Cycle Peru

Peru Cycling Tour

This unique cycling tour takes you through the must-sees of Peru. Visit Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and even Machu Picchu. Enjoy exploring different ancient Inca ruins, architecture, and learn about Peruvian heritage. Finally, relax and unwind on the final day with a trip to a hot spring in Lares Valley.

ITINERARY

DAY 1: CUSCO AIRPORT- CUSCO

Once you have arrived at the Cusco Airport, a guide will be waiting to meet you to assist you to your hotel. Once you have settled into your hotel rooms, get your first glimpse of Cusco on the “Locals’ guide to Cusco”. Enjoy walking the streets of Cusco and learning about the Inca heritage that makes up the city. In the evening your guide will give you a full briefing of what to expect on the days ahead of you.

Hotel: Hotel Ananay Quinta Sans Blas (Deluxe Room)

Included: Transportation, English-speaking guide, water, airport transportation, room, breakfast next day

DAY 2: TAMBO MACHAY-SACSAYHUAMAN-CUSCO

Be introduced to the Inca heritage surrounding you while you spend the morning on a bike trip. This half day biking trip is suitable for all experience levels and offers a helpful introduction to Inca heritage and the changes in altitude to come. In the afternoon you will take a vehicle out of Cusco to Sacsayhuaman, and impressive ruin made up of 8.5m high stones. The area was once used for storage, play areas, and many other functions, including being a battle ground between the Incas and Spanish.

After Sacsayhuaman, you will visit Kenko, and Puca Pucara. You will learn about the functions of these ruins while exploring their uniqueness. These sites once served as rest houses for travelers, animals, and more. To finish out the day you will visit Tambomachay. Tambomachay is often called ‘the Inca’s Bath’, it is home to many waterfalls and water channels. This is where you will begin your mountain bike journey.

Prepare for your journey by gearing up with your gloves and helmets, then listen closely for full instructions of the mountain bike expedition. You will begin on an easy tarmac trail where your professional guide and mechanic will assess the group’s ability, and discuss different trail options for you. All the trails are mainly downhill, as you will be winding through trails back to Cusco. A vehicle will be close at all times in case of emergency, as well as providing a travel option for any non-cyclists.

Hotel: Hotel Ananay Quinta Sans Blas (Deluxe Room)

Included: BTG General Ruins Entrance ticket (valid 10 days), English-speaking guide, water, snacks, transportation, box lunch, Boleto tursitico, room, breakfast next day

DAY 3: HUAMBUTIO- PISAC

After breakfast at the hotel you will hop on a bus for a short trip out of Cusco to Huambutio. We will begin biking on a good tarmac road along side the Rio Urubamba. You will have the option to stay on the tarmac road, or venture off into less trodden paths- all trails are moderately flat.

Enjoy a picnic lunch beside the river, then head into the town of Pisac. In Pisac you will have the chance to explore the artisian market where you can collect souvenirs and photos before heading to your hotel for the night.

Hotel: Pisac Inn

Included: English-speaking guide, water, snacks, transportation, picnic lunch, room, breakfast next day.

DAY 4: PISAC- URUBAMBA

Today’s bike trip is adaptable for any experience and age level. The ride offers incredible views of Andean mountains, descents, and passes through the heart of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The day will begin with a short drive up above Pisac, here you will visit ruins and enjoy walking around the plaza, visiting markets and observing the architecture.

You will cross the river into Taray where you will prepare for a day of cycling. The dirt road passes through villages and local haciendas, you will get the chance to observe traditional farming methods while surrounded by glaciated mountains and Inca ruins. A picnic lunch will be offered during the trip, then you will continue your journey through the villages, Qoya, Lamay, and Calca. At the end of the trip you will have the options to continue to Urubamba, or head back to the hotel for the evening by vehicle.

Hotel: La Casona Yucay

Included: English-speaking guide, transportation, water, lunch, room, breakfast next day

DAY 5: CHINCHERO- URUBAMBA

Depart from the hotel by vehicle and head towards Lake Piuray, where you’ll prepare to start your biking for the day. Start the bike trip along a rarely used dirt road surrounding the emerald green lake. Lake Piuray is Cusco’s main water supply. You will then meet with a tarmac road that will bring you into the town of Chinchero. If time permits you will have the chance to visit one of the markets in Chinchero that is renowned for it’s traditional weaving practices. Additionally, there is a colonial church that sits on an Inca site that you may explore.

Continue your bike ride along a dirt road until stopping for lunch on the shores of lake Huaypo. Here you will get to experience the traditional meal, Pachamanca. A Pachamanca is traditional of the Andes, it is a way to prepare food without a stove but instead by using heating stones with a wood fire. Meat, vegetables, and grains will be carefully prepared by a local expert for you to enjoy.

