Peru Bike Tour to Machu Picchu
Our Peru Bike Tour to Machu Picchu has it all, breathtaking views of the Andes, spectacular Inca Ruins, awesome downhill cruising, Urcos floating reed islands on Lake Titicaca and a day hike on the Inca Trail through the Sun Gate to Machu Picchu.
Charter Tours can also be arranged between March – December for groups of 4 or more people
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. This is adventure cycling at its finest, with miles of awesome downhill cruising, charming hotels and inns 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 as we pass through a remote region where there are not many tourists.
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 Ollantaytambo. We’ll have our farewell dinner and the following day we transfer the group to the airport in Cuzco.
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.
Price: Contact us for prices
Price Includes:
- 9 nights hotel lodging with breakfast (double occupancy)
- 1 night rustic homestay
- meals where indicated on itinerary (7 lunches, 6 dinners)
- local bilingual cycling guide
- city and historical site tours
- park visitation fees
- support van
- bus and train to Machu Picchu
Price Does Not Include:
International & domestic flights,, airport taxes, tipping of local guides and drivers ($200 US/pp), meals not indicated on itinerary, beverages, bicycle rentals ($200 US), Flight from Cuzco to Juliaca ( approx. $150 US , this flight is booked by Nichols Expeditions and invoiced 90 days prior to the trip)
A non-refundable $600 US deposit per person is needed to reserve a space.
Tour Difficulty
This tour is perfect for riders and hikers of all abilities who are reasonably fit and in good general health.
- Difficulty: 1 short pass, with mostly flat and downhill terrain
- Road Conditions: Smooth & Paved, 1 day gravel
Tour Highlights
- Breathtaking Views of the Andes
- Awesome Downhill Cruising
- historical site tours
- Machu Picchu
- the Inca Trail
- Floating Reed Islands on Lake Titicaca
The 5 days of riding is moderately strenuous and daily cycling distances will vary from 15 to 45 miles. We will be riding at 8,000-14,000 feet, and most of the rides are actually downhill, yea! We will be on scenic paved and packed dirt roads with little traffic. A support van follows to assist riders when ever they want a lift and to avoid congested areas. The hiking is moderately strenuous on well maintained trails, with most hikes being 1-2 mile tours of Inca ruins. The longest hike is 8 miles to Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate. All hikes and rides are optional.
“Our Peru Bike Trip was the trip of a lifetime… so much more than just a bike trip. We loved seeing all of the iconic Peruvian locations and we felt so special to see so many “off the beaten path” locations. The hiking and visits to the ruins were just as important as the biking and our guide was so knowledgeable and kind, that he really made the trip for us.”
Sample Itinerary
Meals included – B/Breakfast, L/Lunch, D/Dinner
Day 1: Group Orientation Meeting at 9:00am at the hotel after breakfast. We will do a city tour of Cuzco in the afternoon. 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: In the morning we’ll visit Sacsayhuaman (11,800 ft), an enormous Inca fortress, for a guided tour. Then, after our bike fitting, we begin our ride on a mostly downhill ride to Pisaq (8,700 ft.). After lunch, we’ll explore the magnificently terraced Pisaq ruins and then transfer by van back to Cuzco. Ride: 16.5 mi. Hotel in Cuzco. (B/L)
Day 3: In the morning, a short flight from Cuzco takes us over the spectacular snow-capped Andes to Juliaca on the Peruvian Altiplano. We will travel by van to our hotel in Puno (12,000 ft.) on the shore of Lake Titicaca. Hotel in Puno. (B/L/D)
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. (B/L/D)
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 that few tourists have ever seen. That evening we will have a short transfer in Juliaca, our hotel for the night. (B/L/D)
Day 6: After a morning van transfer, we start our ride to 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 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 finish our ride in Sicuani, our hotel for the night. Ride: 35 – 40 mi. (B/L/D)
Day 7: We cycle the winding Vilcanota River canyon as it passes through a delightful countryside of small farms, cactus gardens and eucalyptus groves on our 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. After lunch, we continue riding to our charming hotel (8,500 ft.) in Urubamba. Ride: 48 mi. Hotel in Urubamba (B/L/D)
Day 8: In the morning, we transfer by van to Chinchero for a very interesting visit to the weaver’s co-op and tour of the village. Following a picnic lunch, we ride a grand rolling 2,000 ft. descent 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. (B/L/D)
Day 9: We board the train for a dramatic ride down the rugged Urubamba River gorge. Before reaching Machu Picchu, we leave the train for our hike to Machu Picchu. After crossing the river on a footbridge, we follow a moderately difficult trail to Winya Wayna. This dramatic Inca site overlooking the river has cascading ceremonial baths. 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.) 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. Lodging is nearby in Aguas Calientes (6,500 ft.). Hike: 10 mi. & 2,500 ft. ascent. Hotel in Aguas Calientes. (B/L/D)
Day 10: We return to Machu Picchu for sunrise & a complete 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 that day, we will return to Ollantaytambo by train and return to Ollantaytambo for our final night. (B /D)
Day 11: Morning van transfer to Cuzco to Cuzco Airport. Do not schedule your return flights from Cuzco to Lima until after 1 pm. (B)