Words are going to fail me today.

From our road side camp we continued to descend towards the coast. After the steep switch-back turns of last night the road moderated (yeah right) to mile after mile of steady descent and the occasional patch of switch-backs. Initially the scenery was of cultivated areas on steep valley walls. Eventually the walls became a little less steep and became rock granite with the only cultivation at the floor of the valley. Along this section the dwellings beside the road were incredibly poor, it was hard to imagine how people exist in such conditions.

By the time we reached near sea level the valley was wide and covered with sugar cane plantations being farmed on an industrial scale.

When we finally joined the PanAmericana we had dropped 13,500 ft in 120km - the contrast from top to bottom was just breath taking.

Another 100kms down the PanAmericana we came to the turn off to NP De Lachay for our nights camp. De Lachay is another incredible contrast. In a desert landscape where barren sand can be seen in every direction, this national park is an island of green and moist vegetation. This little oasis of green is the result of sea fog condensing onto a hill top and completely changing the ecology. We found waist high grasses and succulent plans, gum trees, birds and wet ground to keep us company for the night.