Peru: Stay off the PanAm! Peru is awesome through the highlands route and even the jungle route.
After Quito in Ecuador, take the jungle route through Tina, Macas, Cuenca, Loja, crossing to Peru south of Zumba. See the giant clock in Zamora! The last bit of road is gravel, but beautiful and decent if not heavy rain. Jungle, kayaking, church architecture, fresh trucha.
Peru; go through Jean and down to Chachapoya, Cajamarka, & Huamachuco. Ancient ruins, mountains, Gotka falls, mummy museum. North of Huaraz, ride the lagunas route out of Carazs & Yungay, located north of Huaraz.
go to Chavin, then down through LaUnion. Stay inland through Huánuco to Cusco. Anyone who says Peru is ugly and boring did not venture off the PanAm, and they missed everything that is Peru. Northern Peru has the Cusco area beat, hands down!
|