With Downhill Madness down The Death Road.

Trip Start Oct 06, 2004
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Trip End Ongoing


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Flag of Bolivia  ,
Thursday, August 18, 2005

Was this the best day on my trip so far? At least it's high up there among the winners. On a mountain bike from La Cumbre (4640m) to Coroico, a 3345m vertical decent down The Death Road (mostly a dirt road, but with some fast 60kph tarmac at the top). More than 64km of pure Downhill Madness on a super fast mountain bike. From altiplano to the jungle on a glorious day, with amazing scenery and landscape changes. I loved it to bits!!!

I have been on The Death Road before, three years ago, returning from Rurrenabaque (in the Amazon Basin) to La Paz in a jeep. I didn't have time to do the bike ride back then, so it feels good to be back. Apparently it's called The Death Road because it's the road in the world that sees most fatalities a year. With buses, trucks and cars regularly falling off the steep cliffs. And I guess I have to agree that it's not exactly freeway quality. Anyway, the bike ride is extremely fun, and I totally understand why it's one of the most popular backpacker activities you can do around La Paz. It basically takes the whole day before you are back in La Paz. From early morning setting off from your hostel in a bus, before you reach La Cumbre where the fun begins. It's then six to seven hours of more or less constant downhill riding. At the end you reach Coroico, where you top it all off with a hot shower (yes, you get dusty!) and a beer. And then it's back up The Death Road to La Paz. You can't beat that!
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