Trampolín del Diablo is a spooky road in the Andes
Located in the Putumayo Department of Colombia, the road from Mocoa to San Francisco is one of the most dangerous roads in the world. It was built in 1930 and zigzags the Andean mountain range. There have been numerous deaths from cars falling off.
How long is Trampolín del Diablo in Colombia?
Tucked away on the southern part of the country, the road is mostly unpaved. It’s 74.8 km (46.47 miles) long, running from San Francisco (a town in the Putumayo Department) to Mocoa (a town in the northwest of the Putumayo department). Running through the Valley of Sibundoy, it’s known as Trampolín del Diablo (Devil’s trampoline), Adiós mi vida (Bye bye my life) or Trampolín de la Muerte (Death’s trampoline). To drive the road without stopping will take most people between 3 and 4 hours.
Is Trampolín del Diablo in Colombia dangerous?
There are many blind corners and long one lane stretches hugging the cliffs. It’s a single lane gravel road often without protection guards and extremely steep edges. One mistake and death is certain. Sharp curves as well as many fast driving trucks and cars required full attention. The road winds along steep, forested mountain sides, passing very few signs of civilization along the way. According to locals, the most dangerous aspect of the road is the continual landslides that threaten to push vehicles over the edge.
When was the Trampolín del Diablo in Colombia built?
Set high in the Andean mountain range, the road is not suitable for public transport or heavy, and was built in 1930 to transport soldiers during the war between Colombia and Peru.
How many people died on Trampolín del Diablo in Colombia?
Located in Southern Colombia, the road has been directly responsible for ending hundreds of lives. The road is peppered by many crosses and the signs warning against narrow road and landslides. Different sources record more than 500 people dead in 2011 and in 1989 about 300 people died in a terrible collapse. It’s 70 kms of pure wilderness, challenging road and very light traffic. A no man’s land, a place to connect with nature where you can find solitude and enjoy some of the best landscapes of an already very beautiful country. The area is always cloudy and misty. So don’t wait until you have clear skies to cycle this stretch because that might happen only a few times a year.