21 May 2023 Pan American Road Arequipa - Puerto Inca

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 Early start in Arequipa heading towards the coast. Today is a long stretch of about 350km.

Approx 100km from Arequipa to the coast we meet up with the Pan American Highway. This Highway runs along the coast form the southern point of South America up to Alaska. It was a challenging first 100km over the mountain range . Partly in the fog. So I stayed behind a big truck which was doing good speed and I could follow his rear lights.

The coastal stretch to Puerto Inca is also very curvy . A lot of Bolivian truck use this road from Bolivia to Lima. Bolivia is land locked and all export has to use either Chilean or Peruvian ports for their export.

All along the Pacific coast here it is bone dry and barren. Apparently the very cold water (8 degrees C) does not evaporate enough water for it to rain.

It was 16.30 arriving finally in Puerto Inca for the night. There are very limited facilities along the coast here and on has to do what is available. For instance the shower had almost no warm water and you had to move around to get a bit wet. Facilities here are generally are very limited.

The place was picturesque but the weather was unfortunately overcast.






 


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