Cycling Over the Andes
Saturday, November 1 to Monday, November 10

Day 1      Travel to Peru and Arrival in Lima
We will spend one night in Lima as the group arrives on various flights during the night. Local guides will meet our group and help transport us to our hotel in Lima. All flights must arrive before midnight Saturday night, November 1. If Saturday flights are not available then participants can arrive on Friday, October 31 and stay in Lima for an additional hotel and transport fee of $75.

Day 2
Sunday morning we will have time for a Lima city tour to the historic area of the city. Our flight to Piura will depart in the afternoon. It is a 90 minute flight north to Piura. When we arrive in Piura we will stay at a resort hotel on the outskirts of town. After we assemble our bicycles we have the choice of several restaurants in downtown Piura for an evening dinner together.

Day 3      Piura to Chulucanas      38.0 miles      62 KM
Today is when we begin the cycling section of our tour. Piura is located in the coastal desert region of Peru which rarely sees rain from March to December. The local translation of Piura means ³The city of eternal heat². Breakfast will be at the hotel this morning. We will be able to start riding in the cooler morning hours. The route today is a good warm up ride into the rural area east of Piura. The road is well paved with a rideable shoulder. Most of the terrain is dry and sandy and the temperatures will be in the 90¹s by noon. The town of Chulucanas is located six miles off the main highway on a dead-end type mining road. There will be time this afternoon to walk through the rustic market area and see the traditional lifestyle of the working people.

Day 4      Chulucanas to Olmas      77.5 miles      126 KM
The dry terrain continues again today. Scrubby trees line the road and the temperatures will be in the 90¹s again. The landscape resembles a dry African movie scene and you expect to see giraffes or zebras on the horizon. However the only animals you will see are horse drawn carts carrying 50 gallon barrels of water. This is the only way the rural farms get their water from a common well. There are a couple rolling climbs but nothing too serious. The town of Olmas has an interesting downtown area where many local people meet after dark.

Day 5      Olmos to Pucara      77.5 miles      126 KM
The first half of today is uphill gaining almost 5,000 feet during 30 miles. The climb continues through many hillside villages that sell refreshments of bottled water and soda. There are many impressive overlooks above the valleys. The road twists and turns while climbing 7% grades up the side of the mountain. Occasionally you can see a glimpse of the road high above you and you wonder how you are ever going to get up there. This is toughest climb of the tour similar to a long mountain pass in Colorado. The summit is at mile 33.0 and the rest of the day is a steady 3% downhill. There are 20 miles of flooded rice fields built into the terraced valley. The town of Pucara is an small working class village with an okay hotel and restaurants.

Day 6      Pucara to Bagua Grande      70.0 miles      113 KM

Day 7      Bagua Grande to Pedro Ruiz      41.5 miles      67 KM
Today begins a gradual climb along the river. There is more vegetation along the steep cliffs and mountains. Landslides and patches of road damage are common today. This section of road is in constant repair but should still be rideable with a road bike. There are several bridges and small towns to visit and get snacks every 6-10 kilometers. This is a short mileage day but it will still be a five hour bike ride including lunch at a roadside cafe.

Day 8      Pedro Ruiz to Nuevo Cajamarca      97.0 miles      156 KM
This could be the toughest overall day with several 3,000 foot climbs and descents. There are two passes on this road above 7,400 feet. On the other side the rain forest begins and the dry landscape changes to misty wet clouds. The vegetation is more dense as the jungle is closer to the road. Bring a raincoat and leg warmers because it could be chilly at 7,000¹ feet elevation in the rain. Small towns are common again today so it is easy to find snacks, soda or a cup of hot tea.

Day 9      Nuevo Cajamarca to Tarapoto      101. miles      163 KM
We drop down to 2,700¹ elevation most of today through a large valley growing sugarcane and other jungle crops. The road pavement continues to be smooth and excellent with many other local cyclists riding one speed bikes between villages. Roadside venders have displays of bananas, pineapples and coconuts. You have arrived in the dense green jungle which is different from any of the mountain terrain so far. Leaving the town of Moyobamba at mile 30 we are following the Rio Mayo (river) but our road climbs up the bluffs and then returns to the river several times. There are a few steep climbs but today is mostly stair step downhill dropping almost 2,000 feet to Tarapoto. The road surface continues to be excellent without much road damage. The city of Tarapoto has a population of 50,000 people and a modern airport. Today is when the new group of riders will join the tour for Part #2.

Day 10
Riders from Tour #1 fly back to Lima in the afternoon and return to the United States on flights in the night.

Terms and Conditions for Peru Tours Possible Price Changes: The prices for the 2008 Peru Tours were based on the January 2008 exchange rate of 3.00 Peruvian Soles to $1.00 US Dollar. Due to the changing value of the US Dollar a slight adjustment may need to be made in the final price of these tours to Peru. These costs will be determined when final payments are due September 1st, 2008. A 5% surcharge will be added if the Peruvian exchange rate drops below 2.85 Soles. A 10% surcharge will be added if the Peruvian exchange rate drops below 2.70 Soles. Sign Up! Airlines Flights to Lima: Do not buy your airline tickets to Peru more than three months in advance or before August 1st. Before you buy or confirm your airline flights to Lima, Peru be sure to double check your flight times with Lon Haldeman. Since some flights are arriving and departing at midnight you need to be sure your flights are on the correct days. Some of the connecting flights to and from the jungle cities are only available at limited times and those schedules will not be confirmed until August 1st. Extra Nights in Lima: You may need to arrive a day earlier in Lima or stay a day later to make airline connections. We can help you make these hotel reservations at a nice hotel about 20 minutes from the Lima Airport. An extra daily fee of $90.00 per day/night will cover the costs for your hotel, and airport shuttle. Our extra personal guide will meet you at the airport and help you get to your hotel and back to the airport for your next flight. Meals and food are not included. There could be additional fees if you choose to stay in the Mira Flores District of Lima located 45 minutes from the airport.