Crossing the Andes Cycling Adventure
This 13-day, 450 km cycling adventure takes you from the mystical Lake Titicaca through the Sacred Valley and all the way to Machu Picchu.
Menu
What better way to experience the awe-inspiring majesty of one of the most beautiful mountain ranges on Earth, the Andes, than on a bike with the wind in your hair? Haku’s Crossing the Andes Peru cycling adventure takes you on a massive, 13-day mountain biking vacation that begins at the largest lake in South America, Lake Titicaca, and ends in Peru’s historical crown jewel, the Incan citadel Machu Picchu. You’ll stay in a combination of hostels, home stays, and tents, combining natural and cultural experience for the full Peru experience.
A cross-country Peru cycling adventure, start in the mystical Lake Titicaca and cycle your way across the altiplano to the Sacred Valley of the Incas and Machu Picchu. This fully-supported mountain bike holiday is meant for cyclist who want a local adventure company like Haku Expeditions to show them the way in a safe and fun manner.
Day by Day
Welcome! Today, you’ll Arrive in Juliaca via plane and transfer to Puno. Tonight we’ll stay in a simple hotel and allow the body to acclimatise. Your guide will give you a briefing tonight on how the epic Peru cycling adventure that awaits you will unfold.
Lodging: Hotel in Puno
Meals included: N/A
Today, you’ll be treated to a half-day tour of the floating Uros island on Lake Titicaca.
By volume and surface area, Lake Titicaca is the largest lake in the South American continent, and sometimes referred to as the “highest navigable” lake in the world. Archeologists have recently found evidence of pre-Incan civilizations that lived on this lake; in 2000, an archeological team found the submerged ruins of a temple they believe was built between 1,000 and 1,500 years ago. As you acclimate, walk the shores of Titicaca and take in the beauty and history of this world-famous lake.
Tonight, you can look forward to a homestay on the Lechon Peninsula.
We’ll also build our bikes today to get ready to begin our Peru cycling adventure!
Lodging: Homestay on Lechon Peninsula
Meals included: B, L, D
Time to really start this Peru cycling adventure! We will ride about 50 km/31 mi from Lechon Peninsula to Juliaca, the capital of the San Roman Province of Peru. We will have a picnic lunch along the way. Tonight we’ll stay in a simple hostel in Juliaca.
Distance: 50 km/31 miles.
Lodging: Hostel in Juliaca
Meals included: B, L
Today we ride approximately 35 km/21 miles northwest from Juliaca to the charming, quiet town of Lampa, also known as La Ciudad Rosada (the Pink City). Here we can visit the beautiful church with its catacombs and a replica famous Pietà statue. For lunch we will eat at a local restaurant before cycling about 20 km/12 mi to our campsite just outside of town.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. We’ll sleep in tents tonight.
Distance: 55 km/34 mi
Lodging: Tents
Meals included: B, L, D
Today we’ve got a 50 km/31 mi day ride from Palca to Tinajani Canyon, a remote canyon with amazing views and stunning rock formations. We’ll be camping again this evening, this time in a canyon filled with century cactus, which only flower once every 100 years.
Distance: 50 km/31 mi
Lodging: Tents
Meals included: B, L, D
Today we ride from Tinajani to Ayaviri and beyond! Today’s jaunt is about 50 km/31 miles. We’ll get to camp, have lunch, and then have the afternoon to stretch, explore, or do whatever our hearts desire. Ayaviri is a small, quaint town that was conquered by the Incas in the 13th century and then by the Spanish in the 16th century.
Distance: 50 km/31 miles
Lodging: Tents
Meals included: B, L, D
Today will be the longest day on the bike — we’ll be going around 140 km/86 mi to make the push from just past Ayaviri to Langui, so we’ll start fairly early in the morning. It’s a challenging but spectacular ride. Tonight, we’ll stay in a hostel and have a much-needed shower. Breakfast and lunch are included; you’ll have the evening free in Langui to do whatever you want!
Distance: 140 km/86 m
Lodging: Tents
Meals included: B, L, D
Today we ride from Langui to a hostel in Cusipata, approximately 70 km/43 mi of riding.
Distance: About 70 km/40 m
Lodging: Simple hostel
Meals included: B, L, D
Today’s ride will include breathtaking views of the gorgeous Urubamba Valley, also known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We’ll end in Pisac, a Peruvian village in the valley situated on the Vilcanota River. The town is home to incredible Incan ruins and a large local market every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Some historians believe that the ruins of Pisac once served as an Incan defensive station for the southern entrance to the Sacred Valley. We’ll stay in a hotel tonight.
