Mountain Biking in Cusco, Peru - Single Track Heaven
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Cusco and transfer to Sacred Valley of the Incas
On arrival at Cusco airport, meet your guide and transfer straight to our base in Sacred Valley - this way we’ll avoid any potential altitude problems and guarantee ourselves a good night sleep.
The charmingly converted Hacienda Marcabamba is the perfect place to base ourselves for this holiday. Meals are taken in the communal dining room or in the delightful gardens.
After lunch we’ll assemble our bikes and those who want can take a quick trip into the nearby town of Urubamba to stretch the legs and begin to acclimatise to the rarefied air of the Andes (L,D)
Day 2: Chinchero- Moray- Maras – Saltpans – Urubamba
Our first ride has been described as one of the finest one-day rides in Peru and it certainly is a classic.
Starting near Chinchero at 3,600m, we enjoy a variety of undulating dirt trails with spectacular views along the Sacred Valley of the Incas and the white peaks of mount Veronica, Pitusiray and Chicon. We arrive at the circular Inca ruins of Moray in time for visit and an explanation of this weird and wonderful site and enjoy a delicious picnic lunch.
This afternoon we join a truly fantastic ride down a donkey trail down to the colonial village of Maras, and from there descend a divine single track to the Salt pans. A final zigzagging single track brings us to the Urubamba river and back to our hacienda in time to enjoy hot showers, sundowners on the balcony and a delicious dinner (B,L,D)
Day 3: Calca – Amparaes- Abra Lares - Calca
Now well acclimatised, we drive high into the Andes to just over 4,000m for two of the world’s best kept mountain biking secrets.
The single track down to Amparaes starts rough but soon turns into one of the most beautiful 16km trails – it’s as if someone has come along and swept away the rocks leaving super smooth path, allowing you to whoop and swoop past local villages, llamas and alpacas down to the small village of Amparaes in time for lunch.
We’ll climb back up now to 4,200m for another truly amazing single track, this time following an ancient Inca trail complete with original Inca stairways and Inca tombs in an incredibly beautiful canyon, before joining the road to Calca with some great short cuts for the more adventurous.
We arrive in Calca Plaza de Armas in time for a quick beer before returning to our hotel for the night (B,L,D)
Day 4: Huchuy Quosqo
When the drive to the start of the ride is almost as extreme as the ride itself, you know you are in for a good day out.
This is one of our long time favourites and a true wilderness biking adventure, high in the Andes. We drive to 4,000m and leave the vehicle behind for the entire day. Stocked up on snacks and spares, we follow an Inca trail that winds its way up to an Inca ceremonial platform at nearly 4,200m. From here, it’s nearly all downhill or cross country as we discover Inca sites and charming Andean hamlets - we even cross an Inca hanging bridge.
There is a short portage through an unrideable but truly gorgeous canyon and then we emerge at a viewpoint high above the Sacred Valley. Next, we cycle along well preserved Inca terraces and into the impressive Inca ruins of Huchuy Quosqo, thought to have been a royal palace.
Our support vehicle meets us here for a quick check-up on energy levels, and, for those who need more adrenaline, we still have another 800m to descend to the Sacred Valley by way of a delightful dirt trail (with the odd bit of walking) all the way back to Calca. (B,L,D)
Day 5: Chinchero – Huayllabamba – Cerro Sacro – Urubamba
Whilst body armour is not essential for any of this trip, if you’ve got it, today might just be the day to wear it and not take it off at all. The runs today are arguably two of the best single track down hills in the Sacred Valley if not the whole of Peru.
From the delightful market town of Chinchero we traverse a vast set of Inca terraces on a perfectly restored and wide royal Inca trail. A series of ride-able (or walk-able) steps take us down through a Eucalyptus forest and a spectacular view point for more technical single track back down to the small village of Huayllabamba. The local record is about 45 minutes, but we’ve got all morning (and usually need it!)
