Thinking about the best mountain bike trails in Peru and want to know where to ride? We surveyed a range of people who bike the Peruvian Andes, including MTB guides, local racers, foreigners and pro-mountain bikers. We asked what their top MTB trails were and complied a list of the 10 best mountain bike trails in Peru!
-Written by mountain bikers, for mountain bikers.
The Wild Rugged Andes
Biking through the wild Andes Mountains of Peru is an epic, transformative adventure and a fun, dream-like experience rolled into one. The endless rugged terrain, the way mountains meet the jungle, the flora and fauna, the slopes filled with Incan terraces and the culture forgotten-in-time will leave an impression on you and your soul for years to come. Whether you like to go fast or just enjoy the scenery on two wheels, the Andes is renowned for world-class MTB trails on naturally-created slopes and ancient single-track trails, which have connected remote villages to each other since pre-Inca times. Downhill and Enduro MTB trails, snow and sunshine, multi-colored potatoes, local fermented corn-brew galore, Peru is overflowing with goodness for nature lovers, adventurers and all things mountain biking.
List of the 10 Best Mountain Bike Trails in Peru
1. La Maxima Mountain Bike Trail in the Sacred Valley of Peru: Voted Best MTB Trail in Peru!
The results are in…..our survey resulted in La Maxima coming in as the best mountain bike trail to ride in Peru!
La Maxima – Urquillos is an 11 km/7 mi black diamond trail located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The many traverses on this epic MTB trail will give you four different stunning viewpoints of interconnecting valleys and mountain ranges. This bike route is extremely high in elevation – riding for 5km at 4,000m altitude, which will leave you literally breathless. (That’s over 3 miles riding at 13,000ft, for all the Americans reading this blog.) You begin descending down to 3000 m/9800 ft over the course of the ride. While the majority of this trail would be considered enduro or all-mountain with climbs, descents and scenic pedal sections, the last 2km is a rowdy downhill track with lots of loose, tight switchbacks full of baby head rocks.
What you should know about riding La Maxima an Epic Mountain Bike Trail:
- This trail has a gate which is locked. Climbing to this trailhead from the locked gate can be done but is not recommended, as the trailhead is far and at high elevation.
- When using shuttle vehicles, you will need the help of a local MTB agency or local friend to help you locate the key and then the trailhead in order to ride this epic all-mountain, downhill track.
- It is easy to get lost on this trail (take it from experience!) and is far from civilization. Please do not try this trail on your own.
- As far as riding with a local company, you will probably need to ride at least one full day or another local trail beforehand, in order to ensure that you will be able to get out safely.
- The trail conditions are best after some rainfall to give you some grip but beware, most shuttle vehicles cannot reach the trailhead during actual rainfall or in the first hours after heavy rainfall.
- Trailhead is 2 hours from Cusco and 1 hour from Urubamba.
Location: Sacred Valley of the Incas – Chinchero to Urquillos
Skill Level: Intermediate tech/Advanced
Distance: 17 km/11 miles
Max Elevation: 4489 m/14,700 ft
Descent: 1600 m/5,240 ft
Terrain: Varied terrain with hard-packed dirt, rock gardens, loose steep rock, long traverses with exposure
2. The Radar Trail in the South Valley: Second Best MTB Trail in Peru
Coming in at a close second for best trails in Peru was Radar! This trail is named after the large soccer-like ball at the beginning of the trailhead known as the Radar, which is used for incoming flights to Cusco. This tight, singletrack trail is pronounced “rah-dar,” within the local MTB scene. The trailhead boasts spectacular views of the Ausangate mountain range to the south before it tears down a sweet ridge line and quickly turns into narrow singletrack. There are some epic rock features and fun switchbacks for riders who like to let loose. The South Valley trail takes you through fields of quinoa, wheat and lush vegetation. You will end this MTB route by following a water canal along the Vilcanota River and emerging near the town of Andahuaylillas in a pueblo called Secsencalle, sounding like “Sex in Calle!”
This trail was discovered by Ramon “El Presidente” of the South Valley and Bill Koch of Haku Expeditions, who joined forces to connect two amazing mountain bike trails and make one long, awesome singletrack. Ramon can be credited with yearly trail maintenance, which many agencies support economically.
What you should know about riding The Radar MTB track in the South Valley of Peru:
- This trail is extremely easy to get lost on. Many of the trail forks will send you off to local farms and adobe houses with vicious dogs that do not like intruders. Even locals commonly get lost on this one.
