PERU BIKE TOUR
CYCLING LAKE TITICACA TO MACHU PICCHU
& THE NAZCA LINES

May 31 - June 15, 2008

Breathtaking Views * Spectacular Inca Ruins
Awesome Downhill Cruising * Hot Springs in the Andes

Get ready for a world class cycling adventure in the Andes Mountains of Peru! Our fabulous route takes us from Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, to Machu Picchu, the most famous Inca ruin in South America, then travels to the mysterious Nazca Lines, and finishes at the Ballestas Islands, a bird and marine mammal wildlife sanctuary. This is adventure cycling at its finest, with miles of awesome downhill cruising, charming hotels and inns, a few nights camping under the stars, a hot springs and lots of friendly smiles from the local people.

The tour begins in Cuzco, Peru, the archaeological capital of South America. After touring the city and visiting Sacsayhuaman, an enormous Inca fortress shaped like the head of a puma, we depart by bike for a remarkable downhill cruise to the colorful Sunday market in Pisaq. Next, we fly south to Lake Titicaca where a boat will take us to the amazing reed islands of the Uros Indians and then on to Taquile Island for a cozy night in a wonderful native-owned inn. The panoramic view of the distant snowcapped peaks across the lake in Bolivia is out of this world.

After returning to the mainland, we hop on our bikes and pedal the magnificent shoreline of Lake Titicaca to a camp overlooking the lake. Our next ride is to a camp at the hot springs near La Raya Pass. The following day is a playful descent through a magnificent valley surrounded by Inca ruins and snow-capped peaks to our final camp in the Sacred Valley. (For these three nights we provide deluxe camping accommodations as we pass through a remote region where there are no hotels.) The next day's ride to Pisaq includes a guided tour of the exquisite terraced ruins, and we overnight in a splendid hotel in Urubamba. The following morning, after visiting the lively market in Chinchero, we begin a scenic descent back into the Sacred Valley and end our riding in Ollantaytambo.

Our attention now shifts to visiting Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. A morning train ride brings us to the trailhead where we begin hiking to the dramatic Winya Wayna ruins and then on to the Sun Gate where we enter Machu Picchu - what a fantastic view! From this vantage point, you can see the entire Inca city perched high above the mountains and dense jungle that hid this site for centuries. Our evening accommodations are in a comfortable hotel in Aguas Calientes. The following day we return to Machu Picchu for a comprehensive tour of the ruin and then take the afternoon train to our overnight lodging in Urubamba. We finish the journey in the charming city of Cuzco, a perfect ending to this adventure.

The rides for the next three days are what we call “rollercoaster riding.” We will use our support van to shuttle us to the top of the mountain passes, and gravity will propel us down a number of unforgettable 20-mile descents into the scenic mountain valleys below. Next, we head for Nazca and the mysterious Nazca Lines. A flight-seeing tour will give us a bird’s eye view of gigantic 2000-year-old figures carved into the desert. The tour finishes with a visit to the Ballestas Islands that are home to penguins, boobies, sea lions and a wide array of birdlife.

Our Cycling Tour of Peru is filled with breathtaking vistas and heart-warming memories of an ancient region that has proudly maintained its heritage and customs.

ITINERARY

PLEASE NOTE: This tour is fully-supported and designed to accommodate riders of varying levels. A support vehicle will accompany the tour for rider assistance, and daily riding distances can be decreased if you prefer.

Day 1: (Saturday, May 31, 2008) Meet in Cuzco, Peru, (11,000 ft.) in the early afternoon in the lobby of our hotel for a group orientation and city tour of Cuzco. We HIGHLY RECOMMEND arriving in Cuzco a day or two before your tour to be fully acclimatized before the tour starts. Hotel in Cuzco. (The day's schedule will be finalized in a Pre-Tour Letter.)

Day 2: We begin with a morning bike fitting before departing for a mostly downhill ride to Pisaq (8,700 ft.). After lunch, we will visit the colorful Sunday market and then transfer by van back to Sacsayhuaman (11,800 ft.), an enormous Inca fortress, for a guided tour. Ride: 16.5 mi. Hotel in Cuzco.

Day 3: A short flight from Cuzco takes us over the spectacular snow-capped Andes to Juliaca on the Peruvian Altiplano (12,500 ft.). We will travel by van to our hotel in Puno (12,000 ft.) on the shore of Lake Titicaca. Hotel in Puno.

