DAY 1; CUSCO – YANAMAYO OCOBAMBA – QUILLABAMBA

On the first day, we will begin our 3-hour drive to the starting point. Our team will pick you up at your hotel at 5:30 am. We will travel by car through the Sacred Valley, passing through Urubamba and Ollantaytambo. We will have breakfast in the town of Ollantaytambo for 50 minutes and then continue our tour through the Patacancha Valley. During the journey, we will admire beautiful Andean terraces, used by the Incas to this day for the cultivation of corn, potatoes, beans, and other crops.

Upon arriving at Patacancha, we will see its inhabitants dressed in their traditional clothing, a mix of intense red, green, and orange hues that create a beautiful visual contrast. Take the opportunity to take photos with the locals, as it is a unique experience. We will continue our journey to the Yanamayo Pass, located at 4,300 meters (14,000 feet), where the temperature will range between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius, depending on the time of year. It is important to bring a warm jacket to protect us from the cold.

Our guide will give us a brief briefing on trail safety and bicycle use. Once we are ready, we will begin the descent along a road surrounded by mountains with vegetation typical of the Andean highlands. As we descend, the landscape will change, going from the Andean mountains to the edge of the jungle, where we will see fruit trees such as bananas, oranges, coffee, and cocoa. This bike tour will end in the town of Ocobamba, where we will have lunch and rest before continuing to Quillabamba.

ROUTE CHARACTERISTICS

• Level: Easy – Basic
• Distance: 37 km
• Maximum – Minimum Altitude: 4,300 m / 1,500 m
• Type of Activity: Road Biking – XC
• Vertical Gain: -2,800 + 400 m
• Time: 6 hours

DAY 2: QUILLABAMBA BICYCLE – SANTA TERESA – COCALMAYO HOT SPRINGS

This day we will begin at 8 a.m. enjoying a delicious coffee from the renowned community of Quillabamba, known for having some of the best coffee in South America. After enjoying this drink, we’ll drive for 45 minutes to a village located 1,500 meters above sea level.

There, we’ll prepare our bikes to begin an exciting descent along a road that crosses the Quillabambina rainforest, surrounded by fruit trees and cassava, cacao, and coffee crops. Along the way, our guide will make several stops so we can taste different fruits and observe the coffee plantations up close. If it’s in season, we’ll also be able to see the coca crops.

Once we arrive in Santa Teresa, we’ll stop for lunch in a cabin for approximately one hour. Afterward, we’ll continue descending until we reach the Cocalmayo hot springs, where we can relax in the thermal waters located on the banks of the Vilcanota River. Finally, we’ll rest in the picturesque town of Santa Teresa next to the Campestre cabin.

ROUTE CHARACTERISTICS

• Level: easy – basic
• Distance: 15k
• Maximum – minimum altitude: 1,800m / 1,600m
• Activity type: road biking – XC
• Vertical elevation: -200m + 100m
• Time: 6 hours

DAY 3; HYDROELECTRIC HIKING – AGUAS CALIENTES

On the third day of our excursion, we will begin at 8:00 a.m. with a delicious breakfast in Santa Teresa. At approximately 10:00 a.m., our vehicle will take us to the hydroelectric plant, the starting point for the hike to Aguas Calientes. The drive along the mountain will take approximately 50 minutes.

Once at the hydroelectric plant, we will prepare for an approximately 3-hour hike to the charming town of Aguas Calientes. The trail runs near the railway line, surrounded by imposing mountains and accompanied by the Vilcanota River.

During the tour, you’ll have the opportunity to take photographs and visit the impressive Mandor Waterfalls, a must-see.

Finally, we’ll arrive in Aguas Calientes, where we’ll enjoy a delicious lunch and have time to rest. The afternoon is free to explore the town at your own pace and enjoy its charms.

ROUTE CHARACTERISTICS

• Level: Easy – Basic
• Distance: 7.5k
• Maximum – Minimum Altitude: 1,800m / 1,600m
• Activity Type: Hiking
• Elevation: -200m + 100m
• Time: 6 hours

DAY 4; GUIDED TOUR OF MACHU PICCHU

On the last day, the most anticipated, it will be time to visit Machu Picchu. Our guide will pick us up early at the bus station at 7:00 a.m. The car ride will take us to the entrance gate to the Machu Picchu sanctuary, offering stunning views of the mountains and the Vilcanota River.

Once there, we will check in and present our tickets to enter Machu Picchu. Depending on the tour we have chosen, we will visit different areas of the archaeological site.

During the tour through the enigmatic streets of Machu Picchu, our guide will tell us the fascinating history behind this place. There will be time to take photos and cherish this unique adventure. After a two-hour visit, we will return by bus to Aguas Calientes, where we will enjoy lunch while we wait for our train back to Cusco.

We’ll be back in the city at 4:40 p.m., where our vehicle will be waiting to take us back to our hotel, thus concluding our adventure tour.

NOTE

If you don’t have time for the 4-day mountain bike trip to Machu Picchu, contact us to arrange a 1, 2, or 3-day bike vacation. We’re flexible!