The road to Machu Picchu Part 1 (another chapter for bikers out there)

During our week of rest at the Posada de los Tumpis in the north of Peru’ we met Jessica from Lima.

Unfortunately we could not meet her again in Lima as we were seriously pressed for time, however she was very kind to recommend us to get from Nazca to Machu Picchu via Abancay and to make a stopover in Chalhuanca at the Tampumayu Hotel......and so we did.

It took us 3 days to cover the 750 kms, mainly because we opted to spend 2 days at the spectacular Tampumayu Hotel.

As you leave Nazca you find yourself immediately alone in a road that keeps climbing for 55 kms.

Everything around is brown, no sign of vegetation for miles.

Initially we take it very easy on these mountain corners with no hard shoulder. As we climb higher and higher we pretty much forget all our worries inspired by a spectacular view at 360 degrees.

Far from distance we can still see the desert where the Nazca lines are drawn, but we are clearly too far away to see any lines of course.......

After 1 hr of corners and counter corners we finally reach the top of the plateau.

The road now is almost straight and whenever we find a bend we can easily cut through using the opposite line as we are ABSOLUTELY the only people on the road!!!!

Flocks of Vicuna are making their first appearance. They are not interested in us, they are in charge up here and force us to stop several times as they cross the road in group.

We drive another 20 kms at a decent speed since the road is still straight with perfect visibility when we have to make an emergency stop....this time is for a picture. A blue lake has suddenly appeared on our left breaking the brown monotony.

We pass few more lakes wondering what we are going to see next.

In the meantime herds of Alpacas have replaced the Vicunas.

Far in the distance we can see snow white tops.

We must be easily well over 4000 meters here since our lungs are kind of struggling to absorb oxygen.

The plateau ends abruptly and we begin our descent in a narrow canyon. Our heads feel dizzy.

We take a quick lunch break in the middle of the fields. As I switch of the engine we find ourselves immersed in absolute silence, broken only by the sound of few Llamas grazing not far from us.

It is time to press on. Our hotel is only 50 kms away.

We reach the Tampumayu after 361 kms of bliss.