I did that ride earlier this year - deciding to do it in one day!! First snag was a road closure for construction about an hour out of Cajamarca, which I was told would last around two and a half hours! Some nice highway police told me there was a detour I could take to get round - and this led me across fields, along a boulder strewn road, through soft sand and mud, and to a spot where two men were digging a wide trench across the road (they kindly bridged it for me with a couple of small tree trunks!), but it did save me over 90 minutes waiting time when I rejoined the road! May now be tarred all the way, but when I rejoined there was a couple of miles of (very good) dirt road, where the guide books said it was all tarmac!
Potholes are a major problem in the Maranon valley, where landlsips have brought boulders down across the road, but generally I found the traffic extremely light so the narrow roads and hairpins were not an issue.
Expect to go from cold to hot, wet to dry, during the day!! Very hot as you descend the Maranon valley - twice the depth of the Grand Canyon!! Also good idea to ask directions in towns as roadsigns are few and far between (non-existent!). Amazing scenery!!
Took me 9 and a half hours all told on a Ronco Demolition 250, bought in Peru, and was I glad to reach my hostel in Chachapoyas!

Hello everyone, first of all thanks for your replays, all the information given is really helpful.

TheOverlanders, we are about to cross to Peru and we have done good part of Colombia and Ecuador, if you need any info please do not hesitate to contact us, best way on FB MotoNomadas.

Toby and Sara, we would love to accept your invitation and stop by your place once we are in Huanuco. We do not really have to go to Lima, so we can make changes to our route. Once we get to Huanuco we can sit and see what would be the best way to continue riding south. We will keep in touch to let you guys know when we are going to be arriving (what is the best way to reach you guys?)

CrazyGringo, I will take notes on your observations on that part of the route. We are planing to split Cajamarca-Chachapoyas in two, stopping in Celedin to rest.

We really appreciate your advice. Thanks a lot and hope to see you soon

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About the Huaraz - Huanuco ride, break it into two parts:

Ride south on the highway just past catac and enter the National Park. Continue on that gravel road up past the Pastoruri Glacier to the fantastic overlook where you can see snow capped mnts in every direction. Almost 16,000 ft, but if the sun is shining you will hardly notice it. Don't leave Huaraz unless you can see it will be a sunny day...

You will pop out on the highway and it is all downhill from there to La Union. Stay the night there.

The 'highway' from La Union to Huanuco is in TERRIBLE shape, traffic and narrow town streets. The dirt route is MUCH nicer, shorter in km, and in VERY good condition. It quickly climbs thru a forested hillside and before you know it you are up on top. You go past Huanuco Viejo (Incan Ruins), Huanuco Pampa, Rondos, Jesus, then it puts you out on the small highway just 15 km out of Huanuco.

What you would do in 2 days, we have often done in only one on motos, but it is too rushed and you miss the best time of the day at the high spots.

Cheers! Toby

Just a warning to anyone who is thinking about doing the route Huaraz - Huanuco via La Union. We left Huanuco yesterday morning and only got about 50 kms before we were halted in our tracks. They are doing roadworks and so the road is blocked for 2 kms and they will not let you pass. It is closed from 7am to 5pm every day! We had to turn around back to Huanuco and now will have to go around on an alternative route. We were told that this will be the case for about 300 days! So you might want to consider taking another route!

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You STILL in Hunuco?? Come by and see Sara and I (just ask a mototaxi to guide you to the strret in Los Portales that the MORGUE is on) The shop is the yellow wall/gate accross from the morgue and we live in the 4-story apt. at the corner. I will be in the shop all day (and checking here for a response).

There is another MUCH better way to La Union! Come by and I'll give you the details!

Toby - 'Around the Block Moto Adventures'

Oh! And DON"T try to go around on the east side via Tocache. First, Tocache is a drug area and Second, it is a 3-day desolate ride (after the 1 day to get to Tocache!).

Toby

Hello motoviajeros, thanks for all the info about the route. We have been having some document problems to cross to Peru so we are still in Ecuador. Now we are going to cross to Peru using La Balsa border crossing. Route now goes Vilcabamba-La Balsa-Chachapoyas.....the rest so far would be the same.

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