Unforgettable Andes

This is a shuttle-assisted, primarily downhill-riding adventure.

13km – 28km, 3-6 hours of riding, with 2-4 hours of driving and shuttling.

The trails are all remote, shuttle-assisted, and mostly downhill from the start, with a few short climbs. The singletrack trails are ancient Inca hiking trails or animal paths that can be quite braided, and are linked by sections of gravel roads and doubletrack. Trail surfaces are generally dry with fixed and loose rocks, some rock gardens and rock staircases that are best walked. There are exposed sections of narrow trails on almost every ride, mostly open alpine landscapes and some forested sections and flowy dirt in lower valleys.

You will bring an overnight bag for the Machu Picchu excursion – but you will not otherwise need to carry gear on your riding days.

There are sections of trails that include narrow rocky staircases with exposure. It is recommended to walk these sections.

During this trip you’ll be staying in 3-star hotel accommodation in Cusco and in Aguas Calientes (gateway to the nearby Inca ruins of Machu Picchu).  While in the Sacred Valley, you’ll stay in a beautiful private lodge custom designed for mountain bikers with a full bike workshop and bike wash station, pump track, spacious lounge area with TV, relaxing gardens, hammocks, friendly family dogs, outdoor eating area with pizza oven, and a hot tub.

All meals (except for 1 dinner) starting on Day 2.

Do not drink water from taps in Peru or brush your teeth with tap water. Clean filtered water will be provided at hotels and for riding. Do not eat the street food in Cusco but instead, only dine at the many great restaurants. The cuisine is Peru is great, from tasty ceviche to staples like potatoes, corn, rice and meat dishes, often with a spicy sauce.

Laundry services are available (at an extra fee) at the private lodge in the Sacred Valley.

Suggested immunizations can change in different countries so we recommend that riders visit a Travel Medical Clinic and seek professional medical advice.

We ask that riders joining our trips at elevation research altitude and how it might impact your trip. You can feel the effects of altitude sickness at around 8,000 feet.  Much of the riding you’ll do while in Peru takes place at altitudes of over 10,000 ft. (3,000 m) and the trip officially starts in Cusco with an elevation of 11,152 feet (3,399 m) and some of our trailheads in the Sacred Valley are above 14,000 ft. While our guides are experienced in recognizing the symptoms of altitude sickness, we advise everyone to take the necessary precautions.

Should you start feeling any adverse effects of the altitude, let your guides know and they will assess the situation and decide whether you simply need to rest, or whether the situation is serious enough to demand immediate attention. We recommend that participants speak to their doctor about receiving a prescription to minimize the effects of altitude sickness (headache, nausea, upset stomach, etc.). Acetazolamide/Diamox is the most common medication used for altitude.

As the equator runs through Peru, temperatures are generally quite warm, so expect temperatures of 25-30 degrees Celsius in the towns and valleys. Altitude, however, decreases the temperature considerably, and you should anticipate daytime temperatures as cold as 5-15 degrees Celsius at the highest altitudes, with nights dipping below 0 Celsius in the high mountains. Temperatures can (infrequently) drop below 0 Celsius  at night in Cusco and Lamay. Dry season runs from March through late October. Rain is infrequent but possible so bring raingear.  When riding in the mountains riders must be prepared for quick changes in weather and temperature.  Due to the proximity to the equator and the altitude, the sun is intense.  Bring sunscreen and SPF lip balm.

Note that while credit cards are accepted in hotels, larger restaurants and stores, and are necessary for emergencies, they should not be relied upon for day-to-day purchases.

Restaurants, shops etc. prefer that you use Sols (the local currency). Some will accept US dollars as long as they don’t have any tears. When getting Sols ask for small bills as some businesses won’t accept bigger bills, and having smaller bills are good for bargaining in markets. ATMs are readily available in larger towns and cities.

Tipping 10% for good service is appreciated in restaurants, taxis, etc. Tipping your guides and drivers is a personal matter and discretionary however if you feel that your guides and drivers exceeded your expectations as a tipping standard, we suggest 5-10% of the trip price per individual guest be divided among your guiding team.