A
challenging 6-day mountain bike adventure takes us from the highland
valleys around Cusco, across paramo uplands and on to the lush upper
valleys of the Amazon jungle.
Returning by bike to the atmospheric Inca town of Ollantaytambo, in
the Sacred Valley of the Incas, we then trek for four days along the
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas.
Joining the tour
On booking, you will be sent the following information: name and
address of Lima hotel, advice on how to get there,
time of rendezvous with tour leader.
Itinerary details
Note: If circumstances dictate, certain details, such as overnight
stops, may vary from those shown in the day-by-day itinerary below.
Day 1
Join tour in Lima. (1 night hotel)
Day 2
We take an early flight from the Pacific coast to Cuzco (3400
metres). Having checked in to our hotel, we have all day today and
tomorrow to absorb the unique atmosphere of Peru's historical
capital, while adapting to the altitude. (2 nights hotel)
Day 3
Cuzco's past is a fusion of indigenous and colonial. This can
be seen in the juxtaposition between perfectly interlocking Inca
stonework and whitewashed Spanish-style streets. Cuzco is a great
city to lose yourself in its labyrinthine alleyways and teeming
markets.
Just outside the town, and accessible on foot, are some
spectacular archaeological sites such as Sacsayhuaman, a monumental
temple-fortress of pharaonic proportions made up of precisely
fitting stones, some weighing upward of 200 tons! Further afield,
and easily reached by road, is the town of Pisac, with its
fascinating produce and crafts market and citadel, featuring the
most impressive Inca agricultural terraces in the area. In the
evening folk bands frequent the lively 'penas' for which Cuzco is
renowned.
Day 4
Cusco to Lares thermal baths. The day starts as the support
vehicle, with the bikes stored on the roof, takes us from the hotel
in Cusco to the lake at Huaypo at an altitude of 3600. Within three
hours of relatively flat cycling we reach the Inca terraces of
Moray, dating back 500 years, these enigmatic circular terraces
created a protected climate for the cultivation of Andean grains and
tubers. Enjoying breathtaking views of the peaks of Pumahuanca
(53530m), Chicon (5530m) and Veronica (5850m), we start a gentle
descent to the village of Maras, whose inhabitants work the
surrounding fields and are the community owners of the nearby salt
mines.
Our descent gets steeper as we near the mines and see this
impressive series of salt pans for the first time. First worked by
the Incas in the 15th century, the water from a salty mineral spring
is allowed to cascade into a series of terraces, where the water is
evaporated off and the salt remains to be harvested by locals. All
work is done by hand by the inhabitants of Maras, and the complex of
crystal white terraces are an impressive sight for any visitor.
After stopping to explore, we continue to descend past the salt
terraces to reach the valley floor at 2900m, following the Urubamba
River to reach the main Sacred Valley road. This is the first tarmac
road we have seen all day, as all the cycling is done on minor dirt
roads and gravel footpaths. From this point, we board the support
vehicle for the 90 minute journey along the Sacred Valley and
descent into the Urubamba Mountains above the town of Calca.
At the Calca pass, we mount the bikes again at an altitude of 4100m,
for a descent of 900m to the village of Lares, located at 3200m. The
high mountain scenery is dramatic, as we descend on a dirt road
through hillsides of herds of llamas and alpacas. Within 2 hours we
should reach the thermal springs at Lares, where we will camp and
soak in the hot waters after a great day in the saddle. Meals:
Lunch, dinner.
Day 5
Lares baths to Colca village.
We leave the thermal springs behind to continue our descent into the
lower valleys of the Andes. Starting at 3200m, the views of the
mountains are spectacular as we pass through remote rural
communities, on this rarely traveled on dirt road which takes us all
the way yo yhe upper Amazon jungle. Almost all of today’s ride is
down hill, only interrupted by a few short climbs. By mid afternoon
we should arrive at our camp close to the village of Colca at an
altitude of 1600m, a descent of 1600m in a single day! Meals:
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Day 6
Colca village to Quebrada village.
The descent flattens now as we have an undulating ride deeper which
takes us the fertile valleys of the Convencion region of Peru, where
we will pass orchards of papaya, avocado, peach and bananas. The
climate is now hot and humid, and the many streams which cross our
route provide a refreshing shower along the ride. After a total
descent of 500m, we reach our camp close to the village of Quebrada,
located at 1100m above sea level. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Day 7
Quebrada village to Quellono village.
