Kate Leeming - Salta to Llulliallaco Vocano

Total Distance – 2380km

Leaving Salta, we were satisfied everything was in order to cycle and drive to Llulliallaco volcano. I wanted to understand more about where the Children of Llulliallaco were sacrificed and what it took for the Incas to perform the capacocha ritual.

I set off through the streets of Salta, a city that really impressed me, and gradually climbing into the green foothills. Essentially over the next two days I would have to climb from 1137m to 4080m over 165km to San Antonio de los Corbes. 

The first day I was fortunate to be pushed by a strong tail wind that funnelled from the tropical lowlands towards the high Puna de Atacama. It was all asphalt but I had not been looking forward to the slow grind. I was pleasantly surprised on Day 1 out of Salta. The gradients ranged between a very reasonable 3-6% as Route 51 tracked the Toro River all the way to the highest pass… Read More