This epic ride took place last May on the Peruvian Andes. We Started the tour in Lima, riding some easy trails near the coast and then other epic trails on the Andes that descends the mountains from altitudes that goes around 4,000 masl to almost the Pacific Ocean.
We rode 340 Km in total between 0masl to 4,450 masl. We also crossed different ecological areas from the humid weather of the coast to the freezing and dry weather of the high lands. On the coast we rode on dry and loose terrain mountains. On the Andes we rode on compact ground, grass and over granite rocks.
Our first trails in Lima were not Inca but we crossed an old Inca town in Pachacamac. We also start with the acclimatization process in Lima riding some trails like Olleros that starts at an altitude of 3,750 masl and after a long ride, begins to descend until it reaches the Pacific Ocean. These rides help us a lot to get used to the altitude because the next days we won't have the opportunity to descend to the coast. We will stay above 3,000 masl all the time.
The day 3 we took a domestic flight to Andahuaylas City, on the middle of the Andes Mountains and at an altitude of 2,900 masl. We start riding from the airport crossing the landing track and then we climbed on a nice trail until we reach a low mountain pass that divides the Chumbao Valley and Andahuaylas with the airport. From this point we start to go downhill on a singletrack that sometimes was very challenging but perfect to put in action our bikes.
Andahuaylas is a nice city with a lot of history. Was one of the last places to be conquered by the Incas. Andahuaylas is the place where the Chanka culture was developed and they offered a brutal resistance to the Inca's domination.
The next day we began riding the Main Inca Trail near Pacucha Lake. This trail is perfect for our mountain bikes with some challenging sections but perfect for the average rider. We bordered the lake and then we reached the Chanka site of Sondor. It was amazing to find great archaeological sites like this and also we could feel like we were 1,000 or 2,000 years ago, the same as this people.
From this point in advance, we rode the best sections of the Inca Trail that goes from North to South and reaches the Imperial city of Cusco. 5 meters wide with stone walls on both sides tells us that this was the most important trail used by the Incas more than 500 years ago.
We crossed several little villages on our way. The native people is very friendly, they offered us numerous times food and drink (potatoes, cheese and chicha). We tried some potatoes on one village we crossed and they were excellent. They cooked the potatoes on the ground with hot portions of dried grass.
After these delicious potatoes and cheese, we continued our ride on the Main Inca Trail. It is incredible to see that everywhere you can find trails for our bikes, but our trail was the most important around. We continued crossing different Inca sites until we reached our final destination of the day: the town of Huancarama.
On our day #5 we rode more than 50 Km! We had to pass two mountain passes until we reach the Ctiy of Abancay. The most interesting attraction on this day, besides going on the Main Inca Trail all the time, was a colonial Bridge made by the Spaniards when they were looking for the principal city of the Incas: Cusco.
The spaniards made this bridge to pass with all their heavy equipment, horses and all kind of weapons to beat the Incas.
This day we finally reached the City of Cusco late at night. We were tired but with enough energy to enjoy a little the nightlife of this amazing city.
From this point we rode other Inca trails like the famous Inca trail that goes from Cusco to Machu Picchu (2 sections of this trail), another Inca trail that goes from Chinchero to Moray and then descends to the Sacred Valley and also one of the most scenic Inca Trails in Cusco that goes to the Amazon Jungle near Lares.
The final pictures were taken on these last trails in Cusco.
We rode 340 Km in total between 0masl to 4,450 masl. We also crossed different ecological areas from the humid weather of the coast to the freezing and dry weather of the high lands. On the coast we rode on dry and loose terrain mountains. On the Andes we rode on compact ground, grass and over granite rocks.
Our first trails in Lima were not Inca but we crossed an old Inca town in Pachacamac. We also start with the acclimatization process in Lima riding some trails like Olleros that starts at an altitude of 3,750 masl and after a long ride, begins to descend until it reaches the Pacific Ocean. These rides help us a lot to get used to the altitude because the next days we won't have the opportunity to descend to the coast. We will stay above 3,000 masl all the time.
The day 3 we took a domestic flight to Andahuaylas City, on the middle of the Andes Mountains and at an altitude of 2,900 masl. We start riding from the airport crossing the landing track and then we climbed on a nice trail until we reach a low mountain pass that divides the Chumbao Valley and Andahuaylas with the airport. From this point we start to go downhill on a singletrack that sometimes was very challenging but perfect to put in action our bikes.
Andahuaylas is a nice city with a lot of history. Was one of the last places to be conquered by the Incas. Andahuaylas is the place where the Chanka culture was developed and they offered a brutal resistance to the Inca's domination.
The next day we began riding the Main Inca Trail near Pacucha Lake. This trail is perfect for our mountain bikes with some challenging sections but perfect for the average rider. We bordered the lake and then we reached the Chanka site of Sondor. It was amazing to find great archaeological sites like this and also we could feel like we were 1,000 or 2,000 years ago, the same as this people.
From this point in advance, we rode the best sections of the Inca Trail that goes from North to South and reaches the Imperial city of Cusco. 5 meters wide with stone walls on both sides tells us that this was the most important trail used by the Incas more than 500 years ago.
We crossed several little villages on our way. The native people is very friendly, they offered us numerous times food and drink (potatoes, cheese and chicha). We tried some potatoes on one village we crossed and they were excellent. They cooked the potatoes on the ground with hot portions of dried grass.
After these delicious potatoes and cheese, we continued our ride on the Main Inca Trail. It is incredible to see that everywhere you can find trails for our bikes, but our trail was the most important around. We continued crossing different Inca sites until we reached our final destination of the day: the town of Huancarama.
On our day #5 we rode more than 50 Km! We had to pass two mountain passes until we reach the Ctiy of Abancay. The most interesting attraction on this day, besides going on the Main Inca Trail all the time, was a colonial Bridge made by the Spaniards when they were looking for the principal city of the Incas: Cusco.
The spaniards made this bridge to pass with all their heavy equipment, horses and all kind of weapons to beat the Incas.
This day we finally reached the City of Cusco late at night. We were tired but with enough energy to enjoy a little the nightlife of this amazing city.
From this point we rode other Inca trails like the famous Inca trail that goes from Cusco to Machu Picchu (2 sections of this trail), another Inca trail that goes from Chinchero to Moray and then descends to the Sacred Valley and also one of the most scenic Inca Trails in Cusco that goes to the Amazon Jungle near Lares.
The final pictures were taken on these last trails in Cusco.
Bloody Good Tour! I would never ever have imagined mountain bikes around the Inca cities. What a fab story!!