Today, the ride is relatively flat, as we take it slowly through
rolling valleys of Quillabamba. This region is rarely visited by
tourists, and we will be able to enjoy fresh fruit sold at the
roadside by surprised local inhabitants. The temperature may be rise
above 25ºC, so the juices and the clear mountain streams are a
welcome relief. By mid afternoon we reach our destination close of
the village of Quellono, where we will camp nearby at an altitude of
850m. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Day 8
Quellono village to Quillabamba town.
For the previous three days we have been following the Yanatile
River as it flows from the high Andes to the Amazon, but we have
reached the union of the Yanatile with the Vilcanota River, the
latter of which flows from the Sacred Valley past Machu Picchu to
reach Quillabamba. Now we must follows this river upstream to reach
Quillabamba, a climb of only 250m, but the support vehicle maybe a
help in case the legs are not willing. We should reach Quillabamba
by early afternoon, where we will check into our comfortable hotel
and have the rest of the day free to relax and explore this vibrant
market town. Meals: Breakfast, lunch.
Day 9
Quillabamba town to Ollantaytambo.
After a good nights sleep in a comfortable bed, we leave Quillabamba
in the support vehicle, following the Vilcanota River for an hour
along fertile valleys of fruit orchards, then we climb high into the
mountains to reach the Malaga Pass, located at 4350m.
This is where
we mount the bikes once more for the descent into Ollantaytambo town
in the heart of the Sacred Valley. A thrilling last descent of 1500m
in just 35km ands an exciting cycling adventure to some of the least
visited areas of the Cusco area.
We should reach Ollantaytambo by mid afternoon, where ther is time
to visit the spectacular Inca ruins or explore this traditional
village. Then we will return to Cusco in the support vehicle, taking
around 2 hours to the hotel. Alternatively, Ollantaytambo has
several good hotels and is an excellent place to stay the night and
then continue to Machu Piccchu the following day.
Day 10
Rest day
Day 11-14
We leave Ollantaytambo early and drive by bus to the
village of Chilca, the starting point of our trek.
The Inca Trail formed only a small part of the extensive network of
Inca highways, but this 'Royal Road' to Machu Picchu, reclaimed from
the cloud forests only this century, clearly had important ritual
functions and probably served as a sacred pilgrimage route related
to the veneration of natural and celestial phenomena.
Many well-preserved and finely-constructed sites along the trail
also suggest that access was limited to an elite. Its (and Machu
Picchu's) absence from early Spanish chronicles demonstrates that
its existence was not known about during colonial times, and
explains why the Inca religious structures escaped destruction at
the hands of the Spanish conquerors.
The Trail is a paradise for botanists and birdwatchers due to the
rapid succession of ecological and climatic zones which are crossed.
The region's flora includes 60 species of orchid, and the varied
avifauna includes hummingbirds and various species of birds of prey.
For most of the first day we walk through a temperate environment.
The second day features the first major ascent of the trek. We
follow the Llullucha valley up to the treeless puna and on to
Huarmiwanusca Pass (4200 metres). From here we descend to our camp
in the Pacasmayo valley (3700 metres) or at the nearby ruins of
Runkurakay.
The third day we cross the second pass (4000 metres) and descend
through lush cloud forest on a paved Inca pathway past the ruins of
Sayajmarca and Conchamarca and continue to the third pass at
Phuyupatamarca (camp). The views into the Urubamba gorge 1700 metres
below are spectacular.
On day four we make a dramatic descent along an ancient stairway to
the beautiful sacred sanctuary of Huinay Huayna (2700 metres) before
continuing to the Inti Punku (Sun Gate), and feasting our eyes on
the stunning Lost City of Machu Picchu spread out below. We intend
to descend to the site mid-afternoon, and enjoy the peaceful scene,
before dropping a further 400 metres to the railtrack town of Aguas
Calientes, where we board the afternoon train to Cusco; one of the
great railway journeys. (2 nights hotel)
Day 15
Free day in Cusco with the chance for some low-energy
shopping or more energetic white water rafting (optional) on the
Urubamba river.
Day 16
Fly to Lima, tour ends Lima.
Check our Books and Maps section where you will find a range of literature to help you get the most out of your South American adventure.
Practical information
Small groups mean flexibility and informality. Your tour leader will
be on hand to iron out any problems and give informed advice on
things to do, where to eat etc. In towns we use clean, comfortable
hotels. In little-visited wilderness areas, accommodation is
sometimes more simple. When camping we use two person lightweight
tents. On the ride and trek, all equipment is transported for us and
meals are prepared by our local cook.