Distance: 80 km/49 mi
Lodging: Hotel in Pisac
Meals included: B, L
Today we’ll ride approximately 70 km down the valley to Ollantaytambo. The town of Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley was once the royal estate of Incan Emperor Pachacuti and later served as a stronghold for the Incan resistance during the Spanish conquest of Peru. Now, Ollantaytambo is a relaxing, charming place. The entire town is made of gorgeous, giant Incan stones and enclosures, and you’ll be able to relax in town or stretch your muscles on a hike to the ruins on the mountainside above. We’ll be in a hotel in town tonight.
Distance: About 70 km/40 miles
Lodging: Hotel in Ollantaytambo
Meals included: B, L
You’ve made it! Today, you’ll get to behold the spectacular, world-famous ruins of Machu Picchu. Included in the price of our Crossing the Andes Peru cycling adventure is a round trip train ticket to Aguas Calientes, entrance ticket, a guided Machu Picchu tour, a bus up to and down from the ruins, and transport to your hotel in Cusco in the evening.
Lodging: Hotel in Cusco
Meals included: B
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!
Before the day is over we will pack up our bikes and have a farewell dinner.
Lodging: Hotel in Cusco
Meals included: B, D
Unfortunately, today your Peru cycling adventure draws to a close! After we say our goodbyes, we’ll drop you off at the airport; or, if you’re staying for longer in Cusco, we can take you to your hotel.
General Information
The price is:
$3350 per person for a group of 2-3 people;
$2550 per person for a group of 4-6 people;
Included in this price are:
Not included are:
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 3.7 – 4 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 unless you have a bank that returns the ATM fees. You can also try the app called ATM hero and do a little research before you come to decide if an ATM card or cash is best for you.
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.
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 10-15% of the price you paid for the tour. Drivers are generally the same amount in soles. (If you tip a guide 200 USD the driver would get often 200 soles) Tips should always be based on performance and are never obligatory.
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/cancellation and with personal liability. Mention all activities that you will be involved in such as mountain biking, hiking at high altitude and whatever other activities you may have planned.
We do not provide refunds. If you should get hurt or sick not only will travel insurance cover your medical expenses it will also cover the lost portion of the trip. Make sure you have trip interruption or trip cancellation included! South America is famous for people striking and shutting down all activities. If you miss your Machu Picchu trip, Galapagos or any other side trip, or even your flight due to strikes the insurance will cover the loss or additional costs that are incurred.
Check out our blog on travel insurance and why it is a must for any South America Vacation!
For this 13-day Peru cycling adventure:
You should have a mountain biking level of intermediate although a strong fit beginner would be welcome as well:
Beginner: You’ve been riding a mountain bike for a couple of years or less and you’re most comfortable on smooth single-track and wider, forgiving double-track. You like rides with scenic views; you like both ascending and descending on well-maintained, safe trails. You’re looking for an active but safe mountain bike vacation; you’re not into jumps, drops, super steep trails, rock gardens, roots or taking big risks on your bike.
Intermediate: You’ve got two plus years of experience mountain biking on single-track trails under your belt; you’ve gotten pretty confident behind the handlebars and are beginning to expand your mountain bike abilities. You like riding most types of terrain, and you’re comfortable both climbing and descending on single-track trails with smaller technical features such as rocky sections, small drops, and small steep sections. You aren’t trying to walk on most of the trail and are looking to take small risks with things like speed, jumps, rock gardens, and stair sets to improve your skills as a mountain biker.
Your fitness level should be at least a 3.5:
You will want to be at least 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.
This cycling tour begins in Juliaca and ends in Cusco, Peru. You will want to look for flights to Juliaca and out of Cusco.
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 on national flights.
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 person at the front desk 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 migrations and the bag check.
Cusco is at very high altitude, so we suggest arriving early if possible to acclimatise.
We include airport pick up and drop off with your bike.
On this 13 day itinerary you can arrive on day one and leave on day 13 unless you would like to come early to acclimatise or stay longer.
A driver will be waiting at the Juliaca 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.
If you would like to plan a longer trip and are worried about where to store your bike, please let us know so we can try and help you organize this in the easiest manner possible.
We recommend you bring a solid road bike with gravel tires or a hardtail mountain bike with gravel tires.
Since the ride is car supported it’s not necessary to carry loads of weight on your bike, a small camelbak with water and inclement riding gear is necessary.
Our Crossing the Andes Peru Cycling Tour includes most meals. Some dinners and lunches are not included. The itinerary shows what meals will be provided.
