Camino de la Muerte North — Coroico Descent to Yolosa via the North Yungas Death Road
The world's most dangerous road. It earned that name.
Built by Paraguayan prisoners of war in the 1930s, the North Yungas Road earned its name honestly — it was officially declared the world’s most dangerous road by the Inter-American Development Bank in 1995, claiming an estimated 200 to 300 lives per year at its peak. The route descends from La Cumbre Pass at 4,650m above sea level down to Yolosa at around 1,050m, hugging a cliff wall so narrow that two vehicles cannot pass simultaneously on most sections. Waterfalls pour directly onto the track. The road surface is compressed dirt, loose gravel, and wet clay — slick when it rains, which is most of the time in the wet season. Crosses cut into the rock face mark where vehicles have gone over the edge. They are not decorative.
Since the new paved highway opened in 2006 most commercial traffic shifted away, leaving the old road primarily to mountain bikers, adventure tourists, and the occasional overlander who knows what they’re getting into. Four-wheel drive is essential — not optional. Downhill traffic has right of way and travels on the left (mountain-side) of the road. Dry season runs May to October; wet season crossings are only for experienced drivers with local knowledge. No permit required but the road is managed by the La Paz Prefecture. Fuel in La Paz before departure. Cell coverage is nonexistent once you drop into the canyon.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Extreme |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Scenic Drive, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | High Altitude, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 40 mi / 64 km |
| Duration | 1 day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 15256 ft |
| Best season | May-October |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD, narrow-track preferred |
| Nearest town | La Paz, Bolivia |
| Land manager | Gobierno Autónomo Departamental de La Paz |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| Official sources | Bolivia Tourism — Death Road |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
What's the minimum vehicle that can actually handle the Death Road — can a full-size 4x4 do it?
High-clearance 4WD is required, but narrow-track is strongly preferred. The road is roughly 3.2 meters (10.5 ft) wide in places, and full-size rigs like a Land Cruiser 200 Series or a wide-body truck will have their mirrors hanging over the edge on blind cliff turns. A narrower 4WD — Land Cruiser 70 Series, Defender 90, older Hilux — is significantly less stressful and safer.
When is the Death Road actually passable and when should I stay away?
Dry season, May through October, is the only sensible window. During wet season (November–April), the cliff face weeps water constantly, the road surface turns to greased mud, and rockfalls become frequent — this is when most of the fatal accidents on record occurred. Even in dry season, morning fog in the cloud forest section near Coroico can reduce visibility to near zero, so starting early and being patient is critical.
Do I need a permit or do I pay a toll to drive the Death Road?
There is a checkpoint at the entrance where a fee is collected — historically around 25–30 BOB per vehicle, though fees can change. No special overlanding permit is required beyond standard Bolivian vehicle documentation. Foreign-registered vehicles need to have valid temporary import permits (TIP) for Bolivia, which you obtain at the border.
What's the single most dangerous section and what actually makes it hard?
The hardest stretch is the upper cliff section immediately after leaving the paved road near Cumbre — narrow, blind corners, sheer 600-meter (2,000 ft) drops on the left with zero barrier, and Bolivian traffic custom dictates you drive on the LEFT side so the driver can judge the cliff edge. The danger isn't technical crawling — it's exposure, width management, and oncoming trucks that own the road and will not back up.
There's zero cell service on the entire route — what's the realistic plan if something goes wrong mid-descent?
There is no cell service on the Death Road from start to finish, so a satellite communicator (Garmin inReach or SPOT) is non-negotiable if you're driving this solo or in a single vehicle. Bicycle tour operators run groups down this road daily during season, so you won't be completely alone, but their guides won't have the equipment or capacity to assist a broken-down 4x4. Carry enough fuel for the full 64 km descent plus a contingency buffer — there is no fuel on the road itself.
Trail track
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