I set off into the dark with very little wind and already reach Chimbote at 9 am. It’s a big and crowded city and it takes a while to get through. At noon the landscape changes, there are huge sand dunes and the road goes constantly up and down. The wind has picked up and turns those hills into proper mountains. It’s a constant struggle, one hill after another but the beautiful scenery makes it easier to keep motivated. In the evening the road follows the coast, offering spectacular views to isolated beaches. There is no easy way to get down to the beach, I hope I get an opportunity to swim the next few days.