We will meet you at the bus station when you arrive and take you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to take it easy as you get acclimatised to the higher altitude (3,052m)
Today combines a day long traverse along the Cordillera Negra with an amazing 1,000m descent along some great tracks.
We’ll get fantastic views of the Cordillera Blanca glaciers and valleys far below. After the ride, we head back to our Huaraz hotel.
Cycling distance: 24km / 15 miles
Cycling riding time: 3-4 hours
Altitude: 3,050m-3,650m-3,550m / 10,007ft-11,975ft-11,647ft
Today our biking adventure begins in Huaraz where we will steadily bike up to Quebrada Cojup. From there we continue on to Pitec where we start our descent along a pre Incan trail back to Huaraz.
Cycling distance: 27km/16.8 miles
Cycling riding time: 3-4 hours
Altitude: 3050m-3,850m/10,007ft-12,631ft
Just relax today or check out Huaraz. There are also some optional easy bike rides available.
There is no doubt that this is one of the most challenging and scenic routes in the entire Cordillera Blanca. Our route follows the Llanganuco Valley, flanked by the imposing peaks of Nevado Huascarán (highest peak in the Peruvian Andes 6768 masl), Chopicalqui, Chacraraju, Pisco and Yanapaccha.
We will drive up in our support vehicle to the starting point at the Llanganuco Lakes and then get on our bikes and pedal up the zigzag road to Portachuelo de Llanganuco (4780meter). We head down to the town of Yanama where we will spend the night in a lodge.
Cycling distance: 52km/32 miles
Cycling riding time: 4-5 hours
Altitude: 4,400 m-4,780m-3,400m/14.435ft-15,682ft-11,155ft
From Yanama we climb up to Pupash Pass (4200m) before a 20 km descent into Acochaca (2900m). Our final push is up to our destination in Chacas along a paved road. We’ll spend the night in a hotel here.
Cycling distance: 32km / 20 miles
Cycling riding time: 4-5 hours
Altitude: 3,400 m-4,200m-3,350m/11,155ft-13,779ft-10,990ft
We will cycle up to the tunnel (4735m) before a thrilling descent along the Ulta valley along a paved road for about 50km.
The route finishes in the city of Carhuaz. We then return to Huaraz in our vehicle.
Cycling distance: 69km/43 miles
Cycling riding time: 3-4 hours
Altitude: 3,350 m-4,735m-2,900m/10,990ft-15,535ft-9514ft
Our trip ends today.
We’ll drop you off at the bus station. There is also an option to fly. We’d be happy to help plan additional activities or services. (B)
We use a 2-3* hotel in Huaraz, private bathroom.
In the mountains, we stay at an eco-lodge which has private rooms with bathrooms.
You need to be well acclimatised for this trip, with 2-3 nights in Huaraz needed before starting.
The routes are designed for people that are used to downhill, single track mountain biking.
If you are a beginner, please get in touch and we can design a custom route for you, so you can build up your levels and experience.
After breakfast, packs are prepared and your guide will explain the day’s ride, and you typically ride 3-4 hours in the morning before lunch, with a short or break or two en route.
After an hour or so for lunch – depending on weather conditions – you will continue usually 1-2 hours more, although some days are shorter or longer than others, and then head to the next hotel or homestay. Sometimes you jump in the support vehicle to cover the last few km.
After eating, you can choose to socialise with team members, relax in your hotel, or enjoy the Huaraz nightlife.
Vegetarians and many other dietary requirements are catered for without problems. Please let us know in advance of any requirements you have.
You usually wake early, around 07.00, in your hotel, and have breakfast there. This is features hot drinks, coffee, toast, eggs, ham, cheese, jams etc.
Lunch will be either sandwiches or meat and cheese, with snacks etc, or at a restaurant (extra cost).
Lunch and evening meals are your responsibility, apart from at the eco-lodge, and Huaraz is well served by restaurants, from Peruvian dishes to international food.
All guides are English-speaking guides who have worked with us for many years.
They live and work in the mountains and know the routes well.
A superbly organized journey showcasing Andean Trails’ consistent excellence, reliability, and seamless travel experiences.
A flawlessly organised luxury Inca Trail adventure, from gourmet camp meals and expert guides to the unforgettable moment of walking through the Sun Gate to Machu Picchu, with Andean Trails delivering excellence every step of the way.
Combine the best downhill MTB single track biking in the Cordillera Blanca with comfortable hotels at night.
We mix some climbs with breathtaking downhill rides, some of which are known only to our professional guides.
Every night, after a great day in the saddle, we relax in our hotels and recharge the energy level’s for the next day’s awesome ride.
From: $4430 per person
Duration
15 days
Peru is made up of 3 distinct geographical areas: the coast, the mountains and the jungle.
