Cusco Mountain Bike Adventure
Enjoy 10 days of shredding some of the most epic MTB trails in Peru,
on this one of a kind mountain bike adventure in the Andes!
- Price: $2,195 USD per person
- Duration: 10 days, 10 nights
- Tour Type: All Mountain - Enduro
- Total Descent: 17,000 m/55,000 ft
Peru mtb tour
Everyday is an Adventure on this 10-Day Mountain Bike Tour in Cusco, Peru!
Our Cusco mountain bike adventure in the Andes is crafted for avid mountain bikers looking for a serious MTB holiday on Inca trails. On this trip, you can expect epic enduro-style riding, stunning scenery, and cultural immersion. You’ll tackle more than 15,000 m/50,000 ft of descent while cycling through ancient ruins on historic Incan trails that are over 500 years old. Seven of the ten days will be shuttle-assisted mountain biking; the three off days will be used to travel, rest, service bikes, or adventure to places like Machu Picchu.
Mountain biking in Peru is a bucket-list item for tons of riders around the world, and one of the most exciting South American tours available. Book with Haku Expeditions to bike Cusco, Sacred Valley, and beyond! Not for nothing did pro MTBer Brett Tippie call his ten day mountain bike vacation in Peru one of the best mountain bike trips he’s ever been on. Check out the itinerary below for this once-in-a-lifetime Cusco mountain bike adventure with the experts in South America tours. Peru is waiting!
Ride Description
Since this is an intermediate to advanced level mountain bike tour you’ll be hitting all kinds of terrain! We will be mountain biking Cusco and the Sacred Valley on multiple MTB single track trails on each ride day! You can expect to hit both All Mountain, enduro style trails and short DH shuttle runs. There will be varied terrain such as technical single track, rock gardens, scree fields and fast Inca flow sections!
Tour Dates
Dates for our 10-day Cusco Mountain Bike Adventure:
- 2022 dates
- May - Sept - Click here
- October 1st - 10th
- November 2nd -11th
- Custom dates available, choose the dates that fit your schedule.
What you can expect
Cusco MTB Adventure Tour Highlights
Some highlights to look forward to on your Cusco mountain bike adventure:
- Dodge herds of grazing high-country alpaca as you mountain bike in the Sacred Valley
- Take in the aromas of traditional Peruvian food and immerse yourself in the bustle of Cusco as you walk from your hotel to the Plaza de Armas
- Shred urban downhill tracks
- Spend time with locals eating authentic, farm-to-table cuisine with them in their homes
- Shred one of the highest enduro race courses in the world on the Patacancha MTB enduro ride
- Get to know your knowledgeable, badass, bilingual mountain biking guide over the course of an unforgettable MTB tour
Live the Andean adventure
Cusco Mountain Bike Adventure Details
- ITINERARY
- INFORMATION
- REVIEWS
- FAQS
- ADD-ONS
Get excited, because today is the first day of your epic 10-day mountain bike adventure.!
In the morning, we’ll shuttle from Cusco to the Sacred Valley, about 20 km/12 miles north of Cusco, to give you your first taste of the unforgettable Andes. We’ll head to Lamay, a mountain biker’s paradise. This steep valley, filled with small adobe pueblos, is where we’ll shred All-mountain/Enduro single track trails. We’ll take on ancient Incan trails, chunky Incan stars, and natural jumps with plenty of free-ride open sections at the top. The burly Inca stairs will be sure to get your blood pumping before finally dropping into the Lamay village.
When we finish riding the first trail, we can either ride it again, or ride one of the many other mtb trails that are in the Lamay Valley. One of our favorites is Lamay 3, where we’ll shuttle up through some breathtaking scenery to ride a fast and fluid trail with switchbacks, a gnarly rock garden, and views of the famous Huchuy Qosqo. This one also ends in the town of Lamay. On our way back to Cusco, we’ll hit an urban trail if you’re not too tired and we have the time!
Cusco Mountain Bike Adventure Trail Stats:
Lamay 1:
Distance: 16.78 km/10.42 mi
Max elevation: 4,334 m/14,219 ft
Elevation descent: 1,386 m/4,547 ft
Ascent: 71m/233ft
Lamay 3:
Distance: 7.22 km/4.5 mi
Max elevation: 3,542 m/11,620 ft
Ascent: 277 m/908 ft
Elevation descent: 574 m/1,942 ft
Urban DH — also known as Postre (“The Dessert”):
Distance: 6.52 km/4 mi
Max elevation: 3,770 m/12,368 ft
Ascent: 21 m/69 ft
Descent: 399 m/1,309 ft
Lodging: Hotel in Cusco
Meals included: B, L, snacks
The Moray/Maras area is a classic spot for an MTB tour with killer views near local farmlands. We’ll spend today on the small altiplano above the Sacred Valley, which offer some epic vistas of the mountains behind the Sacred Valley. Today will be a choose-your-own-adventure style day of mountain biking; you’ll have a handful of trails to choose from, depending on what you’re feeling. You can choose from Misminay, where we pass by the circular ruins of Moray; the Maras Avalanche course, where we can pass by the ancient salt mines; Maras 2, full of fun single track through a canyon down to the valley floor; and the Chincheros route, which passes rarely-seen ruins or techy Racchi trails. Don’t worry — you don’t have to just choose one! We can ride multiple trails on today’s MTB tour.
