Bike Peru 1-Day Inca Legends
A truly unforgettable Cusco biking experience!
If you’re in the market for some serious bragging rights, high-adrenaline thrills, great mountain biking, and the chance to explore a spectacular part of Peru that’s inaccessible to the average tourist, this Cusco day trip is for you. Mountain biking in Peru is one of the most coveted MTB experiences in the world, and with Haku’s Inca Legends mountain bike day trip from Cusco, you can cross off a major bucket list item in just a day!
Prepare to be stunned by incredible views on backcountry Andean mountain roads. Beginning in cloud-covered passes at almost 14,000 ft, you’ll drop into lush valleys far from any heavily trafficked tourist trails through breathtaking scenery. You’ll be descending almost 5,000 ft/1,524 m over the course of 35 mi/56 km in a full, action-packed day with our team of passionate local guides who will use their wealth of local knowledge to ensure your experience is as fulfilling, fun, and safe as it can possibly be. This Cusco day trip is the full package: culture, adrenaline, and brilliant vistas, all in a manageable one-day adventure ride. If you are looking for a more intense day on singletrack trails, check out our Cusco day trip singletrack rides.
Ride Description: 56 km/35 mi of back country gravel road with lots of switchbacks, cliffs and beautiful Andean villages.
Day by Day
You’ll meet us at the shop at 8 a.m., where we’ll gear up and head out for our MTB adventure. We’ll shuttle for a little over an hour up to a beautiful, cloud-covered pass at an altitude of about 13,800 ft. There, we’ll hit the trail. Down crazy switchbacks and through majestic scenery, you’ll experience local culture and see the “real” Peru — we’ll take you through small adobe towns inhabited only by the Peruvian locals. In fact, your group will be unlikely to see another tourist all day!
We’ll stop for lunch about an hour and a half into the ride; after that, you’ll have the option of putting your mountain bike on the shuttle and driving for the only real uphill section of the ride or taking the challenge and pedalling up.
Then, you’ll wrap up this MTB trip after 5,000 ft of descent into lush valleys and by seven gorgeous waterfalls. Once you’ve reached the end, you’ll share stories and pictures with the other riders over a cold Coca-Cola before loading up our mountain bikes and heading back to Cusco. Our beautiful ride back to Cusco takes about 2 hours, where you’ll be able to sit back, unwind, and enjoy the scenery.
General Information
The cost of our Inca Legends mountain bike tour is $205 per person with a 2 person minimum. We generally have daily departures, so simply pick the date that works for you and secure your place with a $50 deposit.
Included:
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!
This Peru mountain bike tour leaves from Cusco and returns to Cusco. Please make sure you are in Cusco for this ride.
We will meet you at the Cusco office in the morning to get fitted for the MTB gear and mountain bikes.
Please bring your passport or a copy for us if you have not already sent it online.
Bring your balance of the trip in cash. We will not accept credit cards at the office — please see our Money Matters tab to understand why.
Our lunches are generally in the home of a local along the way, but sometimes we’ll do a picnic lunch overlooking the roaring Apurimac river. If you have dietary restrictions please let us know in advance so we can accommodate you.
You will receive an email asking for some information about your height, your diet restrictions, and a few other details. Please get back to us as soon as possible so that we reserve the right size bike for you.
Let us reiterate: make sure to buy yourself trip/travel insurance! They are generally very inexpensive and cover your entire trip. Seeing as you have probably spent lots of money on your Peru tour you will want to make sure it is covered should you miss any of it!
Yes. On some trips you’ll have a relatively long shuttle ride on Andean mountain roads. You can leave stuff in the shuttle; use that as an excuse to bring extra clothing in case you get wet or cold!
Shuttle times: Local Cusco: 20 minute ride. Lares: 1:45-2 hour ride. Lamay: 1:45-2 hour ride. Radar: 2:15 hour ride. Inca Legends: 1:10-1:30 hour ride.
Reviews
"My husband and I did the Inca Legends Day tour with Bill and it was the highlight of our trip to Peru. Riding through the countryside and seeing so many beautiful sights is something we will never forget. Bill's laid-back demeanor paired with the breathtaking views, made for an unbelievable experience. We learned more about the culture, ate at an awesome local spot for lunch and enjoyed being active in such a beautiful country.
If you are looking for a day of adventure with the most stunning views of the Peruvian countryside, look no more and book with Haku! My husband and I try to do many adventures on our vacations, but this bike tour by far made the top of our list from any of our past vacations. Thank you, Bill and Haku!
Me and my gf arranged the Inca Legends ride on our last day in Cusco and what a ride it was! 52kms of mostly downhill gravel roads with spectacular views of Andes and valleys. We were lucky to be the only two people riding so the ride was very much planned around our needs. Big thanks to our guide Brendan, Orlando the Driver and Bill, who was very understanding and flexible with about our booking. "If you're looking for an active full-day excursion to explore the beautiful countryside, look no further.
I did the Inca Legend ride and it was full of fun curvy downhill dirt roads through some remote canyons. Other highlights include awesome river views, small natural waterfalls, and some really great guides! "
"If you're looking for an active full-day excursion to explore the beautiful countryside, look no further. I did the Inca Legend ride and it was full of fun curvy downhill dirt roads through some remote canyons. Other highlights include awesome river views, small natural waterfalls, and some really great guides! "
Part of making sure your Cusco mountain bike ride is perfect for you is honestly assessing your ability level. This Cusco downhill mountain bike trip is one of our most accessible offerings, suitable for both confident beginners as well as seasoned mountain bike experts. We ask that you’re simply of at least average fitness — this ride is specifically crafted for those that love cycling but want something a little less intense than our gnarlier singletrack options.
Our Inca Legend MTB Cusco Day Trip is an ideal fit for you if:
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The cost of our Inca Legends mountain bike tour is $205 per person with a 2 person minimum. We generally have daily departures, so simply pick the date that works for you and secure your place with a $50 deposit.
Included:
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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"Me and 3 friends did the Inca Legends 1 day ride with Haku and it was a blast—probably one of the best experiences we’ve ever had. Nicole was really helpful in getting everything sorted out beforehand. Everyone in our group is novice bikers and we felt the ride was perfect for us. Beautiful mountains, waterfalls, animals, and home-prepared meals.
Javier was super chill and answered a thousand of our questions along the way. Can’t wait to come back to Cusco to ride with Haku again! "