Inca Trail

Cross-country biking in Peru

Peru may well just be the best mountain biking destination in the world, and we have the Incas to thank for that. During the reign of their empire, they built over 50,000 km of trails from Ecuador to Argentina, with most of it in Peru. They were used for hundreds of years by Inca couriers and are now open to mountain biking, with long downhills and challenging climbs through remote Quechua-speaking villages. We'll pass through important Inca sites that will leave you breathless, including the Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu. We'll cross the Apurimac Canyon to finally enter into the city of Cusco and make our final ride at the Inca sites of Chincheros, Moray and Maras. Join us for the ultimate mountain bike holiday in Peru!

On this tour, you will experience firsthand the vibrant and fascinating culture of this South American country and ride epic singletrack while doing it. We have developed this exciting 10-day trip in Peru with the help of two local partners:  Wayo Stein, renowned DH rider and Russo Covarrubias, Peruvian cross-country champion. Along with one of our own guides, you will ride great trails, visit Inca archaeological sites and experience Peruvian culture at its best.

ITINERARY:

(subject to change without prior notice)

Day 1: Arrival in Lima

You will be met at Lima Airport (please notify us of your flight arrival time and flight number in advance). From there, you are transferred to our hotel in Miraflores. Get a good night's sleep as we will have breakfast at 7:30 a.m. tomorrow. (If you arrive in Lima a day or two early, we will still pick you up at the airport.)

Day 2: Lima

Enjoy a healthy breakfast of fresh fruit salad, cereals, toast and eggs. After breakfast, take some time to build your bikes and discuss the trip ahead. We will meet our driver Joselo and load up our 15-seater van. Today's 2-hour drive takes us to Villa Quipan at an altitude of 3,200 m. From there, do a short climb to get the lungs going, then enjoy an epic 4-hour downhill all the way to the beach. After a couple of hours of suntanning and a few drinks on the beach, we’ll head back to town for dinner (dinners not included).

Day 3: Lima - Andahuaylas

At 6:00 a.m., our flight (approx. one hour) takes us over the spectacular Andes mountains to  Andahuaylas airport in south-central Peru. Ride directly from the airport (across the runway) to the start of our 3-day ride to Cuscol. A 2-hour climb brings us to a lookout point above the town of Andahuaylas. The following downhill ride takes us through Quechua villages where people will offer us food and drinks.  This area sees few foreigners, so the locals are naturally curious, and incredibly friendly. We will return to Andahuaylas in the late afternoon and check into our hotel in the center of town before heading out for dinner and a few drinks in the main square.

Day 4:  Andahuaylas - Huancarama

After breakfast at a local restaurant, get in the van for a climb to 11,000 feet. From there, hop on the bike for a climb to a fantastic downhill ride to Lake Pacucha, a sacred lake nestled in the shadow of the Andes. From Lake Pachuca, Joselo will take us up to the pre-Inca site of Sondor. This Chanka ruin is a sacred ceremonial site that was used to make sacrifices to the gods. A climb brings us to the village of Rosaspata, a hilltop community at the start of the main Inca Trail – the Camino Real. The 5,000 foot downhill ride brings us to the village of Quillabamba, where we stop to hand out school supplies to the local children. One more climb brings us to another pre-Inca site and the start of a epic downhill to the town of Huancarama. This charming and remote village is home to the rustic yet charming "El Gordito" (Little Fat Man) hotel. After checking in, head out to a local restaurant for dinner and a few drinks to recap a great day of riding.

Day 5: Huancarama - Cusco

We set out from Huancarama for a long climb up to a hilltop community overlooking the town of Abancay. The climb takes us through numerous Quechua villages where curious villagers offer us chicha and roasted potatoes. Alpacas and sheep stare curiously at us as we climb. After a rest at the top, we’ll drop in to this 5,000-vertical foot descent which brings us to a spectacular colonial bridge and our meeting point with the van. A quick drive to Abancay where we have lunch, and then we drive to a mountain pass and an Inca trail that takes us to the Inca site of Saywite. One last downhill ride brings us back to the van and the 2-hour drive to Cusco. Cusco was the capital of the Inca empire, and is a spectacular city for exploring. Our hotel in Cusco features centuries-old Inca walls in the rooms. Head out to one of Cusco's many restaurants before sampling the legendary Cusco nightlife.

Day 6: Cusco

After a delicious breakfast at our hotel, we spend the morning exploring the sights and sounds of Cusco. This Inca city features spectacular Inca stonework among its maze of alleys and streets, along with Spanish cathedrals and churches. Our hotel is perfectly situated on the main square, close to all the attractions. After lunch, we hop on the bikes for a climb to the Temple of the Sun and the start of a great downhill into Cusco. The downhill trail finishes off with a great ride through the narrow alleyways and staircases of Cusco, home of the Red Bull Ride. Another great dinner and if you are into it, another round in one of Cusco's many discos!

Day 7: Cusco - Ollantaytambo

We head out from Cusco on our bikes for a day of riding in the famed Sacred Valley. Russo, one of our guides, is from this area, and knows the area like the back of his hand. The Sacred Valley was the agricultural center of the Inca Empire, and remains a fertile valley to this day. We pass through farmland and spectacular mountains, stopping at the ancient site of Moray. After that, we drop in to a fantastic downhill trail cut into the side of a canyon, visiting the Inca Salt Mines along the way before dropping in to the Urubamba Valley and the ride to the fortress town of Ollantaytambo.

Day 8: Ollantaytambo Riding or Machu Picchu

For those of you who have never been to Machu Picchu, this destination is a must-see on any adventurer's list. The "Lost City of the Incas" is beyond words – a sublime and spiritual place that boggles the imagination. This optional trip features a 2-hour train ride through the Sacred Valley and a bus ride up to Machu Picchu. For those who have already visited the City, we have the option of doing some more spectacular rides around Ollantaytambo. We spend the night back in Ollantaytambo, resting up for the final day's epic ride!

Day 9: Lares - Cusco

Day 9 features a ride that will stay etched into your memory for a long time – the thrilling 6,000-foot descent from Lares. Hop in the van for the climb up to 13,500 feet. From there, a climb brings us to the start of the trail and the epic downhill back to the valley. The trail follows a centuries-old path through pre-Inca villages and a spectacular canyon, before spitting us out onto a singletrack following an old canal. After we finally reach the valley bottom, we get on board the van for the short ride back to Cusco and our final night together in the bars of Cusco!

Day 10. Cusco - Lima

We have reached the last day of our amazing tour in Peru, and it's time to say goodbye to Cusco and its wonderful Inca Trails. Flights depart every hour during the morning and there are some afternoon flights too, making it possible to do some shopping in the Indian markets of Cusco. We offer an optional morning ride in Cusco for those sticking around until the afternoon or next day.