The Yungas
of Bolivia.

Coroico

Bolivia's most popular mountain escape: a colonial village at 1,760m with cloud forest walks, swimming pools with jungle views, coffee farms and a warm microclimate year-round. Most visitors come for 2–3 nights after the Death Road descent. The main plaza has good restaurants and a relaxed atmosphere. Guided walks into the cloud forest with a local naturalist are the best use of a Coroico day.

Taquesi Inca Trail

The Taquesi (Takesi) Trail is a 42km pre-Columbian route from the Andean peaks (4,630m at the Mina pass) down to the Yungas at Yanacachi (2,150m). Beautifully preserved Inca stone paving for much of the route. No permit required. Classic 2-day format: camp at the high pass, descend day 2. The trail crosses spectacular puna landscape, then drops through cloud forest and coca plantations.

Choro Trail

The Choro Trail is the longest and most dramatic of the three Yungas Inca trails — 60km descending from La Cumbre (4,880m) to Chairo (1,200m), passing through Andean grassland, cloud forest and subtropical forest before reaching the Amazon edge. 3–4 days. No permit required. The trail passes the Afro-Bolivian community of Choro Achura on day 3 — the opportunity for a genuine cultural encounter.

Chulumani & Sud Yungas

Capital of Sud Yungas at 1,700m, 3.5 hours south of La Paz by road. Less visited than Coroico, more authentically local. Surrounded by coca plantations, citrus and avocado groves. The weekly Sunday market draws Aymara communities from surrounding villages. The Afro-Bolivian community of Tocaña (20km away) offers cultural visits. Community tourism is better developed in the Sud Yungas than the Nor Yungas.

Afro-Bolivian Communities

Bolivia's approximately 25,000 Afro-descendants are concentrated in the Nor Yungas, particularly in Mururata, Tocaña and Dorado Chico — villages 20–40km from Coroico. Their ancestors were enslaved Africans brought to work the Potosí silver mines in the 16th–17th century, later relocated to the Yungas coca plantations. They preserved a distinct music and dance tradition (saya), their own royal institution (Rey Africano de Bolivia) and strong community identity.

Caranavi & Coffee Circuit

Caranavi (900m) is the coffee and cacao capital of Bolivia — the majority of Bolivia's specialty coffee is grown in the valleys around this small city. Bolivian coffee is almost entirely consumed domestically or exported in small specialty batches to Europe and Japan. Single-origin Yungas coffee is one of Bolivia's most underrated products. Coffee farm visits (some include overnight stay) are increasingly available.

The Death Road (Camino de la Muerte) is a 64km road descending from La Cumbre pass (4,650m) to Coroico (1,760m), dropping 3,000 vertical metres through cloud forest. Called the world's most dangerous road by the Inter-American Development Bank in 1995. Since a new paved road opened in 2006, it's now almost exclusively used for mountain biking — Bolivia's most popular adventure activity.

Managed risk. The Death Road by bike has an excellent safety record with reputable operators — modern full-suspension bikes, full-face helmets, gloves and body armour are provided, and a support van follows the group. Choose a reputable operator (not the cheapest), insist on full-suspension bikes and check their safety briefing. Approximately 15–20 people have died cycling the road since the activity began in the 1990s.

The Taquesi Trail is 42km, typically walked in 2 days. It descends from the Andean peaks (4,630m at the Mina pass) to the Yungas at Yanacachi (2,150m), with beautifully preserved Inca stone paving for much of the route. No permit required. Start from Chojlla (3h from La Paz by road). A guide is optional but recommended.

Coroico (1,760m, 3h from La Paz) offers: swimming pools with cloud forest views, guided cloud forest walks (orchids, bromeliads, hummingbirds), coffee and cacao farm visits, mountain biking and paragliding. Stay 2+ nights for the full experience — the forest walks and coffee farms deserve time beyond the Death Road post-ride pool stop.

Bolivia has approximately 25,000 Afro-descendants concentrated in the Nor Yungas around Coroico — in Mururata, Tocaña and Dorado Chico. They are descendants of enslaved Africans brought to work the Potosí silver mines in the 16th–17th centuries, later relocated to Yungas coca plantations. They preserved a distinct music and dance tradition (saya) and their own king institution (Rey Africano de Bolivia). Tocaña village (20km from Coroico) is the most accessible community for respectful visits.

May to October (dry season) is best: Death Road conditions are optimal, cloud forest walks are easier and the trails are well-maintained. The Yungas receive rain year-round but wet season (November–April) brings heavy rainfall making the Death Road muddier and trails harder. For hiking, biking and camping, May–September is optimal.