the southward route from huaraz goes about 40 km toward the town of recuay, where it turns west. it rises to about 4,300 m (ca. 14,000 ft) where it crests the south part of the cordillera negra. from there the narrow winding highway in a distance of about 80 km (ca. 60 miles) descends to the town of huarmey (south of casma) on the coast. here it connects with the pan-american highway (187 km north of lima).