from the parking lot to visit the gla-
cier gets longer every year since the
glacier is receding quickly and at over
5,000 metres above sea level will have
you gasping for air with every step
you take. The road to reach the gla-
cier starts from just a few kilometres
south of Catac and is a single lane dirt
track. The road is in pretty good con-
dition though and it is typical to see
tour buses bumping along kicking up
dust as they shuttle tourists back and
forth. With a few points of interest to
check out along the way including the
thermal waters, native art paintings
and Puya Raimondi plants, combined
with the mountain views the ride is a
pleasant one.
If returning to the coast via Punta
Winchus you are in for a treat. The
road is paved but it is a narrow and
single lane, filled with endless switch-
backs and turns. It is a treat for the
senses and a road of pure joy for the
motorcycle enthusiast.
Leaving Caraz the road leads up
into the Cordillera Negra. Views of
the white mountain tops can be seen
in the distance but the narrow road
will be demanding most of your at-
tention. Watch out for grazing live-
stock and pedestrians, as well as large
trucks in blind corners.
At the top of the pass you will find
one of the very few Puya Raimondi
forests left.
The Puya Raimondi is the largest
pineapple plant in the world. The
flower, which can reach 12 metres
in height, grows from a large spikey
base. Each plant can have close to
8,000 flowers and live over 100 years.
The flower only blooms once every
50 to 75 years so consider yourself
lucky if you catch one in bloom.
From the summit you can see the tall
mountains behind you as the land-
scape gently slopes down towards
the Pacific Ocean and your return to
the Panamerican highway that leads
TRAVERSE 26
back to Lima.
Take your time to explore this beau-
tiful part of Peru, there are countless
dirt roads that head in every direc-
tion into the mountains.
If you do, you will be rewarded
with many spectacular views of the
mountains, valleys, rivers, lakes and
high road passes. NT
Naomi and Alberto are travellers
and experts on the areas they grew
up; Canada & Peru. Together, they
are Moto Lara. www.motolara.com