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Death Road descent: The terrifying highs and lows of Bolivia's killer bike ride
'It would take you 20 seconds to hit the ground if you fell off your bike.'
NZ Herald journalist Tamara Hinson descends Bolivia's Death Road by bicycle at 3,500m altitude, where sheer drops of 1km — marked by wreckage still visible below — define one of the world's most notorious adventure cycling routes. The route has become a structured commercial experience: guided mountain bike tours now run daily, making a once-deadly road accessible to non-expert riders seeking extreme terrain without expedition logistics.






