World’s Most Dangerous Roads | Bolivia - The Road to Death in the Andes | Free Documentary

[Music] it's regarded as one of the most dangerous roads of the world la caratera de la muerte the road of death [Music] [Applause] [Music] year after year many people die here [Music] some go looking for adventure [Music] others depend on this road for all of them it's a risky ride [Music] [Applause] [Music] south america [Music] bolivia starting in ixyamas situated in the tropical lowlands the road leads 500 kilometers up to the plateau of the andes at almost five thousand meters altitude the destination is the mega city of la pass [Music] at the peak of the route la cumbre pass spiritual healers of oklahoma mother earth their shamanic powers are supposed to cast out negative harmful energy the sheamus sacrifice their offerings to pachamama people are supposed to remember what they are doing to mother earth roads carve themselves into the soil like scars the priests beg for forgiveness also for those driving on these roads they want to protect them from accidents and harm [Music] has been working as a truck driver for more than 20 years now there is hardly a single road in bolivia that he hasn't traveled the road to la paz is his home route he transports timber from the jungle his load weighs 25 tons without any incidents the journey takes him three days it's still this dry season at the end of october so the road is quite dusty in a few weeks it'll start raining the road will be drowned in mud and morass and there is hardly any kind of movement possible but for now the drivers are fighting the stifling heat and the dusty air omar is driving quite fast he's using the opportunity to make kilometers his co-driver hardly knows the road he wants to learn about its pitfalls from omar there are dangers everywhere we must not make mistakes the chalk could break down there's a lot to be sorry about when you're on the road anything can happen the truck is stuck the wheels are spinning [Music] it's deep really deep [Music] put it in there in there i have to see for myself jaime is looking for holes in the ground and fills them up with stones on the other side it's steep too put these leaves underneath the palm leaves supply the necessary grip only omar's skill and the full force of the engine can help to get the vehicle out [Music] it rain in the morning the road is muddy has to be especially careful with river courses if water penetrated the engine it would destroy it the trip would be over before it even started [Music] only few roads that are passable for trucks lead through this sheer endless jungle the humidity of the tropical rainforest evaporates in misty clouds from the thicket [Music] the truck feels its way through the wall of fog only a few meters of visibility a collision with an approaching vehicle would be fatal there's always fog here always we have to drive slow we can't see a thing [Music] lies on the banks of the rio beni on the inflows of the amazon river [Music] trucks are waiting to cross the river here the ferry consists of a simple wooden pontoon the pontenero instructs the truck drivers the crossing takes half an hour and only two trucks can go on at a time is responsible for bringing trucks and people to the other side safely he's been shipping the rio bani for many years now he also knows when operations should come to a halt this river needs a certain level you can't always cross as soon as the ferry lands on the bank juanera arias must anchor it tightly iron chains will make sure the pontoon doesn't break loose when the trucks embark the ramp consists of only two logs they have to carry the weight of many tons it takes expertise and good judgment to position them properly [Music] by now oma has arrived at the ferry now it's all about steering the truck across the ramp we'll have to be very careful soon when the truck drives onto the pontoon it has to be driven slowly very slowly [Music] if he doesn't do it right there'll be an accident and that's bad for all of us that's the right combination of breaking and driving so as not to push the pontoon away omar and the pontonero have known each other for many years during the ferry ride they start chatting a truck is slipped from the pontoon just this morning it was tedious work to pull it back out [Music] the drivers always make the same mistake it's slippery that's exactly what happened the log you drive on moves just a tiny bit there's a small margin with the gears it's horrible it's worse when the rear wheel spins in the other direction that's how it slips that's the problem [Music] just around the corner from where the trucks are crossing the rio baby fishermen are hunting for the biggest freshwater fish of the world [Music] antonio limashi and alfonso carbajal are focusing on the tasty giant catfish where do we throw a net where here [Music] [Applause] because the dry period lasts longer the real beanie carries less water one of the reasons why the fishermen catch less but soon the fisherman's luck is on their side the water level should