Bike-Dreams : The Andes Trail
 
The Andes Trail
 


Peru

 

Peru fires the imagination like few other places. The country is full of highlights. First of all Cuzco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, is considered the archaeological capital of South America.
In the city of Cuzco, has like no other place, the complexity of the hybrid culture borne of the mixture of Spanish and Inca can be appreciated, especially in the fusion between Inca ruins and Spanish colonial architecture.
Nearby you will find Machu Picchu, the famous "Lost City of the Incas", in the middle of a tropical mountain forest, in an extraordinarily beautiful setting. It was probably the most amazing urban creation of the Inca Empire at its height; its giant walls, terraces and ramps seem as if they have been cut naturally in the continuous rock escarpments. 
 
The Cañón del Pato in the north Peru is an expressive geographic feature where the whims of the nature have been well used by man. Due to the erosion of torrential waters of the Santa River the granites rocks of the Cordillera Negra and Cordillera Blanca ( the black and white mountain ranges ) come near to less than five meters of distance. You cross the scenic road with its nearly 50 tunnels.
 
You go across a couple of scenic mountain passes in the Peruvian Andes, passing through unspoilt Andean villages, and gradually ascending to a mind popping altitude of 4.882 meter. The area has very few tourists and is fresh from its lack of exploitation. 
 
Just before the border to Bolivia you'll cycle along the shores of the cool sapphire-blue water of Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake at 3.800 meter. It is also the original place of the unique Floating Islands of the Uros Indians. These ancient inhabitants of the lake, known as the Water Tribe, have built their own islands by periodically adding new layers of Totora reed. And not only the islands, also their homes and boats are made from this material.
 
Besides these mentioned highlights you can expect a lot more during your ride in Peru. Along the track you'll pass herds of llama and alpacas, hear millions of tropical birds and meet friendly Andean people who have hardly changed their lifestyle for centuries.
Rest day in Huaraz
Rest day in Huanuco