The Best and the Beast of Bolivia...

The best of Bolivia is that it is undeveloped...and that too is the beast. Many roads are impassable in the rainy season. But this country also claims ownership to the World's Most Dangerous Road according to the Inter-American Development Bank. This is the road between LaPaz and Coroico. Though I did not travel this road I was very curious and did some investigation while in Bolivia.

One travel guide states..."This road is a gravel track of 3.2m width, the width for one vehicle, 1000m drops, hulking rock overhangs and waterfalls that spill across the road and erode the highway. On leaving La Paz to cross La Cumbre dogs stand like sentinels awaiting handouts. Camion drivers feed them in the hope that the achachilas (ancestors spirits who dwell in the high peaks) will look after them on their way down. At the pass, drivers also perform a challa for the opus (ambient mountain spirits), sprinkling the vehicles with alcohol before beginning the descent."

A new road was recently built thanks to a $120million loan from the International Development Bank but the old road is still in use. This is the best and the beast of Bolivia. Even when development takes place it is slow to grab hold.