Yungas

The Yungas is a geographic and biogeographic zone on the eastern slopes of the Andes in western South America. It forms a transitional belt between the high Andes and the Amazon rainforest and is most commonly associated with the Bolivian Yungas, a network of deeply cut valleys and cloud forests in the La Paz Department, though the term is used for similar ecotones in other Andean countries. The name yunga derives from Quechua, referring to warm, humid lowland valleys.

The Bolivian Yungas includes Nor Yungas and Sud Yungas, with towns such as Coroico, Caranavi, and Chulumani. Elevations range roughly from 600 to 2,000 meters, producing a climate that alternates between warm, humid valleys and cooler highland terraces. The region is known for cloud forests, high biodiversity, and a mix of agricultural systems.

Economy and culture: The Yungas is an agricultural corridor—coffee, coca, citrus fruits, bananas, and cacao are grown for local and regional markets. Indigenous and mestizo communities have long inhabited the area, with a cultural heritage tied to Andean and Amazonian influences. Ecotourism, trekking, and biodiversity reserves have grown in recent decades.

Transportation and environment: The Yungas Road, widely known as the Road of Death, connects La Paz to the Yungas and is famous for its steep, narrow, cliffside sections. The region faces deforestation and pressure from agricultural expansion, but it also hosts protected areas and conserved cloud forest remnants.