Here are some stats to give you a feel for today’s options:
Cusco Mountain Bike Adventure Trail Stats:
Maras 1:
Distance: 12 km/7.5 mi
Max elevation: 3,707 m/12,162 ft
Ascent: 57 m/187 ft
Descent: 870 m/2855 ft
Maras 2:
Distance: 7 km/4 mi
Max elevation: 3,370 m/11,056 ft
Ascent: 33 m/108 ft
Descent: 535 m/1755 ft
Misminay:
Distance 6 km/3.7 mi
Max elevation: 3,686 m/12,096 ft
Ascent: 160 m/528 ft
Descent: 390 m/1,280 ft
Chincheros:
Distance: 8 km/5 mi
Max elevation: 3,860 m/12,664 ft; descend to 2,873 m/9,426 ft
Ascent : 19 m/62 ft
Descent: 987 m/3,238 ft
Lodging: Hotel in Cusco
Meals included: B, L, snacks
Today’s tour will include a sweet grab bag of at least five trails in Cusco’s backyard (and some even in Cusco itself!). Today, you’ll encounter a thrilling variety of terrain — anything from jumps and berms to urban stair sections. And watch out for that occasional lost tourist!
There are tons of trails to choose from, including some of the few trails in Peru that were actually built specifically for mountain biking. Many of these trails are used by local Cusco mountain bikers. They throw their bikes on a bus for just a couple of soles and ride them for the day. We can tailor which MTB trails we want to ride depending on the group’s skill and energy levels.
Check out pro MTB rider Geoff Gulevich shred one of the day 4 trails here.
Here are just a few examples:
Cusco Mountain Bike Adventure Trail Stats:
Santa Maria:
Steep and technical!
Distance: 5.6 km/3.5 miles
Max elevation: 3,860 m/12,664 ft
Ascent: 79 m/259 ft
Descent: 600 m/1,967 ft
Enduro/All Mountain combo route.
Distance: 7.32 km/4.55 ft
Altitude: 3,776 m/12,388 ft
Ascent: 48 m/157 ft
Descent: 450 m/1,476 ft
Urban DH Route:
Includes jump sections, city scapes, stair sections, and wild dogs and people to dodge!
Distance: 6.52 km/4 miles
Max elevation: 3,770m/12,368ft
Ascent: 21 m/69 ft
Descent: 399 m/1,309 ft
Yuncaypata Classic MTB route:
Distance: 7 km/4.5 mi
Max elevation: 3,769 m/12,365 ft
Ascent: 61 m/200 ft
Descent: 449 m/1,473 ft
Long Live Broggi MTB route:
Steep and flowy!
Distance: 2.4 km/1.50 mi
Max elevation: 3,776 m/12,388 ft
Ascent: 9 m/30 ft
Descent: 238 m/780 ft
Distance: 7.25 km/4.50 mi
Max Elevation: 3,957 m/12,982 ft
Ascent: 90 m/295 ft
Descent: 577 m/1,893 ft
And these are only some of them! As you can see, there are a lot of options for today, and the fact that we have a private shuttle means that we’ll be able to bag a ton of them with ease. Once we’re worn out, we’ll head back into Cusco for a cold beer and a shower.
Lodging: Hotel in Cusco
Meals included: B, L, snacks
You may be thinking you will want to ride today, but trust us when we say it is a good idea to have a day off. Your body will respond to the high elevation in many ways; being tired, getting run down quickly, and burning massive amounts of calories are just a few of them. An essential ingredient to our 10 day Cusco mountain bike adventure are rest days that ensure you have enough energy to enjoy the Sacred Valley’s MTB trails to the fullest extent. We suggest eating really well, sleeping in, and maintaining your bike today. Once that’s in order, head out to visit the city of Cusco!
There’s tons to do in Cusco. Visit the stunning ruins of Sacsayhuaman or experience the colorful authenticity of the San Pedro Market, just a quick 8-minute walk from La Plaza de Armas. There, you’ll find ladies in traditional dress at tiendas selling nectarines, nuts, and plantains. The other kiosks might be selling alpaca jumpers and pachamama dolls. Try foods like lomo saltado (stir-fried beef) and anticuchos (beef hearts) and local fruits like lucuma, granadilla, and chirimoya. Or, if you have a soft spot for the arts, check out the contemporary tapestries at El Museo Maximo Laura or the ancient artifacts in El Museo de Arte Precolombino. If the possibilities for today feel overwhelming, come by the shop, and any of our guides can give you tips on how to make the most of your day in Cusco!
Lodging: Hotel in Cusco
Meals Included: B
Today, we’ll take you down a Haku original — the Radar trail in the South Valley. Haku owners Bill and Nic were actually the first to lay mountain biking tracks on the bottom half of Radar, and from the moment they did it, they knew they’d have to find a way to share this incredible ride with other mountain bikers. Now, it’s one of the most coveted trails in the Cusco region.