- The trail begins at the Radar for airplanes so drones should be avoided nearby.
- The skinny on the last part of the trail near the Vilcanota river can sometimes get washed out during a heavy rainy season. See Ben’s epic crash in the water canal!
- Trailhead is 2 hours from Cusco.
Location: South Valley of Cusco at the Radar Center for Airplanes
Skill Level: Intermediate tech/advanced
Distance: 15 km/10 miles
Max. Elevation: 4,468 m/14,658 ft
Descent: 1367 m/4487 ft
Terrain: Mix of hard packed dirt, loose rock, exposed singletrack, technical stair sections and tight skinnies along the river
3. Lamay Valley MTB Trails: Voted into the Top Three Best Trails in Peru
The Lamay Valley is a mountain bikers paradise. There are MTB trails scattered everywhere and the three classic shuttle trails are Lamay 1, 2 and 3. Lamay 1, the most classic of them all, is a picturesque singletrack that starts high in grazing fields in a town called Sapaccto. This small town dotted with adobe houses and alpacas lies at 4,190m/13,750ft altitude. The descent runs for 1,240m/4,070ft all the way into the town of Lamay. The terrain is varied and consists of sweet single-track mixed with Inca tech sections, which basically means gnarly uneven stairs with exposure. The other two classic Lamay shuttle trails are Lamay 2 and Lamay 3. They both boast amazing flow with gnarly Inca stair sets and serious exposure. Any one of these trails will take you directly down into town of Lamay where you can stop at the funky café/bar La Basé to drink some artisanal beer and get a bite to eat!
What you should know about riding the Lamay MTB Trails in the Sacred Valley:
- All of the mountain bike trails in Lamay have forks in the trails, so it’s easy to get lost – this one is worth paying for a guided MTB tour.
- The three classic trails we mentioned all require a shuttle vehicle to take you to the trailhead. There are other Lamay trails that you can climb to if you want to search on Trailforks for them. You will still need to get to Lamay however, in order to pedal up to them.
- Lamay 2 which starts at a lake past the town of Huama has a locked gate. You will need the key to ride this trail which requires contacting the local president in advance. There is a small cost per bike to ride the trail, which goes to trail maintenance and the local community.
- Lamay actually tied with the Brujo for third place, but we chose Lamay as number three since there are so many trails in this one valley.
- The trailhead is 1:30 hours from Cusco.
Location: Lamay Valley, located in the Sacred Valley of Peru
Skill Level: Intermediate tech +
Distance: 14 km/8.5 miles (Lamay 1)
Max Elevation: 4,189 m/13,744 ft (Lamay 1)
Descent: 1239 m/4068 ft (Lamay 1)
Terrain: Hard packed, grassy, rocky, fluid mixed with tech, chunky stairs, exposed
4. El Brujo Enduro – Downhill Mountain Bike Trail: One of the Best Trails in Peru by far!
We have talked about mountain bike trails in the Sacred Valley and the South Valley. Now comes one of the best trails in Peru, close to the city of Cusco. The Brujo is a ridge trail located to the south of Cusco and is named after a big rock face of a wizard naturally carved into it! This advanced MTB enduro – downhill route is one of the best for pictures as you ride on the top of a ridge with views of the high Andes while also overlooking Cusco. Although this is one of the most difficult trails in Cuzco it pays its dividends with long scenic portions of trail, steep punchy climbs at high altitude, lots of chunky stairs and some serious steeps with loads of exposure.
What you should know about riding El Brujo Mountain Bike Trail in Cusco.
- Unlike the last three, if you can find the trailhead, you most likely can ride the entire thing right into town without getting lost.
- This trail requires a shuttle vehicle to get to the whopping 4,266 m/13,866 ft above sea level where you start. Once dropped off you can ride all the way back into town or have the shuttle wait and do another lap.
- There is a small temple-like building at the top where you begin. You will head North East in the direction opposite of the temple towards Cusco to catch the trail.
- This enduro – downhill trail is truly in the middle of nowhere. If you get hurt or lost you are more likely to get found by pumas rather than humans. You should be totally equipped with everything you need such as a rain jacket, camelbak pack with tools, tube etc., due to the remoteness of this trail.
- The best trails to combine with El Brujo are: Radar or El Pastor or Local Cusco tracks above the city center
- The trailhead is 1:25 minutes more or less from Cusco.
