INCA TRAIL XC TOUR: Peru

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Does 30,000 km of singletrack to choose from get your attention?   How about 6,000 m/20,000 ft. mountains?   And if that's not enough, then how about centuries-old cultures, Inca archaeological sites , and the world-renowned Machu Picchu?   Peru may well just be the best mountain biking destination in the world, and we have the Incas to thank for that.   During the reign of their empire, they built over 50,000 km of trails from Ecuador to Argentina, most of it in Peru.   Many of these trails are ideal for mountain biking, with long downhills and challenging climbs through remote Quechua-speaking villages.

On this tour, you'll experience firsthand the vibrant and fascinating culture of this South American country and ride epic singletrack while doing it.   We have developed this exciting trip with the help of two local partners:   Wayo Stein, renowned DH rider and Russo Covarrubias , Peruvian XC champion.  

The trip also includes 1 morning of skills instruction near Lima.

Day 1 Arrive Lima

Your shuttle will meet you at Lima Airport.  From there we will take you to our hotel in Miraflores.   If you have time, feel free to explore Lima's beaches and history.

Day 2. Pachamac - skills training
A large Inca fortress with impressive construction dominates the entire Lurin Valley at this important Inca archaeological site.   We will have the opportunity to discover hidden Inca constructions deep inside the valley and the mountains. It's also possible to visit the main Inca Fortress in Pachacamac after our ride.

We'll spend the morning working on skills development, then break for lunch. After lunch, we'll take a ride up to the top of Chiromoyo mountain for an incredible downhill back to the valley.

Day 3: Santo Domingo de Los Olleros
We will start our 2nd day in Peru with this amazing downhill trail that was one of the first big downhills in the Andes to be discovered by local people.. This is a full day tour to one of the most recognized downhill & free ride trails for MTB in Peru with more than 20 Km. of pure downhill singletrack. This trail ends on the beach, where we can take a refreshing swim and eat ceviche by the Pacific Ocean. On the way, we'll have multiple stops where we'll work on various mountain bike skills, inclduing braking, cornering, descending ad switchbacks.

Day 4. Transfer and riding in Andahuaylas
Early in the morning we will be transferred to the airport to take a direct flight to the city of Andahuaylas where we will start riding the Main Inca trail.  From the airport we will have a smooth ascent of about one hour on an amazing singletrack with spectacular views of this part of the Andes Mountains.   Once on top of the mountains we will follow an amazing downhill trail that will take us to the city of Talavera. Then we'll continue to Andahuaylas and reach our hotel.

Day 5. Pacucha Lake, Sondor, Rosaspata, Curamba, Huancarama
This day we will start riding our bikes around Pacucha Lake and visit the Chanka site of Sondor with its amazing pyramid architecture.   We will have incredible breath-taking views of the landscapes of Andahuaylas, Pacucha Lake and its surroundings.

Day 6. Huancarama, Pachachaca Colonial Bridge, Abancay
We start our day climbing 13.2 Km. on the dirt road to the mountain pass of Sotapa at 3,570 masl (11,712 ft.).   After a few snacks in Sotapa we will start going down to the Pachachaca River on the main Inca trail.   It is a great downhill of more than 1,800 meters until we reach the Colonial Bridge at the Pachachaca River at 1,700 masl (5,577 ft.).

Day 7. Saywite Inca Site, Hot Springs of Cconoc, Cusco
Early in the morning we will be transferred to the mountain pass of Soclaccasa at an altitude of 4,000 masl (13,123 ft.) to start one of the best parts of the main Inca trail.   We will cross the Inca site of Saywite and then we will continue until we reach the road at the village of Curahuasi.   After a short break where we will meet the van for snacks, we will continue our ride to the hot springs of Cconoc at almost 2,000 masl (6,561 ft.).  

After a refreshing swim on the hot springs, we will finally be transferred to the city of Cusco.

Day 8. Chinchero, Moray, Maras & Ollantaytambo.
After a nutritious breakfast, we will be transferred by vehicle to the town of Chinchero at an altitude of 3,750 masl (12,327 ft.). We'll start with our ride crossing agricultural fields and then reach Huaypo Lake on our way to the impressive Inca terraces of Moray, famous for being an agricultural lab where the Incas domesticated and adapted plants from the coast into the Andes Mountains.   We'll reach the Urubamba River in the Sacred Valley to be transferred to the town of Ollantaytambo, where we will stay for two nights and where the famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu starts.

Day 9. Machu Picchu
For those of you who have never been to Machu Picchu, this destination is a must-see on any adventurer's list.   The Lost City of the Incas is beyond words - a sublime and spiritual place that boggles the imagination.   This optional trip features a 2-hour train ride through the Sacred Valley and a bus ride up to Machu Picchu.   For those who have already visited the City, we'll have the option of doing some more spectacular rides around Ollantaytambo.   We'll spend the night back in Ollantaytambo, resting up for the final day's epic ride!

Day 10. Lares - Cusco
This is one of the best trails for mountain biking in Cusco.   This epic trail starts at an altitude of 4,350 masl (14,271 ft.), on the mountain pass that divides Lares with Cusco, and goes downhill following the shape of the mountain ending in the town of Calca on the Sacred Valley, at an altitude of 3,000 masl (9,842 ft.).   At the middle of the trail we will cross a deep canyon.

Day 11. Cusco and transfer to Lima.
We have reached the last day of our amazing tour in Peru and it's time to say goodbye to Cusco and its wonderful Inca Trails. Flights depart every hour until 3:30 pm, making it possible to do some shopping in the Indian markets of Cusco.   We'll offer an optional morning ride in Cusco for those sticking around until the afternoon or next day.