Our multi-day rides include lunches at local restaurants, breakfasts in hotels, and food cooked at the campsite. 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. In the case that you do not 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 this mountain bike tour 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 extra snacks!
We provide water for the rides. You’ll need a bottle or CamelPak to fill up.
What to bring:
Reviews
I contacted Bill and Nicole from Haku when I was planning my month long journey to Peru. My Spanish is mediocre, so working with an English-speaking group was a must. Not only are they an American family living in Cusco, they know everything to do in Peru, how much it costs, and who is the most reputable. I planned my entire trip with them, including Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo, Lake Sandoval in the Amazon, and a 5-day trek through the Salkantay Pass. All of my experiences were fantastic, safe, and affordable. Such a lovely family and reliable business. HIGHLY, highly recommended!
I have been referred to Bill by a friend who stayed in his house a year ago and had a great stay. So the bar was high but Bill exceeded all expectations. He set up a great itinerary for us that had a little bit of everything in it. We were able to get a good feel for Peru in just 9 days... a little of Cusco, Machu Picchu, Amazon, with hiking, ATVs, Zip lining, etc. All logistics were done perfectly.
I was surprised that with 4 different places to stay and almost daily transfers from one place to another (planes, trains, taxis) we never had to wait anywhere, everything was prepared and ready, everyone was waiting for us at all times/places. When our flight from Amazon was cancelled and we were left in the middle of nowhere without any Spanish he was my first call and he helped us get a taxi and find a place to stay. All this for a very reasonable price. when i go back to Peru, i would use him again for sure and of course I would suggest him to all my friends who will be interested in Peru.
Fitness & skill level
This 13-day Peru cycling adventure is for intermediate mountain bikers who have about 2 weeks to truly immerse themselves in Peru. If you love natural beauty, historical sites, and having off-the-beaten-path experiences then this trip is for you.
This cycling tour is not for the faint of heart (or the weak of leg) — we’re covering a lot of ground on the bike. Although this is a less technically challenging option as most of the cycling will be done on gravel mountain roads, it is still important that you are able to pedal long distances at high altitudes.
Our 13-day Peru cycling adventure is ideal for you if:
Giving back
Haku Expeditions donates 1% of all profits to support local education programs.
Join Our Newsletter:
Haku Expeditions 2020 | All Rights Reserved | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Cancellation Policy
The price is:
$3350 per person for a group of 2-3 people;
$2550 per person for a group of 4-6 people;
Included in this price are:
Not included are:
Our Cross Country MTB tours take you from one spectacular destination to the next. On these, you’ll cycle literally across whichever country you’re visiting. For instance, check out our Andes to the Amazon tour, where you travel from Cusco to the Peruvian Amazon.
Our current XC vacations are made up of long-distance rides on backcountry roads. If you are looking for XC singletrack, get in touch with us, and we’ll set up a one-of-a-kind MTB tour suited to your needs.
How we define XC: Anywhere from old logging or fire roads to rolling singletrack, Cross Country trails are generally long distances with both ascents and descents. While trails may be somewhat technical with rock gardens and tight switchbacks, they generally do not have intense steep rock gardens like those you might find in DH or Enduro racing.
An XC bike is often lighter with a slacker head tube angle for better climbing ability and tends to not have a dropper post although the trend is changing. Usually it will be a hardtail or a full suspension bike with a smaller amount of suspension — 100-130mm.
Most XC riders do not wear pads such as elbow or knee pads and wear a half-shell helmet.
Our MTB expeditions are multi-day trips that involve camping, hiking and/or local home stays in the mountains with cooks and porters. At the moment Haku Expeditions offers one complete mountain expedition and also two packages that combine an MTB vacation with a smaller expedition nestled in it.
The front travel for DH bikes is usually somewhere around 200mm with the rear measuring slightly less. Because they generally aren’t pedalled uphill, these bikes are rugged and heavy and usually have less gears. DH riders wear full-face helmets, goggles, and body armor.
At the moment we do not offer a 100% DH trip. Contact us and we can make a custom trip for you! Below, you’ll find our Enduro MTB tours listed that are mostly all downhill and can be done either with a DH bike or an Enduro bike.
How we define DH: DH riding – or Downhill riding — is regarded as an intense, extreme kind of cycling, made for advanced riders who love to navigate roots and rocks and huge drops with furious downhill speed. It requires a stellar sense of balance and technique and a bike with slacker geometry.
The front travel for DH bikes is usually somewhere around 200mm with the rear measuring slightly less. Because they generally aren’t pedalled uphill, these bikes are rugged and heavy and usually have less gears. DH riders wear full-face helmets, goggles, and body armor.
