Routes through Ecuador and Peru
 

Hey Everyone,

I'm currently in Colombia, planning on getting into Ecuador in about 3 weeks. I'm looking for advice on routes through Ecuador and Peru. I want to spend a few days surfing in Montanita, maybe a few more somewhere in northen Peru. I also want to make it to Machu Pichu, otherwise, no real agenda. I'd like to make pretty decent time as I have been moving pretty slow up until now. Any advice would be appreciated.

Also, if anyone is around and wants to catch up for some riding or a pint, let me know.

Cheers.

Jay

ecuador to north peru
 

I recommend the route from Cuenca to Loja - stay in Vilcabamba cheap hostel moto parking on plaza next to health food store
then down thru Zumba into Peru border crossing is very easy but takes a couple of hours you have to walk over to Peru side and do paperwork then come back for bike
go towards Jaen and on down to Kuelap , excellent ride, go to ruins don't miss it - you can camp there for free and the caretaker will feed you for a buck in his house on the other side of ruins (can't drive to it no road)
don't miss Leymebamba either great little town and terrific museum
if you go to Cajamarca from there it's a hellatious 14 hr drive in one day...Cajamarca is not cheap either
...my 2 cents

Zig

DOn't know where in Colombia you are now, but don't miss the coffee zone, especially Salento. Then you can also check out Largo Calima north of Cali for kite and wind surfing and you can camp at several spots on the lake shore.

Come see me in Cali, then go to Popayan and then do the 5 hour dirt ride across the mountain to San Agustin for some awesome nature and cultural sites. And remember to see Las Lajas (church build across a deep canyon) south of Pasto before the border!

Thanks for the info, guys.

Zig- sounds perfect, I'll check it all out on the map today. Any other don't-miss spots between here and Tierra del Fuego? I know, thousands, but any info would be great.

Mike- I'm in the ZC now, be here about a month all together. Beuatiful area. Know of any good dirt rides up here. Found one above Salento and another Armenia-Salento, if you know others, I'd love to check them out. Hows the ride to San Augustin? I'll def have to check out the church as well.

Thanks again!

Hey Jay

I don't know to much about dirt in the ZC area, but if you come down here to Cali, I'd love to take you out on some great dirt ride. There's a nice ride from Cali to Largo Calima, one part way to the pacific and a bunch of dirt rides in the valley.

In fact November 13-15 there's a big bike event in Cali with some expected 700 bikers and I have signed up for a rally from Pereira to Cali that ends on the November 14 here in Cali for the event. Should be fun and my first race to :scooter:

The ride Popayan to San Agustin is not very technical, but can be quite muddy if it rains. Its about 160 km and usually take 4-6 hours. Coming down along the Magdalena river in the next valley over is paved all the way from Bogota or Ibague. Its a really nice ride as well. But heading west or south from San Agustin is dirt!

Hey Mike,

Wish I could make it for the rally, sounds like a blast. But I need to start moving, I've already been in Colombia a few months longer then I had planned. I'll be in Cali on Saturday the 7th, staying with some family. If I get in early I'll come by the hotel, will you be around. I'd be stoked to get more info on the route to Popayan, San Augastin then to Pasto. Let me know if you have any interest in doing the ride as well.

By th way, found some great dirt roads outside of Armenia and Salento, beautiful up here.

Cheers.

Hi Jay
Yeah please drop by, if nothing else so I can get a picture of you and the bike for my Bikers Wall of Fame:thumbup1:

Concerning riding south with you, I'll have to wait and see as most things here are planned on a day to day basis...latin america you know!

See you buddy!

Jay, not-to-be-missed routes...
-Colombia - Popayán-San Agustín-Tierradentro-Popayán
-Ecuador - Quilotoa Loop
-Peru - Route through the Cordilleras Blancs, north-east of Lima, coming down from Trujillo. 80km south of Trujillo is a turn off the Pan-Am, dirt road through, you come to a bridge with a locked gate, get the guard to open it for you. You come to a town next (don't know the name), there's police there with a barriered checkpoint, ask them for the dirt road to Huaraz (there's a sealed road but it's not as spectacular). Two places of interest not to be missed, for the routes there too are Laguna Llaganuco and Chavín de Huantar, routes there are fantastic! One of the best routes I've done in SA so far, not to be missed!
Enjoy!

Here is a link from Dpt of Transportation from Peru it is divided by "departamentos", the equiv. of states or countys.
Good luck and buen viaje.
MTC - Mapas de la red vial por departamentos