be higher but it's low because this year it's been so dry unlike last year once you've thrown in the net you'd have caught four or five up to ten fish now it's still too drying [Music] omar has long left the river behind his path leads him across gravel roads from the lowlands to higher regions the road is winding from the humid tropical lowlands to the dry high plateau of the andes the road is mostly unpaved and it leads through the breathtaking landscapes of the yungas the drivers have to overcome deep valleys and vast canyons on their way it's left-hand driving on the jungas road the ascending vehicles should not stop otherwise they'd get stuck oma has to fully concentrate his truck just about fits between the cliff and the canyon [Music] one driving mistake would be enough to make him fall into the canyon [Music] the brim of the road is unpaved no guard rails at all and what happens if omar faces an approaching vehicle backward driving is too dangerous there are only few passing places between hope and fear look out and off you go [Music] it's a very dangerous spot many people have died here it goes down 150 meters yeah we wouldn't live to tell the tale we have to be very careful [Music] the truck meanders through the canyon the road was rested from the rock using dynamite [Music] along the road there are countless roadworks it's being broadened wherever you look the construction vehicles scratch meter after meter from the soil it's all about the trucks reaching their destinations faster and safer even though rich and natural resources bolivia still is one of the poorest countries in latin america the expansion of the road networks and an improved infrastructure is supposed to help change that because of the roadworks whole sections of the road are being blocked for many hours during the day as soon as the road is clear a true car rally begins [Music] everyone tries to make up for the time lost that's when many lethal accidents occur [Music] whoever doesn't own a car and has to cover long distances must rely on buses they are comfortable but not less dangerous many a bus driver risks the passengers lives with overtaking maneuvers [Music] there are people who are afraid they come from kajamba from santa cruz people who don't know how to drive or come here for the first time they're afraid but not me i enjoy this we pray to god to reach our destination my family is worried if someone from my family travels i also worry until they've returned home safely fascination and fear are closely related for most passengers they enjoy the unique view of the spectacular canyons but often they are only centimeters away from the abyss it goes down a hundred meters or more for whoever suffers from fear of heights this tour will become a nightmare even without an accident [Music] [Music] it's so hot let's go jaime let's have lunch what's for lunch donna it's so hot jaime what are we having a full course menu i'm starving and i need a drink something refreshing we have juice and sparkling water they are having the usual regional dish with a soup have an appointment with jaime's brother he's got a special mission for them the two are meant to bring monchito a little monkey [Music] i don't think he's gonna like it i hope he doesn't freeze to death but he has to help us if the truck breaks down or else we run him over okay we'll take him [Music] but monchito likes the trip and oman jaime can finally relax for a bit but the ease of life as a truck driver doesn't last for long [Music] i think we have a flat tire one of the overused tires has peeled itself when it was stuck in the mud obviously the rubber mantle was destroyed by the spinning it's the tire damn a piece got torn off no rubber left you can even see the thread a piece is missing we need to change the tire [Music] luckily the nearest garage isn't far off uma has the tire changed in the village of cincuentos [Music] the repair works are time consuming but uma has allowed for minor incidents he uses the opportunity to relax a few coca leaves have their part in it they keep him awake and happy otherwise this might later cost us two to three hours now i only lose half an hour that's much better but i don't stress myself out i even have some coca leaves to calm me down and to rest since the trip will be tiring [Music] the farmers in the yungas harvest the coca leaves just like tea or tomatoes are harvested elsewhere albertina mamani and her husband valerio are two of the thousands of legal cocaleros the coca farmers don't regard coca as the basis for cocaine but as a holy plant which already the incas knew and which has a therapeutic effect sometimes we are hungry um we didn't have the money to send our kids to school we didn't go either there was no money coca used to be so cheap a pound for one bolivian nowadays we get 30 35 or even 40 bolivianos per pound the value of the coca leaves that albatina dries and prepares for transport has increased considerably in bolivia over the past few years the growing of coca is supported from highest ranking political officials