The area we have just ridden through was, until the early ninetys over run by “Sendero Luminoso” Shining Path (SL). This is a rather nasty terrorist group who have killed over 30,000 innocent people since 1980, including kidnappings and car bombings, mostly un-targetted. There is thought to have been a resurgence in 2003 with an increase in drug trafficking to source money using the coca plantations, that we were constantly riding through (light yellow leaves on the website photos). Their idea is to overthrow the Government and turn Peru into a communist country. Their dislikes are obviously any segregation of class based on money, any foregn political involvement in Peru and anyone generally white (who they think are gringos). So two white people riding through their town on bikes that look space age, wearing gortex clothing, aero helmets and lycra cycle shorts, who they think are North American, who then stop and pull out money, then barter with them to get local price, are not always going to be received with love, kisses and open arms.

Under the circumstances I think we were received quite well. We were humble, gracious and thankful always, a few times a little scared but all in all we never had any problems that cost us over a pound or got us hurt, but I would recommend this area by helicopter for the faint hearted.