Yungas Road

• 🌍 Coroico – The most popular town around with many accommodation options.
• 🌍 Yolosita – A little village and transport hub of the region, for onwards travel into the Tropical Lowlands (Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando)
• 🌍 Yolosa – A village a the end of North Yungas Road with showers, other amenities for travellers and a few accommodation options.
• 🌍 San Juan de la Miel – A village offering adventure tours in the Yungas Road region.
• Villa Ascensión

• 🌍 Chulumani – For a safer and more relaxed trip to Yungas, check out this village at the eastern side of the (South) Yungas Road. A great alternative to Coroico and convenient if you connect from/to Quime or even Cochabamba (very far and slow).
• 🌍 Yanacachi – A stopover/hub along the South Yungas Road. The Takesi Inca Trail from La Paz leads here.

Built by Paraguayan prisoners during the Chaco war in 1930.

There was an average of 100 motor fatalities a year, when the road was the main corridor. A world record, mostly due to the Bolivian driving style than to the road itself. Though, in the ten years that mountain biking companies have been biking down the road, there have only been 12 biking fatalities).

Frequent buses from the Terminal Provincial Minasa Yungas in La Paz will go by and stop in Yolosita (Bs. 20). From there you can hike up to Coroico, there is a direct trail, or take a minibus for Bs. 5. There are also a few direct connections to Coroico.

Regular bus travel between Yolosita and Yucumo (Beni department), especially in the evening: Bs. 40-50, 8-10 hr.

Usually, if you book a tour, this is the way you come in.

Nevertheless, you can also rent a proper bicycle in La Paz, let the bicycle be carried to the to pass at 5,000 m or the 🌍 beginning of the North Yungas Road and cycle down into the valley.

Likewise, getting dropped off at the beginning of North Yungas Road (Bs. 10-15 by bus), you can hike down into the valley.

Or you get dropped of even earlier and do the El Choro Trek. Also, see below for all hiking options.

You might consider starting your trek near La Paz, but it is probably better to do that in a group of 3 or more.

There region consists of many interesting hiking and cycling trails. For reliable trails and GPS navigation, consult OpenStreetMap, which is used by many mobile Apps like OsmAnd or Mapy.cz. Or just download the according GPX or KML files through Waymarked Trails for such trails on OpenStreetMap. (Note, you just need to change the OpenStreetMap relation ID to download the GPX or KML files through the same link.)

• Hike the Yungas North Road (take an early bus from the Terminal Provincial Minasa Yungas to the 🌍 upper starting point, about 1½ hr; the bus should be around Bs. 15 if you make clear that you want to get of there and not in Yolosita). It is also possible to hike down the North Yungas Road to Cocoico within a day. It is 30 km, but downhill all the time. Or hike up, if you feel like it (2000 m in altitude!), and take any bus from the top end back to La Paz. (updated May 2018)
• Two interesting two- or three-day hikes go from La Cumbre (the highest point between La Paz and Coroico, 4,700 m) to Coroico (1,700 m).

• El Choro Trek (you can start 🌍 at 4,900 m for the 3-day trail, or, if you start at 🌍 3,400 m (called the Sillutinkara Inca Trail), you will save one day; any bus from the Terminal Provincial Minasa Yungas goes by either of the two starting points). The most famous is the old Inca Road trek, which was the most important connection between the Yungas and La Paz until the 1930s. This is a beautiful and exciting track that runs northwest of the highway (La Paz-Yolosita) and the North Yungas Road through local villages and down to Yolosita. Bus: Bs. 10-15. (updated May 2018)
• Eco-vía. This is a road carved in the mountains, with the idea of having a train connection. It never did function, but as a train needs relatively flat terrain, it's a much more accessible option for people not used to walking. It can be done in two or three days, but come well prepared: the first two days you will not encounter any villages.
  There is little information available on this trail here. So, you best off heading to a "tourist information" in Coroico and get more details. They will probably tell about where the trail starts and ends. Then consult OpenStreetMap to find the actual trail and rest of details. (updated Jun 2018)

• Takesi Inca Trail – A demanding and exciting 40 km 2-3 days mountain trail that you start in La Paz and end in Yanacachi along the South Yungas Road, or vice versa. More information on the stages of the trail, can be found here.
• There is some good hiking in the surrounding of Coroico. There are several one day hikes, which include going for a swim in wild and clear rivers, seeing local agriculture (coca, banana, coffee, citrus fruits), old Casas de Hacienda (the houses of the former landowners), virgin forests and Afro-Bolivian communities. Checkout the destinations under #See.