You’ll ride along a breathtaking, towering ridge at over 4,468m/14,000 ft before dropping into the South Valley on 18 km/11 miles of high-speed single track. After Radar, we’ll take you to the Switchbacks of Chipta, a secret trail nearby that ends at a local’s house. If we’re lucky, we might be able to grab a quick, delicious, organic lunch with one of our local farming friends in the valley before we head back to Cusco.
Cusco Mountain Bike Adventure Trail Stats:
Radar:
Distance: 18.8 km/11.7 mi
Max elevation: 4,468 m/14,658 ft
Ascent: 94 m/309 ft
Descent: 1367 m/4,487 ft
Switchbacks of Chipta:
Distance: 9.2 km/5.7 mi
Max altitude: 3,960 m/12,992 ft
Ascent: 137m/450 ft
Descent: 830 m/2,723 ft
Lodging: Hotel in Cusco
Meals included: B, Lunch with locals, snacks
Today, we’ll hit the wide-open scree fields — check out pro MTBer Geoff Gulevich’s gnarly GoPro video from this part of his Cusco mountain bike adventure. The shuttle will take us up to the Lares pass where we’ll hike our bikes up to 4,462 m/14,600 ft. From there, we’ll rip free ride lines through the scree and down the verdant mountainside until we hit an ancient Incan single track trail. As we descend down to the town of Calca, we’ll pass high-Andean alpaca herds, local farmers, and possibly young kids walking to school on this ancient Inca Trail! There are many ways to get down to the town of Calca. We will most likely ride to the town of Tottora and then shuttle up again to ride the Inca Trail section again, or we can do another version from the ruins of Ankashmarca. From there we will traverse along the mountain on a canal that carries water to the people of the high Andes.
Cusco Mountain Bike Adventure Trail Stats:
Lares with the scree field and waterway:
Distance: 20 km/12.5 mi
Max elevation: 4,446 m/14,587 ft
Ascent: 184 m/603 ft
Descent: 1,482 m/4,862 ft
Lares Inca Trail section:
Distance: 7.56 km/4.7 mi
Max elevation: 4,227 m/13,868 ft
Ascent: 55 m/180 ft
Descent: 566 m/1,857 ft
Lodging: Hotel in Ollantaytambo
Food included: B, L, snacks
If you have chosen to add on the Machu Picchu package then today you will be able to visit this amazing sanctuary. If you opt out of Machu Picchu there is plenty to do in the town of Ollantaytambo!
Ollantaytambo is known as the living town of the Incas, and for good reason. This entire village is built on old Incan ruins. Just wandering around the town is extremely interesting. You can also visit places like the Temple of the Sun, the Wall of the Six Monoliths, or the Inca Granaries of Pinkulluna up on the hillside. Or you can just relax at a cafe and enjoy the views!
Lodging: Hotel in Ollantaytambo
Meals included: B
Today is, in a word, hardcore. We’ll hit Patacancha, which is famous for being one of the highest-altitude enduro races in the world, at a whopping 4,420 m/14,500 feet, with rock gardens and narrow dirt switchbacks. The course is split up into five stages, with tons of freeride lines and cross-country type terrain. There are multiple trails you can ride here — we’ll ride the section from the top all the way down past Patacancha and into Huilloc. There, we’ll have a home cooked lunch with a local family. After that, we’ll ride a trail exclusive to Haku Expeditions down to Pumamarca, which will take you all the way back down to Ollantaytambo to finish off the day!
Cusco Mountain Bike Adventure Trail Stats:
Patacancha MTB Enduro
Distance: 27.9 km/17.3 mi
Max elevation: 4,435 m/14,552 ft
Ascent: 138 m/452 ft
Descent: 1,551 m/5,089 ft
Lodging: Hotel in Cusco
Food included: B, Lunch with a local family, snacks
Today, we’ll hit some trails that the locals love, without which your Peru mountain biking adventure would not be complete. Brujo is one of the best trails in the area — it’s an epic enduro trail with some climbing and pedaling over 3960 m/13,000 ft of elevation, boasting lots of rock gardens, ridge lines, and a few steep sections. The views are some of the best in the area and will leave you breathless for your last day of riding. When we finish Brujo, we can either ride this trail twice or head over to one of Cusco’s new trails, El Pastor. This trail has by far the most exposure of all the trails we have ridden and offers views of the city like no other.
Tonight, we’ll head back to Cusco for a farewell dinner, where we’ll share stories, great food, and cold Pisco Sours!
Cusco Mountain Bike Adventure Trail Stats:
Brujo AKA Milky Way
Distance: 8 km/5 mi
Max elevation: 4,225 m/13,860 ft
Ascent: 50 m/164ft
Descent 846 m/ 2765 ft
El Pastor
Distance: 8 km/5 mi
Max elevation: 4,220 m/ 13,846 ft
Ascent: 141 m/ 462 ft
Descent: 954 m/ 3,129 ft
Lodging: Hotel in Cusco
Meals included: B, L, snacks, D
Today it is time to say goodbye to Cusco and start to plan your next mountain bike adventure! We will take you to the airport for your flight home. If you would like to stay longer, just let us know and we will help you with your plans. Our airport drop off can be on any day that you leave, not just today. Just let us know!
