Back in the mountains - Cordillera Blanca

We rode to Chavin de Huantar to visit some ruins. Halfway we passed through a tunnel, only to find possibly the worst road we have ridden! Descending from 4500 metres to about 3100 metres on mostly very rutted loose dirt road was not fun!

We saw some gigantic endangered Puya Raymondii plants. They take 100 years to flower, seed and then die. While we were there a mighty Condor (3 metre wing span) glided overhead, which was cool.

We stayed at Yungay, buried in a mudslide caused by an earthquake in 1970 and now rebuilt. From here we hiked to Laguna 69 at 4600 metres. A beautiful place.

We rode through the Canyon del Pato, including 35 handmade, single track tunnels, which was a great ride but a bit vertiginous. We should have left earlier to avoid the gale force winds in the afternoon, making the journey a bit more interesting!

This mountain range has amazing scenery, with white peaks popping up everywhere. Most of the roads we have been on have been rough but the beautiful views at every turn made up for it! We are constantly amazed as to where a road can be built and the terrain we have passed through!