Tarmac road from PanAm in Peru to La Paz
 

A new road linking the Panamerican Highway in Peru to La Paz has been constructed within the last year. It is good tarmac all the way with the exception of a very short 300 metre unfinished section.

I used this yesterday to go from Tacna to Puno two up on an NTV650. Getting from the Peruvian coast to the altiplano couldn't be easier!

The new road branches off the PanAm at Moquegua, halfway between Tacna and Arrequipa where fuel is available. It soon climbs very quickly reaching a posted height of 4700m. It passes through Marzo Cruz where fuel (84 octane only)is also available and eventually joins the older tarmac road between Bolivia and Puno at the border town of Desaguerdo. More fuel there. The new section of road is just under 300km long and passes through stunning scenery.

The journey from Tacna to Puno is about 600km and took me 12 hours.

A word of warning. There is no convenient place to stay overnight at a sensible altitude in order to aclimatise. Although I felt the effects it did not impair my ability to ride. My wife was affected by altitude sickness however.

Hi Stephan, interesting news, which way will you go back to the PanAm?
Werner,
currently in La Paz