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 through the Andean mountain range. There have been numerous deaths from cars falling off.
How long is Trampolín del Diablo in Colombia?
Tucked away in 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.
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 vehicles and was built in 1930 to transport soldiers during the war between Colombia and Peru.
Is Trampolín del Diablo in Colombia dangerous?
There are many blind corners and long one-lane stretches hugging the cliffs. It’s an extremely narrow (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, require full attention. The road winds along steep, forested mountainsides, 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.
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 with many crosses and signs warning against narrow roads 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 km 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.