Fitness and experience
In order to get the most out of the tour you
should be in good physical condition. It is not easy to grade the
fitness level required for the biking expedition and trek, since it
is a subjective matter. However, we recommend you get in plenty of
biking time before departure. We will bike approximately six to
eight hours per day with several long ascents and descents. Trekking
days, roughly five to eight hours, similarly involve several long
ascents and descents. NB The bike trip is fully supported: our
support vehicle is at our disposal should any riders wish to sit out
a tricky section. On the trek all personal belongings other than a
day-pack are carried for you. You are only expected to carry your
day-pack.
Altitude
Shortness of breath is normal when first arriving at
altitude. Acclimatisation time is built into the tour programme. The
highest point on the bike ride is 4150m, and on the trek, 4200m, but
we will be camping below that level.
Climate
Peru is located entirely within the tropics, but the
climate varies significantly according to season and geographical
zone.
Coast
May to October damp and misty but very little rain. (Average
day/night temperature in Lima 20C/13C)
December to March warm and sunny.
Highlands
May to October sunny days and chilly evenings. Best time for walking
in the mountains. (Average day/night temperature in Cuzco 21C/3C)
(N.B. at higher altitudes temperatures can drop well below freezing
at night, and the sun is very strong).
December to March rainy season.
Visas
Currently, no visa is required by British citizens visiting
Peru, but your passport must be valid for at least six months after
the date of travel. Non-British passport holders should check visa
requirements with the Peruvian Embassy. All requirements are subject
to change and should be confirmed before departure.
Vaccinations
Please check with your doctor or travel clinic for
latest advice as requirements are subject to change. Vaccinations
for yellow fever, typhoid, tetanus, hepatitis and polio are
recommended and malaria precautions are needed for visiting jungle
areas.
Personal expenses
We recommend you carry funds in US dollars cash
(mixed denomination, unmarked and undamaged bank notes) and US
dollar travellers cheques, which can be changed in larger towns and
typically incur a 3% commission. Cash cards are also useful as ATM
machines are available in most large towns visited on this
itinerary. Credit cards can be used in some restaurants and for
obtaining cash in certain banks.
The cost of the tour includes all meals while on the biking and
trekking expeditions and all breakfasts elsewhere, but you will need
money to cover: other meals, snacks and drinks (approximately 30-50%
cheaper than Europe); handicrafts; airport tax ($25 international,
$7 national); optional excursions (rafting $25); extra entrance
fees; tips; laundry etc.
International Flights
We can arrange your international flights at
competitive rates through our ATOL-bonded agency. Approximate prices
are shown on the Dates and Prices sheet sent with the brochure.
Insurance
Your insurance policy must cover you against medical
expenses and repatriation. If you do not purchase insurance from us,
please ensure it covers all activities you will be participating in,
including trekking, mountain biking and white-water rafting if
applicable. Please send us a copy of your policy as soon as possible
after booking.
Luggage & Equipment
Bring a main piece of lockable luggage to be
left in the Cusco hotel while you are biking and trekking. For the
ride and trek, re-pack into a kit bag, holdall or rucksack. This
will contain your sleeping bag, torch, toiletries, changes of
clothes, spare footwear etc. It will be transported for you by
vehicle (biking expedition) and donkey/porter (trek). You will also
require a day-pack to carry items you need to hand.
For the biking
expedition, bike and helmet are provided. Bring your own cycling
gloves and cycling shorts/trousers.
(Please let us know if you'd like to be sent a comprehensive
equipment list).
Optional extensions
If you would like to spend more time in Peru or
neighbouring countries we can arrange this for you. Some of the
extensions we offer are:
High altitude train journey across the altiplano to Lake Titicaca,
Journey down the desert coast to the enigmatic Nazca lines.
Spanish and/or Quechua language courses in Cuzco year-round
Facts and figures: Peru
Population: 25 mill (50% indian, 32% mestizo, 12% white and 2%
black).
Capital city: Lima, population approximately 7.5 million.
Geography: Five times the size of the UK, Peru, the third largest
country in South America, covers 1.28 million sq km. It is bounded
to the N by Ecuador and Colombia, to the E by Brazil and Bolivia, to
the S by Chile, and to the W by the Pacific Ocean.
Economy: Agriculture (33% of economically active popn), fishing and
mining are the traditional sectors of employment, with manufacturing
(10%) increasingly important. The service industry employs 27% of
the workers. Major food crops are rice, maize and potatoes, while
the major cash crops are coca and coffee. Important exports are
copper, zinc, gold, lead, silver and petrol. |
