To Izcuchaca

Huancayo is the 5th largest city in Peru (400K). Given its size, the traffic when we exit from the city is not so bad. We amuse ourselves by jumping the speed bumps much faster than anyone else on the streets, courtesy of our nimble bicycles. Still the road up to the next pass is busier than we ideally like, with plenty of trucks and buses. After a steady 900m of climb we reach a flatish fertile pass with rich brown fields some of which seem to be being harvested for potatoes.

After that we have a long steady and spectacular descent down to the river Mantaro which will eventually wind its way into the Amazon. Along the valley, we pass mineral hot springs and the associated amusement park. We cross the river next to the old bridge, into the tiny colonial village of Izcuchaca where we find a wonderful hotel along the old railway tracks, with a fantastic room overseeing the river.Read more