Location: South of Cusco near San Jeronimo
Skill Level: Advanced
Distance: 8 km/5 miles of singletrack and a total of 14 km/9 milesi if you ride into the town below
Max Elevation: 4,225 m/13,863 ft
Descent: 805 m/2,642 ft of singletrack and a total of 1,020 m/3,340 ft into town
Terrain: Gnarly, steep, chunky, a few technical short climbs, ridge line with exposure
5. Huchuy Qosqo MTB – Hiking Trail: One of the Most Mind Blowing Trails in the Entire Cusco Region!
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Huchuy Qosqo easily would have tied with La Maxima for the top MTB trail in Peru, however, unfortunately, Huchuy Qosqo is no longer allowed as a Mountain Bike Trail. (Add your crying emoji here!)
When Pro-rider and MTB legend Brett Tippie rode this trail in 2018 he said,
“This is definitely one of the top 5, best mountain bike trails in the world!”
– mind you he never rode the Maxima! However, that statement is coming from someone who rides mountain bike trails all over the world for his job! The statement holds it weight!
Although you can no longer ride this incredible pristine Inca Trail, you can definitely hike it, and it is worth talking about. Huchuy Qosqo is an ancient Inca trail that can be reached through a long, difficult climb at high elevation from Chincheros, or by four-wheel vehicle entering through the town of Ccorao. This double wide, highly exposed trail takes you down fast Inca trail sections, followed by long sets of gnarly exposed Inca stairs. You eventually head down a deep, tight canyon with many stair sets before you ride along a tightly exposed portion of trail, over Incan terraces and arriving at the royal estate of the mystical Inca Viracocha. This is the ancient archeological site of Huchuy Qosqo!
What you should know about the Huchuy Qosqo trail:
- You can only arrive at Huchuy Qosqo by foot (and once-upon-a-time, bike), so you will generally find yourself alone – apart from the people who are caring for the site and waiting to cover the entrance fee.
- The descent from Huchuy Qosqo into the valley can be done via Calca or Lamay. The Lamay section is probably one of the most difficult downhills in the area with 34 very tight, exposed switchbacks and lots of loose rocks with stairs. It is GNARLY! The Calca one is much easier; mainly a road with some cut-offs.
- The ruins require an entry fee of about 15 soles.
- This trail is in the middle of nowhere, so don’t get lost out there. Have everything you need for an entire day in the mountains.
- The Ministry of Culture sometimes waits at the site to catch MTB agencies, official guides and locals who try to ride this trail. They take pics and create all kinds of headaches. Don’t ask your local guide or agency to risk taking you there, please.
Location: Huchuy Qosqo
Skill Level: Advanced
Distance: 21 km/13 miles
Max Elevation: 4,317 m/14,163 ft
Elevation Descent 1,388 m/4,555 ft
Terrain: Fast wide double-track, loose, exposed stair sections, switchbacks
6. Lares Mountain Bike Trail: Fifth Best Mountain Bike Trail In Peru
Lares is a well maintained Inca Trail that is still rideable, with mountain bikes. Get to it while you still can! It is a classic trail that should not be missed and is probably the first bike trail you should ride if you have a handful of MTB days in Peru. It is a good warm up for all the other trails – unless you start with the steep free-ride section at the top, which would be throwing yourself into the fire – loose and crazy! Most people start just below the Lares Pass where the Inca trail starts, at 4,220m/13,850ft. This trail is a whopping 1,540 m/5,040 ft downhill descent into the town of Calca. You will ride through herds of alpacas, and the scenery at the trailhead looks like something out of Lord of the Rings.
What you should know about riding the Lares Mountain Bike Route:
- Double-wide Inca trail, although it feels like singletrack!
- Lots of natural hits and wall rides at the top.
- Minimal exposure (unless you’re on the optional waterway, which is maximal exposure).
- This trail can be done all the way down straight-and-fast into Calca, or you can take the scenic waterway, which is much longer and adds on some traversing.
- If you can find the trailhead you can ride this trail without getting lost all the way to Tottora.
- Trailhead is 1:30-2 hours from Cusco.
- This trail is best ridden with the Ankashmarca trail in the same valley, or the Lamay trails located only one valley away.
- A shuttle vehicle is necessary to get to the top. However, there are public shared cars in Calca that go all the way to Lares town, and can drop you off on the way. You will need to put your bike inside, or strapped to the top.
