I could get used to this

I could get used to this

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Coroico, Bolivia

No trip to Bolivia is complete without a trip down the 'World's Most Dangerous Road.' A few years back the World Bank (?) declared that the road from La Paz to Coroico was officially the world's most dangerous. I believe this was based soely on fatalities, and not necessarily some complex analysis of grade, slopes, superelevation, etc. Approximately 100 people perish on the 50 km stretch of road each year. There are likely more physically dangerous roads, but the traffic is what puts this one over the top.

The tourist agencies in La Paz have capitalized on this notoriety by running mountain bike tours down the road.

Description of DR
thought was a lot of hype
The death road - as advertised. Scary.
big downhill, lots of dust to finish it off.

Finish in another Bolivian oasis.

All hotels have a view

modest mouse in a small restaurant

Hikes to local cerro, coca plantation

Unfortunately, the only way to return to La Paz is via the death road. The ride up was uneventful for the first two hours until we came upon a truck blocking the road... In Bolivian-style, all the bystanders tried to move the 50-ton truck with human power - 30 in front pulling the cable fastened to the front and another 15 or so trying to push the back end. Much to everyone's surprise, the vehicle did not budge. After an hour of this I was starting to think we mght be spending the night here. Shortly thereafter a miracle truck of equal size appeared, somehow turned around and backed up to the out of omission one. As they hooked up the cable to the functioning truck I was certain I was about to witness a horrible accident but to my surprise, the truck was safely moved to a wide spot in the road and we resumed our journey. 50 people standing around two trucks in the dark along a gravelroad that abruptly ends with a large bitof space.

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