Meals included: B
What’s the price of this 10-day Cusco Mountain Bike Adventure? And what’s included?
The price is $2,195 per person with guaranteed departures! Hop on one of our preplanned mountain bike trips or bring a friend and pick your own dates!
Included:
- Airport pick up and drop off on arrival and departure (whatever those days may be – we’re on your schedule. Also, this includes transport of your bikes!)
- 10 nights of lodging between Cusco and the Sacred Valley (the night before Day 1 on the itinerary is included).
- Full shop access to maintain your bike while in Cusco
- Professional bilingual mountain bike guide who’s trained in first aid (1 per every 4 riders)
- Seven days with a shuttle vehicle
- Entrance fees into ruins (besides Machu Picchu, which is an optional add-on), parks, and trail permit fees
- Snacks, lunch, and water refills on ride days
- Help setting up any additional tours, hotels, or experiences you may want to add on to your trip
- Signature “Haku Expeditions” bike jersey
- Group farewell dinner on the last night
- The time of your life!
Not included:
- Rental bikes (however, mountain bikes are available for $50 per day)
- Machu Picchu tour (ask if you would like this as an add-on)
- Dinners unless stated
- Lunch on non-ride days
- Private room (you can ask for a supplemented price if you want one)
- Trip insurance
- Tips for local guides
- Transport not mentioned in the itinerary
NOTE: As this is South America, things like route closures, weather, labor strikes, and landslides can cause unexpected changes in plans, so your cooperation when our itinerary needs to be flexible is appreciated.
For this 10-day Cusco Mountain Bike Adventure:
You should have a mountain biking skill level of intermediate tech: You’ve got three plus years of riding on singletrack trails of all sorts with features such as rock gardens, steep sections, rolls and drops, roots, and small jumps. You are confident on the bike in most situations. You’re constantly looking to improve your riding skills and enjoy riding for extended periods of time climbing and descending in terrain of all sorts.
Your fitness level should be at least a 3.5: You will want to be in between these two levels
3: You exercise one to two times a week but do not have a normal schedule that keeps you biking or doing other activities weekly. You don’t go to the gym or train for any specific sports but you lead a relatively active lifestyle by biking, hiking, skiing, or whatever it may be. For biking: climbs and long descents give you some trouble and you tend to get tired after about 2-3 hours on the bike.
4: You exercise 3-4 times a week and enjoy physical activities such as biking, hiking, skiing. You are active. For biking: you enjoy climbs that are moderately long and being on a bike for 3-5 hours in one day doesn’t get you too tired or fatigued.
We include airport pick up and drop off with your mountain bike.
On this 7 day itinerary you can arrive on day one and leave on day 7 unless you would like to come early or stay longer.
A driver will be waiting at the Cusco airport for you with a sign with your name. He will not arrive early. If your flight arrives early please wait for him to arrive at the original scheduled time of arrival.
We offer to pick you up any date you arrive. Therefore, if you would like to arrive early we will pick you up and store your bicycle for you. We also offer to take you to the airport on any date you leave from Cusco. We do not offer this service from another area such as the Sacred Valley.
Before you book flights. Traveling to Peru with your bike:
This trip begins and ends in Cusco Peru. You will want to look for flights to Cusco (CUZ) which will always require a layover. Layovers are often in Bogota or Lima. Layovers are often long and arrivals to Lima are generally around 2am-3am. If you choose a flight all the way to Cusco then you only pay once for your mountain bike which is the first flight you take.
You can also fly into Lima and spend a night there before flying out in the morning. If you choose that option let us know so we can help with your bicycle logistics. This requires that you pay a second time for your bike. Latam charges 35 usd on national flights.
Check if you need a visa for any of the countries you may pass though such as China. Some countries require it even when passing though, others will allow you to stay in the airport in a special area without leaving. Be sure of your layover countries visa requirements.
Before booking flights look into how much baggage you are allowed and how much an oversized bag will cost you. All bicycles are oversized. The price ranges so check this before booking the flight. We recommend you call the airline beforehand.
IMPORTANT: Generally anytime you land in another country you need to get your luggage and rescan it or re-check it for security purposes. Every country is different so check ONCE YOU ARRIVE, do not count on the front desk lady who checked you in at your first airport. In Lima you must re-check your bags/bike. Make sure you have enough time during your layover for migracions and the bag check.
Cusco is at very high altitude so we suggest arriving early if possible to acclimatise.
We recommend you bring a full-suspension all-mountain, trail, or enduro bike.
These days, the trail bikes have become more like enduro bikes and the enduro bikes have become more like DH bikes. Therefore, what we recommend is a full-suspension mountain bike with 140mm or more of suspension in the front and rear.
We also recommend that you have a tubeless tire setup and tires such as Maxxis Minion, Highroller, or Assegai.
