist riding over giant cobbles on North Yungas Road

The Death Road begins at the bottom of North Yungas Road at the end of a narrow road from Coroico, between several roadside food stands which no doubt exist only due to the popularity of the downhill death road tours that end there.  PJAMM, being a bit eccentric, started at this spot and rode against the flow of downhill mountain bike traffic for the nineteen mile death road.[1]

     2 cyclists with bikes stopped at sign on Yungas Road 

Two kilometers to the start.

      

Village at the start of the climb.

A lot of downhillers (see mountain bikes on top of vans).

No uphillers (other than crazy Americans!) in our three days on the Death Road!

The first thing to remember when ascending (or descending, as one of our group famously did at an uncomfortably brisk pace -- for “brisk” read: dangerous, watch our video to see for yourself), is that you must drive on the left side of the road.  This is for the safety of the downhill driver whose steering wheel is on the left side of the car.[2]

Photo left - PJAMM 2017; photo right - PJAMM 2023

Be prepared to forge at least two streams and bring at least 25 Bolivianos (equivalent to 4 USD, but the toll attendants will only accept Bolivian currency).

Cyclist crossing river on Death Road  

During rainy season be prepared to forge rivers.

  Cyclist at toll gate on Death Road with bicycle

Costs a few Bolivianos to pass.

Be prepared for Postcard Corner at mile 14.2 of the climb.  It is not obvious that you are at this exceptional (perhaps the greatest) epic photo spot.  We almost missed it . . . twice!

ONE OF THE MOST EPIC SEGMENTS ON ANY BIKE RIDE

The waterfall section at the 12 kilometer/20 mile mark

This is near the location where two buses collided and 120 people perished in the 1980’s.

POST CARD CORNER

   

Postcard Corner!

PJAMM 2017

PJAMM 2023

Also known as Devil’s Corner and Curva Clásica  - at kilometer 22.7 / mile 14.2

The dirt/rock/gravel portion of this climb is the first nineteen miles, at 7% average grade, gaining 6,307 elevation.  Just the first half of this climb would rank it in the top 60 world climbs (adding the next 19.4 miles at 5.9% for 5,245 raises this climb to number three overall in the entire world).  This climb has the challenge, lore, difficulty, altitude and breathtaking scenery and surroundings to make it potentially the Best Climb in the World.  

THE SECOND HALF OF THE RIDE

First half of climb - 31 km (19.2 miles) at 6.3%

Second half of climb - 31 km (19.3 miles) 4.8% (this includes 5.5 km averaging -1%.

Climbing Hwy 9 after the Death Road   

Some exceptional rock formations on the way to La Cumbre.

   Grade in the mountain on hwy 9 close to La Cumbre Peak

The final grade to La Cumbre.

                         

THE FINISH - LA CUMBRE PEAK

Cyclist raising bike at La Cumbre Peak summit and elevation sign 

 4,470m = 14,665’ elevation.

Scenes at the top - Laguna Estrellani middle top photo.

     Roadway Surface and Traffic Conditions

On the first half of the Death Road climb, the roadway is dirt and rock, but completely manageable on a road bike, particularly with wider tires (JJ rode a Specialized Roubaix with 33mm rear and 32mm front tires).  On the second half of the climb, the roadway is fully paved, but on a major highway with moderate traffic that generally moves around 40 mph or less, particularly on the uphill portions by truck (sometimes slowing to five mph).

Free vector graphic: Jar, Pitcher, Danger, Drink, Poison - Free ...Pick your poison Free vector graphic: Jar, Pitcher, Danger, Drink, Poison - Free ...

Cyclist riding bike on narrow Death Road next to cliff

First half -- no trucks, but sheer cliffs . . .  

 Trucks passing on Hwy 9 Bolivia

Second half -- no sheer cliffs but a lot of nutty drivers!

Deadliest Road in the World:

By now you may be wondering how Death Road got its name.  “In 1995 the Inter-American Development Bank christened it as the world's most dangerous road,” and in 2006 it was estimated that “200 to 300 travellers were killed yearly along the road” (Yungas Road).  The high death toll is due largely to factors such as “fog, landslides, cascades, and cliffs that drop 2,000 feet (610 meters) at every turn,” as well as the narrow structure of the road -- rarely stretching wider than ten feet across (Curiosity).  Since Highway 3 was built as a primary and alternate route to the Yungas region of Bolivia from La Paz, the death toll has decreased, but the road remains extremely hazardous.  Wikipedia reports that as of May 2010 at least eighteen cyclists have died on the road since 1998.  Please cycle with caution.

Main memorial cross on death road with narrow road  

There are numerous memorials along the Death Road.  See slideshow widget for photos.

Memorial shrines on Death Road 

If you Google “What is the most dangerous road in the world” North Yungas Road (Death Road) is at the top of the list.

That’s a wrap!!

[1] Note: The Death Road is a 19 mile extremely narrow dirt road that ends around 10,000’ altitude, but we continue another 19 miles up Highway 3 to La Cumbre Peak at 15,300’ to complete the number three Most Difficult World Bike Climb.

[2] Generally, in Bolivia we drive on the right side of the road.