president evo morales an ex-coca farmer himself propagates coca as an economic commodity of the same value as coffee and other fruit he wants coca to be internationally recognized and not demonized as a drug albatina and valerio make relatively good money with the coca plant about 2500 euros a year they bring the sacks to la paz where the coca leaves from the region are especially appreciated [Music] omar and jaime have found a place to sleep by the roadside [Music] we need to get some sleep [Music] we have to get up early tomorrow to continue on when we arrive we still have to unload the logs see you tomorrow i'll dream of angels the altiplano a high plateau in western bolivia is bordering on the yongas llamas are grazing on the meager fields there are only few paths leading through this area a thousand years ago the incas used to live here on the altiplano today it's easiest to visit their paths and cult sites on a motocross bike [Music] fernando jordan is following the old paths accompanied by his friend mauricio del solar they both share the passion for nature culture and motorbikes you know this is part of the old inca roots this whole area they set off from here yes they walked across these mountains and found gold over there it's not the first time that mauricio and fernando explore the area they are familiar here none of the two would set off on a trip like this on his own that would be too risky heavy rainfall over there but we still have to go across here let's search for a different route we go there and then we'll turn off there i hope it doesn't rain as much over there yes look there are clouds over there and the wind is blowing them in this direction we have to that's very dangerous because something could happen any time that's why a helmet protective clothing and a well-oiled bike are essential [Music] the higher up the bikers get the thinner the air gets they ride their bikes even above 5000 meters of altitude there is an icy wind coming from the mountains and on top of the wind and the cold there are wild llamas as additional obstacles [Music] we come across new things every day and that's what i love about this country we still find new things things we can share for me being here is something very special 500 years ago our ancestors walked these same paths to find gold for their jewelry driving my [Music] omar valiantly continues his roller coaster ride [Music] at a clear road section he sees sacks and bags at the roadside his assumption quickly becomes horrible certainty what happened jaime [Music] has someone seen anything did this happen last night has someone died were there two people is the driver dead the driver is alive they're saying the co-driver is dead i'm sorry what happened because he had to let an approaching car pass and he came too close to the edge that's when this sort of thing happens it was the driver's mistake you can make mistakes on this road but this wasn't one if the road breaks off and you just try to let someone pass who's to blame no one mobility [Music] lethal accidents are a common occurrence on the mountain roads in jungas omar has lost friends and colleagues too the fact that nothing has happened to him yet is surely due to his caution but also to do with luck his truck is oma's home for many weeks and months of the year all the more welcome are the short breaks in which he can refresh himself tie up the monkey over there so you get some fresh air even if mochito complains about being left on his own for a little while a short break outside the driver's cabin will do him good too for omar and jaime the crystal clear mountain water is better than any shower or bath in a hotel room they get to wash themselves for the first time in one and a half days and they wash thoroughly after a very exhausting day you are knackered after having seen this accident the best most relaxing and most beautiful thing to do is to have a good wash now i'm ready to go back on the road it feels as if i washed off kilos of dust that's great isn't it [Music] omar leads the life of a trucker and as you would expect from a captain of the roads he has a different girl in every town [Music] you get to know new people you attractive women if you're on the road the first one i have two children and one with the second one there are some difficult moments i've only got one pair of hands you know omar stops in coroico to meet his second wife veronica [Music] he only sees her a couple of weeks she knows about the situation she's in beautiful women talking to him they come smile at him and talk to him yes i'm very jealous at all hallows people commemorate the dead at the cemetery of coroico the family has come to put down flowers at the graves and to commemorate the dead [Music] omar also uses the short stopover to decorate veronica's father's grave and pray together with veronica and their son we are in touch with the souls and i always pray not only here but also if i'm on the road so they'll accompany us and keep an eye on us all hallows is a very jolly celebration in bolivia