Biking Peru From The Andes To The Amazon

This tour is 11 days long, with 7 riding days.

Cusco is located at an altitude of 3,300 m (11,152 ft.) ASL. The ground operator suggests arriving one day or more before the start of the tour so your body can acclimate to the lower oxygen conditions. This will help to reduce the risk of suffering from altitude sickness. You will have 7 riding days covering a total of 380 km and for the most part, ride point to point but occasional vehicle transfers to the start/end point are necessary. Day 5 and Day 9 are off the bike as you'll be spending time in Manu National Park and at Machu Picchu, respectively.

The trip is fully supported, and your guide’s expert knowledge of the area and terrain means that you always know what is coming up in terms of distance and difficulty. This makes a tremendous difference, as does the constant supply of water and refreshments along the way.

Suitability: This trip is suitable for anyone with a reasonable fitness level and has been designed for all levels of rider. This trip is not a very technical off-road trip and is suitable for gravel bikes as well as mountain bikes, although gravel bike riders should be experienced on rough terrain and prepared to get off and push on occasion. Overall, you will climb around 1,300 m (4,265 ft.) and descend 8,610 m (28,250 ft.) so there is a lot more downhill than there is up! The majority of the climbing is on Day 8 when you'll cycle 830 m uphill to Moray, whereas climbing on other days is more interspersed along undulating terrain.

Biking Conditions: This tour follows a wide mix of roads and riding surfaces including gravel roads, dirt tracks, broken roads and some good sealed roads as well as a few sections of single-track. Most of the trails you'll ride are wide dirt and gravel tracks with about 30% on tarmac. Full suspension Mountain Bikes are the default rental option as they are the best and most comfortable ride for this trip but the terrain is rideable on a gravel bike or hardtail MTB and you are welcome to bring your bike. E-bikes are also available for rent on this tour.

You are not required to pay a surcharge for traveling alone. The tour operator will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveler of the same gender. If you cannot be matched, they will provide a single room at no extra charge. If you prefer not to share, a single supplement is payable to guarantee your own room.

Peru has three seasons as well as distinctly different climates in the coast, mountains and jungle areas. The dry season runs from May – October and is the best time of year to travel, especially around Cusco when the days are sunny, the nights cold and there is very little rain. During the day the temperature can reach 24 ° C and at nightfall to Zero °C. In the lower jungle, the temperatures and humidity will be higher and temperatures can reach 30°C. and rain is always a possibility, especially in the shoulder season. You should bring a waterproof jacket and pants, while Cusco can get quite cold so bring a fleece and some colder weather riding gear such as arm-warmers and a gilet for the days at altitude. Sun cream is also a must, as is a covering for your head.

If you’re a food enthusiast, you will probably already have Peru firmly in your sights as it has been fêted on the world food scene as one of the world’s best culinary destinations. The country’s gastronomic boom owes a great deal to its biodiversity along with its multicultural heritage and the mix of flavors in Peruvian cuisine reflects the mix of cultures that have arrived in Peru over the last 500 years. It began with pre-Hispanic cuisine that developed dishes and cooking methods like pachamanca and cuy chactado. Then, when Spanish colonization brought European and Moorish influences, followed by African, Chinese, Japanese cuisine that blended seamlessly to produce Chifa cuisine and dishes such as Ceviche, Lomo Saltado and Ají, Peruvian hot-sauce. You will have lots of opportunities to try the local cuisine and the ground operator works hard to make sure you sample a wide variety of typical dishes during your time in Peru.

Drink
Keeping you completely hydrated is a job the ground crew take very seriously. Coldwater, some energy-restoring local fruit and soft drinks are included in the tour price while riding. Soft drinks and other beverages during meals are not included. You may also want to bring electrolytes in powder or tablet form. Alcoholic drinks are available everywhere but are not included. Beer in Peru is freely available and very good. Peruvian wine is not the best in the world but near neighbors Chile and Argentina do produce world-class wines and are available. However, the most popular drink in Peru is Pisco. Pisco is distilled in southern regions of the country like Moquegua, Arequipa, Tacna and Ica and this brandy-like liquor served as a Pisco sour is an excellent appetizer to precede lunch or dinner.

Yes, if you're hiring a bike from the operator, a complimentary helmet is provided, although you are welcome to bring your own if you wish.