The Yungas Road is a cycle route that links
the city of La Paz and the Yungas region of Bolivia. Many tour operators
cater to downhill mountain biking, the tourist route is a 64 km-long road with
3500 metres of descent.
It draws about 25,000 tourists per year and is a major
La Paz tourist attraction. At least 18 cyclists have died on the road
since 1998.
Part of this road were built by Paraguayan
prisoners that were captured after Chaco War in 1930s. It was of one of the few
routes that connect the Amazon jungle up north, with the city of La Paz. It was
famous for being dangerous because of its steep slopes, narrow single track, lack of
guardrails, rain, and fog, and was nicknamed the "Road of Death" from
traffic accidents, averaging around 209 accidents and 96 deaths per year. In
1995, the Inter-American Development Bank dubbed it as the most dangerous road
in the world.
A new alternative route, now part of Route
3, was built during a 20-year period ending in 2006, as a result,
this dangerous road is now only used for bicycles and walking.
