Treacherous roads are abundant in Andean Peru, and cornering aggressively in top-heavy vans is somewhat of a national pastime. Steep dirt roads cut into every hillside, where combi buses and moto-taxis stir up dust storms taking curves at full speed. Mockingly, they give a honk for blind oncoming traffic, the front windows are always down to listen for warning signals. Peru is not the place for those who get car sick or squirm at heights, but at some point even the most seasoned NYC taxi passenger needs to toss in the towel. How crazy of a road is a person willing to travel?
Santa Cruz Trek: Part 2
Santa Cruz Trek: Part 1
Upon leaving for this adventure I had some lofty goals for the time spent in Huaraz. I was set on completing the Huayhuash (Why-Wash) circuit. A grueling 9-12 day trek through the Cordillera Huayhuash Mountains in the Andes. Arriving in Huaraz with this goal in mind I immediately investigated the viability of completing what is widely regarded to as one of, if not the best mountain trek in the world.
First Stop: Huaraz
A Little Lima
Our first days in Peru gave a quick taste of Lima, the capitol city of Peru. Home to about 10 million people (1/3 of the population) it's a bustling place. We stayed in Miraflores, considered the boogie part of town, and the hub for hostels and tourism. The city sits high on cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean and a good bus system plus easy to use combi buses makes it easy to get around.