Mountain Biking in Cusco

Are you looking for a way to see the stunning, rugged Andean terrain surrounding Cusco and the Sacred Valley? The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu isn’t the only way to accomplish this respectable goal. Go on a mountain biking adventure!

There are several different bike trails that cater to various biking abilities. A Cusco half-day biking excursion allows riders to have a true Peru travel adventure on a three-hour off-road tour. Whiz through the highlands surrounding Cusco and see the capital of the Inca Empire from above. Experienced bikers can take a dirt road, although there is also a paved road. Either way, both downhill tracks wind through picturesque countryside and past several Inca ruins.
You can also choose a Sacred Valley mountain biking tour to see Pisac, Taray, Calca, and other fascinating Sacred Valley towns. This four hour tour with a guide begins at the trailhead in the midst of the Andes. Weave on a downhill, off-road track through the lush valley, past traditional Andean towns and villages.

Another Cusco mountain biking adventure leads to the Maras salt mines, and other Inca villages in the Urubamba Valley. The Maras and Moray mountain biking tour is a full day excursion beginning in the morning in the Inca town of Chincheros. Your guide will lead you past terraced fields and villages, with views of Andean lakes and mountains. For lunch, enjoy a picnic in the town of Maras before continuing on to the salt mines of Maras.

For the true adventurer, sign up for a 4 day and 3 night multi-sport adventure trek beginning with mountain biking and ending with a hike to Machu Picchu. Starting in Cusco, you will bike downhill from Malaga Pass, breezing by the Sacred Valley and Andes mountains. In the evening, you’ll camp aside the Urubamba River. On the following day, you hike from the village of Santa Teresa by the coffee-growing fields behind Machu Picchu. Enjoy lunch in the Pacamayo Valley and swim in the Sacsara River, before calling it a night at the campsite. The next morning, you’ll hike past Quechua towns then take a short train ride to Aguas Calientes, the town at the foot of Machu Picchu. Here you can enjoy hotel amenities and relax in the hot springs. On the final day of the multi-sport trek you will get to explore the world wonder Machu Picchu site. Get there early in the morning to witness the sun rising from the citadel and beat the rest of the visitors. Rest your muscles at this ancient archaeological site before heading back to Cusco via train.

This guide to mountain biking in Cusco was written by a Peru travel expert at Peru For Less, available to help you custom design your exciting Machu Picchu vacation.