13
42 813
Ride from Inca ruins in the Sacred Valley to the shores of Lake Titicaca
The tour starts at our hotel in Cusco where we will be met by your leader. After some time to unpack and settle into the hotel we will head out for a short orientation tour and experience a ‘locals’ tour of the city where we will see the real Cusco and areas not commonly visited by tourists. This walking tour is a great bit of gentle exercise to help get used to the high altitude and thinner air.Accommodation: Hotel Tupaq Yupanqui (or similar)
We start today with a short transfer out of Cusco to the first Inca ruins of the tour, Tambomachay, otherwise known as the ‘Inca’s Bath’ due to its finely preserved waterfalls which have been carefully diverted through stone channels. After visiting these ruins, we set up the bikes and start our acclimatisation ride back down towards Cusco. We head to the delightful small ruin of Puca Pucara which is believed to have been used as a ‘tambo’, a rest house for traveling animals. We then continue down the road to the final and most stunning ruins of the day at Sacsayhuaman. Although the smaller stones were used to build the modern-day Cusco many of the larger stones remain in place and are up to 8.5m tall and weighing 360 tonnes! After some time here we continue cycling back to our hotel in Cusco.Accommodation: Hotel Tupaq Yupanqui (or similar)
Distance in Km: 13
Distance in Miles: 8
Altitude Loss: 301
Leaving Cusco after breakfast, we transfer south to Tipon where we’ll start our ride. We’ll cycle along a bridle path to the colonial town of Oropesa, where most of the bread consumed in Cusco is made. We’ll continue to the lagoon of Huacarpay where we’ll ride a circuit around the lagoon, looking out for the wildlife in the lagoon and for archaeological remains around it. We’ll stop for lunch overlooking the lagoon, before continuing our bike ride from the Huambitio Bridge to Pisac on the narrow part of the Sacred Valley of the Incas.Accommodation: Hotel Royal Inka Pisac (or similar)
Distance in Km: 25
Distance in Miles: 15
Altitude Loss: 111
Today starts with a short vehicle transfer up to the incredible Inca ruins in the hills above Pisac. We have some time here to explore this archaeological site which gives insight to the Inca’s advanced masonry skills. The Inca site remains somewhat mysterious as to what their absolute purpose was, but it seems likely that they were part of a settlement along a vital Inca Road with the Amazon rainforest to the east of the mountains. It is generally understood that Pisac provided a connecting point of sorts between the highlands and the jungle. In Pisac we will have time to explore the artisan Andean market and purchase some souvenirs, before we drive over the river to the village of Taray where our day's cycling starts. Today’s ride follows a beautiful undulating road that connects several small villages and haciendas where we can see traditional farming methods still being used. We also get to enjoy a stunning backdrop of glaciated mountains and Inca ruins as we make our way through the villages of Qoya, Lamay and Calca before arriving in Urubamba.Accommodation: Hotel Villa Urubamba (or similar)
Distance in Km: 36
Distance in Miles: 23
Altitude Loss: 101
After breakfast, we transfer (approximately 45 minutes) to the town of Chinchero. We will have some timet to explore the town and will also have a weaving demonstration. From Chinchero, we will cycle along the Sacred Pampa of Anta, passing through Huyapo Lake, Cruzpata Town and Mahuyapampa to Moray. Here we visit these fascinating Inca ruins and also stop for lunch. Moray was an Andean Laboratory with circular agricultural terraces. Our ride continues to the impressive Maras salt pans where we can witness the salt being mined by hand and purchase a small bag of salt to take home. Our route then descends into the Sacred Valley, continuing to our accommodation in Urubamba.Accommodation: Hotel Villa Urubamba (or similar)
Distance in Km: 34
Distance in Miles: 21
Altitude Loss: 790
After breakfast, we will drive from Ururbamba to the town of Izcuchaca, where we will start our day's cycling. We start in the Pampa of Anta, and along our ride we will see farmers walking their cows and animals to green areas to feed them and continueing their daily activites in the farms. Our ride takes us to the town of Huarcondo before we descend down into the Valley. At our arrival in the town of Pacchar, we can stop at an award-winning craft brewery before our private transportation takes us back to our hotel in Urubamba.Accommodation: Hotel Villa Urubamba (or similar)
