Predictions for this leg = Carlos, our friendly garagist, with whom many a map was studied in great depth, stated that he could do it in 6 hours in the dry season. Google maps thought the distance of 240 kms could be covered in just over 3 hours (clearly not accounting for lack of tarmac) and insisted on directing us the more direct route, which was quite possibly impassable at this time of year.
Anyone doing this trip - make sure you stick to the '3S' route rather than the more direct lower road (descends into the river within the first 10k).
So off we set, the 3S climbed in all its tarmacadam wonderfulness out of Ayacucho winding its way through incredible scenery up to 4,200 metres before striking out across the altiplano.
After a couple of hours as we were bombing along the clear road we rounded a bend to be faced with waving hands, and our first road block of the day was upon us.
We were told there had been a landslide but it would be clear within an hour and a half, so we waited...
Sure enough, 1 hour and 25 minutes later engines fired up and we were allowed through, dropping down into the valley along with a gaggle of minibuses driven by local wannabee racing drivers, 'Angel' being the most feisty of the group, on what was now a gravel track.
There followed 3 hours of brutal gravel track conditions and competition with the minibuses, Angel in particular, for any available gaps on the hair-pinned descent (gravity and no fear to their advantage). During that time we passed evidence of at least 4 major landslides, being held up frequently as heavy machinery was still clearing the detritus caused by the previous night's heavy rains.
And then the road began to climb again, tarmac covered the winding road and our turbo assist (cue demonic laughter) left The Angel and his groupies behind...
all the way to sunny Andahuaylas...
the car no longer (finally!!) looking like a Limeño shopping trolley...
Total driving time had indeed been 6 hours, but total trip time with road blocks and everything was 8.5 hours - all part of the rainy season fun fun fun.
Andahuaylas is not the most beauticious of destinations and most travelers are only here because it is half way between Ayacucho and Cusco.
The 'best restaurant in town' is Pico Rico which serves one dish only, chicken and chips, which it does very well. So that is what we ate.
And we treated ourselves and stayed in the 'luxury hotel' - El Encanto de Oro - for the princely sum of $14. As you can see no expense has been spared on this trip with mother...
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