Our Enduro/All-Mountain MTB tours are by far our most popular trips to date. While some of them focus more on descent like Ecuador and Peru, others include plenty of pedaling such as those in Colombia and Nepal.
How we define Enduro/All Mountain: Enduro mountain biking, also known as All-Mountain biking, emphasizes technical ability. If you’re looking for a more adventurous ride, this is the kind of ride for you; usually, an Enduro/All-Mountain trail will involve adrenaline-pumping downhill mountain biking along with sustained climbs.
Enduro riders need bikes that can take burly drops and rugged technical obstacles efficiently while still being light enough to climb with; they almost always use full-suspension bikes with wide tires and longer rear and front suspension travel. Dropper post is a necessity and standard. The front suspension can be anywhere from 140mm to 170mm. Full-face enduro helmets and body amour are a must for Enduro racing.
1 – The Haku Christmas Drive, which includes yearly clothing giveaways, shoe drives, and a public hot chocolate panettone lunch.
2 – School supply giveaway for children of the High Andes.
3 – Bringing bread and fruit to kids living at elevations where none is available.
4 – Facilitating connections between local organic farmers and local restaurants.
5 – Affordable MTB classes for locals taught by professional coaches.
6 – Sustained commitment to hiring out locals to work as drivers, office workers, etc., allowing a great amount of flexibility for family commitments, and paying them fair, livable wages.
7 – Donating 1% of all profits to help educate children in a technical field such as carpentry.
8 – Helping young adults begin a small business working in their technical field or purchasing products from them to help them get started after high school.
1 – Getting your heart rate up isn’t really your thing, and you rarely (if ever) exercise. Your idea of a perfect vacation is total relaxation: sitting on a beach, sipping a mojito, and just generally vegging out.
2 – You don’t necessarily work out regularly but you aren’t averse to the idea of doing something active. Although you don’t exercise that often, you don’t necessarily consider yourself out of shape.
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 are moderately long and being on a bike for 3-5 hours in one day doesn’t get you too tired or fatigued.
5 – You exercise at least 4 times a week and are an avid athlete that is consistently in good shape. You’re more or less game for any kind of adventure. For biking: you’re comfortable with being on your bike for 5-7 hours a day.
6 – You live and die for exercise, sweat, and suffering. You only want to climb higher, go farther, and prove how much of an animal you are. Steep climbs, long descents and big days are something you are looking to do more of and you can’t wait for your next adventure.
Beginner:
You’ve been riding a mountain bike for a couple of years or less and you’re most comfortable on smooth single-track and wider, forgiving doubletrack. You like rides with scenic views; you like both ascending and descending on well-maintained, safe trails. You’re looking for an active but relaxing mountain bike vacation; you’re not into jumps, drops, super steep trails, rock gardens, roots or taking big risks on your bike.
Intermediate:
You’ve got two plus years of experience mountain biking on single-track trails under your belt; you’ve gotten pretty confident behind the handlebars and are beginning to expand your mountain bike abilities. You like riding most types of terrain, and you’re comfortable both climbing and descending on single-track trails with smaller technical features such as rocky sections, small drops, and small steep sections. You aren’t trying to walk on most of the trail and are looking to take small risks with things like speed, jumps, rock gardens, and stair sets to improve your skills as a mountain biker.
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.
Advanced:
Ten plus years of experience riding single-track, freerides and biking of all sorts. You live for steeps, jumps, rock gardens, techy trails, long descents, big ascents and discovering new terrain. Mountain biking is one of your passions and you are ready and confident to do what you love in a new and challenging place. You can handle anything we throw at you — jumps, rock gardens, steps, technical descents, tough ascents, etc. Biking is a central part of your life. For you, the bigger the challenge, the more excited you get.
Receive information about our latest tour deals!
Bill and Nicole put together an amazing vacation for us. Everything was organized, from the time that we landed in Lima to the time that we went home. Accommodations, drivers, guides, flights, bus tickets, Machu Picchu logistics, all went off without a hitch. All we had to do was get up and go. Their biking gear is top notch and well maintained and Bill and Nicole have a great knowledge of the Inca trails around the area. You want technical riding, they can definitely test your limits. You want relaxing riding, that is there also. You want to visit the Amazon or kayak in Lake Titicaca, yup, they can set that up also.
On a more personal note it was great to see how Bill and Nicole have embraced the culture and spirit of Peru and this transferred to the experiences that we had. Highly recommended and I am looking forward to returning for another round of amazing downhill.