Route through Peru

Through June/ July 2014 I rode with a friend into Peru from Copa Cobana besides Lake Titicaca, Bolivia to Puno. From there we rode to Arequipa to loop through Colca Canyon (see below) and out to the Panamerica straight up the coast to Nazca and Paracas.

From Paracas we rode due east across the Cordillera to Ayucucho, Abancay and into Cusco.

We continued north through the mountains into the Sacred Valley and from Quillabamba into the more jungley environment - actually sort of sketchy - get local advise through this areas if you want to go as its used for cocoa production - 'travel by day and dont stop' sort of advise) passing through Kiteni and Kimbiri. Then heading back west into the mountains to Huancayo and Cerro de Pasco on route to Huarez/ Carhuaz and Yungay for access to Huascaren National Park (see below).

From Huascaren I then ride solo along the Canon del Pato towards the coast and up to Piuri before heading into Equador.

This country took 6 weeks to traverse, riding most days on average 250km. The terrain was extremely varied although mostly dirt roads from sea level to high mountain passes (+4500m elevation).

Peru South

Peru North

The route above with some of my ride highlights below.

Highlights: Colca Canyon, 2-3 days, ~450km
Day 1 Arequipa to Chivay, 150km

Heading north out of Arequipa there's a fantastic dirt road that goes up between the 6000m high two volcanoes, El Misti and La Chacani, which switchbacks onto a plateaux at 4000m.

Crossing the plateaux, the road then gradually rises to a 4900m pass just before dropping into Chivay on the Eastern part of Colca Canyon. Its decidedly warmer in the Canyon as its much lower in elevation (3400m). The terraces here are some of the oldest in the country.

The dirt road up to the plateaux from Arequipa with Volcan Misti on the right

The plateaux at 4000m elevation (below)

The pass at 4900m elevation; how those Peruvian ladies spend all day up there I dont know; its freezing!

Colca Canyon (below)

Day 2 Yanque to Cabanaconde, 44km

Following the road west alongside the rim of the canyon (get fuel in Chivay).

Now I think you actually have to buy a ticket (70 Sols) to enter the canyon, however my friend and I arrived after the ticket office closed on Day 1 and left before it opened on Day 2 – not that i'm advocating, just saying. Wondering why only 44km this day until I re-read my diary:

‘amazing scenery took ages to do the 44km but no rush’, it was in fact, remarkable;

and for the afternoon..

‘after checking into Pachamama (hostel) at 3pm we set off to the base of Colca Canyon.. 30km return of ripio (gravel) switchies.. had to let some air out of the tyres.. a bit rough n mostly rocky/ gravelly due to recent slope slides/ cuttings..'

The track to the base (towards Soro) was 5km further along the road (out of town) and it was steep.

Heading out of town to find the track (below)

Halfway down the to the base of the canyon on the ripio track (below)

Day 3 Cabanconde to Camana, 250km

Heading out over a fab mountain traversing route 120km or so in ripio was the order of the day.

Towards to coast over the dunes. My bike looks so small in this landscape below.

Highlights: Huascaran National Park (1 day - better as 2 days in hindsight, 250km)

This was a huge day, at 250km and 11 hours later we were well and truly knackered, but, I can safely say that this day was my favourite day within my whole trip. There is snow on the peaks all year so the view is just remarkable and the riding is incredible.

Starting in Yungay, we rode east into the National Park and for the first (dirt) pass over the Cordillera at ~4800m elevation (Potachuelo Pass link below).

The route heads east to Vaqueria then South to Sapcha and Chacas then back over the range on what is now a paved road (Punta Olimpica Pass below).

We just got over the second pass before watching the sun set and the stars come out (and the temperature drop). The circuit then drops to Carhuez then back to Yungay.

Lagunas de Llanganuco before Portachuelo Pass (below)

Top of the Potachuelo Pass

Look at those switchbacks we just came up!

Heading down the other side of Punta Olimpica pass

Farming communities live on the lower slopes of the eastern Cordillera

Traversing the mountains on the eastern side of the Cordillera

Looking back to Punta Olimpica where the road turns becomes paved...

http://www.dangerousroads.org/south-america/peru/1263-portachuelo-pass-peru.html

http://www.dangerousroads.org/south-america/peru/1245-punta-olimpica-peru.html

Worth A Look: Laguna Peron (Huascaran National Park - 1 day, 90 km)

Worth a day trip whilst you’re in the area; dirt switchbacks (as I remember too, quite rocky but do-able), all the way up to ~4000m elev, its a 90km round trip from Yungay.

I saw nobody until the guard at the national park hut up there, he told me wasn't able to ride around the lake itself (a few km) because the route in one place is not suitable for bikes ('even the dirk bike?' apparently so... but you may be lucky if you go, but otherwise you are able to walk around it).

Oh hey, i've just found this route again on my favourite website!

http://www.dangerousroads.org/south-america/peru/4883-the-road-to-the-paramount-logo.html

Highlights: Canon Del Pato (1 day)

This route will take you along the 3N towards the coast from Huascaran National Park area. The Canon del Pato itself is quite short (at 44km) but link it up with Route 123 and it’s a pretty nice way to get to the coast.

I took the 'short cut' on the way to the coast (Route 123) which you must cross the river for, when as the canyon starts dropping away and the river widens. The landscape then changes to the desert scenery that you see along the coast of Peru.