Distance in Km: 30
Distance in Miles: 19
Altitude Loss: 80
After breakfast we start our ride from our hotel to Ollantaytambo, the last Inca living town. We will cycle along a trail which follows the Urubamba River, the sacred river of the Incas, until we reach the town of Pachar. From here we will take an easy descent through an ancient Inca trail that passes through farming fields and Inca terraces until we will get to the Inca bridge in Ollantaytambo. We visit Ollantaytambo town and fortress before having lunch. In the afternoon we have the option to ride Cachicata to Chilca, or further explore the town. We take the afternoon train to Aguas Calientes or Machu Picchu town where we spend the night.Accommodation: Waman Hotel (or similar)
Distance in Km: 30
Distance in Miles: 19
Altitude Loss: 79
Today we explore Machu Picchu! For years it was lost to the jungle until being re-discovered by Yale professor and world explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911, now it is recognised as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site and truly exceeds all expectations.New regulations for visiting Machu Picchu are now fully enforced; you will be limited to a maximum of four hours within the site and must be accompanied by a guide. There will also be three set routes to follow around Machu Picchu; Exodus selects the most comprehensive route. Please note that exploring the ruins involves a reasonable amount of walking, including up and down steep and uneven stone steps. After our visit to the site, we head back down and catch the bus back to Machu Picchu Pueblo then take the train that follows the Urubamba River back to Cusco.Accommodation: Hotel Tupaq Yupanqui (or similar)
There are lots of things to see and do in Cusco, including visiting Inca ruins and colonial churches, bargaining and buying from artisan markets or exploring this fascinating city on foot and visiting the local restaurants and cafes. Accommodation: Hotel Tupaq Yupanqui (or similar)
Today we start our adventure towards Lake Titicaca with a transfer out of Cusco and high onto the Altiplano. We stop at La Raya Pass (4313m) and get on the bikes to start our cycle along a good quality tarmac road until we get to a junction where we turn off and drive to our overnight accommodation at an Alpaca hacienda. Here we learn all about these fascinating animals and about rural life as we stay in rustic accommodation.Accommodation: Racho Mallkini Alpaca Ranch (or similar)
Distance in Km: 53
Distance in Miles: 33
Altitude Gain: 113
Leaving the alpaca farm, we drive back to the main road and skirt the bustling city of Juliaca, taking a small tarmac road out towards a rarely visited peninsula of Lake Titicaca. Back on our bikes again, we cycle on lovely quiet roads until we reach the lake shore and ride through small villages to the lovely hamlet of Llachon. Here we meet our hosts and are allocated a family homestay for the night. If time permits, we can take a short hike to a lovely viewpoint over Lake Titicaca for an incredible sunset.Accommodation: Llachon Homestay (or similar)
Distance in Km: 37
Distance in Miles: 23
Altitude Loss: 2
Saying goodbye to our local families, we head to their dock for a gorgeous boat ride across Lake Titicaca en route to Puno. We will stop to visit the amazing Uros floating reed islands before arriving in the town of Puno and our hotel for the night.Accommodation: Qelqatani Hotel (or similar)
8 days cycling with full vehicle support60% tarmac, 40% unsurfaced roads10
nights en suite hotels, 1 night alpaca hacienda and 1 night homestayAmazon
Rainforest extension available
All breakfasts, 9 lunches and 2 dinners are included.Hotel breakfasts are
normally simple buffet-style affairs, usually including bread/toast and jam,
cereal, sometimes eggs or a cooked dish, sometimes fruit, tea/coffee, and
fruit juice. Regrettably we cannot guarantee that wheat/gluten free products
will be available for breakfast in all locations - if you have an intolerance
you may wish to bring your own breakfast food from home.Where lunch and
dinner are not included we'll visit a variety of cafes and
restaurants.Peruvian cuisine has developed a reputation for its flavours and
originality and it’s well worth trying out a few of the local delicacies.
