Bye bye Peru Great Divide

September 4, 2023

Joehoee we did it! It took us over month of pedaling our, in hindsight slightly overweight touring bikes, crossing ca. 1200 km with more than 25000 m vertical gain to finish our selected section of the famous Peru Great Divide! We cycled from Huaraz to Huancavelica, and then some more. But, after the last high pass of the route we decided to wave it goodbye. The weather was turning, our bikes in desperate need of a service, and, let's face it, us too.

After the climb following Totos we took a sharp turn north to Ayacucho. But we were not let off easy. A tough last ride including a steep climb with a hail storm at the top, a hint of hypothermia, a long downhill through the dirt roads of rural Peru (being also briefly pulled off the road for a large bowl of warm alpaca soup at a local fest; got to love the Peruvians), and finally camping next to a gas station on the balcony of a fully booked hospedaje. Jeez.... what a way to say goodbye to the divide. But, on the other hand, probably the only way.

The day after we cycled to Ayacucho where tonight we will take a bus for a little time jump to Cusco. On to the next chapter, here we go!

Route: Huancavelica - Pucapampa - Paras - Totos - Arizona - Ayacucho