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The town of CASMA , 70km north of Huarmey, marks the mouth of the well-irrigated Sechin river valley. Surrounded by corn and cotton fields, this small settlement is peculiar in that most of its buildings are just one storey high and all of them are modern. Formerly the port for the Callejon de Huaylas, the town was razed by the 1970 earthquake, whose epicentre was just offshore. There's not a lot of interest here and little reason to break your journey, other than to explore the nearby ruins, such as the temple complex of Sechin , the ancient fort of Chanquillo , or the Panamarca Pyramid , 20km north. The town boasts several roadside cafes and a small selection of hotels : the Hotel El Farol, Tupac Amaru 350 (tel 044/711064; $10-20), two blocks from the Plaza de Armas, is clean, friendly and comfortable with a decent restaurant; the Hostal Gregori, Calle Ormeno 579 (tel 044/711073; $10-20), is also very clean and almost as comfortable; or try the basic Hotel Indoamerica, Huaraz 132 (tel 044/711395; $5-10), close to the Plaza de Armas. En route to the Sechin ruins there's the well-run Hospedaje Las Dunas (no tel; $5-10), which also has a good restaurant and is only ten minutes from town by motorcar. Turismo Chimbote buses run at least three times a day to Lima (5hr) and Chimbote (40min); Huandoy, Avenida Luis Ormeno 158 (tel 044/712336), connect with Huaraz and Caraz; while Empresa Moreno buses take the scenic but dusty track three times a week, over the Cordillera Negra via the Callan Pass to Huaraz (5hr).
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