Day 4: We leave the mainland and take a chartered motor launch on Lake Titicaca to the fascinating floating reed island community of the Uros Indians. We will continue our boat trip to Taquile Island where we'll spend the night (12,000 ft.). It is peaceful there and walking is the only method of transportation - there are no roads or motor vehicles on the island. Tonight's lodging is a rustic inn overlooking Lake Titicaca that is run by a hospitable native family. Rustic inn on Taquile Island.

Day 5: After breakfast, we reboard our motor launch and head back to the mainland, reunite with our bikes and start riding a scenic route along Lake Titicaca's shore that few tourists have ever seen. That evening we will be greeted at our first camp (12,000 ft.) with a wonderful meal and a fantastic starry canopy overhead. Ride: 21 mi. Camping

Day 6: After a morning van transfer, we start our ride to 14,300 ft. La Raya Pass (14,300 ft.). It is a gentle but steady climb, and llamas and alpacas can be seen in the alpine meadows beside the road. The support van will be following close behind for assistance. After a photo stop at the top of the pass, we will enjoy a sweeping descent to our second camp - one of the world's highest hot springs at 13,000 ft. - anyone ready for a soak? Ride: 23 mi. Camping

Day 7: From the hot springs camp, we begin a long downhill cruise that follows the spectacular Vilcanota River. During the descent, the high alpine pastures give way to small farms with colorful crops growing in harmonious patterns on the hillsides. We will stop for lunch and a tour of Viracocha's Temple, an impressive Inca ruin in the village of Raqchi. We continue riding until mid afternoon and then transfer by van to our last camp in the Sacred Valley (10,000 ft.). Ride: 35 - 50 mi. Camping

Day 8: We cycle the winding Vilcanota River canyon as it passes through a delightful countryside of small farms, cactus gardens and eucalyptus groves en route to Pisaq. Birds are abundant, and the Andean hummingbirds (some the size of robins) are fascinating to watch as they flit above the cactus flowers. We will explore the magnificently terraced Pisaq ruins that tower high above the valley before we continue riding to our charming hotel in Urubamba (8,500 ft.). Ride: 48 mi. Hotel in Urubamba

Day 9: In the morning, we transfer by van up to Chinchero to visit the colorful market and the weaver's co-op.  Following a picnic lunch, we ride a grand rolling 2,000 foot decent back into the Sacred Valley and continue riding to Ollantaytambo. We'll tour this massive Inca fortress where the Incas turned the Spaniards back. Our lodging tonight is in a gorgeous hotel in Ollantaytambo (8,000 ft.). Ride: 29 mi. Hotel in Ollantaytambo.

Day 10: We board the train early for a dramatic 90-minute ride down the rugged Urubamba River gorge toward Machu Picchu. Near Chachapampa, we leave the train and begin our hike to Machu Picchu. After crossing the river on a footbridge, we begin a moderately difficult trail that climbs upward past a refreshing waterfall to Winya Wayna, a dramatic Inca site overlooking the river. Winya Wayna is an exquisite terraced semi-circular ruin with cascading ceremonial baths in the center of the site. After a picnic lunch, we traverse through the cloud forest and emerge at the Sun Gate for our first view of Machu Picchu (7,970 ft.) from high above the city. We will then stroll down the Royal Inca Road for a suitably regal entrance to the Lost City of the Incas. Overnight lodging is in a comfortable hotel in nearby Aguas Calientes (6,500 ft.). Hike: 10 mi. & 2,500 ft. ascent. Hotel in Aguas Calientes.

Day 11: In the morning, we return to Machu Picchu for sunrise (if you wish) and a comprehensive tour of this remarkable archeological treasure with our guide. Later, you might choose to explore some of the nearby trails or simply wander back through Machu Picchu to sketch or photograph this extraordinary site. Later in the afternoon, we will return to Ollantaytambo by train and transfer to Urubamba for the evening. Hotel in Urubamba.

