Death Road Biking from La Paz: 33km downhill ride

Descend through shifting climates on a thrilling downhill ride

Death Road biking from La Paz is a full-day downhill cycling adventure that drops you from 4,700 meters at La Cumbre to 1,200 meters in the Yungas valleys. You ride 22 kilometers on paved roads first, then tackle the famous 33-kilometer dirt descent—90% downhill—with a specialized guide, full protective gear, and a support vehicle following behind. The day ends with lunch and pool time at a hotel before the return drive to La Paz.

Step-by-step itinerary

Death Road biking adventure from La Paz

• Hotel pickup in La Paz
• Drive to La Cumbre summit
• Receive safety instructions
• Bike 22 km on paved road
• Vehicle transfer 8 km uphill
• Bike 32 km downhill on Death Road
• Photo stops and rest breaks
• Break with lunch and pool at Hotel 2 Ríos
• Drive back to La Paz city center

The Experience

Hotel pickup between 7:20 and 8:00 AM starts the day, followed by a 90-minute drive to La Cumbre at 4,700 meters. Safety instructions happen at the summit before you mount the bike. The first 22 kilometers roll downhill on paved roads, then a vehicle carries you and your bike 8 kilometers uphill to Chuspipata—the actual start of Death Road.

The 33-kilometer descent along the historic dirt track is where the ride earns its name. A support vehicle stays with the group throughout, stopping for photos and rest breaks so you can absorb the landscape shifting from high altitude grassland into lush Yungas cloud forest. The road narrows in places and the drop-offs are real, but the route is 90% downhill, which means your legs do the braking, not your nerves. By the time you reach the valley floor at 1,200 meters, you've dropped lower than most people ride in a lifetime.

After the ride, Hotel 2 Ríos offers lunch, shower access and a pool to recover in before the three-hour drive back to La Paz, arriving between 7:00 and 8:00 PM. You get a specialized guide in English or Spanish, dual-suspension bike, full-face helmet, jacket, pants, gloves, and elbow and knee protection—everything fitted before you start.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in La Paz.
• specialized guide in English or Spanish.
• dual-suspension mountain bike.
• full protective gear including helmet, jacket, pants, gloves, elbow and knee protection.
• lunch at Hotel 2 Ríos.
• pool and shower access at the hotel.
• support vehicle throughout the ride.
• snacks during the day.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by DEATH ROAD BOLIVIA

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a single-day adrenaline ride that doesn't require you to arrange transport, gear or a guide—everything is fitted and waiting. The full-day format means you experience the entire descent in one push, from high-altitude paved roads through the climate shift into the Yungas, rather than breaking it into segments.

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Top questions

How steep is Death Road and what's the actual riding like on the dirt section?

Death Road descends 3,500 meters over 33 kilometers of dirt track, making it roughly 90% downhill. The route follows a historic narrow path through the Yungas with real drop-offs, but the gradient means gravity does most of the work; you're braking and controlling speed rather than pedaling hard. A support vehicle travels with the group and stops for rest and photos.

What happens in the first part of the day before we get to Death Road?

You're picked up from your La Paz hotel between 7:20 and 8:00 AM and driven 90 minutes to La Cumbre at 4,700 meters, where the guide gives safety instructions. Then you ride 22 kilometers downhill on paved roads before a vehicle transfer carries you and your bike 8 kilometers uphill to Chuspipata, where Death Road begins.

What gear and protection do I get, and do I need to bring my own?

The tour includes a dual-suspension bike, full-face helmet, jacket, pants, gloves, and elbow and knee protection—all fitted to you before the ride starts. You don't need to bring protective gear; everything is provided.

Is there time to rest after the ride, or do we head straight back to La Paz?

After finishing the descent, you stop at Hotel 2 Ríos for lunch, shower access and pool time to recover before the three-hour drive back to the city. You arrive in La Paz between 7:00 and 8:00 PM.

What's the minimum age, and are there any health conditions that would make this unsafe?

The minimum age is 17. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnant travelers, or those with poor cardiovascular health, though it is suitable for all fitness levels otherwise.