Location: Lares
Skill Level: Very Strong beginner (walking some sections) to advanced riders, fun for everyone
Distance: 18 km/11 mi
Max. Elevation: 4,220 m/13,847 ft Inca Trail Start (4,462 m/ 14,639 ft at the Freeride- Scree field)
Elevation descent: 1282 m/4206 ft (1536m/5,039 ft from scree field)
Terrain: Double-wide Inca tracks, followed by a tight, technical, rocky and loose canyon section. Optional river-way with skinnies and traverse peddling.
7. Apu Ausangate MTB Trail: Best High Altitude XC Trail Ride in Peru
This mountain biking/hiking trail is a 22 km/14 mile loop in the Ausangate region with glaciers so close you can almost touch them, freezing cold glacial lakes that might tempt you to jump in, and snow-capped peaks with every view. The trail rips down to the town of Pacchanta where you can ride right to the thermal hot springs to relax and unwind after an epic day. This day on the bike would be considered a high altitude cross country scenic ride. You will find this more of an experience than your average day racing downhill and shuttling. This ride requires quite a bit of peddling at high altitude and some hike-a-bike (you can get a porter and support the local economy). The scenery on this trail will absolutely blow your mind. You will ride by seven glacial lakes with colors such as teal, turquoise, deep blue, baby blue, green, pink and lime green! For the local Quechua population, Apu Ausangate is a sacred mountain.
What you should know about riding the Apu Ausangate Glacial Lake Circuit:
- You will need to be acclimated for this ride. The majority of the time you will be above 4200 m/14,000 ft
- We do not recommend the ride as a one-day trip from Cusco and back, due to the elevation.
- The best way to do this trip is with a one-or-two overnight stays with locals, where you ride the 22km loop on day two, bathe in hot springs, sleep at the house of a local and ride Radar on the way home the next day.
- If you get the chance to do Pachamanca with a local alpaca farmer, you’ll have added in some of Peru’s ancient culture, delicious food and history to your amazing mountain bike trip.
- The weather in this area can change at any time. Be prepared with rain gear, warm clothing, snacks, water, hydrating solutions etc.
- This is the perfect trip to do with a friend or family member that does not bike. They can hike while you bike!
Location: Ausangate Mountain Range South of Cusco
Skill Level: Strong beginners to advanced riders. Not technical but physically intense due to altitude – at some point you reach almost 16,000ft!
Max Elevation: 5,210 m/15,900 ft
Distance: 22 km/14 mi
Terrain: High-altitude, cross-country climbing, with a fast flowing descent down to hot springs, mostly wide-double track
8. Olleros Mountain Bike Trail: Best Mountain Bike Trail in the Lima, Peru Region!
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From the Andes to the shores of the Pacific ocean, this epic MTB ride may very well be one of the longest descents in the world. This DH ride starting at a whopping 3,415 m/11,200 ft above sea level will take you for a biking adventure of a lifetime! This intense downhill ride all the way to the Pacific Ocean shores will have you excited to dive into the beachy waves and relax on the sand. Make sure to try some fresh ceviche after this long workout!
What you should know about riding Olleros Mountain Bike Trail:
- The tracks here are pretty wild, narrow and steep. You will be traversing through lots of bush-growth and have tonnes of descent from the top of the Andes all the way down to the ocean!
- The trailhead is a 4 hour drive from Lima.
- It is easy to get lost for days on end with the many forks on this trail. Do not try this alone.
- Desert like conditions and lots of sun. Use sunscreen!
- This is an all day commitment and requires leaving Lima early in the morning
Location: Santo Domingo, Lima
Skill Level: Intermediate tech/Advanced riders.
Max Elevation: 3,415 m/11,200 ft
Distance: 51 km/31 miles
Descent: 3,415 m/11,200 ft
Terrain: High-altitude, stony sections, sandy slopes, drops and flow
9. The Inca Avalanche Mountain Bike Trail: Voted in the Top Ten Best Mountain Bike Trails in Peru
The Inca Avalanche MTB trail made it into the Top 10 Best Mountain Bike trails in Peru, and was voted as number one by at least three riders who all happen to be top racers! This trail is the converging point for over 200 riders at least once a year, when the Inca Avalanche downhill race takes place. Beginning at the Abra Malaga and ending in the town of Phiry, this DH course runs for over 1524 m/5,000 ft of gnarly, wet, steep, descent. It is understandable why this trail made it into the racers’ favorite trails, as it is an intense race where 200 bikers all start at the same time, rushing down muddy slopes with loads of carnage happening in the first two minutes as the fastest bikers take off to rush for first place.