Day 12: This is the beginning of three days of “rollercoaster biking,” where our riding will be interspersed with van transfers so we can choose the most scenic stretches and best downhills for cycling. Our first downhill begins near Vilcaconga Pass with a grand descent into the dramatic gorge of the Apurimac River. On route, we pass the Inca suspension bridge that inspired Thornton Wilder to write “The Bridge of San Luis Rey.” Another thrilling downhill leads us to our overnight lodging in the town of Abancay. Hotel in Abancay.

Day 13: We follow a winding road through a traditional Peruvian highland landscape of small farms, isolated herders and the occasional village. The highest elevation is Huashuaccasa Pass at 14,000 ft., and the surroundings are dotted with small lakes. Our final descent of the day is into the town of Puquio. Rustic inn lodging in Puqio.

Day 14: From Puquio, the route climbs through dramatic, boulder-strewn moorland to the 14,400 ft. Condorkenqa Pass. We pass through the Pampa Galeras Vicuna Reserve, where flocks of this small, undomesticated relative of the llama may be viewed from the route. On the grand descent from the pass to Nazca, we leave the green of the highlands behind and enter the arid western slope of the Andes. This is our final day of riding on the tour! Hotel in Nazca.

Day 15: In the morning, we board our flight-seeing planes for a scenic flight over the Pampa de Nazca. From the air, we get the best view of the astonishing array of lines incised in the desert floor. The highlights of our flight are the zoomorphic figurines - condors, hummingbirds, a whale, spider and many more. While archeologists remained divided, a leading theory links them to worship of the Apus, powerful spirits residing in the Andean peaks. In the afternoon, we drive to the Pacific coast and explore the hypnotically beautiful Paracas Peninsula. This mass of rock juts out into the Pacific Ocean and disturbs the northward flow of the cold Humboldt Current. This action stirs up the water and produces a particularly rich fishing area. The ancient Paracas culture that once occupied this region left behind some of the world's finest textiles. We spend the night at a seaside hotel. Hotel

Day 16: We travel in small boats out to the Ballestas Islands, small volcanic outcroppings an hour offshore. These spectacular islands, eroded into many caves and arches, provide shelter for over 150 species of marine birds including the Humboldt penguin, cormorants, boobies and pelicans. Even condors have been known to visit the islands. There is a large sea lion colony, and it is possible to encounter dolphins and even whales in the surrounding waters. In the afternoon, we return to Lima and proceed to the airport to check in for our international flight home.

NOTE: NO HOTEL IS PROVIDED FOR THIS FINAL NIGHT AS MOST FOLKS CHOOSE TO TAKE LATE FLIGHTS BACK TO THE US. Please let us know if you would like hotel reservations in Lima, as reservations need to be made well in advance.

All the services described above are arranged weeks or months in advance of your trip. If airline schedule changes, unusual weather conditions or other circumstances beyond our control prevent us from operating the services according to the schedule described above, we will attempt to substitute services of equivalent value. If we are unable to do so, passengers may be responsible for additional costs due to circumstances beyond our control.

TOUR DATES: 16 days, May 31 - June 15, 2008
Can be combined with our Galapagos Wildlife Tour.

TOUR COST: $2,700 (double occupancy), requested single supplement $500. Single tent only fee of $50. If you are traveling alone and willing to share accommodations, you will not be charged the single supplement if we can't provide a roommate.

TOUR COST INCLUDES: Flight from Cuzco to Juliaca, 12 nights hotel and rustic inn lodging (double occupancy), 3 nights camping, tent and sleeping pad, meals where indicated on itinerary, guides, city and historical site tours, park visitation fees, support van, bus and train to Machu Picchu, Nazco Lines flight-seeing flight, boat ride to the Ballestas Islands. All meals except for 2 dinners and one lunch in Cuzco.

TOUR COST DOES NOT INCLUDE: International round-trip flights to Peru, domestic flight from Lima to Cuzco, airport taxes, tipping of local guides and drivers ($175/pp), beverages, bicycle rentals ($220), sleeping bag rental ($30), 2 dinners and 1 lunch in Cuzco.

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PERU TOURS:
Empire of the Incas Tour: 15 day hiking tour includes 5 day trek (with camping) on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca and Cuzco
Andes & Amazon Explorer: 15 day hiking tour (no camping) includes Lake Titicaca, Machu Picchu, Cuzco and the Amazon
Machu Picchu & Amazon Adventure: 10 day hiking tour (no camping) includes Machu Picchu, Cuzco and the Amazon