Hey guys,

I started my South American motorcycle trip in October from Denver. In December I got invited by a friend to visit Euro/Africa so I left my bike in Peru, went for 6 months and here I am, back again in Peru ready to continue south. I'll be in South America until October/November.

If anybody would like to meet up and ride let me know! Here's my blog if you'd like to learn a bit about me: Where Mike Goes I've been traveling for 3 years now and this bike trip is by far the coolest thing I've done.






Mike
(Edit: I guess I need to have 8 posts on HUBB in order to use the PMB. So leave your responses below if you can. Thanks!)

Hi Mike
Damn to bad you are going South as my wife and I fly into Lima on Tue. We have our bike stored there as well. We are headed North but if you are still there it would be great to share a .

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Larry Davis

Hey there Larry. Yeah, I'll be here until Wednesday/Thursday because I still need to get alot of paperwork done for my bike (regarding having left my bike here for longer than the 3 month visa), and my passport is full so I need to get more pages at the Embassy.

I'm staying in a hostel in central MiraFlores. Keep in touch.

Mike

Hey Mike,

I'm in the US (Maine) now, but have lived many, many years there (off and on since age 3). If you need anything, perhaps I can have someone assist you. How is your Spanish? Where are you headed from Lima? I IMPLORE you to get away from the BLEEPIN' PANAMERICANA and see some of the REAL sights! I know Peru pretty much like the back of my hand (on a bike throttle), so let me know if I can help. Took my young son Around the Block 2007 | 10,000 km last summer starting and ending in Peru. There are some formal crossing and some not-so-formal.

My Spanish is actually coming on pretty well. Full on conversations are difficult but as long as I catch a few words here and there I can usually make an educated reply. I've been here in Lima 3 times now so I have a few friends to help me with translations and some paperwork.

From Lima I may head down to Nazca via Pisco then over to Cusco. I really want to get off the PanAmericana. The only reason why I've stayed on it this long is because I had a flight from Lima and I spent to much time in Bogota. I think I made record time going from Bogota to Lima, seriously.

Your Round the Block trip looks pretty intriguing. I don't have a duel sport (BMW F650CS), would the roads be impassible in some parts on your trip for my bike? I'll go through your blog a bit more, looks like you have all the days pretty much mapped/written out.

If you know of some good paved roads that don't have alot of trucks around here, let me know!

Thanks alot,
Mike

Mike,

Not sure where your destination is past Cuzco, but let me make a few suggestions.....

On the way down the coast to Nazca, stop at the beach town of Cerro Azul. Surfers paradise. Then check out the haciendas up the nearby San Vicente de Canete valley before continuing on the Nazca.

The Nazca to Cuzco, although a very good paved road is nasty over the top. Wait for a sunny day and leave early, it is a LONG, COLD haul, with no decent place to pass the night. But if a sunny day, then very pleasant, although still long and twisty. Stop often for short "breathers" or for pix. That road will hypnotize you and you may drive right off the mountain...

Or better yet: Keep going south to Arequipa and then go back north to Cuzco (this will give you a chance to see the Colca Canyon (just north of Arequipa). Beautiful!!!

After Cuzco, then head to La Paz or better yet, head to Brazil via Urcos and Puerto Maldonado and the "Trans-Oceanic Highway" (like we did in our "Around the Block 2007". The road is firm gravel (some new pavement) after Urcos and all new pavement returns 80 km before the Brazilian border. It is VERY DO-ABLE on your 650 as long as it is before November. Brazil is ALL paved from Asis do Brasil at the border to Foz du Iguacu (border with Argentina).

Cuzco to Foz is about 13 days of easy riding. Then you can head anywhere from there....

Hi Mike glad you will still be there. We get in at 10:47 at night on tue. and have to go sourh about 20 miles to pick up my bike on Wen. I have a room or I think I do at Redencia Sori which is very near Milaflores so we could possible hook up as I plan on staying there Wen. night. We can carry on this coversation in private if you email me at ssa2@yahoo.com as I really hate to tie everyone else up. I think we have a lot to talk about. I have been south to TDF twice in the last year. Larry

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Larry Davis

Larry, email sent.

charapashanperu, thanks for the suggestions.
I've already been to Cuzco but I just figured it'd be the best way to get me off of the PA and still have a variety of roads to choose from. I think I may take your advice of going down to Colca Canyon and north to Cuzco. I'll figure it out from there. Again, thanks for the advice.