Shorter ride today as I split the remaining distance to Arequipa into two days and stayed in one town in between with hotels.

El Pedregal was nice little town to stay yesterday. Lively market and busy downtown streets. This morning passed the dairy statue on way back to the Pan American highway.

Two descents today both between 100m and 200m and otherwise a good stretch of level and some gradual climbing. Once again some wide open spaces with not much growing. This photo taken just before going down into the second valley.

There was a tunnel at the bottom and it was only one lane at a time. I cycled on the closed parts this time.

After this another valley to cross and then a start of a long gradual climb. In total this climb will be ~1600m (5000ft) but split between today and tomorrow.

Cactus is one of the crops grown here.

Grapes are another.

El Cruce is a longer town where businesses seem to be strung along the highway. Several hotels to pick from. Otherwise shorter day before planned ride into the big city.