CSU,
I will checkout the posts on advrider.com, and thnx for the encouragement on the ride to Santa Teresa. I almost caved in and paid for the tour, but I took a walk and thought about it...I am here for the adventure...lol. So, looking forward to it, tomorrow.

Toby,
Wish I would have posted a little sooner. Would have like to met you, gotten to see your moto operation, and the work you are doing with the Quechua (they are great people!) I would definitely like to have the Bolivia route information if you don't mind. I was just asking a guy earlier the best route to take to Bolivia.

I made it to Cusco pretty early. Mark is right there is a lot to see and do here. Great little town. Not my style though with all the touristy stuff. Had some pollo ala Brassa with the local, and walked around...of couse had to have a starbucks, it's been a while. And finally found a peru flag sticker for the moto. All is well. Just hope all the rain has not made the road impassable at the river crossings tomorrow, I heard it can get bad.

David

It happens.

Same is true for several smaller towns in the Sacred Valley. It's not all about Machu Picchu.

Mark

So I decided to stay a while after all. 1st night in cusco, 2nd and 3rd nights in Santa Maria, 4th and 5th nights in Cusco. Now I have been asked to stay a sixth night while the hostal owner has stickers printed to put on my bike. He is letting me stay tommorow for free as long as I put his sticker on the bike. This part of Peru is growing on me. Machu Picchu was cool, but like everyone says WAY over priced. I Really liked Santa Teresa, ond Ollataytambo, they seemed like cool places to stay. Santa Maria was Closest so I stayed there instead. I ended up riding to Hidroelectrica and parking next to the tunnel in the mountain. Then I walked 2 and a half hours down the tracks to Aguas Calientes, then rode the bus up to MP and walked down an hour and a half then all the way back to Hidroelectrica, over 30 kilometers of walking in all. Then while walking the train tracks back I met a cool guy from Lithuania who rode the Unicycle and played the Accordian at the same time and was on Peru's got talent and he asked for a ride back to Santa Maria so it took forever and got dark. The road from Hidro back to Santa Maria is not the best place to have a passenger on a honda 150cc at night. Made it, and it was a crazy cool experience. The ride alone was worth a million bucks. So all other riders out there don't cave in and buy the package from Ollataytambo or Cusco...ride all the way there! So thanks to all for the advice.
David

David,

Your best way to Bolivia is through Copacabana. There are many who do this route and their trip details abound. Just search 'Copacabana' and you will get updated info.

There is a Samaritan's Purse office in La Paz and I know the director. They also have a base in Trinidad, Bolivia where they have a river launch that does medical work up and down the jungle area.

There is also a South American Mission base in Santa Cruz (a place that you can't miss anyway, as it is the motorcycle capitol of Bolivia) and they have an aviation center there... maybe you can get some cool flights and find out more about their work too. If you want any info on these, pm me. Decide on your route and I will recommend some great (read cheap too!) places to stay!

I recommend that you do: Copacabana - La Paz - Corioco/Chulumani ('Death Road') - Independencia - Cochabamba - Villa Tunari - Santa Cruz - Sucre - Potosi - Uyuni - Villazon... then toward Salta Argentina.

Blessings! Toby