The costa or coastal region is a narrow ribbon of desert 2,250 km long, crossed by fertile river valleys flowing from the Andes. It takes up 11% of the country and holds more than 40% of the population.
The cold Humboldt current gives rise to a blanket of mist – the garua – which hangs above coastal cities like the capital Lima from May to November.
Heading east, you’re soon climbing above the garua and into the Andes. The sierra, or mountainous region, covers some 25% of Peru’s territory and contains 50% of the population. The sierra inhabitants are mainly Indigenous or Mestizo, and many still speak Quechua or Aymara.
The sierra contains dozens of 6,000-metre snow peaks and volcanoes, including Huascaran (6,768m) the highest mountain in the tropics. The deep valley basins contain most of the towns and arable land; the terracing and canal systems of the Incas and pre-Incas are often still used today.
The eastern Andes are heavily forested up to 3,350m and sweep down into the Amazon Basin.
Peru’s selva or jungle makes up almost two thirds of the country’s area, but holds only about 6% of the population: the only towns with significant populations are Iquitos and Pucallpa.
Peru is the perfect holiday destination for adventure travellers that want an amazing variety of activity, geography and cultural travel experiences.
The breadth of travel experiences in Peru is breathtaking – from trekking in the Andes to Machu Picchu to the tropical jungle of the Amazon, and plenty in between.
The people of Peru make it a special destination too, with its colourful and traditional street life and friendly locals.
Good kit is vital for every trip.
Book with Andean Trails and get 15% off Páramo’s fantastic ethical and high performance outdoor gear.
We provide everything (including a bike) apart from personal equipment and clothing.
If you are taking your own bike it should preferably be a mountain bike, quality 24+ gears, front/double-suspension, cross-country bike.
Please contact us if you are unsure whether your bike will be suitable.
During the day hopefully it will be generally sunny enough for shorts and T-shirts though having a fleece and rain gear handy is advisable. It can and will get cold, especially in the evenings so bring a warm fleece jacket, a good waterproof and some warm clothes including thermal underwear, gloves, scarf and woolly hat as well as one set of smarter clothes for cities.
Below is a more detailed guide.
You can also read about the weather of Peru in our blog.
You can also read about the weather of Peru in our blog.
Peru is located in the southern tropics (latitudes 0º to 18º), but climate varies significantly according to season, altitude and region.
From May to October, Lima is often overcast, but with minimal precipitation. There are sunny spells, and it’s a fresh to pleasant 13-20ºC.
At the same time, inland areas and the north coast mid to high 20’s ºC.
November to April is generally warm and sunny and Lima enjoys warm temperature of 19-25ºC, with the coast averaging 22-30ºC.
Climate depends largely on altitude. As a rule of thumb, below 2,000m climate is mild and above 2,000m warm clothing is required for evenings, nights and early mornings.
The Andean sun is very strong.
Cusco (3,300m): Average max/min temps: 22ºC /2ºC. Average 3 or 4 wet days per month.
Arequipa (2,380m): Average max/min temps: 26ºC /9ºC. Sunny more than 340 days/year with minimal precipitation.
On highland treks: Conditions are generally dry. However, at this time of year, expect a range of conditions within a single day: cold/freezing nights at camps above 4,000m, where pre-dawn temperatures can be -5ºC; warm, spring-like mornings and afternoons; and cold evenings.
Note that mountain weather can be fickle and localised, and that precipitation is not unknown in the dry season. Expect temperatures to swing between sun and shade, sheltered and exposed ground and with altitude gain and loss. A quick-setting sun means temperatures drop fast.
In the cloud forest, e.g. around Machu Picchu, daytime conditions are generally warm or hot, and evenings cool.
Cusco: Average max/min temps: 23ºC /6ºC. Average 13 wet days per month.
Arequipa: Average max/min temps: 25ºC /14ºC.
On highland treks: Wetter conditions, with cooler days and milder nights than dry season. Jan-Mar usually the wettest months.
Year-round, weather conditions are hot and humid and there is always the risk of rain.
There is a ‘dry season’ in Tambopata and Manu between May and October. The average daytime high temperature is between 25°C and 34°C and the average nighttime low is between 16°C and 22°C. Heavy downpours typically occur every few days.
Around 80% of annual average rainfall – approx 2,000 mm in Manu and Tambopata and 1,400 mm in Iquitos – occurs in the wet season Nov-April.
On rare occasions, between May and September, cold fronts from Argentina – ‘friajes’ – can sweep into southwest Amazonia and push temperatures down to 9°C. (Friajes usually last between 1 and 3 days).
A superbly organized journey showcasing Andean Trails’ consistent excellence, reliability, and seamless travel experiences.
A flawlessly organised luxury Inca Trail adventure, from gourmet camp meals and expert guides to the unforgettable moment of walking through the Sun Gate to Machu Picchu, with Andean Trails delivering excellence every step of the way.
