| Distance: |
Map
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| 3.248km |
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| Highlights: |
Flight
over the Nazca lines, Santa Catalina Convent,
Colca Canyon, Amazing Machu Picchu, Sacred valley
ride, Cusco, Lake Titikaka and the floating
islands of Uros, La Paz, The ultimate hallucinogenic
landscape of Uyuni, World heritage cities of
Potosi and Sucre, Riding across the Andes |
Days
1-2-3-4-5: After a flight to view the mysterious
Nazca lines we ride out onto the Pan American Highway
stopping off at the macabre Chauchilla Cemetery
on our way to Puerto Inca. Following the dramatic
coastal road, that clings precariously to the cliffs,
we ride onto the white city of Arequipa. A day is
spent visiting Santa Catalina Convent and Juanita
the Ice Princess, a girl believed to have been sacrificed
by the Incas 500 years ago. We hit the rough dirt
roads on our way to the world's deepest canyon at
Colca and with some luck see the giant Condors.
A hot spring awaits to wash away the day's dirt.
Days
6-7-8-9-10-11: From the Colca Canyon we ride
across the high deserts on rarely traversed dirt
tracks through incredible mountain scenery and onto
the "navel of the earth" Cusco. We tour the sacred
valley dotted with ancient Incan ruins before catching
a train to the astounding Machu Picchu (we can't
ride there). Another day is spent exploring Cusco,
the city built on Inca foundations, with a meal
and drinks at the biker's pub Norton's Rats overlooking
Cusco's Plaza de Armas.
Days
12-13-14-15: From Cusco we travel over La Raya
pass at 4319m and stop off at Lampa to visit the
amazing Catacombs of Iglesia de la Imaculada before
riding onto the glorious Lake Titikaka bordered
by snow capped peaks in the distance. We spend a
day out on the floating Uros islands and exploring
the lakeside town of Puno before riding into Bolivia
and onto the amazing city of La Paz set in a valley
at 3660m with Mt Illumani looming in the background.
A day is spent exploring the city of La Paz.
Days
16-17-18-19-20: Leaving La Paz we ride across
the Altiplano toward our overnight stay in Oruro
before hitting the dirt as we ride toward the isolated
township of Uyuni. The days ride will be difficult
as we cross a number of rivers and along some sandy
tracks, it is real adventure riding. Just outside
of Uyuni lies one of the most amazing landscapes
in the world, the Salar de Uyuni, we spend a full
day on the Salar viewing flamingo filled lakes and
cacti dotted islands before checking out the train
cemetery at sunset watching as the landscape turns
a deep red with the setting sun. More dirt as we
travel toward the UNESCO world heritage listed city
of Potosi, riding through stunning high deserts
and canyon lands. A day is spent going underground
into the still operating mines of Potosi, a real
eye opener and wandering the historical city.
Days
20-21-22: From Potosi we ride onto another UNESCO
world heritage city of Sucre with its shimmering
white washed buildings and colourful plazas and
spend a day visiting dinosaur footprints and absorbing
the atmosphere of this beautiful city.
Days
23-24: A big days ride back to Oruro where we
overnight before riding back into La Paz for a celebratory
drink and meal after an incredible 24 days exploring
the rooftop of South America.
