Peru – Cusco, Lima, Huaraz
After riding North from La Paz along Lake Titicaca for 7 days I reached Cusco. Riding along the altiplano from Puno, over the 4338m high Abra La Raya, and then descending into the river valley down towards Urcos (3100m) and back up to Cusco (3400m).
Once in Cusco I took a needed rest day and also needed to get my front brake pads replaced (they had been worn so thin to be practically unusable), which took an extra day. I also met again with the Belgian cyclists Ellen and Nicolas, who I had met both in South Chile (Coyhaique) and in Bolivia (La Paz). They celebrated the end of their 8-month cycling tour through South-East Asia and South America. Also made me think more of the end of my own project in June 2010, which is fast approaching.
As I’m running out of time to cycle the entire distance up to Quito in Ecuador I need to take a bus for some sections. Since it was raining in Cusco I decided to take a bus to Lima and on to Huaraz, where I arrived this morning. Lima was nice for a day – also the first time I’d been at sea-level after 4 weeks on the altiplano and no less than 3300m altitude. But I decided to go right to Huaraz (3100m) to stage the climb of Huascaran.
Tomorrow I will join another group for a 3-day acclimatization hike on Nevado Pisco (5750m) and then, after one rest and logistics day (Jun-3) we plan a 6-day expedition on Huascaran. I will blog on those two mountains after returning from Nevado Pisco. (Follow the SPOT on a new page for the Huascaran Climb.)
So long, hasta luego!
Add comment May 30th, 2010