Guandacol

July 7, 2025

Another enjoyable cycling day. First a gentle climb of about 200 meters over about fifteen kilometers and then a downhill of about 250 meters until the turnoff to Guandacol. Far less strenuous than yesterday.

Once again desert plains surrounded by mountains.

Guandacol is a few kilometers off Ruta Cuarenta. It's a small town spread out over a large area and seems to be so laid back that it could be from another era.

We're spending the night at Las Jarrillas de Guandacol, a relaxed hospedaje on the outskirts of town. The owners seem to be deep and broad thinking folk and if our Spanish was any better we could have had some interesting discussions.

We arrived at about two o'clock which gave us lots of time to relax in the gardens of the hospedaje.

The garden birds kept me busy. Here's a White-sided Hillstar (Oreotrochilus leucopleurus), one of two hummingbird species that were flitting about.

We are hoping to reach San Juan by the weekend but there is some less pleasant weather forecast. So it will be a longer day tomorrow, our target being Huaco, to ensure we have options when the weather turns..

Today's ride: 51 km (32 miles)
Total: 2,353 km (1,461 miles)

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