even marching bands play at the gravesides the tomb slab serves as a table so if in fact the deceased actually want to join the celebration food and a table are provided for figurines made of bread sweets fruit and alcohol are available [Music] too children and adults go from grave to grave and pray for those whose names are being called out by the relatives they in return are rewarded with the gifts on the graves [Music] for omar it goes without saying that he too visits the graves of strangers and prays for them that's the customer the celebration goes on until nightfall but omar has to get a move on the passage that brought about the roads by name rode to death is still to come the caratera de la muerte leads from coroico 65 kilometers across almost all bolivian climate zones it surmounts 3000 meters of altitude [Music] [Applause] [Music] within a short time the weather changes rain clouds appear from the depth and turn the often only three meter wide road into a dangerous track [Applause] [Music] little rivolets turn into torrents water is coming from everywhere the ride turns into a skidding slide if another car approaches it may well get too narrow and we won't be able to pass each other [Music] up until a few years ago the road was seen as the most dangerous in the world each month cars would fall down there would be many deaths and injuries for a few years now there is a bypass but still oma takes the carratera de la muerte because it is shorter and saves gasoline and time [Music] welcome to the road of death my friends i like the section best it takes about two hours to drive it you should be extra careful there are huge rocks and potholes 90 of the accidents occur in the curves so slow down when you get there what truck drivers consider to be work is pure love of adventure for the mountain bikers many agencies have discovered the carratera de la muerte as a tourist attraction [Applause] with guides to accompany the tourists they sell the ride into the depths of the mountains as a special experience [Applause] the road to death is considered to be one of the main tourist attractions in bolivia it leads downhill all the way even so the cyclists must concentrate hard as to not let the tour end in a free fall a few photos are being taken for the family album or rather the online friends across the globe it's been one of my dreams ever since i came to bolivia to ride the youngest road in the beginning i didn't dare but was full of adrenaline and so i just do it once you realize you could fall down 1500 meters is incredible this feeling when you're riding close to the edge it's like flying it's impossible to explain [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] this omar has almost made it he must never lose his concentration or get careless the road is unpredictable to the very end the weather is improved but the road surface still is sodden and spongy [Music] [Applause] then finally omar leaves the dirt road and reaches the final section of his route from here onwards the last kilometers to la paz are paved the first thing i do is to thank god for sparing my life i beg him to grant us a safe passage to help us stay concentrated have no accidents and make no mistakes the royal cordilleras accompany omar to the peak of his journey [Music] omar makes a short stop at la cumbra pass in 4650 meters of altitude [Music] in the freezing cold he commemorates the dead whose lives this road has claimed he thanks pachamama mother earth for sparing him so far and prays for mercy and his family's well-being the journey's destination it's the highest mega city of the world its houses are built at an altitude between 100 meters [Music] oma has to go to the opposite part of the city his client is already waiting for the logs there [Music] in the meantime jaime is taking monchito to his brother's girlfriend where he is eagerly expected after having mastered all the adversities that the road to death holds one last challenge is awaiting him driving through the city is the most exhausting part of the trip there are many small cars the streets are narrow the cabs just stop wherever they want minivans too that makes me angry the ride ends in al alto outside the city gates this is where the lumber yard is omar has fulfilled his duty he delivered the logs safely and on time where i can find a new load and then drive back but it feels like a victory to me i did [Music] it [Music] you

Channel: Free Documentary

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Keywords: Free Documentary, Documentaries, Full documentary, HD documentary, most dangerous roads, most dangerous journeys, worlds most dangerous roads, worlds most dangerous journeys, deadliest roads, deadliest roads in the world, dicing with death, deadliest journeys, dicing with death bolivia, most dangerous roads bolivia, deadliest roads bolivia, dangerous bolivia, deadliest journeys bolivia, hot roads, hot roads bolivia, bolivia, Carretera de la muerte, Road to Death

Id: ojLrp2rmh0I

Length: 43min 5sec (2585 seconds)

Published: Sun May 02 2021