Total cycling distance about 75km / Total descent 3312m
Total amount of fun – unquantifiable!
Distancia total en bicicleta 75 km. Aprox. / descenso total 3312m/ Cantidad total de diversión – incalculable !!!
The idea for this trip is to have a quality adventure getting to Machu Picchu. Combining a fantastic day of biking, trekking beautiful original Inca trail and giving you the opportunity to do the longest and highest zipline in South America PLUS one of world’s seven modern wonders!
Day one involves a 75km downhill bike ride to St Maria on top quality double suspension Kona mountain bikes.
Day two we are trekking original Inca trail to the rarely visited ruins of Llactapata from where we get our first spectacular views of Machu Picchu.
Day three we spend visiting that modern day wonder Machu Picchu getting the bus up (included) first thing. Our private small group tour gives us the space to take in what the guide is saying before we have time to wonder around on our own.
Day four in the morning we have the option of doing the longest and highest zipline in South America, having a trek to a local waterfall or just chilling out in the famous St Teresa hotsprings before returning to Cusco for the evening.
DAY ONE
Our biking day involves 75 Km and 3312m of vertical descent on a combination of asphalt and dirt roads, taking you from the Andes to the Amazon – the most adventurous way to get to Machu Picchu! From Cusco we head out to Abra Malaga where we start our biking, following the same route that the Inca Ollanta took in the 16th Century, leading his people to escape from the Spanish. Our biking finishes in the small jungle village of Santa Maria. After arriving and finishing a nice cold one we jump into local transport for the hour transfer to Santa Teresa and our hostel. After leaving our gear in the rooms those who wish can visit the famous hotsprings a couple of kilometres from the town where there are various pools and the water is crystal clear. (Entrance and transport not included)
Included – 6am pick up from the office (Santa Catalina Ancha #398), private transport Cusco to St Maria, breakfast, lunch, water, snacks, public transport from St Maria to St Teresa and good hostel accommodation in St Teresa.
The biking equipment we use includes a full suspension US$2500 Kona mountain bike, a Bern Macon mountain bike helmet, gloves, mountain biking goggles from Dragon, and a custom Buff scarf to keep your head from freezing and the dust out of your mouth and nose!
DAY TWO
After a relaxed breakfast we drive up the St Teresa valley to Lucmabamba the start of our trek.This short but spectacular drive through coffee (said to be the best organic coffee in the world), banana, grenadilla and various other plantations is delightful. Arriving at Lucmabamba we begin our trek along original Inca trail. After about 2 hours we reach the Llactapata pass from where it’s a short hike down to the the recently renovated ruins of the same name and our first spectacular view of Machu Picchu. The Llactapata ruins, originally discovered by Hiram Bingham, have only recently been “rediscovered” and added importance has been given to them by various archeological investigations and expeditions. After time to appreciate the view and refresh ourselves we continue downwards through bamboo forests and various plantations. Two hours later, after stopping along the way to enjoy our boxed lunch (included), we arrive at Hidro Electrica. Normally we try to jump on the afternoon train from here to Aguas Calientes but due to the heavy rains this train is no longer running. Therefore we now have a further 2 hour trek along the railway lines before arriving at our destination Aguas Calientes and our hostel for the night.
(Included – Boxed lunch and hostel accomnodation in Aguas Calientes)
DAY THREE
Rising early the following morning we take the bus up to Machu Picchu where we will have a guided tour around this amazing place. This two and a half hour tour is with a specialist private guide who speaks fluent English. After the tour we have plenty of time to wander around on our own to take in the majesty of this beautiful place before exploring Wuayna Picchu, Machu Picchu mountain, the Sungate or just sitting on the terraces soaking up the beauty and atmosphere of one of the seven modern wonders of the world. When we are ready we head down to our meeting point at Puente Ruinas from where we have a 2 hour walk back to Hidroelectrica and our transport to Santa Teresa and our hostal for the night.
(Included bus upto and entrance to Machu Picchu, transfer Hidro-St Teresa, hostel accommodation St T)
DAY FOUR
Waking up in the morning we have the following options
Chill out in Santa Teresa soaking up the peaceful atmosphere.
Take another trip down to the hotsprings and soak in the crystal clear waters.
Cola De Mono – one of the highest and longest ziplines in South America. This adrenaline pumping ride consists of 6 sections of zipline totalling nearly 4 kilometres of high wire. Criss-crossing the valley, you begin the ride about 250m above the valley floor and finish at the bottom. Just a 5 minute drive out of St Teresa, you leave at about 9 am and return around midday.
Walk to a local waterfall, exploring the flora and fauna on the way.
After finishing our mornings activities, we take local transport back to Santa Maria. After lunch (not included), we will climb on board local transport to head back to Cusco arriving in the evening.
