Cycling in the Cordillera Blanca – introduction index | intro | general info | route notes | narrative | ride stats | links The Cordillera Blanca contains Peru’s highest mountains. It is a compact range which is crossed at its highest part by two dirt roads, each taking in a pass of around 4500m. It is a region of glaciers, hanging valleys, and lakes. It has also been a region of destruction rocked by periodic earthquakes. Mud, ice, and water from the lakes have poured down from the mountainsides onto the fertile and populous valley below. There are peaceful colonial villages which have escaped the damage and new concrete towns which have been built on its ruins. The people are mostly of Inca stock, but the archaeological remains do not compare with those of the Cusco region. It is a place to visit for the scenery. We toured the region for 3 weeks in July 2006. We provide 4 pages of route notes containing thumbnail links to 39 photographs: Santa valley. We started at the desolate coast and rode up the barren but occasionally spectacular Santa valley, emerging from the Cañon del Pato into the Callejón de Huaylas. Caraz. We based ourself in the pleasant town of Caraz and made several short trips into the surrounding mountains. Huascarán circuit. We then made the spectacular circuit of Huascarán, crossing the Portachuelo de Llanganuco to the Callejón de Conchucos and returning over the Punta Olímpica. Huaraz. Finally we made a couple of trips from Huaraz, including a visit to the 2500-year-old ruins at Chavín. A further 6 photos are included in the narrative. There are two additional maps: Huinchos cycling map, showing a route christened the ‘killer loop’ from Caraz into the Cordillera Negra encompassing 113 hairpin bends. Huascarán cycling map (300kB), showing the Huascarán circuit and excursions from Caraz to Cashapampa and to L. Parón. index | intro | general info | route notes | narrative | ride stats | links