A short drive back up the hill to Cerro Sacro (this is where some folk paraglide from) where we’ll have a lunch with 360º view before another truly classic trail. Super smooth and ridiculously fast, if you dare, we swoop back down to Urubamba.
There are a variety of routes to choose from, from the sublime to the ridiculous and those with any adrenaline can cool off with a quick blast back to the hotel - or pottery shopping anyone? If your adrenaline levels are already depleted from the past days of riding, we can suggest a series of lovely road rides, a bit of retail therapy at a local artisan market or a total chill out at the hacienda – there’s a great spa/bar nearby too. (B,L,D)
Day 6: Mega Avalanche downhill mountain bike course
Steve Peat won it in 2007 in 24 minutes, most racers take 30 – 40 minutes and we’ve got all day to enjoy this truly amazing trail, which hosts the annual “Mega Avalanche” downhill race.
A short drive to 4,300m and we are off. Your guides will help to point out the best lines, with regular stops to regroup. There are some huge jumps that are easily avoidable (or we’ll talk you through them) as we blast down 1,550m of descent on a mix of tight single track, divine Inca trail and even a bit of tarmac.
After lunch, those who are up for it can go back up and do it again; or you can enjoy a lovely and mostly flat ride back to the town of Ollantaytambo for strawberry milkshakes and banoffee pie. (B,L,D)
Day 7: Optional Machu Picchu or return to Cusco
Today you have a chance to visit the spectacular lost city of the Incas - Machu Picchu – or return to Cusco.
An hour and a half by train down the Urubamba gorge brings you to Aguas Calientes where you are met by your expert guide and taken by bus to the ruins for a full guided tour. You have time to explore by yourself before catching the afternoon train back up the Urubamba valley and a short bus transfer back to Cusco.
If you don’t wish to see Machu Picchu, we drive back to Cusco and can probably fit in some more single track en route if you want. (B)
Day 8: Best of Cusco single track
By now you’ll be fully acclimatised and totally sensitised to the delights of Peruvian single track so we’ve saved the best for last.
The hills that surround Cusco are our guide’s local playground and they have a treat in store for you. Dubbed ‘Three Downhills in Three hours’ we start with ‘Salcantay’ - 750m vertical descent on sweet single track, Inca ruins en route then eucalyptus forest and all ending back in Cusco. This first ride could be a contestant for best ride of the trip – and we still have two more to go.
Back up the hill, we follow an ancient Inca trail past more Inca ruins as we join ‘Antisuyo’, which is a a recently restored Inca trail leading to the jungle. This is a perfect set of steps – not to narrow to ride, but steep enough so that if you haven’t learnt to step jump, you will have by the end. We head all the way down to San Blas and the Plaza de Armas of Cusco.
We’re not finished yet. We have a choice of rides from Yuncaypata, which is the locals’ favourite downhill biking area. You can choose from the ‘Red Bull course’ (pretty steep but doable)or the ‘Birthday route’ (ask your guide). Both are sweet single track with Incas ruins en route and a few steps if you want.
Biking over, it’s time for a shower and a chance to experience the culinary delights of Cusco (guinea pig is a local speciality) and/or the busy nightlife where you can salsa till dawn - if you’ve got the energy (B)
Day 9: Pack bikes and PM flight to Lima
A nice late start, we’ll help you pack up your bikes and take you back to Cusco airport, bus or train station for your flight home or onward travel. (B)
We have many other great biking trips in Peru. If you want to get right off the beaten track and cycle from Lake Titicaca to Cusco, check out our Back Road of the Andes trip, or our longer Mountain Bike of Peru trip.
What’s included
Bi-lingual guide/mechanic, support vehicle and transfers to and from Cusco, first aid kit, all meals and accommodation as listed
What’s not included
International or internal flights (we can look for these), mountain bike (can be hired), personal cycling equipment (can be hired), personal belongings, sleeping bag, travel insurance, personal expenses and tips.
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