For the bike:
- Bring a well maintained bike for Enduro, All-Mountain Style Trails: Check that the chain is not stretched, cables are clean or new, the headset and pivots are moving nicely or cleaned and greased
- You will need extra bike parts, please don’t expect to buy much on this trip
- Extra brake pads
- Derailer and shifter (Optional)
- Spare Tire (Optional)
- We recommend tires like Maxxis Highrollers, Assegai, Minions or something similar
- Tubeless is your best bet. Bring extra sealant and an extra valve
- A derailer hanger, a multi-tool and a tube are essential
- Extra Screws for the bike and for clip-less shoes if you use them. Zip ties are great too
- Any kind of liquids you may need, Reverb oil, brake oil, tubeless sealant, chain lube in small bottles. Pack in sealed baggies so they don’t explode in transit.
- Bleed kit or ask if we have the one you need
How to pack your bike for travel
Packing your bike for a trip like this requires either a bike bag or a bicycle box. Both work. If you do not have a bicycle box you can contact your local bike shop and generally get one for free or very cheap.
Steps to pack your bag:
Drop the seat post before you take off the wheels. It’s easier that way.
Take the pedals off, it is easier now while the bike is still whole.
You will need to take off the handle bars. Put the screws back into the stem so you do not lose them. Strap the handlebars to the side of the bike with padding. Make sure nothing moves so you bike does not get scratched. Zip ties can help with this.
Take out some of the air in the tires. This is a requirement for flying with the bike. Take off both wheels. We recommend you put the axle back into the bike so you do not lose it.
Take off the discs from the wheels. While this may seem tedious it saves your disk from getting bent and only takes a few minutes. Put the disks inside something like a folder to keep them safe. Put the screws inside a baggie and tape to the folder. Keep them with the bike. (If you lose your suitcase with clothes at least you still have your full bike together!)
Take off the derailer and derailer hangar. While this is optional it keeps both pieces from getting bent. Remember exactly how this goes back on.
If you have a bike bag like Evoc or Dakine there will be directions of what goes where. Make sure to tie up the chain so it does not move and scratch the bike. Tie up any loose ends with zip ties or string.
If you are using a bike box you will need to put in a tire or two first then the frame (and maybe the second tire) with the bars strapped to the bike. Make sure nothing moves. I usually use zip ties to make sure the tires are strapped in one place with the frame. Also make sure that the cog set is facing away from the bike. This will scratch the bike otherwise.
Once everything is packed you can often put a few extra items inside like your helmet, bike shoes and empty CamelBak. You will want to keep the bag at 23 kilos/50 pounds unless the company you are flying with allows for more weight without a price increase. (Calling to make sure is the best way to know)
Also, don’t forget to put your name, address, phone number and email on the bag or box.
Our mountain bike tours include breakfast from your hotel and lunch on ride days.
Our MTB rides include lunches at local restaurants and also in the homes of locals who live on the trail. All of the food we eat for lunch is produced locally and more often than not organic. Most meals are a large bowl of soup followed by a main meal. The main meals are generally meat, chicken or trout along with rice, potatoes, and vegetables. Most lunches do not contain flour. If you don’t eat meat, you can get a plate that has rice, eggs and fried plantain. All of our meat is free range, grass fed and produced by local farmers with small farms.
If you have dietary restrictions please let us know so we can help you plan for the trip accordingly.
We provide snacks for the ride days. However, Peru does not have the same high calorie snacks that most developed countries have. Feel free to bring extra energy bars for the trail if you think you may want snacks you already enjoy!
Water is also provided for the rides. You will need a bottle or camepack to fill.
This mountain bike trip does not provide dinner (except the farewell dinner of course!) We have chosen to do this so that you can explore Cusco’s amazing food scene on your own!
Each person is required to have a specific travel/trip insurance outside of your credit card or regular medical insurance. You should get comprehensive coverage with trip interruption/cancelation and with personal liability. Mention all activities that you will be involved in such as mountain biking and whatever other activities you may have planned.
We do not provide refunds. Because mountain biking is an adventure activity and getting hurt is a possibility, you will want a travel insurance. If you should get hurt, not only will it cover your medical expenses, it will also cover the lost portion of the trip. Make sure you have trip interruption or trip cancelation included! South America is famous for people striking and shutting down all activities. If you miss your Machu Picchu trip, your Amazon trip or your flight due to strikes the insurance will cover the loss or additional costs that are incurred.
Check out our advice on insurance and some helpful links here.
Peru’s currency is called the Nuevo Sol. You’ll be able to exchange US currency for the Sol easily in Cusco. The exchange rate often fluctuates between 3.29-3.33 sol per US dollar.
We recommend you bring cash. Peru is still a cash society. Most people don’t have bank accounts as Peruvian banks charge up to $15 per month just to have the account open. So, services like Venmo, Pay-Pal, and Apple Pay aren’t used here. Most local stores, taxis, and local restaurants are cash only.
ATMs charge around $8 to take out $60-200. Banks only allow a small withdrawal daily. Thus, it’s probably a good idea to withdraw a good sum of cash before you come to Peru. The USD, EURO, CAD cash you bring should be non-ripped bills. Small rips or bills that are written on are not accepted for exchange.
