Sacred Valley DH, Peru

Trip Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival

• Fly into Cusco International Airport (CUZ), transfer to hotel, and build bikes.
• Catch up on some rest or head out to explore the area. We’ll be staying in the heart of the artistic and cultural district of Cusco!
• Pre-trip meeting with your guides and fellow riders over dinner and drinks at a traditional Peruvian restaurant.

Day 2 - Cusco Local Laps

Distance: 28km — Climb: 160m — Descend: 3200m

• Fuel up on a hearty buffet breakfast including farm fresh eggs and meats, local tropical fruits, fresh baked pastries, and Peruvian coffee.
• We’ll get warmed up riding some of our favourite local laps like Huallarcocha, Corao, and Santa Maria, just to name a few. Cusco‘s diverse riding scene includes steep and technical singletrack as well as new-school trails with plenty of jumps and berms!
• 7 or 8 laps are on tap for today and we’ll finish up with a fast and fun urban descent to the Plaza de San Blas for some apres ride snacks and drinks.
• Tonight we’ll take in some sights around town and have a delicious dinner at our favourite Andean Steakhouse.

Day 3 - The Shepherd and The Wizard

Distance: 28km — Climb: 120m — Descend: 3350m

• After breakfast this morning we’ll hit another quick lap of the Carao trail en route to the top of El Pastor (The Shepherd), a fast, exposed, and super fun trail high in the Andes mountains above Cusco.
• We’ll do a bonus shuttle lap in the area, have some lunch, and then drive to the top of El Brujo (The Wizard), a long, scenic, and technical singletrack descent - one of our favourite trails in Peru!
• Head back to the hotel, have some cold beers and snacks, and get cleaned up for another fresh and flavourful dinner out in town.
• Tonight we’ll be giving you a special treat to sample before dinner. It’s a traditional Peruvian delicacy… and no, we’re not talking about Pisco Sour!

Day 4 - Sacred Valley Singletrack

Distance: 36km — Climb: 240m — Descend: 3140m

• Following this morning's breakfast we’ll load our bikes and luggage into the shuttle van and head out to the Sacred Valley for the next stretch of our adventure.
• On today’s agenda are three big laps including Chinchero Urquillos, Maras Avalanche, and “The Other Side,” featuring a good variety of DH riding from steeps and tech to speed and flow!
• We’ll ride right to an incredible buffet lunch at an acclaimed restaurant on the shores of the Urubamba River, and we’ll finish the last trail of the day by rolling to the Cervecería del Valle Sagrado for some freshly brewed beers!
• Settle into our new lodging in the Inca town of Ollantaytambo, where we’ll be staying for the next three nights, and check out the town for another delicious dinner.

Day 5 - Machu Picchu / Rest Day

• Discover one of the New 7 Wonders of the World! Join us for a day trip to Machu Picchu, a UNESCO designated World Heritage Site, or choose to rest up and explore the streets of Ollantaytambo.
• Optional: Machu Picchu day tour add-on, includes return train and bus transportation, admission to Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu, and local guide. Cost: $650CAD.
• Optional: Rest day in Ollantaytambo, an Inca-era village with beautiful cobblestoned streets and adobe buildings, home to a big souvenir market and several important archaeological sites.

Day 6 - Trails of the Inca Empire

Distance: 31km — Climb: 230m — Descend: 3250m

• We’ll start our morning with a big shuttle to the top of Abra Malaga at over 4300m elevation and drop into the Inca Avalanche Trail - An incredible 13km ride with over 1500m of descending!
• After lunch we’ll head out for a couple more fun shuttle laps including Pumamarca and Moray, and we’ll pass by some impressive ancient Inca sites and ruins along the way.
• We’ll finish our day with another visit to the Sacred Valley Brewing Co. for some drinks and snacks and have another delicious dinner back in Ollantaytambo. Get some rest, tomorrow is another big day!

Day 7 - Patacancha and Patalares

Distance: 38km — Climb: 155m — Descend: 3400m

• Pack your bags after breakfast this morning and get ready for the next stage of our epic adventure.
• Our first lap of the day brings us high into the mountains above the Sacred Valley, up to 4430m to be exact! Patacancha is a remote and thrilling ride which also plays host to the highest enduro race in the world.
• After lunch we’ll head back up to tackle the Patalares trail, a 17km enduro descent which connects the Andes mountains to the jungle below.
• We’ll finish the ride at Lares Hot Springs, our base camp for the night. Soak your tired muscles in mineral-rich waters, enjoy a hearty home cooked meal, and sleep soundly among nature.

Day 8 - Lares Pass and Lamay Valley

Distance: 38km — Climb: 110m — Descend: 3120m

• After breakfast this morning, a quick drive takes us to the top of Lares Pass where we’ll do a short hike-a-bike to the top of a steep freeride scree-slope and continue on descending over 1500m through alpine meadows and tight rocky canyons.
• Have some lunch and then shuttle up to ride the popular and picturesque Lamay Valley trail, another incredible 1500m descent, finishing right at the town’s Plaza de Armas.
• We’ll load up and head back towards Cusco and round out our day with one more singletrack ride and urban descent back to our hotel in San Blas.
• Tonight we’ll celebrate our return to civilization by hitting the town and enjoying dinner and drinks out at our favourite Cusco restaurant, Cicciolina Bar and Tapas. Treat yourself to an extra Pisco Sour or two and check out some local nightlife. Tomorrow is a well deserved rest day!

Day 9 - Explore Cusco / Rest Day

• Enjoy a casual start to the day and fill up on a big buffet breakfast. The day is yours to do as you please.
• Head out on foot to admire the architecture and ancient cathedrals of Cusco’s historic center, visit the San Pedro Market and see how the locals live, or get a massage and just catch up on some rest.
• For lunch today we’ll suggest some typical Peruvian Ceviche, widely accepted by the locals to be the perfect cure for hangovers!
• Join us for another group dinner or order in and enjoy some quiet time, the choice is yours.

Day 10 - Chinchero Enduro and La Maxima

Distance: 25km — Climb: 180m — Descend: 2730m

• After a good rest day you’ll be excited for some more riding and today’s itinerary will definitely not disappoint!
• We’ll head back into the mountains that separate Cusco from the Sacred Valley and we’ll shuttle to the top of a 4450m pass before riding a fun, fast, and playful descent back down to the beautiful Puray Lake near the town of Chinchero.
• Lunch will be on-the-go as we shuttle back up to the start of La Maxima - the best trail in Peru! Starting with a short but demanding ridgeline hike-a-bike and a bit of freeriding, leading us into perfect alpine singletrack that seems to just go on forever, and finally finishing with a long, steep, and technical descent right to the valley bottom!
• We’ll hit one more bonus lap on the way back to Cusco and then enjoy another night of Peruvian food, drinks, and stories from another great day.

Day 11 - The Radar Trails

Distance: 32km — Climb: 150m — Descend: 3500m

• Fuel up on a big breakfast and get ready for our last ride day of the trip. It will definitely be one to remember. These are some of the most iconic trails in Cusco!
• An incredible wide open alpine start with rocky terrain and technical sections, eventually leading into thin singletracks navigating endless fields of local crops and villager trails all the way down to the shores of the Vilcanota River.
• We’ll do two separate laps from the Radar and a bonus lap on a secret local trail!
• Head back to Cusco, pack up your bike, and get ready to hit the town for one last dinner together, celebrating the end of an epic adventure!

Day 12 - Departure

• Enjoy one last breakfast this morning and say adiós to your new riding friends.
• We’ll drive you to the Cusco airport for your homebound flights.
• Until next time, hasta luego!