Online articles have cited this road as one of the most dangerous in the world. While travelling sketchy roads has become commonplace for us on Latin America, we’re not sure this road still deserves that monicker, but we’re here to find out.
Built in the 1930’s to transport soldiers during the war between Colombia and Peru, this route did not have travellers in mind. A brief google search returns countless results of cars, trucks and busses succumbing to the dangerous curves and minimal guardrails.
There are no obvious obstacles except other drivers who traverse this road on a daily basis. As long as you keep your vehicle tire side down this feels like just another day in Colombia. However one mistake means death.
The unspoken language of a single lane shelf road. If you’re bigger, sure you go first. If you’re travelling uphill, yes, you can have the right of way. If you’re a full size truck carrying 12 cows and passengers hanging off each corner, ABSOLUTELY, I’ll back up for you. Taxi’s however, they don’t speak the same language. They’ll make sure those passengers make it to their destination as quick as possible, even if that means passing you on a single lane track. The language is reaffirmed in honks and beeps and hand gestures of successful passes, and we love the game.
Curves that throw your equilibrium out the window. You feel as though you’re travelling backwards, because sometimes you are! The road folds through and over itself like the contents in a pot of spaghetti.
Frequent landslides have taken many lives over the years. The death toll is not exact, but one landslide in 1989 sadly claimed over 300 lives. That leaves a mark, knowing how many people rely on this route every day. Unlike the Death road in Bolivia that has a new road built to bypass it, the Trampolin is the only East to West route for the surrounding 300 kms.
As the crow flies we travelled little distance, despite driving for hours already. The prospect of having to find camp on this road is looming in the back of our minds….
Toyota World Runners vs. The Pan American Highway.
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