I was traveling from Coiroico by bus heading east and the bus driver stopped on a particularly bad area of the Death Road. He stopped due to an oncoming truck so our bus driver decided to back down and try to let the other vehicle go around us. While he was backing down, a lady in front of me looked out her window and screamed. The driver just kept backing up, as he wasn't concerned about a woman screaming. I decided I better look outside and I saw that the road had eroded a three foot section and our rear tire was 6 inches from going over. I screamed and the bus driver then decided to stop. Several thousand feet down, almost verticle. My wife and son were with me so it was quite scary. The bus station in La Paz was quite strange, however once inside it seemed quite safe. Hope this helps.
Biglake, that sounds absolutely terrifying. Luckily, there is a new road from Coroico to La Paz. Unbelievably, the old road is still used. Some tours will even drive up it after your ride. Definitely something to verify before taking a tour :)
Vehicles going up have the right of way--no reason for that bus to back down. New Road was closed for repairs when I did the road of death last year. Believe a landslide caused problems on new road.
I rode down the death road in december and there was a bus coming up hill that stopped under a waterfall and then couldn't start the engine. The driver and the locals on the bus kept trying to push it uphill as they had right of way, yet 50m back there was the width for 2 vehicles so passing was possible. After an hour of 3 guides arguing with the driver we pushed the bus back to a safe spot. They had to call for help anyway...
I think the lack of skill/knowledge and ability with some of the bus drivers is the real issue. The road is wide enough such that a competant driver could reverse a fair way if needing to, without have a problem with the edge.
The 'new' road to Coroico has been reopened, btw.
So no regular minibus, minivan or big bus should be using the old road (the 'Death Road') and you the concerned traveller shouldn't therefore be treated to several-hundred-meter-drops right under your window, like poor biglake1.
Edited by: Peter_1972
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