La Cumbre Pass
La Cumbre
A snowy mountain pass about 25 kilometers northeast of La Paz at roughly 4,650 meters, the starting point of the Death Road bike descent, with alpine lakes and a Christ statue.
La Cumbre is the highest point on the road from La Paz to the Yungas valleys, crossing the Eastern Cordillera at about 4,650 meters. Along the road you’ll find a statue of Christ and glacial lakes such as Laguna Estrella, surrounded by snowy peaks and llama pastures. This is the starting point for mountain bike descents on the famous Death Road (the old North Yungas Road). Cycling groups set out from La Paz early in the morning, gear up here and then descend about 3,500 meters to near Coroico, covering roughly 64 kilometers. If you’re not cycling, you can hire a car to visit for the snow-peak and lake views, or hike the ancient Inca trail known as El Choro. It is high and windy, so bring windproof, warm clothing and watch for altitude sickness. The drive from La Paz takes about an hour.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Chacaltaya
- Huayna Potosí
- Mirador Killi Killi
- Calle Jaén
- National Museum of Ethnography and Folklore (MUSEF)
- Plaza Murillo
- National Museum of Art
- Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace