I don’t have GPS with me relying on maps and asking people. However if I have WiFi I use Google maps to plot a route. I had looked on the map and the nice red road headed to huallanuca north of chimbote. However google maps showed a short cut. I could see this on my paper map as well so decided it would be ok

This is what I ended up in. I asked someone who told me it was a route but it was very dangerous. So about turn and go on the nice red route. There’s a lot of sand about here.

This display was in the main square.
Back onto the main road to Santa. Lots of santas here. I found the sign for Huallanuca but it pointed directly into the middle of a y junction. There was nothing to distinguish between the roads. Better ask! The locals point at the road as though it was obvious.

Riding through a green valley.

Not for long.

This road was basically type 1 very rough and hot. Managed 20 mph. Took me 3 hours to do this section.

Then came the tunnels

Supposed to be 43 but I never counted. The road improved and I headed to Caraz

Just got there before the rain started.