All suggestions welcome. I wish to travel light, but believe I should prepare more than I had planned after reading the last few posts!
As I am coming out of a Canadian winter I have all the clothing on hand, the question arrises how many layers should one carry?
T-shirt, Long sleeve shirt, sweater ( buy there) down or Thinsulate vest, jacket.
Is this NOT enough? I understood the coolest one could expect in Cusco was aboout -5 C.

Ray

Remember it IS summer down there now.

I always recommend no cotton at all, use all synthetics, and fleece is better than any sweater. Wool takes forever to dry, as does cotton. Modern synthetics are awesome - very durable, dry very fast, feel good, and look good.

Plan on being able to wear in layers almost everything if needed.

I use silk or poly longs, long sleeve synth shirt, light fleece jacket, down filled nylon electric vest, good riding jacket, and a mountain type rain jacket overall if needed. Always worked for me, even well below freezing. ymmv...

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Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
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One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

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Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
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Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

The answer depends on where you go, what the weather is like and what you are willing to ride in. The most interesting riding in Peru is in the mountains, but that's where the worst of the summer (wet season) weather will be.

The coastal desert route will almost certainly be dry - no more than a t-shirt and wind-proof layer required. The Amazon will be wet, but very hot; no more than a t-shirt. The mountains are trickier. If there is sun and no wind, you will be quite toasty in just a t-shirt. Overcast skies, just a t-shirt and windproof layer. Rain requires waterproof/windproof + one or two thermal layers. Worse (ie snow, sleet & hail) I personally would wait out and not ride in, but being Canadian you should have a fair idea of what is required?

The latest I rode the Peruvian mountains was November - the start of the wet - and needed no more than a windproof layer. 5,000m passes with snow were no problem as long as the weather was fine. Night time - if you're camping up there - can be bitterly cold.

In my opinion, the best riding in Peru is the mountains, and the best time is the dry season. Dirt roads that are a blast when dry become very slippery after rain, and they hurt when you hit them :P Also, a lot of the attractions up there - like the amazing climbing, hiking and sight-seeing - are only possible (or at the least, enjoyable) in the dry. Streets in Cusco can be rivers when its raining hard.

For what its worth, here's my layer list:
* t-shirt
* thermal pants & shirt
* thin fleece top
* 200 weight fleece top
* windproof/waterproof suit liners & face-mask
* Rukka air power suit - very well ventilated

Six months in Peru required only a t-shirt, liners & suit, but I didn't see or ride in freezing precipitation. YMMV.

Good luck and have fun - Peru is amazing,
James

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James Courtier

Don't want to push my luck with you guys, but.......
I have yet to nail down a bike rental. Any contacts? XR 250 to 650. I weigh about 200 so don't want to ride a tiny bike, nor do I want to have anything too large.