Enduro Mountain Bike Holiday in Ausangate
Soak in thermal hot springs, settle in at a local homestay, and mountain bike Ausangate on this unforgettable enduro mountain bike holiday!
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In Incan mythology, Ausangate is home to Apu, the spirit of the sacred mountain. Our Ausangate enduro mountain bike holiday gives you 3 days in the majestic Vilcanota mountain range in the Peruvian Andes, where you can see for yourself why the Incas chose this area as a place of worship and peace. The Ausangate single trail mountain bike trip is a crown jewel of Peru mountain biking.
Our trip departs from Cusco, and we’ll travel for about 3 hours until we reach the base of the towering Ausangate mountain. You’ll stay in a local home, eat local food, hike, and mountain bike some of the raddest terrain Peru has to offer. Oh, and by the way — there’s a thermal hot spring near where you’re staying.
Check out what our epic Ausangate enduro mountain bike holiday has in store for you below!
Day by Day
Your Enduro mountain bike holiday will kick off at our Cusco shop at 9:30 am. There, we’ll fit you to your bike and give you your gear. Then head out to the majestic area of Ausangate, a 3-hour drive from Cusco. We will arrive at the home of a local in a very remote area in the Peruvian Andes, where you’ll be staying and eating. There will be a delicious Peruvian lunch waiting for us at the house. After eating, we’ll take a short hike or bike ride to acclimatize ourselves to the elevation.
The trail is about 3 km and is perfect for getting our body warmed up for day 2. When we get back, we’ll enjoy some hot tea as the weather at 4267 m/14,000 ft and above is often pretty chilly! Dinner is at 7pm after which you are free to sleep or visit the hot springs.
Lodging: Local home at base altitude of 4,267 m/14,000 ft
Food included: L, D, snacks
Rise and shine! Today will be one of the most beautiful days on a bike you have ever experienced!
We’ll wake up bright and early for a 6:30 am breakfast and head out at 7 am to do what you came here to do — mountain bike Ausangate! The hike up to the MTB trailhead is about 15-20 minutes; since the route is at very high-altitude, we’ll just take it slow and enjoy the scenery. There will be locals to accompany us who will carry any additional gear we may need and help push our bikes when we cannot pedal.
There will be a lot of cross country pedaling today with a combination of ascents and descents. After about an hour we’ll come across the calm, emerald beauty of the first of many stunning glacial lakes of the day, with a hulking glacier just on the other side of it. As we continue on, high alpine alpacas will be grazing on either side of us. On the way down, we’ll mountain bike past even more glacial lakes and stunning views of towering, 20,000ft snow-capped mountains. We will end the trail at a set of hot springs where we can relax before heading to lunch with our local family. After lunch, you are free to relax or head back up to the hot springs. We’ll have a light dinner and be free to sleep, hang out, and take in the beauty of this Incan holy mountain.
Distance: 20 km/12.4 mi
Max elevation of 4876 m/15997 ft
Ascent: 655 m/2148 ft
Descent: 579 m/1899 ft
Lodging: Local home
Food included: B, L, D, snacks
We hope you enjoyed the mighty Ausangate! Today we will be heading out to ride the coveted South Valley MTB track Radar!
Breakfast will be between 8-8:30. We will pack up and drive 2 hours to the trail head where you will get an amazing view of the mountains you just explored. Now for one of the top trails in Cusco…Radar!
Bill and Nic were the first to ever lay tracks on this crazy, seemingly never-ending enduro-style trail in the South Valley of Cusco, and from the moment they did it, they knew they’d have to share with other adventurous riders. After lunch at a local restaurant, we will head back into Cusco. If the energy is high and you are craving one last ride we can do a quick Urban DH into the Cusco City Center!