Amongst these are ceviche (a spicy dish of seafood or fish marinated in lime
juice), lomo saltado (a Peruvian take on a beef stir-fry) and various hearty
soups such as the delicious quinoa soup. Other dishes include roasted cuy
(guinea pig), Alpaca steak, and to drink, the national beverage: Pisco
Sour.The tap water in Peru is not safe to drink so please only drink bottled
water or the water provided.
8 days cycling with full vehicle support60% tarmac, 40% unsurfaced roads10
nights en suite hotels, 1 night alpaca hacienda and 1 night homestayAmazon
Rainforest extension available
This cycling tour is classified RoadActivity level 4
(Moderate/Challenging)This tour has full vehicle support. The support vehicle
follows the group at all times carrying all essential items, water, food and
any spare clothes you might need for the day. If at any point you want to sit
out a section of cycling, you may use the support vehicle but please note
that it follows the group slowly and cannot drop you to the end point.The
cycling on this tour is 60% on tarmac roads and 40% on un-surfaced roads. The
set itinerary is not technical, nor does it feature very long ascents,
however, please note that the majority of this tour is spent at high altitude
and some days the group is cycling close to 4000m where the air is noticeably
thinner. Because of this we recommend that you have a good level of fitness
for this tour. Please see our COVID Travel Guide for Peru for more
information on current guidelines for travel in Peru.
Hotels, Hacienda & Homestay10 nights en suite hotels, 1 night alpaca hacienda (multi-share) and 1 night
homestay (multi-share).The hotels normally used are indicated within the
itinerary, however accommodation may differ from those stated depending on
your departure date. All hotel rooms have en suite bathrooms. Most hotels
have a safety deposit box in the room but if not, there will be one at
reception. Please note that central heating is very rare in Peru, even in
good standard hotels. Most hotels provide plug in heaters and spare blankets.
Additionally, whilst all of the hotels have a hot water supply, it can be
temperamental when there is high demand.A railway line runs straight through
the centre of Aguas Calientes and whilst we try to allocate rooms away from
it whenever possible, the trains might be heard from some rooms.En route from
Cuzco to Lake Titicaca we have the unique opportunity to spend a night on a
working alpaca hacienda - the rustic accommodation is mostly multi-share with
shared bathroom facilities, although there are some double rooms.On the
Llachon Peninsula on the shores of Lake Titicaca, the group will split up
overnight to stay with local families. There will be a few of us in each
house and we may have to share rooms en masse - single supplements do not
apply here. The rooms are basic but clean and your beds will have sheets and
plenty of blankets. There are outside toilets and washbasins.
The group will normally be between 4 to 16 clients plus one cycling leader,
an assistant leader/mechanic and a driver for the support vehicle.
All breakfasts, 9 lunches and 2 dinners are included.Hotel breakfasts are
normally simple buffet-style affairs, usually including bread/toast and jam,
cereal, sometimes eggs or a cooked dish, sometimes fruit, tea/coffee, and
fruit juice. Regrettably we cannot guarantee that wheat/gluten free products
will be available for breakfast in all locations - if you have an intolerance
you may wish to bring your own breakfast food from home.Where lunch and
dinner are not included we'll visit a variety of cafes and
restaurants.Peruvian cuisine has developed a reputation for its flavours and
originality and it’s well worth trying out a few of the local delicacies.
Amongst these are ceviche (a spicy dish of seafood or fish marinated in lime
juice), lomo saltado (a Peruvian take on a beef stir-fry) and various hearty
soups such as the delicious quinoa soup. Other dishes include roasted cuy
(guinea pig), Alpaca steak, and to drink, the national beverage: Pisco
Sour.The tap water in Peru is not safe to drink so please only drink bottled
water or the water provided.
We use a private coach/mini-bus, which will be quite comfortable.Vehicle
Support: The coach will accompany the riders most of the time, allowing you
substantial flexibility to cycle as much or as little as you like, plus a
support truck for the bikes and baggage. The coach will not be with the group
for occasional short sections of dirt road.
