Huaraz to Trujillo, Chiclayo and Piura

Old May 24th, 2016, 12:52 PM
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Huaraz to Trujillo, Chiclayo and Piura

Really enjoyed our time in Huaraz and sort of wonder why we didn't include it when coming from Chachapoyas on our last trip. After an 8 hour Oltursa bus ride ( pretty good service) from Lima we arrived at Churup Hostal (highly recommended) right in the middle of a fiesta. Quite the celebration, hordes of people, music, dancers and fireworks everywhere. Somewhat bizarrely, a number of the dancers were dressed as Sioux Indians - not sure why? After a quick Pollo Asado and a couple of beers we went out and joined the celebrations.

There is some fantastic hiking in the region but not to be underestimated given the altitude. Many come for the 3-4 day Santa Cruz trek - a little beyond my abilities at this stage of acclimatisation (plus, not entirely sure my back would welcome sleeping on a rubber mat in the mountains).

The Laguna 69 hike is quite well known, tough but that didn't seem to put off the not inconsiderable number of backpackers attempting it. A lot busier than we anticipated and the "awesome" count was especially high.. I confess, I found it hard and wondered on more than one occasion whether I would make it. As it turns out, after speaking to numerous people at the end, I was by no means alone!

It was however a long way from our "home" for the week. A four hour drive each way (starting at 5.15 am) and a 7 hour hike from 3900 to 4600m made it a very long and tiring day. The beers on our return disappeared as if by magic!

We spent most of our time on day hikes from the Lazy Dog Inn, about 8 kms outside the city and much closer to the mountains than Huaraz itself. One hike of particular note was to Quebreda Llaca, 15 kms each way from the Inn but well worth the spectacular views. The owners had also prepared some photocopied maps of shorter hikes from the property taking in the wonderful views.

We had brilliant weather the whole week apart from the last day when it rained and rained and then snowed on the high passes - just before we got on the bus down to Trujillo

Just posted more info on our blog our time in the mountains https://accidentalnomads.com/category/peru/

Leaving Huraz (with no little regret) we got the Movil night bus to Trujillo on the coast. Leaving at 10.20 pm we were expecting to get in around 6.00 am. The driver must have been moving some, as we arrived just after 4.00am. Not a bad trip but despite the VIP service, I didn't get a great deal of sleep.

Trujillo has quite a nice bus station as Peruvian bus stations go, so, rather than risk not being able to get into our hotel in the dark, we hung around the bus station until first light and the got the 7 soles taxi ride to the Victoria's Suites Hotel ( must have misread on booking.com I could have sworn it said Victoria's Secrets Hotel!). Thankfully even at that early hour, they had a room ready for us so we just crashed out for a couple of hours before heading out and finding a delicious turkey sandwich for brunch??

Trujillo apparently has a bad reputation for safety. However wandering around the central area day and night we never felt at all unsafe.
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Old May 24th, 2016, 03:33 PM
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Thanks for sharing your adventures in a part of Peru that we don't hear much about. Love the mountain photos. Is Gocta Falls on your itinerary too? Are you encountering crowds anywhere?
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Old May 25th, 2016, 04:17 AM
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Go take falls is not in ou plans. We were in Chachapoyas on our last trip and visited Kuelap but the weather turned against us and we missed out Gocta. If you are thinking of going that way, go soon as they are now building a cable car to Kuelap and the will doubtless increase the crowds considerably.

Apart from the Laguna 69 hike we are not really encountering crowds anywhere. Even that was nothing compared to the like of Maxhu Pichu. Trujillo and Chiclayo we saw very few gringos, Piura just a few on the bus into Ecuador. Mostly seems to be domestic tourists we meet.
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Old May 25th, 2016, 07:31 AM
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Hopefully they don't reopen the airport too!
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Old May 25th, 2016, 03:16 PM
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Thanks Crellston. Your information is very helpful. Northern Peru is indeed on our list. So many places to visit and so little time...
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Old Jun 8th, 2016, 03:38 PM
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OK so I was perhaps a little optimistic about blogging and keeping aTR up to date on the road! Wifi has been problematic and there have been so many other excuses! Anyway, some more on Trujillo, Chiclayo and the border crossing to Ecuador @ https://accidentalnomads.com/2016/06...dorian-border/
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