Has anyone ridden or driven this road recently? We are considering it in a couple weeks and are not sure it will be worth the 18hrs that it might take, or if we should just fly. We are in a truck/camper so we go slower than a bike. Any thoughts?
thanks

If you are in Latin America now, the Discovery Channel has frequently televised a trucking program (called Camino del Muerte, or something like that) which might give you some visual clues as to what you will be faced with.

We are in Rurre now and it is pissing rain. But after our Pampas tour, upon arriving in La Paz (assuming all goes well haha), I can let you know how it currently is from a motorcycle's perspective.

Cheers

Ok, so we arrived in La Paz Saturday from Rurre.

The road from La Paz to the entrance to the Camino Antiguo (Death Road) is mostly paved, all very nice. If you choose to take the Camino Antiguo to Coroico, it is narrow but definately doable. It´s a pretty drive, but not far from the new paved road on the other side of the mountain, so I imagine the scenery is about the same. My suggestion is to leave early/later in the day (before 09:00hs or after 14:00hs) to avoid downhill mountain bikers.

The new road from La Paz to Rurre is paved for about the first 150kms or so, but after that it is mostly dirt/gravel. The problem for us was that there are several Trancas (road closures) due to constructions. They close the road on weekdays from 06:00hs to 16:00hs, kinda forcing you to either drive at night, or break up the trip in multiple days.

I think if you were to drive at a good clip, leave on the weekend, and leave La Paz very early, you might be able to make it to Rurre in a day. Surely within 2. We left late, on a weekday and I was chuffing down kicked up dust for about the entire trip. I can´t say it was a spectacular drive as far as scenery goes. Whether you choose to drive or fly or boat, I think depends on your next destination. If you just want to go to Rurre for the tours, a plane ride might be easiest, and possibly cheaper, at less than $100US round trip per ticket.

Hope this was of some help, feel free to pm me if you have any other questions.

A decent cheap hotel in Rurre that has parking is Hostal Beni.

The Camino de la Muerte (Death Road / Old North Yunga road) is pressed grave, but easily doable by bike and we had no issues with the mountain bikers as they are easily passed. If you drive carefully it's a nice drive and not very risky at all in my opinion. However it's slow going (20-30Km/h mostly)

There is a new paved road to Coroico (you just don't turn off on to the old gravel road and continue on the asphalt) and that'll get you to Coroico in 2 hours easy. From there you continue to Rure. Beware of dogs running at your bike along this strip!!!

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2ForTheRoad | KEN & EBRU TRAVEL THE WORLD
Our Worldwide Motorbiking Experience Notes: India, Laos, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil

Does anyone know of a good place to store a motorcycle In Rurrenabaque, while I take a 30 day boat tour up the Benis River? Anyone done this? Also was there any "grifo" (gas) along the way from La Paz to Rurre?