It's a 64 km long scenic ride downhill. Although it's a narrow, winding road with big drops on the side, going down by bike is probably the safest way to get to Coroico. You'll enjoy the day watching waterfalls and appreciating beautiful natural landscapes.

• Mountain Biking (self guided). You can easily organise a cycling trip yourself. Try renting a bicycle with one of the tour companies that also offer tours. Take a bus from Terminal Provincial Minasa Yungas (or a private van from where you prefer) to 🌍 La Cumbra at 4,650 m and go from there, or go directly to the 🌍 beginning of the North Yungas Road, from where it is only 30 km, which may be preferred if the weather at La Cumbra is bad—with mist you will not be able to take pictures anyhow. Buses usually have enough space in their luggage compartment or on the roof. You can stay in the region or head back directly to La Paz with the next bus from Yolosita.
  The "Death Road" itself is not difficult, it is just that when accidents happened, cars were often too fast or inattentive. This can be better controlled by bicycle. However, have someone more conservative leading your group, just in case. Since it is downhill all the time, the 60 km are possible in 3-5 hr, depending on the amount of stops and the weather. Front suspension is best, but full suspension is not needed—this is a gravel road used by cars before, it is not an off-road trail. Some tour companies offer their clients really bad and old bicycles, proofing the easiness of the road. Nevertheless, get a good bicycle—the most important thing are your breaks.
  There is a 🌍 check point along the highway, which is only open between 07:00—15:00. The first halt from La Cumbra is a sealed road. The North Yungas Road is gravel. Doing the trip on you won is more authentic, you do not have to start too early, it is cheaper, and you will have more time for yourself and pictures. In addition, it gives you the chance to visit a neglected but very versatile region. Bs. 50-100 per day per mountain bike. (updated May 2018)
• Mountain Biking Tour. The North Yungas Road is a popular destination for mountain biking tours from La Paz. There are many providers in La Paz that offer the tour. Unfortunately, they have kind of a quasi monopole, because most people will only contact one company and go with them. Hence, their prices are way too high.
  Generally, bicycles and people are brought from La Paz into the region. You will ride a bike in the new paved road about a half hour, then enter the most dangerous road in the world, North Yungas Road (a.k.a. Death Road). All together 60 km (3-6 hr), and at the end you are having buffet lunch, showers and a swimming pool in Yolosa. You can of course also stay in the region, but general the tour providers are a little reluctant to take too much luggage. Bs. 500-600 when booked online. However, it can easily be bargained down to Bs. 300 or more—just drop them a message a day before you want to leave, asking for availability for the next day and mentioning your price. These tours are basically never full, but take as many people as possible. Find out on their website which types of bicycles they have and get a good one, even though it is not really necessary. Searching for "Death Road" on Google or Tripadvisor, you will find many providers, and from there their Facebook page or website. If you send 6 or 7 of them an email or WhatsApp, you will certainly be lucky. (updated May 2018)

Along the trails there should be enough options to camp, just make sure it is not close to a village or unintentional in someone's backyard. Check out the marked camp site on OpenStreetMap. Often however, you will also find options provided by the people of the village to put up a tent.

• 🌍 Campamento Minero La Chojlla (near Yanacachi along the South Yungas Road). Apparently a great place for camping near an interesting mine for a visit. (updated Feb 2019)

• 🌍 Villa Bella (1 km south of Yolosa). Has cabanas and a large family apartment available Bs. 60-100 pp. (updated May 2018)
• 🌍 El Jiri Ecolodge, Cotapata National Park, Coroico (near Charobamba; use the 🌍 bridge to cross the river south.), ☏ +591 70677115, info@jiribolivia.com. (updated May 2018)
• 🌍 Urpuma Ecolodge, El Chairo, ☏ +591 71951006, +591 71218624. A project of the Asociación Comunitaria de Ecoturismo Urpuma beneficing 25 families in this region. (updated May 2018)
• 🌍 Hotel Villa Verde (6.5 km north/further from Yolosita), ☏ +591 22261186, +591 73219490, +591 67174444, reservas.hotelvillaverde@gmail.com. (updated May 2018)