Traveling flight inclusive from London: 15 days The group flight from London
is an overnight flight departing the day before Day 1 of the
itinerary.Flights from LondonWe normally use the scheduled service of Avianca
(depending on availability) As flight timings and schedules change regularly
we recommend you call one of our specialist sales staff or your agent to
confirm up to date timings. Please note that timings may change and cannot be
confirmed until approximately two weeks prior to departure.UK regional
flightsThe flight inclusive price is based on a London departure, but we are
happy to tailor this to your local or regional airport. Please visit our
Regional Departures page for a useful overview of the options available or
contact one of our sales team for expert advice.Travelling land only:
13 days starting in Cusco and ending in PunoYour tour normally starts at our
hotel in Cusco on Day 1 of the itinerary. Details of how to reach the start
point are provided in the final joining instructions – sent approximately
two weeks before departure. Accommodation check in times are usually from
2pm.
Peru's diverse geography results in a very varied climate between different
regions.Cuzco and the Andes have a temperate climate. December to March is
the rainy season in Cuzco/the Andes and April to November is the dry season;
characterised by clear skies and strong sunshine in the mornings, sometimes
clouding over as the day progresses. Daytime temperatures are usually
pleasant (approx. 20 degrees C on average) but night times only 5-10 degrees
C, except for May, June, July and August when days are cooler and nights are
often close to, or a few degrees below, freezing. In the Andes, however,
anything is possible at any time of year, including cloud, rain or even snow,
and rapid and unexpected changes! Lake Titicaca is situated at an altitude
of approximately 3,800m above sea level; the sun is strong but the air can be
cold, and nights can be close to freezing. You will need to bring some warm
layers and a waterproof or wind-stopper. Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu
are in the cloud forest and as such attract large amounts of precipitation
all year as clouds move up from the Amazon Basin. Rain here can be heavy but
is seldom prolonged. Cold fronts sometimes occur from July-August.Peru is
affected by the El Niño weather phenomenon whereby warming of Pacific Ocean
surface water off South America drives a shift in the atmospheric
circulation resulting in abnormally high levels of rainfall over parts of
South America. These events occur at irregular intervals of two to seven
years, and last nine months to two years. A strong El Niño event occurred
in 2014-16.
We recommend packing the following items: Normal daily clothes Cycling helmet
(compulsory on this tour)Padded cycling shorts and glovesBreathable top or
cycling jerseys Sunglasses/eye protectionStiff-soled shoes suitable for
cycling Waterproofs and long cycling trousersSun creamWater bottle
You may also like to bring your own cleated shoes and pedals, seat or padded
seat cover. These will be fitted to your hire bike at the start of the tour.
You may also want to bring your own towel for the homestay night.
Local Bike Details: Specialized Camber or Stumpjumper full suspension
mountain bikesDiscount for bringing your own bike: £150.
Most major currencies including Sterling, Euros and US Dollars can easily be
changed into local currency (Sol) at all bureau de change in Peru, although
US Dollars usually attract the best exchange rates. Torn, damaged or marked
foreign bills are often refused in Peru.We recommend either taking cash with
you to change into Sol locally or using local ATMs to withdraw money in Peru
as you go, so you are not left with excess at the end of your trip. It is a
good idea to change a small amount into Sol at the counters in the baggage
hall upon arrival. Change is often in short supply, so ask for small
denomination banknotes and try to break up any large notes at the earliest
opportunity.It is possible to obtain Peruvian Sol before you travel but
exchange rates can be lower than exchanging money locally in Peru. Some
larger establishments and hotels accept US Dollars but the vast majority of
places will only accept Sol.Food, drinks and similar incidentals can vary in
price enormously in Peru and are relatively expensive compared to other
developing nations. Allow about US$20-30 per meal not included to eat at good
restaurants. Cheaper food is abundant at small local cafes, although sanitary
conditions at these places cannot be guaranteed. Bottled water and soft
drinks are readily available for around US$1‐2 each.Please note that there
is a possibility the Peruvian Ministry of Tourism may increase entrance fees
