General Route Planning tip re:Lonely Planet

[Champps]

Hello,

I am starting my fist Adv Ride from Lima Peru, leaving the first week of April 2008, on a pair of KLR's with another friend from the US. We have 2 and a half months to get back to SF. This is my first foray into riding in South America (125 cc stuff in India and turkey). My general guide for routes in the LP South and Central America.

Here is my question: The LP give bus times for each city in their Getting there and Away section. Are these bus times a close approximation for riding times?

For example: Lima to Huaraz is listed as a 7.5 hr bus ride. Would this be a reasonable distance to cover in 1 day on my KLR. My questions assumes there are no major stops in between for sight seeing.

Thanks for your help and I hope to see some of you on the road!

Hadjh Ahrns
KLRs back to SF

[charapashanperu]

Yes. If the road is paved and the time under 8 hrs, go with the bus time. If it is dirt and under 12 hr, you can do much better, sometimes in even half the time. On the long runs remember that the busses have 2 drivers but you can't just keep going.
Hope that helps. You can make Huaraz in 6.5 without stops. The busses have to slow down more for some speed bumps while you can just skirt them.

Toby (charapa) http://www,freewebs.com/shanperu/

[Champps]

I will keep my tentative schedule of ride times and days. All subject to change as the whim of the day dictates along with a tired bum!

See you all on the road someday!
Hadjh
KLRs back to San Francisco

[Charlotte Goose]

I cant speak for riding in Peru, but I have been there travelling and the main roads used by buses are not that bad at all, although the drivers are maniacs (but that was 8 years ago so maybe they are reformed!).

With my experience of riding in less developed countries (mostly cambodia so maybe not applicable) its the fact that you are a bike, and the traffic just doesnt give a monkey about you, thats the slowing down factor. A bus just ploughs on through regardless, its huge and the bus drivers love it, but on a bike you'll find yourself weaving and dodging and stopping and verging it. That takes time and knackers the concentration levels.

Have a wicked time m'dear. Safe journey and expect the unexpected, or..... expect a bus overtaking another bus on a blind corner going up a hill (that was my memory of Peru in any case).

Char

[nsk11]

Originally Posted by Champps

Here is my question: The LP give bus times for each city in their Getting there and Away section. Are these bus times a close approximation for riding times?

For example: Lima to Huaraz is listed as a 7.5 hr bus ride. Would this be a reasonable distance to cover in 1 day on my KLR. My questions assumes there are no major stops in between for sight seeing.

Thanks for your help and I hope to see some of you on the road!

Hadjh Ahrns
KLRs back to SF

Thank you for the question and replays. Before I found HUBB, I planned everything for my upcoming Latin America trip based on LP guides.