Seeing as Peru is a cash society and it is difficult to withdraw large amounts of cash, we require your balance be brought in cash, for the simple reason that we, too, must pay the people we employ and whose services we use in cash as well.
TIPPING: Local restaurants generally do not require a tip, however, leaving a few soles is a nice gesture. Tourist restaurants are generally a 10% tip.
Tipping your guide in Peru is generally 5-10% of the price you paid for the tour. If you would like to tip your driver for the day, a 10-20 soles tip would be a nice gesture.
Best mountain bike trip you'll ever go on. Book it!
"I had such a fantastic time riding with these guys. Haku takes care of all the logistics to make your trip easy peasy. Bill and Nic are quite possibly the friendliest and coolest people I know. The trails they bring you to are out of this world fun! The views are ridiculous!If you are tired of those lame trips where you're herded through the views, look no further. These guys know how to plan trips and leave out all the BS. If you're a serious biker, book a trip now. The tech and the descents are legit! They also have a fleet of bikes to rent that are kept in awesome shape (Kona Process). All the guides are serious rippers on bikes (note to you advanced level riders).
If you're looking for more of a beginner/intermediate ride, that's cool too! They can adjust their rides to your abilities. I can't say enough great things about these guys. Communication is great and they'll do anything they can to help you out. I just returned from my trip and I'm already thinking about booking another."

10 day mountain bike trip of a lifetime!
"I had the time of my life on Haku Expeditions' 10 day 4th of July mountain biking tour. Every day was perfectly executed. Bill and Nicole, the tour directors, are friendly, humorous, and hire the best support staff, and accommodation partners available in Cusco. They set me up with a wonderful hotel two doors away from where the tours departed from daily. So convenient!The rides were shuttled to the top of the trail each riding session. Healthy, tasty, snacks were always provided, along with plenty of water for my Camelback. While, I was brave enough to bring my own bike to and from Perú, Haku Expeditions has a fleet of Kona full suspension bikes available for rent, too. Each trail we rode down ended in a charming little town, where we ate some of the he best Peruvian food I've ever experienced! (All included in the price for the 10 day trips.) The meal at the end of the trail on the 4th of July was extra special! After descending the trail "Lares," we were welcomed by a barbeque party full of expats. Lots of potluck sides, chicken wings, and the biggest, freshest, cut of beef tenderloin I've ever seen! (I'm from the Midwest, too!) After we ate, we all played a super fun game of wiffleball! It was so much fun that kids from the area joined in! That was such a precious moment! After the wiffleball game, the festivities weren't over. The masterminds at Haku Expeditions had more fun planned. Fireworks! Not simply bottle rockets and firecrackers. I'm talking about humongous mortars! The stuff great 4th of July memories are made of!
Every other day of the trip was just as awesome! Awesome views, challenging trails, and amazing food! Because I'm a cross country mountain biker, I was also interested in climbing themed rides. So, on the rest days, either Bill or Nic guided me up hills as long as I could handle! That's what I call going the extra mile!
My riding buddies are all super jealous, some are already excited to plan a trip for next year's 10 day 4th of July mountain biking trip.
Bottom line, look no further than Haku Expeditions for your Peruvian adventures!"

Unbelievable Peru Experience
"The 10 day mountain bike trip was absolutely a trip of a lifetime. The owners, Bill and Nicole, are amazing humans who you can trust without a doubt in your mind to find the best trails suited for your group, to show you the local culture, and share their exceptional knowledge having lived in the country for 7+ years. Along with Bill and Nicole, we had a pro-mountain biker, Geoff Gulevich, and a Peruvian guide (who ripped) leading our rides. The trails are phenomenal and wide ranging, taking you through remote villages and ruins, allowing you to experience true Peruvian culture while taking you off the beaten path, or ending with an urban downhill riding the stairs and alleys of Cusco. Lodging was always comfortable and convenient. Food was amazing (we even had a homemade lunch in a village with a local family). Laughs were endless. And the mountain biking may be the best I have ever experienced, flowy technical downhill shuttles from 14,500 ft elevation, while passing alpacas, dogs, pigs, cows, donkeys, and locals on their village trails. Haku also coordinated our trip to Machu Picchu, which made it a very easy excursion for the day. The small group size and maximized riding days made this trip stand out from others when we were originally researching our options. I couldn't be more thrilled with the entire experience, and will certainly never forget our Peruvian adventures. Anyone seeking international biking adventures should take this mind-blowing trip"
Mountain Biking trip of a lifetime... with the culture of Peru "We spent 10 days in Peru with Haku having the most exhilarating time of our lives. The focus was on the biking but we felt totally integrated with the culture and the environment of the Inca region. Nicole and Bill run a very informal, but totally professional adventure company. They are very ethically minded and have a great rapport with the local community. We joined in with the locals for travel and dining, and made sure we felt part of community. The biking was epic. As novice downhillers we were treated as equals and were given great coaching by the guides. At the same time we were taken on the very best challenging trails, even for the professionals. Nothing was too much to ensure we all had a great time. Just looking at the pictures and the videos on the site does not do the experience justice. We came away trying to think how the expedition could be improved and couldn't find anything. We were busy all the time and had the opportunity to visit Machu Picchu, which was also well planned in the week. If you are an experienced biker and want to see some of the world's best trails in a fabulous environment then this is the event for you. "

You need to be acclimatized for this mountain bike vacation; this means that if you live at low altitude, you should probably arrive in Cusco two to three days before the biking trip begins.
