So far, this was the most challenging thing for me on this trip. Give me a bungy jump or sky dive any day. Biking down something called ‘Death Road’ at speed, over loose rocks along a 600m drop – not so much.

We had heard a tourist died a week before we were doing it, and one also died a few days before Scott’s sister did it, soooo needless to say I was a bit nervous and I didn’t tell mum and dad I was doing it till after the fact.

We met our group for the day and were taken by our chosen company – Barracuda – to the start of the road, about 45 mins out of La Paz. We were given our gloves, helmets, pants, jackets, and bikes, rode around for a little bit and we were off. The journey itself goes from 4700m above sea level to 1100m. The first 24km was sealed road which gave us a chance to get used to the bike but also meant it was freaking fast, and a little scary when big trucks and vans are passing you in both directions. We made four stops on the way for our crew to regroup. Apparently most times they are waiting about 15-20 mins for the last people to catch up. But we were all within about 5 mins of each other. There were four Danish guys who literally didn’t use their brakes the whole time out the front and then four of us girls who were fast but cautious 🙂 Scotty was being nice at the beginning and hanging with me but then I said he could go and he disappeared into the distance.

After the first 24km we got back in the bus and were driven the next 8km which is uphill, to the start of the real Death Road.

I will tell you now that my jaw, my fingers and my forearms were already seizing up due to being so tightly clenched. Also, I had to keep reminding myself to breathe…

So we got to the beginning of the next 32km which is a gravel road with a sheer drop off the side. Hurray.

It was actually wider than I expected which was nice, but there were some tricky parts with a lot of loose stones, pot holes, and waterfalls landing on the road…

One of the girls in our group came off her bike and grazed her chin but she was all good. And a few of the Danish guys also bailed when they were taken on the single track for the last 10km. But they were fine too.

When we reached the end a clever Bolivian entrepreneur was there selling ice cold beers out of his chilly bin – the perfect way to finish.

From there we were taken to a cool little restaurant where Scott and I swam in a river while waiting for lunch. Then we all got back in the bus for the 3 hour ride back to La Paz, during which I found a little satisfied and proud smile creeping across my face 🙂

I really enjoyed Death Road and highly recommend going with Barracuda. Their mantra is ‘no bullshit’ and it really was. Stay safe, have fun. It was an awesome day out, and despite the stories you will most definitely hear about it, I feel like if you just refrain from being a dick, you will be safe.

Death Road – been there, got the t-shirt.

…literally, they give you a t-shirt.