The Andes Part 11: The Death Road (continued)

At 1750 m/6,500' the "Death Road" passes by Coroico, one of the most charming towns in Bolivia. There are more interesting cities in the Andes, but few, if any, can beat the view from Coroico's hilltop center.

Coroico, Bolivia.

Kids, Coroico.

The city is now becoming a bit touristy, but the surrounding villages are seldom visited by foreigner. Some are populated by the descendants of African slaves who escaped from Bolivia's infamous silver mines, and now speak Aymara language.

Streets of Coroico.

Views from Coroico town center.

		Surrounding slopes are covered with secondary forest.		There's a lot of birds around the town, mostly near rivers.
Green-cheeked parakeets (Pyrrhura molinae), Coroico.		Spix's guan (Penelope jacquacu), Coroico.			Tropical parula (Parula pitiayumi), Coroico.

View from Coroico.

View from Coroico.

The best time to visit Coroico is in August when coral trees (Erythrina) are in full bloom. They grow all over the town and the hills around it.

View from Coroico.

Views from Coroico town center.

Coral tree flower, Coroico.

There are about 20 species of coral trees in South America. As you descend from Coroico to the hot, dusty plains of eastern Bolivia, you see at least six different kinds. Some are grown for edible fruit, others are part of local rainforests.

Coral tree flower, Coroico.

Coral tree flowers, Coroico.

Purple honeycreeper (Cyanerpes caeruleus).

Blooming and fruiting coral trees attract a lot of wildlife, from fruit flies to tapirs. There's much more wildlife on the roadsides below 1000 m, especially if you drive there at night. Opossums, armadillos, various rodents and occasionally crab-eating foxes cross the road in front of the truck. The road eventually reaches the town of Yucumo, from where you can go north, to Rurrenabaque and then Riberalta, or east, to Trinidad and then the Pantanal.

Purple honeycreeper, Coroico.

View from Coroico.

Coral tree flowers, Rurrenabaque, Bolivia.

Travel on the "Death Road" is no picnic, but the roads of lowland Bolivia aren't any better. Most of them are in very bad shape during the rainy season, and very dusty the rest of the year. Traffic is surprisingly sparse, and most of time all you see is dry pastures.

Coral tree in the rainforest, Rurrenabaque.

Coral tree, Coroico.

Back to Part 10