La Paz: Death Road Bike Ride 62km & Jungle Descent

Dropping 2,400 meters on the world's most notorious bike route

You ride 62 kilometers downhill from the Andes summit through the Bolivian jungle on the Death Road, dropping 2,400 meters with a trained guide who photographs the entire descent. Hotel pickup, lunch, water and snacks are included, and you finish the day at your hotel with access to showers and a pool before heading back to La Paz.

Step-by-step itinerary

Bike ride from La Paz to Coroico

• Pick up from hotel 7:30-8:00
• Drive to La Paz summit at 3,600m
• See flora, fauna, and mountains
• Test equipment and guide briefing
• Start bike ride on asphalt road
• Rest and refresh in Unduavi town
• Descend dirt road through jungle
• Pass streams, waterfalls, and wildlife
• Rest and refresh at noon
• Arrive at bridge at 1,200m
• Transfer to hotel for showers and lunch
• Enjoy free time by the pool
• Return to La Paz city

The Experience

You're rolling downhill from the Cordillera Real at dawn, the air so thin it stings your lungs, and the asphalt beneath your wheels is the last smooth thing you'll feel for hours. The pickup happens between 7:30 and 8am from your La Paz hotel, and the drive to the summit takes you past snow-capped peaks and scrubland that shifts color as you climb — everything grays out at 3,600 meters. Your guide runs through the bike check, explains the brakes, hands you water and a snack, and then you're off. The first section is paved and brutal in a different way: cold, steep, your thighs already burning before the real descent starts.

At Unduavi, around 2,700 meters, the road turns to dirt and the jungle closes in. This is where the Death Road in Coroico actually begins — the part that made it famous, or infamous, depending on who you ask. The trail narrows, drops steeply, and suddenly you're threading between waterfalls and vegetation so thick you can smell the wet earth and decomposing leaves. Your guide is right there, First Aid and Rope Rescue trained, stopping to take photos at the iconic spots and watching the group's pace. Streams cut across the path, the switchbacks come fast, and the landscape changes every few hundred meters — from cold mountain scrub to subtropical jungle to something that feels almost tropical by the time you're down to 1,200 meters.

Around midday you stop at the bridge, where the air is warm and the ride is technically over. You've dropped nearly 8,000 feet in a few hours, and your legs know it. The transfer back to La Paz happens on the highway, and when you get to your hotel there's a shower, a buffet lunch with vegetarian and vegan options, and a pool if you want to sit in the sun and let your body remember what sea level feels like. The whole day runs roughly eight to nine hours from pickup to return, and the bikes and equipment get checked daily at the FreakOut Biking workshop — that detail matters when you're trusting your brakes on a road that earned its reputation.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup between 7:30 and 8am, a professional mountain bike and helmet, bottled water and snacks throughout the ride, a midday rest at the bridge, a buffet lunch with vegetarian and vegan options, unlimited photos and videos taken by your guide at iconic locations, and return transfer to your hotel with shower access and pool time before the drive back to La Paz.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Freak Out Adventure

Is this one for you?Book this if you have moderate fitness and want a full-day adrenaline experience without arranging your own transport, bike rental or safety gear — the guide's training and daily equipment checks are what make the Death Road's reputation manageable for a group ride.

Traveler reviews

4.83★★★★★★★★★★

18 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What's the fitness level needed for the Death Road bike ride?

At least moderate fitness. The ride includes steep descents and altitude exposure at the start (3,600m), though the actual pedaling is mostly downhill after the first asphalt section.

How long is the full day from pickup to return?

Roughly eight to nine hours, including hotel pickup, the ride itself, a midday rest at the bridge, lunch, and the transfer back to La Paz.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup, bike and helmet, bottled water, snacks, lunch (with vegetarian and vegan options), and guide photos throughout the ride. Return transfer to your hotel is also included.

Is this safe? What about the "Death Road" reputation?

Guides are trained in First Aid and Rope Rescue, and bikes are professionally checked daily. The road's reputation comes from its history and steep drops, but modern tours operate with safety protocols and experienced guides managing group size and pace.

What time does the pickup happen?

Between 7:30 and 8:00am from your La Paz hotel.

Can I do this if I'm pregnant or have back problems?

No. The tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with spinal injuries due to the terrain and sustained downhill riding.

What's the altitude like at the start?

You begin at 3,600 meters (11,810 feet) in the Cordillera Real and descend to 1,200 meters (3,940 feet) by the end. The first section is cold and thin; the air warms as you drop.

Do I need mountain biking experience?

No, but you need moderate fitness and comfort on a bike. The route is mostly downhill, and guides manage the pace for the group.