Working out will help you to prepare for this tour as well.
We also recommend you take vitamin C supplements and probiotics before you come and while here. As great as Peru’s food is, it’s probably different from what your body is used to, so it’s important to make sure your body is ready for the transition. Food safety is crucial when travelling abroad, and Peru is no exception. Check out our blog on the subject.
Bring cash. Peru is still a cash society. Most people don’t have bank accounts as Peruvian banks charge up to $15 per month just to have the account open. So, services like Venmo, Pay-Pal, and Apple Pay aren’t used here. Drivers, guides, local restaurants — all will be expecting cash.
This means that we too will ask for the balance of your trip in cash for the simple reason that we must pay everyone we work with in cash.
ATMS charge around $8 to take out $60-200. Banks only allow a small withdraw daily. Thus, it’s probably a good idea to withdraw a good sum of cash before your flight to Peru.
Peru’s currency is called the Sol. You’ll be able to exchange US currency for the Sol easily if you need to in Cusco.
Each group should have at least 2 people with a max of 8 riders. If you are alone and have specific dates outside of our trip dates, contact us — we are flexible and will make sure we can get you out shredding in Peru.
Generally 25-60. We expect you to be able to handle intermediate to advanced mountain bike trails. If you’re under 18, you must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
This is an enduro-style mountain bike vacation with some pedaling but lots of all-mountain style downhill (here, we don’t mean hardcore DH riding, with crazy jumps and drops and such — just fast downhill riding, traversing, etc.).
Although we do provide statistics as to the amount of miles/kilometers the rides are, vertical descent is a much more informative metric; for instance, a 9 mile ride that descends 800 feet is a lot different than a 9 mile ride that descends 8,000 feet.
Peru is one of the very few places where you can get more than 8000ft of descent per ride day. Many of the rides are between 7 miles to 11 miles long with most around 10 or 11. Many days we ride more than one. Our 10-day Peru mountain bike holiday generally has about 45,000-50,000 ft of descent over the course of the 7 ride days.
On each ride you should have a Camelbak with water, snacks, rain jacket and whatever bike tools you need for the trail. Since we sleep in a hotel each night, we do not need to carry any additional gear with us.
If you’re not comfortable with something, don’t ride it. Medical help is far away, so it’s crucial you stay within your ability level. Please make sure to move out of the way so the next rider can ride without stopping. Then, walk your bike while staying on the inside of the trail and your bike near the cliff side.
We have a great group of local guides. Check out our Team page to see who may be on your MTB tour.
We use hotels and sometimes airbnbs for our stay. We choose hotels based on location. We use simple hotels that are clean, have real hot water and breakfast.
*Some of the hotels on this tour:
Cusco, Centenario Inn https://centenarioinn.com/
Ollantaytambo: http://www.tunupalodge.com/
Mama Simona http://www.mamasimona.com/ollanta.php
*Depends on availability
Breakfast each morning, lunch on ride days (7 lunches) and a farewell dinner at a nice restaurant.
Luggage remains at the hotel or comes with us in the shuttle vehicle when we move to another location. As for bike bags, they can be stored at the Haku shop with bikes while in Cusco. In the Sacred Valley the bikes are stored at the hotel. We can provide smaller duffel bags for you if you should need one for excursions to the valley.
You can usually get a tourist visa on arrival at the airport. Be sure to double check the rules for the country to which you’re traveling, though.
In short: we don’t know! We are at a base altitude of 11,000+ feet/335o Metres. When you’re that high up, the weather is constantly changing. We recommend that you don’t look at the forecast because, frankly, it’s always wrong. Our dry season is between mid-May and late September. The shoulder seasons are April and October, and the rainy season is between November and March with the heaviest rains in December and February. Basically, this is true year-round: if you’re in the sun, you’re hot; if you’re in the shade or the clouds are out, it’ll be chilly.
Packing list:
- Passport and plane tickets!
