cusco gravel adventure

Welcome to Cusco City, heart of the Incan Empire. Take time to explore Cusco City’s many attractions and to acclimatize. In the evening we’ll build and adjust bikes and deliver rental bikes to those who have chosen this service. 

Later, we’ll participate in a trip orientation and safety briefing, and enjoy a welcome dinner in one of Cusco’s fine restaurants. 

If possible, we recommend arriving several days early to Cusco City to allow for better acclimatization. 

ARRIVALS TO CUSCO CITY AND WELCOME DINNER

This guided city tour explores Cusco’s most important Inca and colonial landmarks. It begins at Qoricancha, the former Inca Temple of the Sun, later transformed by the Spanish into the Convent of Santo Domingo, showcasing remarkable Inca stonework. The visit continues to the Plaza de Armas, the historic heart of the Inca Empire, home to the Cusco Cathedral and the Church of La Compañía de Jesús. The tour then heads to the impressive archaeological sites surrounding the city: the monumental fortress of Sacsayhuamán, the ceremonial center of Q’enqo, the red-stone complex of Puka-Pukara, and Tambomachay, known as the Inca Baths, famous for its sophisticated water channels. The tour ends with a return to your hotel. 

CUSCO CITY TOUR AND NEARBY RUINS  

We’ll shuttle our gravel bikes and luggage to the southern extreme of Cusco City, a high‑altitude wetland, Lake Huacarpay, with over 60 endemic bird species. It’s important to make sure that all bikes are comfortable and properly adjusted, so we prefer to avoid the city traffic and do this in a more relaxed setting. 

Later, our ride will take us along the scenic Vilcanota River through fields of thick-grain corn and native Andean grains like quinoa and kiwicha. Today’s ride is the perfect introduction to the Cusco region – some short climbs, but for the most part flat and rolling. 

 

HUACARPAY LAKE TO THE SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS 

The Sacred Valley Bike Corridor connects the communities and towns along the scenic Sacred Valley of the Incas. We’ll pedal along the charming Urubamba River and enjoy a visit to the Urco Ruins, home to Incan terraces still in agricultural use. 

Today’s ride will be set against the majestic Cordillera Urubamba, with views of Sahuasiray and Chicon glaciers. Our goal will be to finish shortly after midday, allowing plenty of time to explore Calca on foot and rest for our first substantial climb of the trip tomorrow. 

 

SACRED VALLEY BIKE CORRIDOR 

We’ll take advantage of the fresh morning hours to ascend along a paved road towards the Lares Pass. This is the largest climb of our trip. As we approach the pass, the scenery becomes increasingly verdant and herds of alpaca graze at the foot of Nevado Sahuasiray. 

From the pass, we’ll enjoy the views of Nevado Terijuay, descending through small farming communities until reaching the town of Lares, home of the famous thermal baths. 

CROSSING THE ANDES TO THE LARES THERMAL BATHS 

Our path takes us through the “ceja de selva”, the jungle’s eyebrow, an area of dense cloud forest situated on the border of the Manu Biosphere. We’ll descend into a deep canyon where the river forms impressive waterfalls. 

En route to Quebrada Honda, we’ll visit a local coffee farm in the Yanatile region, known for top‑quality beans. 

THE JUNGLE’S EYEBROW, COFFEE COUNTRY 

Today’s ride is full of ups-and-downs. As we descend in elevation, cacao farms and orange groves dominate the landscape. We’ll visit a local cacao farmer along the way. 

For lunch, we’ll enjoy paco frito, a local fish. Afterwards, we climb out of Chahuares and into the Lower Urubamba Valley, ending at our Echarate lodge with a pool and barbecue. 

 

LOWER YANATILE RIVER TO ECHARATE

We ascend along a rolling dirt road through lush tropical landscapes. We’ll ride through Quillabamba, the region’s largest city and hub of coffee processing and export. After lunch, we continue toward Maranura, where we'll spend the night. 

QUILLABAMBA, COFFEE CAPITAL, AND MARANURA 

We rise early and shuttle to Santa Teresa, then take the train from Hidroeléctrica to Machu Picchu Pueblo. Enjoy a guided tour of Machu Picchu Citadel. In the evening, train to Ollantaytambo. 

BACK DOOR TO MACHU PICCHU 

We climb to the Maras plateau with views of the Cordillera Urubamba and Nevado Salkantay, riding past Huaypo and Piuray lakes. After lunch at Laguna Piuray, we return to Cusco and enjoy a farewell dinner. 

 

CLOSING THE LOOP, OLLANTAYTAMBO TO CUSCO 

Airport shuttles are available all day. Guides assist with bike packing. Support available for trip extensions or storage. 

departures

Designed as a progressive route for acclimatization, the itinerary blends challenging climbs, long rolling descents, and meaningful cultural encounters—from Inca terraces and glacier views to coffee and cacao farms deep in the jungle’s eyebrow. 
The adventure culminates with a back-door approach to Machu Picchu and a final ride across the Maras plateau before returning triumphantly to Cusco. 

Cusco gravel adventure 

Gallery

travel itinerary

This 11 -day gravel journey connects the high Andean wetlands, the Sacred Valley, and the lush cloud forests on the edge of the Amazon. 

CUSCO CITY TOUR AND NEARBY RUINS

HUACARPAY LAKE TO THE SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS

SACRED VALLEY BIKE CORRIDOR

CROSSING THE ANDES TO THE LARES THERMAL BATHS

THE JUNGLE’S EYEBROW, COFFEE COUNTRY

QUILLABAMBA, COFFEE CAPITAL, AND MARANURA

BACK DOOR TO MACHU PICCHU

CLOSING THE LOOP, OLLANTAYTAMBO TO CUSCO

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On each trip we carry a medical kit, but we suggest you bring a small personal First-Aid Kit for bruises and blisters. Knee and ankle braces are sometimes useful especially if you suffer from weak knees or ankles. Include any special medication your doctor might suggest for you.