After leaving Cajamarca we headed for the coast, where we had planned to rent an apartment in Huanchaco so I could get some work done. We found a nice campsite a block from the beach and spent two days relaxing and visiting local sights, as well as starting to look for a place to live for awhile.
The drive down to Trujillo led us from the lush green highlands to a desert coastline. Here rice paddies fed from a river contrast with giant dunes.
Our campground featured a pool as well as pet turtles.
The beach at Huanchaco was busy on the weekend when we were there.
We visited the pre-Incan ruins of Chan-Chan. The Chimor people who constructed the city worshiped the moon and believed the sun to be evil. After an hour of strolling around the site we tended to agree.
Melanie made yummy stuffed peppers for dinner one evening.
After a couple of days we decided that we didn’t feel the love for Huanchaco, and proving once again that we’re more mountain people than beach people, we decided to head southwest into the Cordillera Blanca for our work stint. So we packed up and headed for the hills with our friends and travel companions, Melanie and Justin.
The first part of our drive took us south along the coastal Pan-Americana. The landscape and the towns were dry and dusty.
Soon we turned off the highway and headed inland. After an hour the road turned to a bone-jarring corrugated dust machine.
After a couple of hours creeping along at 15mph we stopped for the night. The temperature was pleasant, and we grilled and ate outside.
The next day, after a stop to wash our cars, we arrived at the Llanganuco Mountain Lodge, which borders on Huascarán National Park.
Two conventional adults and one conventional child, please.
We enjoyed a beautiful hike in the park the next day.
The trees in the park have very strange bark that comes off in thin sheets and feels like plastic shopping bags.
Witt, a bone-jarring corrugated dust machine, James Michener could not have said it better. Did you ask what a conventional adult/child was? I don’t think Quinn is conventional. I would say more non-conventional but then you would have to pay more. Henry T
Thanks! No, I didn’t ask about rates for the unconventional. I think you’re right; they probably would have charged us more. 🙂