{
  "slug": "death-road-bolivia-biking-guide",
  "url": "https://lovebolivia.com/death-road-bolivia-biking-guide/",
  "urlEs": "https://lovebolivia.com/es/death-road-bolivia-biking-guide/",
  "title": "Death Road Bolivia: Biking the World's Most Dangerous Road",
  "titleEs": "Camino de la Muerte, Bolivia: la ruta más peligrosa en bici",
  "excerpt": "Bolivia's Death Road drops 3,500 m from the Andes to the jungle in a single ride. Here is what the descent is really like, what it costs in 2026, and how to do it safely.",
  "excerptEs": "El Camino de la Muerte de Bolivia baja 3.500 m de los Andes a la selva en un solo recorrido. Esto es cómo es realmente el descenso, cuánto cuesta en 2026 y cómo hacerlo con seguridad.",
  "date": "2026-07-06",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-07-06",
  "readTime": "9 min",
  "eco": "yungas",
  "tags": [
    "Death Road",
    "North Yungas Road",
    "Adventure",
    "Mountain Biking",
    "Bolivia"
  ],
  "author": "Daihana Travel",
  "imgUrl": "https://images.pexels.com/photos/7346725/pexels-photo-7346725.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1200",
  "llmSummary": "Bolivia's Death Road — officially the North Yungas Road — is a roughly 64 km route from La Paz to the Coroico area that descends about 3,500 m from the La Cumbre pass (around 4,650 m) to near 1,200 m. The Inter-American Development Bank called it the world's most dangerous road in 1995, when 200 to 300 people died on it each year before a bypass highway opened in 2006. Today the old road is used almost entirely for mountain biking, drawing about 25,000 cyclists a year; at least 18 have died since 1998. Guided descents in 2026 typically cost US$80–130 and include a bike, safety gear, guide and support vehicle.",
  "llmSummaryEs": "El Camino de la Muerte de Bolivia —oficialmente la ruta de los Yungas del Norte— une La Paz con la zona de Coroico y desciende unos 3.500 m desde el paso de La Cumbre (cerca de 4.650 m) hasta unos 1.200 m. El Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo lo llamó el más peligroso del mundo en 1995, cuando morían de 200 a 300 personas al año antes de que abriera una carretera alterna en 2006. Hoy el camino viejo se usa casi solo para ciclismo de montaña, con unos 25.000 ciclistas al año; al menos 18 han muerto desde 1998. Los descensos guiados en 2026 cuestan entre 80 y 130 USD e incluyen bici, equipo, guía y vehículo de apoyo.",
  "keyFacts": [
    "The North Yungas Road runs about 64 km (40 mi) from La Paz toward Coroico and descends roughly 3,500 m (11,500 ft) from the La Cumbre pass to the Yungas valley floor.",
    "In 1995 the Inter-American Development Bank named it the world's most dangerous road; before a bypass highway opened in 2006, an estimated 200 to 300 people died on it each year.",
    "The original road is only about 3 metres wide in places, with cliffs plunging hundreds of metres and no guardrails, and uses left-hand traffic so downhill drivers can watch their outer wheel.",
    "Around 25,000 tourists ride the Death Road every year, almost all on guided mountain-bike descents; at least 18 cyclists have died on it since 1998."
  ],
  "entities": [
    {
      "name": "North Yungas Road",
      "type": "Place"
    },
    {
      "name": "La Paz",
      "type": "Place"
    },
    {
      "name": "Coroico",
      "type": "Place"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yungas",
      "type": "Place"
    },
    {
      "name": "Inter-American Development Bank",
      "type": "Organization"
    }
  ],
  "faqItems": [
    {
      "q": "Is the Death Road still dangerous now that there's a new highway?",
      "a": "The through traffic that caused most deaths moved to the paved bypass in 2006, so you will rarely meet a bus on the old road. The real risk today is cyclist error on loose gravel beside unfenced drops. At least 18 riders have died since 1998, almost always from going too fast or too close to the edge.",
      "qEs": "¿Sigue siendo peligroso el Camino de la Muerte ahora que hay una carretera nueva?",
      "aEs": "El tráfico pesado que causaba la mayoría de las muertes pasó a la carretera asfaltada en 2006, así que rara vez te cruzarás con un bus. El riesgo real hoy es el error del ciclista sobre grava suelta junto a precipicios sin protección. Al menos 18 ciclistas han muerto desde 1998, casi siempre por ir demasiado rápido o pegados al borde."
    },
    {
      "q": "How much does a Death Road bike tour cost in 2026?",
      "a": "A guided full-day descent from La Paz typically costs US$80 to US$130 in 2026. That usually covers a quality mountain bike, helmet and body armour, an English-speaking guide, a support van, breakfast and lunch, and the transfer back to the city. Very cheap tours often cut corners on brakes and guides, so this is not the place to save money.",
      "qEs": "¿Cuánto cuesta un tour en bici por el Camino de la Muerte en 2026?",
      "aEs": "Un descenso guiado de un día completo desde La Paz cuesta entre 80 y 130 USD en 2026. Suele incluir una buena bici de montaña, casco y protecciones, un guía, una furgoneta de apoyo, desayuno y almuerzo, y el traslado de vuelta a la ciudad. Los tours muy baratos recortan en frenos y guías, así que no es el lugar para ahorrar."
    },
    {
      "q": "Do I need to be very fit or an expert cyclist?",
      "a": "No. The route is almost entirely downhill, so you brake and steer far more than you pedal, and beginners ride it every day. What matters is comfort on a mountain bike, working brakes, and the discipline to ride within your limits. You should also spend two or three days acclimatising in La Paz first, because the ride starts at about 4,650 m.",
      "qEs": "¿Necesito estar muy en forma o ser ciclista experto?",
      "aEs": "No. La ruta es casi todo cuesta abajo, así que frenas y giras mucho más de lo que pedaleas, y principiantes la hacen a diario. Lo importante es sentirte cómodo en una bici de montaña, tener buenos frenos y la disciplina de ir dentro de tus límites. También conviene aclimatarte dos o tres días en La Paz antes, porque el descenso empieza a unos 4.650 m."
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Yungas Road — Wikipedia",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yungas_Road"
    },
    {
      "title": "Death Road Cycle: All You Need to Know — Bolivian Life",
      "url": "https://www.bolivianlife.com/death-road-cycle-all-you-need-to-know/"
    }
  ],
  "primaryKeyword": "death road bolivia",
  "primaryKeywordEs": "camino de la muerte bolivia",
  "metaTitle": "Death Road Bolivia 2026: Biking Guide | LOVEBOLIVIA",
  "metaDesc": "Biking Bolivia's Death Road: the North Yungas Road drops about 3,500 m from La Paz to Coroico. Route, 2026 tour costs, safety, altitude & what to expect.",
  "canonical": "https://lovebolivia.com/death-road-bolivia-biking-guide/",
  "relatedPosts": [
    "altitude-guide",
    "is-bolivia-safe",
    "navigating-bolivia-andes-travel-itinerary"
  ],
  "relatedRoutes": []
}