The Most Dangerous Road in Colombia. The Trampoline of Death. Pasto to Mocoa

Highway 37 - the road stretches from the Andean city of Pasto over the mountains and down to the jungle town of Mocoa a gateway to the Amazon. Though it's only 121 miles between the two cities the trip takes 5-7 hours depending on how many rock and mudslides one encounters on the way.

This is the most infamous road in Colombia. It has been rated the most dangerous in Colombia and one of the worst on the continent earning the nickname 'trampoline della muerte' or trampoline of death.

You know you're in for a rough ride when the bus leaves the terminal and  the passengers cross themselves and mouth small prayers asking for safe passage. Shrines and crosses  litter the roadside   -  testament to the  dangers of this narrow dirt road zig-zaging through the mountains.

This is the  most jerking, bone shattering, punishing, pot-hole-filled, hair-pin-turn,  cliff lined roads I've ever been on. I gave up  counting how  many times I was  bounced up out of my seat and hit my head on the roof of the bus.

The only passenger buses making the trip are micro buses seating 7-8 people. The drivers are damn good. They have to be. And they work  the gear shift like a slide trombone. A car and  a bus can  barely  pass on  this road.

But there are also trucks. And when one  approaches head on the bus has  to stop and  back up to a wider shoulder. The truck squeezes  past with his tires hugging the edge of the road - a sheer drop into jungle growth below.

But this is also  one of the most beautiful roads in the country going through jungles,  cloud forests 6,000 feet high, past waterfalls  and shallow rivers washing out  the road.

There are other ways to get to  Mocoa but they entail losing a  day  backtracking from southern Colombia  north to Popayan and another day crossing the Andes.

Mocoa is  definitely worth the arduous journey and  the trip through the mountains on highway 37 is definitely one hell  of a ride.

see articles on: Pasto a Surprise City and Mocoa - Gateway to the Amazon