- Cash, credit cards, ATM card
- Trip/Travel Insurance papers
- Regular shoes for dinners and bike shoes for the trip. We recommend platform shoes but please use whats most comfortable for you
- Toiletries/medicines/epi pens/inhaler, etc…
- Travel towel
- Ear plugs and face mask for sleeping at night
- Rain jacket and pants
- Reusable water bottle that hot water can be poured into or can be sterilized in
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Wool or fleece sweater
- Wool base layers, top and bottom
- Clothing for off the bike: Long sleeve, pants, socks, etc
- Biking clothes: Bike shorts, long sleeve jerseys, wool socks
- Battery pack for many charges and charging cables
- Wool socks and lots of them
- Buff or scarf
- Camera and GoPro (optional)
- Down jacket
- Headlamp
- All gear, helmet, gloves (2 pairs minimum), knee and elbow pads
- Large Camel pack
- Multi-tool
- High calorie snacks
For the bike:
- Bring a well maintained bike for Enduro, All-Mountain Style Trails: Check that the chain is not stretched, cables are clean or new, the headset and pivots are moving nicely or cleaned and greased
- You will need extra bike parts, please don’t expect to buy much on this trip
- Extra brake pads
- Derailer and shifter (Optional)
- Spare Tire (Optional)
- We recommend tires like Maxxis Highrollers, Assegai, Minions or something similar
- Tubeless is your best bet. Bring extra sealant and an extra valve
- A derailer hanger, a multi-tool and a tube are essential
- Extra Screws for the bike and for clip-less shoes if you use them. Zip ties are great too
- Any kind of liquids you may need, Reverb oil, brake oil, tubeless sealant, chain lube in small bottles. Pack in sealed baggies so they don’t explode in transit.
- Bleed kit or ask if we have the one you need
The laws here are always changing. We have had no problems in the past with drones, although this is at your own risk. Furthermore, if you are jumping in with an already-formed group, we can’t promise that we’ll be able to stop to do drone footage for you as it can significantly cut in on riding time. If you are in a private group and the group doesn’t mind, then we are happy to stop to film.
Check out our advice on insurance and some helpful links here.
Each person is required to have a specific travel/trip insurance outside of your credit card or regular medical insurance. If possible, you should get comprehensive coverage with trip interruption/cancelation and with personal liability. Mention all activities that you will be involved in such as mountain biking and whatever other activities you may have planned. Say you get hurt on the first day and miss the rest of the trip — this insurance will refund you the missed portion of the trip. It will also cover any added costs due to delay, sickness, strikes by the local people, etc.
Per our regulations, all of our mountain bike guides have at least basic first aid (composed of 16-hour classes which require an update every year), and many have supplemented that with in-depth multi-day training.
But due to the fact that we will be in the backcountry for a lot of our rides, if you get hurt on the trail you will either need to hike out, get carried out, or wait for medical help. We do not have helicopter rescue. It is crucial that you ride at about 80% of your capacity and don’t overstep your abilities. Although our guides are there to help you, the success of your trip is dependent on you managing your own risk by taking preventative measures, listening to your guides’ advice, and riding well within your skill level.
Seeing this iconic 15th century Incan citadel is a more than worthy bucket list item for most people that come to Peru. If you’d like, we’ll organize a tour of the site that includes a round-trip train ticket, entrance to the sanctuary, and an English-speaking guide.
Archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu was built as a palace for the Incan emperor Pachacuti in the 15th century. They abandoned it after roughly a century during the Spanish conquest, only to remain virtually unknown until 1911, when American historian Hiram Bingham made Machu Picchu’s existence public. In 1983, it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and since then it has captured the imagination and awe of the millions of people who travel to experience its magic.
Price: $350 per person.
Included:
- Entrance into Machu Picchu
- Round-trip train ticket on Peru rail
- An English-speaking guide
- Two-hour tour
- Taxi to the train station in Cusco
Not included:
- Bus up to the ruins ($15 USD, can purchase at check out)
- Entrance into Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain
- Taxi to train station in Ollantaytambo
All add-ons can be purchased at check out.
Save yourself the hassle of bringing a bike!
We have a full fleet of rental bikes. We provide Kona Process 153 full suspension mountain bikes.
Price: $50 USD per ride day
7 ride days: $350 USD
All add-ons can be purchased at check out.
If you want a room to yourself, let us know and we can arrange that.
Price: $30 USD per person per night
10 nights: $300
All add-ons can be purchased at check out.
Tambopata Reserve is one of the best places in the Peruvian amazon to see wildlife.
Let us arrange an epic 3-day add-on trip through the amazon rainforest!
We will provide a round trip flight to the Amazon and an all inclusive package with lodging, tours and meals.
Contact us to talk about which style of lodging you would like.
Price Range: $600-$900
This add-on can not be purchased at check out. Please contact us to create a custom Amazon Rainforest tour!
Fitness & skill level
Is This Cusco Mountain Bike Adventure For You?
This 10-day mountain bike vacation in Peru is for avid, intermediate to advanced mountain bikers who want to be challenged and amazed with a world-class mountain biking trip in South America. Mountain biking in Peru is no walk in the park; given that this is a trip for even pro MTB riders to brag about, this isn’t a tour for beginners.
Our 10-day Cusco mountain bike adventure is ideal for you if:
- You’ve got experience riding on singletrack trails of all sorts with features such as rock gardens, steep sections, rolls or small drops, roots, and small jumps.
- You are confident on the bike in most situations
- You’re constantly looking to improve your riding skills and enjoy riding for extended periods of time climbing and descending in terrain of all sorts.
- You are fit and can handle seven long ride days at elevation
The ride in images
Cusco Adventure Photo Gallery
Giving back
1% For Charity
Haku Expeditions donates 1% of all profits to support local education programs.
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