Peru Motorcycle Tour with Haku Expeditions

Day 1: Welcome to Quito! Your Ecuadorian mountain biking vacation will begin as we pick you up at the airport and help you with your gear and mountain bike. Quito is located at 2840 m/ 9350 ft above sea level. We will take it easy today and have an orientation meeting in the evening.  

Included: Airport pickup, lodging in hotel or Airbnb style accommodations

Not Included: Meals

Day 2: Today we will have an acclimatizing ride in the Parque Metropoliano, a cool little park in Quito city. You will ride directly from the hotel with your local mtb guide to enjoy the park trails. After lunch you will be free to explore Quito or  you can  go for a few laps on the telerferico, a gondola that takes you up and over Quito. This is a gnarly DH ride that can be really fun for those that enjoy downhill laps and uphills by cable car!

Your guide will take your bike bags and transfer them to our final destination in Cuenca.

In the evening stay in Quito.

Included: Local MTB guide, breakfast, lunch, shared hotel room

Not included: Dinner, shuttle car

Day 3: Cotopaxi Bike Park: Today, after breakfast, we will begin our journey and head south of Quito where we will visit the Cotopaxi bike park. This gigantic park, located through a scenic drive in the middle of a pine forest, has tons of trails for all levels. You will have the chance to do as many laps as you want and try out some different lines and sample some of Ecuador’s dirt.

This bike park has delicious food! We will have lunch there and ride some more!

Day 3: Santa Rita Bike Park

Depending on the time of year and the size of the group we may hit the Santa Rita Bike park instead and add on a bonus day of riding on day 7 at the Coto Bike Park.

Included: Transport, guide, entrance into bike park, hotel, breakfast, lunch. 

Not included: Dinner

Day 4: Cotopaxi volcano.

After a well-deserved rest and a delicious Andean breakfast, our transport will take us very close to the refuge at the skirt of snow near the Cotopaxi volcano. Here we will embark on an epic adventure of 2000m/6561 ft of descent. Our shuttle vehicle will be waiting for us after each ride. Today will give us some of our first freeride lines in deep steep scree. Let go of that front brake! 

Once we have finished for the day we will head out on a 2-3 hour drive to Baños where we will sleep for the night.  

Included: Transport, guide, lodging, breakfast, lunch.

Not included: Dinner

After three-days of riding we will take a much-needed day off to relax our muscles and calm ourselves in the therapeutic, hot waters of Baños. We will also be gaining lots of red blood cells for tomorrow’s big ride at the Chimborazo volcano!

Today please take the time to do maintenance on your bike, wash laundry and sleep in.

If everyone is up for it we will take you to a special place for a small hike to some incredible waterfalls.

If you would like to do a bit of biking on this rest day, we can help you locate a truck-taxi to take you up to a nearby trail through a forest. This day will be unguided.

Additional options are visiting a famous treehouse with an enormous swing which swings out while overlooking a volcano!

Included:  Lodging, breakfast

Not included: Dinner, lunch

Day 6: We will leave early today and head to Bolivar. 

As we drive though Ambato you may get to see the mightly Tungurahua  volcano. The views of this volcano are absolutely stunning!

Today we will do our highest and most iconic trail on our Ecuador mountain bike adventure, the Chimborazo mountain. The Chimborazo mountain is the closest point to the sun from the earth’s core – worldwide!!! (Don’t forget your sunscreen!)

Our drive will take us to the Chimborazo volcano and having us start at over 4270m/ 14,000 ft. This unique trail is more than 20 kilometers long with a massive descent of 1550 m/5000 ft to the Cochas valley in Guaranda. While we do a serious amount of descent we will also be climbing while at high elevation. Those red blood cells from yesterday will come in handy today!

Chimborazo happens to be the majestic mountain seen on the coat of arms of Ecuador. 

We will end the night in Bolivar at a gorgeous, rustic farmhouse. These guys are part of the local biking community! With extra luxuries like a pizza oven and fresh milk you will wish this was home.

Not included: Dinner

Day 7: Today we will need to decide which route to ride. Our decision is generally based on weather, season and trail closures.

Mama Rumi and Contrabando (a fairly new trail) will take you first through the clouds on a beautiful shuttle ride to a starting point that looks out above the jungle. Either of these two trails will take us on a long descent through the cloud forest for some real jungle riding and down into the heat of the valley floor. Because these trails are in the cloud forest they are often closed during the rainy season or until they have been maintained. Season and trail closures will decide if we can ride either of these two trails. 

The Mama Rumi trail is 2000 m/6500 ft of descent over 12 km/ 7.5 mi

The Contrabando trail is 2100m/ 7000 ft of descent over 13 km/ 8 mi

La Caseria is a super fun ride beginning at the Chimborazo volcano. It starts with a traverse over the wild land of the volcano with views of vicuñas and sometimes a fox or two. We will begin to freeride on the sandy dunes that then take us to a super fluid and fast MTB trail though the Ecuadorian Andes. 

La Caseria Trail Stats: 1000 m/ 3300 ft of downhill over 9.6 km/ 6 miles

We can ride this one twice!

Included: Transport, guide, lodging, breakfast and lunch

Not included: Dinner

Day 8: Today you will return to Quito for your departure.

