Aidan1150’s Andes & Altiplano tour

[Aidan1150]

The remaining 155km of our journey was thankfully uneventful but still through very barren terrain.





A quick coffee stop at a typical roadside place and on we went.



Sven did his best to keep us amused during a 20 minute delay at roadworks. They are just coming out of winter here so there are a lot of repairs to be done especially in the mountains.



The last of the mountains for a while as we drop down into Nasca and the desert will be our home for a day or two.



Our hotel is pretty decent and a very tasty chuleta de cerdo rounded off a big, if not exciting day.





Friday morning brings a big wish-list item to me. I will be flying over the Nasca Lines so you will be bombarded with pictures. Apologies in advance...

 

[Aidan1150]

We were collected from the hotel at 8.30am and taken to the airport for our flight over the Nazca Lines.
Unfortunately, visibility was poor so flights were postponed with the result that we didn't get away until after 11am.



There were only four of us so there was plenty of room in the plane.


The whale.


Baby dinosaur.


Hummingbird


Monkey


Spider


Parrot

I'll not bore you with any more but suffice to say that it was a very special flight.

After lunch we set off south on the Pan American Highway. It is a very busy road with trucks carrying ore to be shipped to China.
Again, as over the past two weeks it is the sheer size of the landscapes that hits you.

 

[Aidan1150]

It wasn't long until I got my first glimpse of the Pacific Ocean on this trip.







Great spot for a photoshoot of the wee Honda.







Not too far to go to our hotel now.





And finally we arrive.

 

[Larry Langford]

thank you for the pics, sir ..... very interesting stuff. a whole lot of up and down for sure. So your not going to Puma Punku? Actually there isn't a lot to see there, like say Machu Picchu, but unexplainable nonetheless, for the most part ...... ride safe ....

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

Wow! What a trip. Thanks for taking the time to share it.

 

[Udders]

Fantastic.

 

[Aidan1150]

I have taken breakfast in worse places.

 

[Aidan1150]

Those of you who might have been following along the whole way will know that this tour has been a changeable affair and a real challenge for our guide Geert. From losing the Bolivian leg to having to effectively reverse the direction because of landslides on the Pan American Highway, rebooking hotels etc.

The tour ends back in Arequipa on Sunday and I am booked on a flight Monday morning to start my long trek home. So, because of continuing disruption on the Pan Americana there had to be another change. The plan was to ride the 235km from Puerto Inka to Camaná included in which is the sector where the landslides occurred. The area affected is a five or ten km stretch near La Bodega between Atico and Ocuña.

It was an overcast Saturday morning as we rode out of Puerto Inka but like every other day that wasn't to last and it started to brighten up.





Just under two hours saw us in Atico for a short break before we approached the landslide areas. The little town of Atico is like so many on this road, strip developments alongside the highway with a bit of a wild west feel about them.

There is a strong breeze coming in from the Pacific as we head further south which isn't helping with visibility as it carries sand and moisture which gathers on the visor, but on we go.

About 25kms into it we see the first area which has been cleared with the mud simply being pushed into the sea.



That's not too bad really, let's carry on. A few kilometres later we got to where the real damage had been done.



The armco barrier has been twisted like a used drinking straw.







You can see the caked mud on the road surface which is starting to break up under the wheels of the trucks. The dust is then picked up in the wind and visibility becomes an issue as this road is rammed with trucks it being the main artery in South America.

Add to that the continuing falls of rocks onto the road and you really need to pay attention to what is going on around you.



That section only stretched over a kilometre or so but it was good to have it behind us. There is a video on Facebook of trucks and buses caught in the slide but I can't post it here I'm afraid. You might be able to search for it though.

 

[Aidan1150]

After getting through that part of the road safely we carried on towards Ocuña. Largely there are no barriers along this road, well apart from corners that are deemed to be dangerous.



I exaggerate when I say no barriers, there are some.

 

[Northern jock]

Brilliant, looks like you struck gold with your choice of trip Aidan. Some amazing places and experiences. I think you’ve got a few of us looking around online at trips

 

[Udders]

If you wouldn’t mind could you give a breakdown of the cost of a trip like this if you wouldn’t mind when you’re back.
Things like the flights, bike hire, hotels, food, Nasca Line flight etc….

 

[Aidan1150]

If you wouldn’t mind could you give a breakdown of the cost of a trip like this if you wouldn’t mind when you’re back.
Things like the flights, bike hire, hotels, food, Nasca Line flight etc….

I will of course @Udders

 

[Aidan1150]

One of the things that strikes you in this country is how quickly the terrain changes. Only a kilometre or two further south and we are back in desert.



Much to Svens delight.







It amazing to see what a drop of water can help produce, even out here.





Our hotel in Camaná had a garage with a glass partition wall so the bikes were safe and sound. There was a local festival in full flow and there was a lovely atmosphere in the town.
Dinner was a Tallarín Saltado and was very good. The cocktails were a decent size too.









We were all in good form as the only real threat to our arrival back in Arequipa was now behind us.

 

[Aidan1150]

Sunday, and we are all in our own quiet thoughts this morning. This two week attack on the senses is almost at an end but first we have the small matter of 240kms to ride to the finish.

Again we followed the Pan Americana south along the ocean and again today our surroundings are different.

This is some poor persons home. Sadly the style is duplicated right across the country such is the poverty particularly in rural areas.



Rock desert now. Maybe @geotim can enlighten us further. You can see though that it is quite unstable too with recent falls into the roadside gullies.









And of course, exactly where you don't really need a barrier they have gone full metal jacket.



A bit further on and there are more fresh rock falls.





All along the coast this past two days we have seen lots of Turkey Vultures. They are black with bald red heads and in flight they have silver-grey under wings.

 

[Aidan1150]

Lunch was taken at Charlie's seafront restaurant in Catarindo where I enjoyed a very good piece of sole.







All that is left now is more climbing, from sea level right up to 2335m (7660ft) to Arequipa.







And through the Laguna San Camillo near San Jose.



So that, dear readers is that. We are out for a final group dinner this evening then I go to the airport tomorrow morning for the first leg of my long journey home.

LA2104 at 9.45am @Udders

In a few days or so I will post my after-trip thoughts but in the meantime thank you very much for joining in.

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

Terrific. Have a safe flight back and a good trip home.

 

[Aidan1150]

Terrific. Have a safe flight back and a good trip home.

See you in Leenaun.

 

[Doc]

Nice trip Aidan. Safe travels home.

 

[geotim]

Massive talus piles - could be from landslides (like the recent issue in Nepal), or from volcanic eruptions causing ignimbrite flows.

Nature is a wonderful thing!

 

[glenn2926]

Thank you very much for taking us along with you on this trip. I have really enjoyed reading of you adventures. Have a safe and delay free journey home.
Thanks again.