Cycle Peru: Machu Picchu & Titicaca

The tour starts at our hotel in Cusco where we will be met by your leader. After some time to unpack and settle into the hotel we will head out for a short orientation tour and experience a ‘locals' tour of the city where we will see the real Cusco and areas not commonly visited by tourists. This walking tour is a great bit of gentle exercise to help get used to the high altitude and thinner air. Stay: Hotel Tupaq Yupanqui (or similar.)

We start today with a short transfer out of Cusco to Corao Pass (3650m). Here we set up the bikes and start our acclimatisation ride back down towards Cusco. After a short while we get to the first Inca ruins of the tour at Tambomachay, otherwise known as the ‘Inca's Bath' due to its finely preserved waterfalls which have been carefully diverted through stone channels. From here we head to the delightful small ruin of Puca Pucara which is believed to have been used as a ‘tambo', a rest house for traveling animals. We then continue down the road to the final and most stunning ruins of the day at Sacsayhuaman. Although the smaller stones were used to build the modern day Cusco many of the larger stones remain in place and are up to 8.5m tall and weighing 360 tonnes! After some time here we continue cycling back to our hotel in Cusco. Stay: Hotel Tupaq Yupanqui (or similar.)

After a short bus transfer out of busy Cusco we get on the bikes and start our cycle along a smooth paved road before turning off onto a very quiet and scenic road which follows the Urubamba River. We will stop for a picnic lunch by the river and take in the spectacular scenery before cycling the rest of the way to Pisac. In Pisac we will have time to explore the artisan Andean market and purchase some souvenirs before heading to our hotel. Stay: Hotel Royal Inka Pisac (or similar.)

Today starts with a short vehicle transfer up to the incredible Inca ruins in the hills above Pisac. We have some time here to explore, before we drive over the river to the village of Taray where our day's cycling starts. Today's ride follows a beautiful undulating road that connects several small villages and haciendas where we can see traditional farming methods still being used. We also get to enjoy a stunning backdrop of glaciated mountains and Inca ruins as we make our way through the villages of Qoya, Lamay and Calca before arriving in Urubamba. Stay: Hotel Villa Urubamba (or similar.)

After breakfast we have a short transfer to the impressive Maras salt pans where we can witness the salt being mined by hand and purchase a small bag of salt to take home. Our ride starts amongst the fields of the of the Chinchero plateau; surrounded by a patchwork of colours from the array of crops being grown and with the snow-capped Urubamba mountain range in the background, this spot is a photographer's dream! From here we cycle to Moray and visit a fascinating trio of Inca ruins and also stop for lunch. Our route then descends into the Sacred Valley where we can stop at an award winning craft brewery before continuing to our accommodation in the town of Ollantaytambo. Stay: Tunupa Lodge (or similar.)

Getting up early we continue to follow in the footsteps of the last of the Incas, climbing (in the vehicle) to the pass of Abra Malaga (4200m). From here we should have (on a clear day) great views of the snowy Mt. Veronica and the descent into the jungle below. We get on the bikes and start a long descent through cloud forest and past tea and coffee plantations into the Amazon basin, full of banana and other fruit plantations. Once we reach the town of Huyro the road flattens out for the final stretch to St Maria. We get in the vehicle to transfer the remaining distance to the rural sleepy town of Santa Teresa where we can relax in the hot springs to soak away the aches and pains. Stay: Hotel Yacuamu (or similar.)

After a short transfer (20min) we start following a spectacular royal Inca trail up through lush coffee and tropical fruit plantations and into pristine cloud forest. As the path crests the ridge, old Inca walls appear out of the forest and we will step into the recently cleared ruins of Llactapata. The American explorer Hiram Bingham got here too, but the map he drew was so bad that neither he nor anyone else could find the ruins again for 80 years. It wasn't until the mid-1990's when an Anglo-American team found them once more, totally covered over by thick jungle vines. From here the view over to Machu Picchu is magnificent, few tourists have ever seen it from this side, and we will spend some time here to take it in and watch the Andean Swifts playing overhead before descending to the train station at the bottom of the valley. From here we have the option to catch the train or take a three hour trek to our hotel in Machu Picchu Pueblo. Stay: Hotel Hatun Inti Classic (or similar.)

Today we explore Machu Picchu! For years it was lost to the jungle until being re-discovered by Yale professor and world explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911, now it is recognised as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site and truly exceeds all expectations. New regulations for visiting Machu Picchu are now fully enforced; you will be limited to a maximum of four hours within the site and must be accompanied by a guide. There will also be three set routes to follow around Machu Picchu; Exodus selects the most comprehensive route. Please note that exploring the ruins involves a reasonable amount of walking, including up and down steep and uneven stone steps. After our visit to the site we head back down and catch the bus back to Machu Picchu Pueblo then take the train that follows the Urubamba River back to Cusco. Stay: Hotel Tupaq Yupanqui (or similar.)

There are lots of things to see and do in Cusco, including visiting Inca ruins and colonial churches, bargaining and buying from artisan markets or exploring this fascinating city on foot and visiting the local restaurants and cafes. Stay: Hotel Tupaq Yupanqui (or similar.)

Today we start our adventure towards Lake Titicaca with a transfer out of Cusco and high onto the Altiplano. We stop at La Raya Pass (4313m) and get on the bikes to start our cycle along a good quality tarmac road until we get to a junction where we turn off and drive to our overnight accommodation at an Alpaca hacienda. Here we learn all about these fascinating animals and about rural life as we stay in rustic accommodation. Stay: Pacomarca Alpaca Ranch (or similar.)

Leaving the alpaca farm, we drive back to the main road and skirt the bustling city of Juliaca, taking a small tarmac road out towards a rarely visited peninsula of Lake Titicaca. Back on our bikes again, we cycle on lovely quiet roads until we reach the lake shore and ride through small villages to the lovely hamlet of Llachon. Here we meet our hosts and are allocated a family homestay for the night. If time permits, we can take a short hike to a lovely view point over Lake Titicaca for an incredible sunset. Stay: Llachon Homestay (or similar.)

Saying goodbye to our local families, we head to their dock for a gorgeous boat ride across Lake Titicaca en route to Puno. We will stop to visit the amazing Uros floating reed islands before arriving in the town of Puno and our hotel for the night. Stay: Hotel Qelcetani (or similar.)

Our adventure ends after breakfast in Puno.