Hi there!

Would anybody recommend good paved routes through Peru? I hear the Panamericana along the coast down to Lima is boring and it's better to try to stay in the mountains. We could do some unpaved roads but not too muddy as we don't have the tires for that.

We are in Ecuador heading south, crossing into Peru very soon. Heading towards Cusco then continuing south.

Thanks for your help!
Vincent

The mountain roads in northern Peru were the highlights of our trip through South America last year, but they weren't exactly paved quite often. We crossed from Ecuador at la balza. The Ecuador side was pretty muddy but paved as soon as we hit Peru , I think all the way to chachapoyas, which was amazing, and then to Cajamarca was also mostly paved. After that the roads between there and Colcas were seldom paved, and really narrow and winding through the mountains, but generally good gravel and no traffic with stunning views of the mountains . It was no problem , but there was also very little rain. A wet rainy season might be a little dicey. Chachapoyas was a really interesting place and so was Huaraz. You don't want to miss highway 107 from Carhuaz to San Luis.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1-F...WY&usp=sharing

I hope you can access this - i tired to stay off the Panam there too, it really is dull.

If you zoom in you can see in red where i stayed each night, and just link up the roads between.

I came in from Titicaca Bolivian side then to Puno, down to Arequipa, into Colca Canyon, looped through it out to the Panam - straight up it to Nazca and Paracas. Then from there i headed due east to Ayucucho, Abancay and into Cusco. Then North through the Sacred Valley, from Quillabamba- into more jungley (actually sort of dodgy - get local advice in this area if you go -cocoa production) Kiteni, Kimbiri then back into the mountains to get to Huascaren National Park (i think i stayed in Carhuez); check out the 200km mountain loop (to Chacas and back - id stay rather than do it in a day like i did). From there, heading out north along the Canon del Pato towards the coast and up to Piuri before heading into Ecuador.

You cant go wrong in Peru in the mountains - its absolutely stunning and well worth any amount of time you spend there - i was there 6 weeks in total.

Im on a 250 tornado btw - adventure dirtbike so my tyres are dual sport. Alot of gravel, and switchbacks to die for, but youl get that in the mountains - its just not feasible to build pavement roads out there. Maybe avoid the jungle because its pretty slidey out there if youre tyres are not up to it?

Also - these routes are generally quite remote between towns, Peruvians dont own alot of cars so theyl mostly be traffic free..

http://adventuremotodirtrider.blogsp...ough-peru.html

Have fun!

On Adventure Rider, including towns named in the report plus some satellite tracks: Leaving the Arrowhead country to ride Peru and north | Adventure Rider

Head inland towards Chachapoyas, south to Cajamarca, ride the Canyon del Plato, south to Huarez, take a short day trip to the lagunas east of Yungay...some blacktop, some solid gravel, absolutely stunning scenery. Yes, the coast is very flat, hot, and boring. Waterfalls and ancient civilizations are all along the inland route - although many ancient sites are on more sketchy, steep gravel roads. Very few overland moto travelers on these routes when I was there, but I met a lot of local people.

However, if you don't like mountain switchbacks, buses, occasional narrow roads, steep drop offs with no guardrail, and stunning scenery, then stay on the coast. It's hard to build and maintain first class blacktop roads in steep mountains. Staying on the coast, you're missing the most beautiful part of Peru.

Hi again!
Well thanks for the info and the links. I'm in the thick of it now (Peru mountains). Came down the middle of Ecuador to Jaen, went back to the coast for a short while and saw first hand why it has such a bad rep! Came up the canyon del pato which has to be the most amazing road in the world, then to Huaraz etc .. Presently in Huancayo. Went over a 4800 m pass today and must have passed 1000 trucks! Heading towards Cusco.
It's a tough life cruising these mountains but somebody has to do it!

What the second post said is correct, careful on the way to La Balsa border crossing in Ecuador. To avoid unpaved sections from Cajamarca, you can head back to the coast and travel a bit on the PA past Chimbote (don't stop there) and take a left at Huacatambo and go on paved slim roads up into the mountains again to catch 3N which is paved but horribly potholed to Huaraz. the roads from Lemebamba to Celedin and Cajamarca are intense.

I just came from Cusco via Abancay, Andahuylas,

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...ups...Ayacucho, Huancayo until Jauja. Everything paved. Make sure you bring warm clothes, you have to pass some cold 4000sthings, afternoon brings usually rain these days.
From Huancayo to Ayacucho I suggest the road via Iscuchaca - its partly narrow but paved and going through a beautiful Canyon I loved that part

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