What you should know about riding the Inca Avalanche MTB Trail in Peru:
- This trail crosses a very busy highway 16 times. Many of the crossings are steep blind descents into the road.
- You should have a guide in order to find all the cut-ins, and to be warned of the most dangerous blind crossings.
- This trail is best done in combination with Patacancha or Pumamarca, as they are close by.
- The trailhead is nearly three-hours from Cusco.
- A shuttle vehicle is necessary for this ride.
- Some of the crossings will be missing the wood or cement bridges that are in between the road and trail.
- This trail is only maintained for the race, which usually takes place in April of every year.
Location: Outside of the town of Ollantaytambo
Skill Level: Advanced
Distance: 14.3 km/8.88 miles
Max. Elevation: 4,308 m/14135 ft
Elevation descent: 1,514 m/4970 ft
Terrain: Sloppy, grassy, muddy top section, fast Inca trail double track, steeps, loose, chunky rock
10. Maras Salt Mines MTB Trail: Voted Best Beginner Trail in Peru
The Maras mountain bike trail is a classic ride that you will find on almost any mountain bike operators’ site. This trail is by far the easiest MTB trail in the entire Cusco region. As you may have noticed in our list of 10 Best Mountain Bike Trails in Peru, almost all of them require an intermediate tech to advanced skill level. This trail, however, allows for beginners on a scenic ride that starts with some of the best views in the area, taking you through the old town of Maras, giving you a close-up of the Maras salt pools and then descending on fast double track, into the Sacred Valley itself.
What you should know about riding the Maras Salt Mines MTB Trail:
- This trail can begin almost anywhere near the town of Maras. Many start at Cruz Pata and pedal for a scenic ride, before beginning the descent into the Valley. Others begin near the ruins of Moray. Those with an intermediate + skill level start at the Tres Cruzes to add in more technical singletrack.
- The Tres Cruces start allows for two different descents; one is an advanced DH track, while the other can be used for intermediate riders.
- These trails are best ridden when dry, or waiting for at least an hour after rainfall, as the terrain is clay.
- The salt pools may require a 10-15 soles entrance fee.
- The restaurant Tunupa is the ending point for this trail. We highly recommend the buffet lunch at this restaurant.
- Although listed for beginners, this is a great trail for anyone who has been riding for many days in Peru, and is looking for a trail where you can let go of the brakes and joyride.
Location: Maras – Moray Area
Skill Level: Beginner
Distance: 10.55 km/ 6.55 miles
Max elevation: 3694 m/12,119 ft
Descent: 857 m/2811 ft
Terrain: Mix of dirt road and double track trail, mostly smooth, some technical loose rocky switchbacks at the bottom
How to ride one of the best trails in Peru?
Now that you know what the the top mountain bike trails are in Peru, you might be wondering how to get to them! We suggest spending the time and money to find a good mountain bike operator. This will allow you to spend the whole day or multiple days riding well maintained rental bikes with professional guides on the best trails in Peru.
Why didn’t MTB trails to Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain make it on the list?
Mountain Biking Tours to Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain
Lots of people ask us about Biking Tours to Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain. There are no single-track MTB trails to Machu Picchu, unless you consider Salkantay, which in reality does not arrive at Machu Picchu but lands you a few hours away. The other option that people sell as a “Mountain Biking Trip to Machu Picchu,” is the Inca Jungle Tour which is basically riding a mountain bike in full downhill gear on a busy, paved road down into the hot cloud forest. Imagine wearing a full-face helmet, plastic protective jacket and knee pads for hours in the heat of the jungle on a paved road?! This route leaves you in the town of Santa Maria a few hours from the town of Machu Picchu. This is not what we consider a Mountain Bike Trail to Machu Picchu.
MTB to Rainbow Mountain is not much of a possibility either. If you want to see the spectacular Rainbow Mountain we highly recommend doing a private tour and hiking there! When doing lots of Mountain Biking in Peru, it is great to take a day break and do some sightseeing of these must-see destinations!
Have you ridden in Peru? Let us know your top three trails so we can keep this blog updated with the best information!
