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: Arrive in Lima

Your shuttle will meet you at Lima Airport. From there, we will take you to our hotel in Miraflores. If you have time, feel free to explore Lima's beaches and history. Please notify us of your flight times and we will arrange to meet you at the airport.

Day 2: Pachamac - skills training

A large Inca fortress with impressive construction dominates the entire Lurin Valley at this important Inca archaeological site. We will have the opportunity to discover hidden Inca constructions deep inside the valley and the mountains. It's also possible to visit the main Inca Fortress in Pachacamac after our ride.

We'll spend the morning working on skills development, then break for lunch. After lunch, we'll take a ride up to the top of Chiromoyo mountain for an incredible downhill back to the valley.

Day 3: The Cactus Trail

Early in the morning, around 6:30 am we will have breakfast in our hotel. At 7:00 am, we will be transferred to Huaral, a fertile valley located 100 km north of Lima. It takes approximately 1 1/2 hours to reach Huaral where we will visit our friend Jose and his guinea pig farm. We will take some fresh fruits directly from the plants and start riding our bikes. Jose knows the trails on the mountains of Huaral like the backs of his hands. He will show us his incredible local trails that he has developed by hand in these scenic hills. We will have unique views of Huaral and if the day is clear it's possible to see the Pacific Ocean.

We will ride approximately 30 km in 4 hours. In the afternoon we will enjoy a delicious lunch that consists of BBQ chicken and salads served in the middle of his farm. At the end of the day we will return to our hotel in Miraflores.

Day 4: Santo Domingo de Los Olleros

We will start our 4th day in Peru with this amazing downhill trail that was one of the first big downhills in the Andes to be discovered by local people. This is a full day trip to one of the most recognized downhill & free ride trails for MTB in Peru with more than 20 km of pure downhill singletrack. This trail ends on the beach, where we can take a refreshing swim and eat ceviche by the Pacific Ocean. On the way, we'll have multiple stops where we'll work on various mountain bike skills, including braking, cornering, descending and switchbacks.

Day 5: Transfer to Cusco and riding in Cusco Valley

We will pick you up from your hotel at 7:00 am and take the am flight to Cusco. The rest of the morning is free to establish on our hotel and complete the acclimatization process. We will also build our bikes again for the afternoon ride.After a local lunch near the main plaza, we will pick our bikes and start riding from our hotel to the upper part of the city. We will pass through main Inca sites and have a great introductory ride in Cusco. Once we are on top of the city, we will ride down a main Inca trail straight into the city. We will end our ride on our hotel and have the rest of the day to explore the city of Cusco.

We will ride approximately 20 km in 3 hours. The altitude range goes from 3,400 to 3,700 meters (11,155 to 12,139 ft.).

Day 6: The Incas Backyard Trail

Early in the morning, after we take breakfast, we will be transferred to the village of Salkantay located on top of the city of Cusco at an altitude of 4,150 masl (13,615 ft.). We will ride an ancient Inca trail that was used as a shortcut to go from Cusco to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. As we descend this amazing trail, we will reach the Inca sites of Saqsayhuaman, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay to finally reach the village of Yuncaypata and end in Cusco.

We will ride approximately 30 km in 4 hours. The altitude range goes from 4,150 to 3,300 meters (13,615 to 10,827 ft.).

Day 7: Sacred Valley Inca Treasures

Early in the morning, after a nutritious breakfast, we will be transferred to Chinchero, a strategic Inca site near the Sacred Valley. Chinchero is located at an altitude of 3,700 masl (12,139 ft.) and from this place it's possible to see the entire plateau of Maras and the Vilcanota's Mountain Range with its +5,000 meters glaciers like Chicon and Veronica. We will cross agricultural fields, border Lake Huaypo and reach the Inca site of Moray at an altitude of 3,600 masl (11,811 ft.). We will stop here and explore this Inca agricultural lab and its round terraces. After our visit to Moray and experience the special energy of this place, we will continue our tour riding an Inca Trail that will take us to the town of Maras and its Inca Salt Mines. It is a spectacular place where we will have amazing views of this salt mine and also the Sacred Valley below us. Finally we will end our tour on a side of the Urubamba River, at an altitude of 3,000 masl (9,843 ft.). It's possible to continue with our bikes to the town of Ollantaytambo, where we will stay for the next three nights.

We will ride a total of 40 km in approximately four hours before we reach Ollantaytambo.

Day 8: The Origin of the Inca Empire

There are three theories that explain the origin of the Inca Empire. The three of them agree that its origins were near Ollantaytambo, in the Patacancha Valley. Early in the morning, we will be transferred to the top of the Patacancha Valley at an altitude of 4,000 masl (13,123 ft.) and where it's possible to find the origins of the Inca Empire on the Patacancha Village. We will visit some Inca sites and see how people still live and dress like 500 years ago! Then we will continue riding our bikes and visit the village of Huilloc where we can interact with local people helping them on their farms or developing clothes, just like the Incas did more than 500 years ago. Finally, we will continue riding down the valley and after a 30 minutes climb, we will reach the Inca site of Pumamarca and see the impressive terraces that goes from the bottom of the valley to the top of the mountains. From this place we will ride one of the best singletracks in all Cusco and we will descend directly to Ollantaytambo.

Day 9: 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'll have the option of doing some more spectacular rides around Ollantaytambo. We'll spend the night back in Ollantaytambo, resting up for the final day's epic ride!

Please note: The Machu Picchu trip is not included in the price of your tour. The all-day trip to Machu Picchu includes the return train ride through the Sacred Valley, bus from Aguas Calients to Machu Picchu, guide and admission. Cost is 240 CAD/p.p. If you prefer to ride, we will have a fantastic half-day ride to a nearby valley surrounded by Inca terraces.

Day 10: Lares - Cusco

This is one of the best trails for mountain biking in Cusco. This epic trail starts at an altitude of 4,350 masl (14,271 ft.), on the mountain pass that divides Lares with Cusco, and goes downhill following the shape of the mountain ending in the town of Calca on the Sacred Valley, at an altitude of 3,000 masl (9,842 ft.). At the middle of the trail we will cross a deep canyon.

Day 11: Cusco and transfer to Lima

We have reached the last day of our amazing trip in Peru and it's time to say goodbye to Cusco and its wonderful Inca Trails. Flights depart every hour until 3:30 pm, making it possible to do some shopping in the Indian markets of Cusco. We'll offer an optional morning ride in Cusco for those sticking around until the afternoon or next day.