Distance: 13 km/8 mi
Max Elevation: 4,468 m/14,658 ft
Ascent: 94 m/309 ft
Descent: 1367 m/4,487 ft
Lodging: not included
Meals: B, L
NOTE: If you don’t have time for the 3 day Ausangate mountain bike adventure, or if you don’t feel like you’re not quite ready as a mountain biker to take on the harder Radar trail, contact us to make this into a 2 day mountain bike vacation with just Ausangate.
Also: If you’d prefer to hike rather than mountain bike Ausangate, or if you are traveling with a partner who would like to hike while you mountain bike, just let us know! We’re flexible!
General Information
What’s the price of this 3 day Ausangate Enduro mountain bike holiday? And what’s included?
The price for this adventure tour is $690 pp with a minimum of four people for departure. Private tour for 2-3 is $800 USD pp
Includes:
Not included:
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!
There is no airport pick up or drop off with this itinerary. If you would like that let us know!
For this 3 day tour package you will want to arrive early to acclimatize. We ride on day three so please do not book flights for that day.
For this Enduro Mountain Bike Holiday:
This enduro mountain bike holiday will be physically demanding at high altitude. We recommend you try to work out a few times a week. Radar’s 4500 ft descent will be challenging on the legs and arms while Ausangate will challenge your endurance. If you can not get to the gym, don’t worry — there are many free apps these days with intense 15 minute workouts. Taking the time to do a short but intense workout with squats, pushups and some core will make a huge difference!
You should have a mountain biking skill level of 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: 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.
And you would be really happy if it is a 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.
This MTB tour includes 3 meals with a local family and lunch at a local restaurant. We can accommodate most diet restrictions.
If you have dietary restrictions please let us know so we can help you plan for the 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 snacks you already enjoy!
We provide water for the rides. You will need a bottle or camelbak to fill.
This enduro mountain bike holiday 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.
You can also fly into Lima and spend a night there before flying out in the morning.
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.
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.
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.
For this Enduro Mountain Bike Holiday:
You should have a mountain biking skill level of 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: 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.
And you would be really happy if it is a 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.
Reviews
"I absolutely can't say enough about Bill, Nic and the entire Haku team. My trip was so thoughtfully put together by Bill to include all that I wanted to do in Cusco and more. We spent 3 days in the high country around Ausangate with the locals, ripped the amazing Radar trail, spent an incredible NYE in Cusco, rode Lares and Lamay, had a fully set up trip to Machu Picchu with a guide and accommodations, and then a final day of shredding in Ollantaytambo."
"Ausangate was an unbelievably great biking/hiking experience. The trip was really well planned and began with a scenic drive to our Peruvian host. After a quick lunch we went out for a short ride and I was excited to preview what was to come. The host and guides made sure all our needs were taken care of and the journey could not have been more spectacular. It all ended with a soak in the hot springs. 5 stars! "
This Ausangate Enduro Mountain Bike Holiday is for avid, intermediate to advanced mountain bikers who want to be challenged and amazed with a world-class South American mountain biking tour but may not have the time for a full 7-10 day MTB holiday. It is the perfect addition to any Peru tour and includes a rental bike!
Our 3-day Enduro Mountain Bike Holiday is ideal if you:
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What’s the price of this 3 day Ausangate Enduro mountain bike holiday? And what’s included?
The price for this adventure tour is $690 pp with a minimum of four people for departure. Private tour for 2-3 is $800 USD pp
Includes:
Not included:
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.
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"This trip has everything! It started with an amazing hike through beautiful lagoons by the side of the amazing Ausangate, all the way up (4400m) the bikes were carried by locals so we can enjoy the views and take pictures of everything. Once on top, the locals brought back all the equipment and cameras. The descent is easy and flowy it took 30-60 minutes but the landscapes were beautiful and at the bottom of the trail, a hot spring was waiting for us...returning to Cuzco the shuttle left us at top of Radar, one of the best DH trails we have ever ridden...this was an 18 km trail which had everything to enjoy; rocks, switchbacks, drops...if you like mountains and enjoy enduro or DH this is the best tour in the world. BTW all the food was delicious, it was all cooked by locals in their houses. "