We figured that travelling around the world with treks including climbing a mountain over 6000m simply wasn´t exciting enough, so we decided to bike down the world´s most dangerous road.
Ha ha :) No worries! The old road from La Paz to Coroico used to claim 200 to 300 travellers a year, but in the last 6 years a new road has lessened the dangers and now it is primarily used as a tourist attraction for adrenaline seekers who want to navigate the narrow winding path on mountain bike. It is still not completely safe, as some tourists we met will attest to, primarily because of the sharp turns, bumpy gravel and very steep drop offs. Enough risk to get the blood racing!
The day started very early in the morning, with hotel pick up, fitting of helmets and biking clothes, and then a drive up to the highest point of the new road at 4200m. It was FREEZING, and the first part of the bike was an uncomfortable blurr of paved road and oncoming traffic. It was very strange to pass large trucks, and we were thankful when we reached the start of the old road where the temperature rose and the traffic declined. Phew. From there it was extremely enjoyable, with stunning views of the jungle as we descended into the rainforest. We passed under waterfalls, stopped frequently to take pictures and enjoyed a mid morning snack.
Before we knew it, the end of the road was reached, with no casualties!! We celebrated with a beer, and then were driven to a hotel for a dip in the pool to enjoy the sunshine and a buffet lunch.
We had heard that Coroico, a small town near the base of the death road, was a great place to take a break from the bustle of La Paz. Therefore instead of returning with the van to La Paz, we took a taxi to Coroico and found a fantastic place called Hostel Cafetal to spend the next few days. As the weather in La Paz is generally cool and cloudy, our fellow cyclists returning there were quite jealous.
It ended up being a great plan, as we were able to enjoy the most wonderfully hot, sunny weather over four days. The hostel was perched on the side of a hill, with views of the tall surrounding mountains covered in tropical forest. Our room was spacious with a covered porch, there was a pool, hammocks, and a fantastic open air restaurant with some of the "best food in Bolivia" according to the Lonely Planet. It was truly amazing. We met the travellers in the neighbouring rooms and enjoyed long chats and drinks over dinner.
After recharging in Coroico from the hike up Huayna Potosi and the bike down death road, we returned to La Paz to continue the next part of our journey.
Ha ha :) No worries! The old road from La Paz to Coroico used to claim 200 to 300 travellers a year, but in the last 6 years a new road has lessened the dangers and now it is primarily used as a tourist attraction for adrenaline seekers who want to navigate the narrow winding path on mountain bike. It is still not completely safe, as some tourists we met will attest to, primarily because of the sharp turns, bumpy gravel and very steep drop offs. Enough risk to get the blood racing!
The day started very early in the morning, with hotel pick up, fitting of helmets and biking clothes, and then a drive up to the highest point of the new road at 4200m. It was FREEZING, and the first part of the bike was an uncomfortable blurr of paved road and oncoming traffic. It was very strange to pass large trucks, and we were thankful when we reached the start of the old road where the temperature rose and the traffic declined. Phew. From there it was extremely enjoyable, with stunning views of the jungle as we descended into the rainforest. We passed under waterfalls, stopped frequently to take pictures and enjoyed a mid morning snack.
We had heard that Coroico, a small town near the base of the death road, was a great place to take a break from the bustle of La Paz. Therefore instead of returning with the van to La Paz, we took a taxi to Coroico and found a fantastic place called Hostel Cafetal to spend the next few days. As the weather in La Paz is generally cool and cloudy, our fellow cyclists returning there were quite jealous.
It ended up being a great plan, as we were able to enjoy the most wonderfully hot, sunny weather over four days. The hostel was perched on the side of a hill, with views of the tall surrounding mountains covered in tropical forest. Our room was spacious with a covered porch, there was a pool, hammocks, and a fantastic open air restaurant with some of the "best food in Bolivia" according to the Lonely Planet. It was truly amazing. We met the travellers in the neighbouring rooms and enjoyed long chats and drinks over dinner.
After recharging in Coroico from the hike up Huayna Potosi and the bike down death road, we returned to La Paz to continue the next part of our journey.
Amazing!!! And I thought that mountain biking in the Niagara Escarpment was challenging!!! I loved the photo that shows the group at the edge of a cliff!
ReplyDeleteLoved the look and sound of the hostel in Coroico. That's my kind of holiday.
ReplyDeleteGreat food, great views and peaceful relaxation. Thanks for sharing. M.