Mountain bike on the Inca trails

Cycle from the hotel to Sacsayhuaman Archaeological Park. It’s possible to do a little warm up in the Plaza de Armas before attacking the climb to the site via small trails.

We visit Sacsayhuaman, a ceremonial fortress built in the hills of the city of Cusco in the 15th century by the great Inca Pachacútec.

Lunch near the site before the descent back to the city via the Inca Trail Antisuyo, one of the main paths of the Incan Empire used to travel from the capital to the jungle through the Sacred Valley. It’s “singletrack” mountain biking, with several types of courses, more or less technical depending on your level. We finish this first day of cycling and return to the hotel by vehicle to avoid the chaotic traffic of Cusco.

Enjoy a meal and a free evening in the Incan capital.

Spend the night in Cusco.

(Morning and midday meal included)

Note:

• Around 3h30 of cycling.

A short morning transfer (20’) to gain altitude and avoid an unnecessary climb on asphalt.

The bike day begins at 3700 meters altitude, near the Abra de Corao, a pass overlooking the city of Cusco providing access to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. A spectacular descent helps you build an appetite before reaching the village of Corao, a traditional Andean village perched on a plateau surrounded by steep summits.

The tour continues with a pleasant ride along Inca terraces in the Sacred Valley along an enjoyable path that ascends successively to two small passes to the edge of the small village of Patabamba (4042 m). The path then crosses a succession of small villages typical of the Peruvian Sierra region, as the view of the Sacred Valley becomes clearer. A very long descent to the banks of the sacred river of Urubamba, via the village of Lamay, is a beautiful finish to this first day of cycling in the Andes.

We drive to the small and authentic village of Pisaq with its impressive and colourful market. After a short stop in the village, we drive to Pisaq’s archaeological site at the summit of the village. The ancient ruins of Pisaq are considered one of the country’s most interesting sites after Machu Picchu. We take a walking tour of the site before descending to the village (a 400m D- in steps!) and return by vehicle to Urubamba at the end of the day.

Spend the night in Urubamba.

(Morning and midday meal included)

Note:

• Around 4h30 of cycling.

Short transfer to the Chinchero plateaus overlooking the other end of the Sacred Valley.

We visit the village’s beautiful colonial church and the archaeological site of Chinchero. Historically, this is the site where they controlled access to the Sacred Valley as well as the exchange of goods between the communities higher in the mountains and those of the Valley. This is why there are so many well-preserved ruins and terraces which, incidentally, were used mainly for the cultivation of potatoes, one of the region’s specialties.

After the visit, it’s time to get in the saddle to enjoy the view of the Urubamba Cordillera and its snowy peaks over 6000 meters!

In the heart of these highlands, the path is a mix of ”single” and dirt track which joins a pastel-coloured mountain lake surrounded by the mountains Veronica (6018m) and Salcantay (6271m), two mythical peaks in this mountain range.

The tour continues through farmland until we reach the archaeological site of Moray and its terraces of concentric circles which served as a real open-air agricultural laboratory during Incan times.

Break for lunch.

The afternoon begins with a short descent where we’ll stop for a brief moment in the village of Maras where, for the more adventurous, you’ll have the opportunity to try chicha, the local beer made from fermented corn. A truly artisanal beer!

We save the best for last – an incredible descent into the Sacred Valley, slightly technical but very fun, through the famous Incan salt pans of Maras which are still active today. We visit the salt pans before heading down to the river at the end of the Valley where we end the day.

Overnight in Urubamba.

(Morning and midday meal included)

Note:

• Around 5h30 of cycling.

Short transfer in the morning to Chinchero.

Warm up on a path bordering a lagoon before attacking the climb to a pass on a singletrack trail which starts off rolling then  becomes more and more uneven as we approach a small lake at a higher altitude. We portage for about an hour before getting back in saddle to finish the pass by bike along an Inca trail that seems to have been traced by a mountain biker !

Descend down a long and truly exceptional singletrack trail for an adrenaline rush and guaranteed thrills! This section of the course requires real commitment down a rugged Inca trail with some rocky technical challenges and closed curves – true bliss for the experienced mountain biker! It is possible, however, to portage a few meters in order to pass these more difficult sections to reach Uchuy Qosqo, an archeological site still unknown to tourists due to its difficult accessibility.

Lunch break on site followed by a rapid descent down a winding path overlooking the Valley to the village of Lamay where the cycling day ends.

Short transfer to Urubamba and overnight in the village.

(Morning and midday meal included)

Note:

• Around 5h30 of cycling.

Now that you’ve acclimatized, we can get serious!

Departure from Urubamba to the Patacancha Valley. We will climb to the Patalares pass at over 4400 m above sea level, the starting point of our panoramic descent to the Lares Valley. Descent into the landscapes of Andean puna, zigzagging between pastures and small villages lost in the mountain range. A wide variety of trails are offered to us, between swift ”singletrack” and more engaging rocky section, a scenic playground for all tastes and skills!

We finished the descent directly to the Lares thermal baths, place of our bivouac, for a swim in the warm waters and a night in rustic hostal, typical of the region.

Night in Lares.

(three meals included)

Note:

• Around 4h of cycling.

Depart in the morning for a climb to the Lares pass before a descent to the village of Calca. Spend the day along an authentic Inca trail crossing several gorges taking in the magnificent Andean landscapes.

Arrive in Calca then transfer to the village of Ollantaytambo to visit its impressive ruins.

Overnight in Ollantaytambo.

(Morning and midday meal included)

Note:

• Around 4h of cycling.

Depart in the morning to return to Patacancha valley and pass. It’s possible to do a short warm-up on a dirt road before attacking the ascent.

From the pass, a spectacular and technical descent to the bottom of the valley to the Andean village of Willoc. Here, you’ll have an opportunity to learn about the local community’s way of life and discover their renowned artisan textiles.

In the early afternoon, we take an ancient Inca trail to the ruins of Pumamarca, passing through some of the ruins and terraces of this fallen empire.

A small climb to reach the site and visit the ruins before leaving for a long descent with a spectacular view of Ollantayambo.

Overnight in Ollantaytambo.

(Morning and midday meal included)

Note:

• Around 4h of cycling.

We depart early from the hotel to get, by train, to the gates of the Lost City of the Incas. Built around 1450 by Emperor Pachacutec on a 400 m high cliff overlooking the valley, Machu Picchu was primarily a religious sanctuary inhabited by the Inca nobility. The city is divided into two sections – one agricultural and the other urban – and despite its strategic position, its weak walls and barricades suggest that the city had a minor military role. There are more than 200 stone buildings.

The city was probably abandoned before the Spanish arrived and then fell into oblivion until its rediscovery in 1911. Today, it is classified as a World Heritage site and was officially named one of the New 7 Wonders of the Modern World. An in-depth exploration of the city could take days; the official academic visit takes 3 hours.

For those who would like to, it will be possible to climb to the top of Huayna Picchu – the astronomical observatory of the Incas which overlooks the site (entry included). Depending on the pace, it takes about 2 hours (round trip) to reach the summit for an unparalleled view of Machu Picchu.

At the end of the visit, descend back down to Aguas Calientes and return by train to Ollantaytambo.

Overnight in Ollantaytambo.

(Morning and midday meal included)

Return to Cusco and a free afternoon to relax and enjoy the Inca capital before putting the bicycles back in the box for the return flight.

Night in Cusco.

(Morning meal included)

Depart from Cusco for your domestic flight to Lima where you’ll catch your international flight (in the evening).

(Morning meal included)