Following the Pachamanca, if you are not too tired you may continue your bike ride downhill to the hotel in Urubamba. The support vehicle will also be available to take others back for the evening.

Hotel: La Casona Yucay

Included: English-speaking guide, transportation, water, lunch, room, breakfast next day

DAY 6: CUSCO- URUBAMBA

The ride today takes you along the paths surrounding Lake Huaypo, then across dirt roads and the Anta plains to the wonderful town of Huarocondo. Huarocondo is a town built on top of Inca terraces. The town is home to a colonial church built from Inca carved rocks, and the Plaza de Armas. Here, you can enjoy the local delicacy, “chicharrones de Chancho” (deep fried pork).

After visiting Huarocondo head to another tarmac road into the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Ride along the train tracks until reaching Pacchar, where you’ll enjoy a picnic lunch. If you are up for extending your adventure, you have the option to ride back along the river Urubamba and into town to meet your hotel. However, the support vehicle will be available for those seeking a quicker way back.

Hotel: La Casona Yucay

Included: English-speaking guide, transportation, water, lunch, room, breakfast next day

DAY 7: URUBAMBA- MARAS SALT PANS- MORAY CIRCULAR RUINS- OLLANTAYTAMBO

You’ll star the day with a short drive to the Maras Salt Pans. This impressive location is harvested by hand and provides salt for the locals, you have the opportunity to buy some to bring home as a souvenir. The bike ride will begin in the fields of the Chinchero plateau, surrounded by crops with colors that make up the traditional agricultural area. The backdrop of the Urubamba mountain range makes this the perfect spot for photo opportunities.

The bike path will lead you slightly uphill to Moray, where you can visit the Circular Ruins. The original function of these ruins is still a mystery, but is believed to have been an Inca agricultural experiment. Spend some time wandering around this unique site, then head over to the lunch that has been prepared for you.

Following lunch, you will head to the Sacred Valley at Pacchar, where an award-winning brewery can be found! Enjoy your time at Pacchar before choosing the optional bike ride back to the hotel, or catch a ride with the support bus and head to rest for the night.

Hotel: Pakaritampu

Included: English-speaking guide, transportation, lunch, water, Maras Salt Pans entrance fee, room, breakfast next day

DAY 8: ROYAL INCA TRAIL FROM KM104- MACHU PICCHU RUINS- OLLANTAYTAMBO

The morning starts with an early train ride towards Machu Picchu. Trade your bikes for hiking boots today as you’ll arrive at KM104 and journey to Machu Picchu. Visit the ruins at Chachabamba, then follow the Inca trail through tropical cloud forests above the Urubamba River. The ascent will be challenging at first, but relax as you reach Wiñay Wayna, an Inca ruin surrounded by Orchid gardens.

Enjoy a picnic lunch at Wiñay Wayna, and explore the surrounding ruins. Next, you will visit was is considered to be the most impressive section of the Inca trail, Inti Puncu, “the gateway of the sun”. Here you will catch your first glimpse of Machu Picchu. Take a minute to capture photos, and savor the experience as you reflect on your journey. Your guide will give you a fascinating tour and share facts about Machu Picchu and the history of the Incas. You may have the opportunity to visit the Inca bridge, or choose to stay at Inti Puncu and continue enjoying the views.

In the afternoon you will catch a bus to Machu Picchu town, and take a train back to Ollantaytambo to your hotel.

Hotel: Pakaritampu

Included: Trekking porter, luggage porter, English-speaking guide, Train ticket down, Km104 trail permit, bus ticket, water, snacks, lunch, train ticket return, room, breakfast next day

DAY 9: OLLANTAYTAMBO- HUACAHUASI- LARES VILLAGE- CUSCO

Today is full of adventure as you travel off the beaten path into Peru. You will pass Ollantaytambo and through the valley of Huilloc and Patacancha, where the colorfully dressed porters come from. Head out on a new road and by vehicle climb 4000m to where you will begin the last of your biking journey. You will head through the remote Lares Valley, and past the village of Huaca Huasi. Descend down a dirt road to the hot springs in Lares. Unwind from the busy days behind you while taking a dip in the medicinal hot pools and enjoying your lunch.

Lares is a very important village, it is famous for traditional weaving practices, and takes part in a native reforestation project that has helped plant over 800,000 trees

After enjoying your time in Lares, a bus will transfer you to Abre Lares. You will descent 1300m on a “downhill of a lifetime” on a good tarmac road. Once you have reached the main square at Calca you will head to your hotel for a well-deserved rest. Today marks the completion of an impressive cycling adventure.

Hotel: Ananay Quinta San Blas (Deluxe Room)

Included: Hot spring entrance fee, English-speaking guide, water, snacks, lunch, transportation, room, breakfast next day

DAY 10: CUSCO AIRPORT

After breakfast you will receive transportation from the hotel to the Cusco airport where you will depart home.

Included: airport transportation

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