to archaeological sites at any time. If this happens, we will inform you of
the increase and the additional amount will be payable locally.Peruvian
airport taxes are included in the price of your flight ticket, and there will
be no need to pay these locally.Peruvian Passport or Identity Card
HoldersPlease note that the cost of Exodus holidays in Peru is based on the
assumption that you do not hold a Peruvian passport or resident's card. If
you are officially resident in Peru or are a Peruvian passport holder, you
will be liable to an additional 18% tax on the majority of services, and this
extra sum will be payable locally to our local partner. Other nationalities
are exempt from this tax. Please notify us at the time of booking if you are
legally resident in Peru or hold a Peruvian passport so that we can advise
you of the total cost of these taxes. Optional Excursions:Your tour leader
will be able to tell you about the full range of optional excursions
available throughout your holiday however the most popular ones are as
follows:A Partial Tourist Ticket (BTG) is required for entrance to the sites
in and around Cuzco and the Sacred Valley – as we will be visiting the
Sacred Valley on this itinerary you will have a BTG ticket valid for 10
days. Please remember to bring this with you if you book the South Valley
tour.South Valley tour (full day – 7 hours): From US$121 per person (based
on 4 participants), excludes BTG. Explore the lesser visited Southern Valley
of Cusco and visit the Inca site of Tipon, the Pre Inca Huari site of
Pikillacta and "Sistine Chapel of the Americas" in Andahuaylillas. Includes
private transfer, specialized guide & picnic lunch.Urubamba rafting –
Chuqicahuana (full day – 7 hours): From US$150 per person (based on 4
participants). Enjoy a fun day's white-water rafting on class 3 or 3+ rapids
on the Rio Urubamba. Includes private transfer, security equipment,
specialized guide, safety kayaker and picnic lunch.Stand Up Paddle/Lake Kayak
(half day – 04 hours): From US$88 per person (based on 4 participants).
Enjoy a fun morning Stand Up paddle boarding or sit-on-top kayaking on the
beautiful Lake Huaypo, Includes private transfer, SUP equipment, specialized
guide and snacks.Mountain Biking Excursion (half day – 04 hours): From
US$82 per person (based on 4 participants). For anyone who wants to
experience the very best single tracks around Cuzco, this is the trip for
adventurous bikers Includes private transfer, Bike equipment, specialized
guide and snacks. Prices of excursions vary depending on the number of
people taking part. The prices given within these Trip Notes are based on 4
participants and are intended as a guideline only. Actual prices will be more
for smaller group sizes and less for larger group sizes. All tours use
private transport and there will be an English-speaking guide. Please note
that cash is the preferred method of payment for any of the optional
activities. For some activities, a minimum number of participants may be
required. Some activities may not always be possible due to weather,
seasonality, national holidays, or unforeseen circumstances.
Exodus encourages customers to tip local support staff if they would like to.
However, whether to tip and how much to tip should be a personal decision
and it is entirely at the discretion of each individual. As customers often
ask us for a suggestion of how much is appropriate for different individuals,
we have prepared some guidelines together with our local partner. Please
note that PEN is the preferred currency for tips.Tipping Kitty: On this trip
we recommend running a tipping kitty. A tipping kitty means we tip as a
group, and individuals don’t need to worry about giving out small tips to
various people who have helped during the trip (i.e. drivers, local guides,
boatmen, hotel staff). The contribution per person per day we suggest is
US$5-10 (PEN 15-30).Tour Leader: Leaders are fairly paid for their role but
are of course always grateful for recognition of their skills and hard
work. Tips for your leader should be based on their performance and
engagement with the group, and if you are happy with the leader’s work, we
recommend somewhere around US$5-10 (PEN 15-30) per person per day for your
cycling leader, but customers are encouraged to contribute what they feel
happy giving - either less or more than the amount suggested above. We also
suggest US$4-6(PEN 12-18) per person per day each for the driver and
assistant leader.
Travel insurance (available on request)Single accommodation (available on
request)Visas and vaccinations
Ved skriftlig aksept av vårt tilbud bekrefter du/dere at våre betingelser er både lest og forstått og at evt kansellerings gebyrer kan tilkomme ved en evt. avbestilling av reisen.