May 28, Nazca to Puno, June 9, marks the end of our visit to the wonderful country of Peru.

We continue from Nazca to Puerto Inka, a great short day of Riding along the moon scapes of the western shores, with nothing but ocean, desert and huge dunes, with a magically constructed road leading through the middle of it all.

Puerto Inka to Arequipa, awesome, twisty straights, lots of traffic, a long day, everyone was happy to have the next day off.

May 29 marks the day, 30 days left on this epic 128 day tour that ends on June 28.

A huge expedition like this always starts overwhelmingly slow, so many days ahead of the first, then slowly speeds up as it nears the end, and before you know it, you are back in your comfortable home, with fast internet, hot showers, and cappuccino machines, all the while twiddling your thumbs, wondering when you can head out again, get dirty and dusty, on your next adventure.

We head from Arequipa to Chivay, Colca. An amazing road, amazing weather, fantastic sunny day.

The Hualca Hualca Volcano, at 6025 meters blows its top right before our eyes, as we ride the curves to the top. Another great road, great ride, crisp clean air. We get in early to Chivay, set up a nice picnic lunch in the hotel, kick up our feet and relax for a bit, and for those interested, hit one of the many famous hot springs that surround this town.

Early next morning we head to Colca Canyon, to watch the mystic giant Condor soar. It is a chilly early rise, ice covered the seats of the bikes, and a brisk brr was in the air.

Then it is on to Yauri, Espinar, the top of Peru! Most of the day was spent off road. Great stuff to keep you focused and entertained. Also, the majority of the time was at a hight of over 4000 meters. Spectacular scenery. We were very lucky to have great dirt road roads that day, as sometimes they can become treaturous, depending on the rains. I think we all got a bit hipoxic, but nothing a bit of coca tea, some water, some arguments and some laughs wouldn’t fix.

On to Cusco, beautiful scenery, temperature and roads. Sayda’s (Compass Expeditions South American Operations Manager) home town, and as she says, the best place with the best Pizza in all of Peru, or did she say the world? Peruvian food, in general is awesome, especially their massive soups.

We spend three days in Cuzco, taking a short scenic ride to Ullantaytambo, leave the bikes there, take a train on to Machu Picchu, and back to Cuzco for 3 days, 2 nights.

I’ve been thinking this for a while and I gotta tell ya’, Peru is amazing! A huge diverse country, from the Amazon jungle to the desert dune scattered coast, to the world famous surfing towns, and on to the high altitude Andean mountain passes. If you’ve ever wanted to explore Peru, especialy on an adventure bike, do it now, sign up now, the country is outstandingly awesome. Just ask Sayda 🙂

Cusco to Puno, a 400 km ride day through the Peruvian countryside, through small villages and farmland, truly amazing. The farmlands, rolling hills and villages go on and on.

We visit lake Titicaca to the reed islands for a great half day group excursion.

Tomorrow we head to the border with Bolivia, wish us luck in the crossing.

20 days to go.

More to come…

Justin and Felix share a cheer, well deserved, after a successful day, by the ocean waters of Puerto Inka.

A long and straight road out in the desert and dunes of Peru. You wanna play?

The Sprinter overlooks a beautiful and breathtaking valley.

Justin does a double take on the newly erupted Volcano, high up in the Peruvian mountains.

It was as if it had spat out the plume of smoke just for us. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

Ray, Felix, Justin, Volcano.

GS, KLR, DR, Sprinter, at close to 5000 meters.

Bob gets even a little closer to the friendly creature, and no spitting either.

Donna makes friends with a couple of Llamas.

Ray at the sign at Puerto Inka. As you can see, with the bottom sign, a nice place for lovers too.

Bob, Felix, Clara, Ray, ready to ride, and take on the day.

Some of the amazing dirt roads left unpaved in Peru.

More of the same amazing landscape.

Great bridge crossing.

Up in the mountains, the group is showered with sunshine.

Amazing scenery.

Clara gets ready to rip it up.

The group at Machu Picchu. If you’ve never noticed before, the sleeping Inka, turn the photo 90 degrees to the left and you’ll see his forehead, nose, mouth and chin.

Ray does the best Compass advert up at the top of Machu Picchu.

Felix makes friends with one of the demon performers on the train from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu.

Also in early June, there was a 3 day holiday celebrated throughout the villages. It is the Qoylloriti Pilgrimage. A religions festival held in the Sinakara Valley of the Cusco Region that coincides with the full moon. What follows is a large procession along with dancing that takes place around the Lord of Quyllurit’i shrine. Everyone gets all dressed up, sets off fireworks, and has a grand ol’ time.

Bob and Donna enjoying the Floating Islands of Uros, on Lake Titicaca, in Puno.

Justin find old flint shot rifles, and are ready to help out in the trout fishing on Lake Titicaca.

Bob, as well as…