Cusco is located in the south of Peru, in the Sierra de los Andes at 3,400 m above sea level, surrounded by many mountains, snow-capped peaks, and lagoons.
Many years ago, there were no roads; only the bridle paths or Inca trails that were used by the Inca culture exist today.
Mountain biking in Cusco – Perú
Salkantay to Machu Picchu bike route
This is one of the best bicycle expeditions in the Cusco region, crossing the imposing snow-capped Salkatay mountain range and connecting to the citadel of Machu Picchu over a distance of more than 68 kilometers.
Salkantay to Machu Picchu mountain biking book!
On this expedition, you can also visit the Humantay Lagoon, which is located at 4,266 meters. The next day, the hardest part of the route will begin, because to get from the community of Soraypampa to the Salkantay Pass, you have to push or load your bicycle on a horse.
The Salkantay Pass is at 4,631 m. From this point, it begins a straight descent to the district of Santa Teresa, crossing through the community of Chaullay, some rivers, and the funniest singletrack road with stones and steps.
The route takes you from a cold, dry climate to a warm, jungle setting where you can enjoy a good medicinal bath in Santa Teresa.
To get to the town of Aguas Calientes, you have to walk 13 km from the hydroelectric site to the town, and the next day, visit the wonder of Machu Picchu.
Can I do the Sallkantay route on my own?
It is not possible to do it on your own; why? because you need special mobility to carry a bicycle, equipment, a first aid kit, know where to spend the night, and a double suspension mountain bike, which is impossible to rent due to how valuable it is.
We recommend doing this expedition with an agency specializing in bicycle tours, which include everything.
Ausangate bike route
The snow-capped Ausangate is located in the province of Ocongate, a 3-hour bus ride from Cusco. If you like mountain biking, this route is another of the best expeditions you can do in Cusco.
This Ausangate cycling expedition can last from four to one day for experienced cyclists.
The routes you can do in Ausangate are:
- Mountain bike routes Ausangate and 7 Colors
- Ausangate bike route: Hayuni Lines and 7 Lagoons Circuit
- bike route, the pass of Ausangate
Any of these three bicycle routes through Ausangate will be your best enduro experience on wide and short singletrack roads with a distance of 43 km. climbing to a positive difference of 911 m.
Can I do this expedition through Ausangate on my own?
It is not recommended to do it on your own; you can book with a local bike tour agency to enjoy your vacation to the fullest.
Quelcaya Glacier Route by bike
One of the most immense glaciers in Peru is located in the Cusco region in the Vilcanota mountain range at 5,100 m above sea level.
I can do mountain biking near the Quelcaya Glacier?
If you have the right bike and the team of a traveling cyclist, you can do this expedition from Cusco, crossing the following places: Urcos, Quiquijana, Cusipata Checacupec, Pitumarca, Sibinacocha Lagoon, and the Phinaya community.
From this place, the stretch to the Quelcaya Glacier is flat and regularly rises to 5,300 m.
The strong section starts from Checacupec, which is a pure climb up to the community of Phinaya with an approximate positive elevation difference of 3,000 m.
But if you just want to spend a good cycling holiday at the Quelcaya Glacier, we recommend you book a bicycle tour with an operating agency.
Pallay Punchu bike route
This route is one of the best cross-country routes you can do when you are in Cusco; it has a total of 35 km. around the Langui lagoon, crossing the tourist attraction of Pallay Punchu, with a positive difference of 750 m., and a maximum altitude of 4,750 m.
The bicycle route starts from the surroundings of the Langui Lagoon and travels along a wide dirt road to the Pallay Punchu control, where you can start walking to the Apu Tacllu viewpoint, from where you will have a spectacular view of the Langui Lagoon.
Following that, another type of road will begin, alternating between short singletrack and wide road until reaching the community of Llallahui.
Can I do the Pallay Punchu route on my own?
Pallay Punchu is a 3-hour bus ride from Cusco, which is why we recommend doing this expedition with a travel agency specializing in bicycle tours.
What does the tour include with a travel agency?
It includes you, your bicycle, an adventure guide, equipment, food, and support for transportation at all times.
Waqrapukara Route / Tupac Amaru bike route
one of the best enduro routes through the Inca ruins of Waqrapukara that connects through the house of the rebel Tupac Amaru in the Surimana community.
Waqrapuka mountain biking book!
The bicycle route starts from the detour through the community of Sangrará near a lagoon; from this point, a short singletrack path with advanced difficulty leads to the Inca ruins of Waqrapukara.
From here, you can choose between two routes; one of them goes to the community of Campi for a short path between ups and downs.
Alternatively, you can take the singletrack road to the community of Santa Lucia, from which a wide dirt road begins, passing through the communities of San Juan, Tarca, Sayhua, and Surimana (the house of Tupac Amaru) until you reach the Pamapamarca and Aznacocha lagoons.
The distance of this route is 47 km, with a positive unevenness of 750 meters.
Can I do the Tupac Amaru route on my own?
Absolutely not, because the route itself has many lines that can take you to other places, and also because you need private mobility, a guide who knows the route, a professional bicycle, etc. And all this only offers you a travel agency, a bicycle tour operator.
The Qoyllority and Pirwayani Routes, the Vilcabamba Bicycle Route, the Cusco Death Route, the Salkantay Route, Ausangate, the 4 Lagoons Circuit, the 7 Colors Mountain Route, the Humantay Lagoon Route, the Qeswachaka Route, the Three Crosses Route, and the Manu Route
Real videos of mountain biking in Cusco to Machu Picchu
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