You should say goodbye to your local MTB guide and prepare for the drive to Quito. 

We recommend a late flight after 6 pm so that you have time to pack up your bike and get to the airport. You can also choose to fly out tomorrow. Let us know so we can help you book a hotel for the night!

NOTE: For those adding on the Galapagos with a time restraint, today can be a flight to the Galapagos. Day 6 would be Chimborazo and day 7 would be Cotopaxi Bike Park and return to Quito.

Included: Breakfast, transport to Quito where you will pack your bag and then to the airport.

Not Included: Lunch, hotel, guide

What’s included in your 8 day MTB vacation in Ecuador

• 5 Days of epic singletrack mountain biking
• Shuttle vehicles for 4 of the 5 ride days and transportation in between cities
• A profesional driver and all of his expenses (hotels, meals, etc.)
• Airport pick up and drop off on the days specified in the itinerary 
• Professional, bilingual MTB guides on every ride day and all of his expenses 
• 7 nights of lodging between Quito, Baños, and Bolivar
• 24-hour attention and support 
• Breakfast and lunch on ride days
• One farewell dinner
• Signature “Haku Expeditions” bike jersey 

Not Included:

• Flights
• Airport pickup or drop off on days outside of the itinerary (60-70 USD to set this up)
• Dinners (other than the farewell dinner) 
• Lunch on non-ride days
• Trip insurance 
• Bike gear and safety gear 
• Tips for guides and drivers
• Bike rental
• Anything not listed in the “included” list

Haku Expeditions requires each of its guests to purchase travel insurance in order to protect themselves from any unexpected cancelations, accidents on the trail, or any other acts of God. Guests must choose a mountain biking specific plan as well. For the best coverage we offer WorldNomad, but we accept other insurance policies too.

Due to high elevation, the weather in Ecuador is very fickle and hard to predict. Most trips will see rain, sun, heat, and wind; therefore, we suggest that people bring clothes for cold and warm weather. Most ride days will start at colder, windy mountain tops and end in warmer, more humid areas. Riders should always carry a rain jacket and a warm layer.

Ecuador’s currency is the American dollar but is still very economical — a beer costs about $1. It is mainly a cash-based society so it is recommended that you bring cash in smaller bills such as 20s and 10’s since change can be hard to come by. ATMs are abundant in most towns and are secure to use, but they usually also have surcharges depending on the bank. Most credit cards can be used in large cities and large stores.

For this Ecuador 8-day mtb trip you will want to fly in and out of Quito. 

We recommend that our guests use trusted airlines (Delta, AirCanada, ect) and do not use an economy airliner due to the fact that you will be traveling with very important and expensive gear. American Airlines, Delta, and United charge $100-150 usd to check a bike, and many other trusted airlines have similar prices as well.

Ecuador separates itself from other mountain biking destinations by offering riders with an endless amount of trail diversity within a very small geographical area. In fact, it’s the only place in the world where you can pass through 14 ecosystems in one ride!  The trails are raw, long, scenic, flowy, and technical. Clients will mountain bike on active volcanoes and through sub-tropical jungles which were once the agricultural centers of the pre-Incan civilizations. Some trails even go through places where the local people graze their llamas in the same way their ancestors did over 2,000 years ago. The trails will transport you back in time as you and your friends ride through the history and meet the local people.

You will encounter obstacles that can be found on most black and double black trails, such as steeper sections, rock gardens, natural jumps, drops, and roots. Most of the trails are intermediate to advanced with sections that are easily walkable if the rider does not feel comfortable.

Clients need to assure that they are in good physical condition, and should be biking or doing some sort of physical activity to train for their 10-Day Peru mountain bike trip. 

Clients will also need to acclimate themselves to the altitude; working out and training before your trip and if you live at sea-level it is recommended that you come a day or two before your trip starts. 

You will also need to assure that your bike is tuned and 100% ready for 10 days of epic mountain biking; new brake pads, bled brakes, new tires. 

Peru’s currency is the Peruvian sol (PEN). It is mainly a cash-based society so it is recommended that you bring cash in smaller bills. ATMs are widely available in cities and towns and are secure to use, but they usually have surcharges depending on the bank. Most credit cards can be used in large cities and larger stores, but carrying soles is advisable for smaller towns and local markets.

Our Peru mtb tours generally have anywhere from 4 to 8 riders. Our Peru trip will never have more than 10 people max. We have a guide for every 5 riders.

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.).

An average day consists of 4-5 hours on the trail, 6,000-10,000 ft (2,000-3,000m) of vertical descent over 10 miles (7k). Some days are shorter than others depending on how tired the group and other days are full 6-8 hour days of riding. 

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.

Guests will stay in  different accommodations from country homes to hotels. All accommodations are safe, secure and clean. Guests will share a room with one-two other guests unless they pay an extra supplement. 

Breakfast each morning, lunch on ride days (5 lunches) and a farewell dinner.

Your luggage will stay in the overnight accommodation while we ride and will transport with us from location to location. That being said we suggest guests pack somewhat light (40-60 liter bag).

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.

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.

We will help you get a covid test on your way out in Lima.

If you would enjoy a room to yourself for the entire trip please purchase the single supplement at check out.

Price: $280