4-Day Cusco to Manu Mountain Bike Adventure

From Pisac, you drive up into barren Altiplano to a pass at 4100m. Here you begin another day of mountain biking in Peru with a great descent to the small village of Paucartambo, with spectacular views of the surrounding Andes. There are a few optional single track trails available en route if you have enough mountain biking experience.

In Paucartambo you hop back on the support vehicle and drive to the edge of the Manu National Park and the Tres Cruces campsite. Famous for spectacular views of the Amazon jungle stretched out below, it seesf a spectacular sunrise phenomenon in June and July.

Cycling Distance – 45km, ascent negligible, descent – 1200m

Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner, transport, bike, helmet, gloves, camping equipment (except sleeping bag)

Rising early and weather permitting, you enjoy a spectacular sunrise over the rainforest. At certain times of the year, the refracting sun rays bounce off the jungle below, creating a truly amazing spectacle.

Back on the mountain bikes, you start with a fun 16km ride along the final ridge of the Andes, before dropping off the edge of the Amazon basin for the descent into the amazing Manu cloud forest.

It is downhill mountain biking all day, surrounded by spectacular jungle views and hopefully glimpsing rare wildlife en route. Andean bears, pumas, various species of monkey and hundreds of birds have all been sighted on this same trip. You camp at the small jungle hamlet of San Pedro.

Cycling Distance – 64km, ascent – 160m, descent – 2700m

Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner, transport, bike, helmet, gloves, camping equipment (except sleeping bag)

Continuing on downhill you enter the rainforest and pass various small villages, where you can see how settlers try to eke out a living in this hostile environment.

Stopping along the way for cold drinks and a chance to cool off in pristine jungle streams, you eventually reach Atalaya: the gateway to Manu. Here is where the tour ends and you either continue your journey into the Manu National Park and one of its lodges or return to Cusco, arriving late in the evening to be dropped off at your hotel.

Cycling Distance – 40km, ascent – 200m, descent 200m

Included: breakfast, lunch, transport, bike, helmet, gloves

In order to fully enjoy your trip it is very important that you choose the right trip for you and fully understand what it involves.

There are risks inherent in travelling in Peru, as indeed there are in most of the activities that we provide. Many of the activities we offer also involve a significant level of effort on your part.  After all, it is called Adventure Travel for a reason.

It is really important that you read both the trip notes above and the Risk and Safety Section on our website, to enable you to choose the best trip for you. Once you have read them both, please make sure you ask if there is anything you do not understand. We classify this trip as:

• Mountain Bike ‘Advanced’… These rides are mostly aimed at experienced mountain bikers – But if you are ‘fit’ (What does that mean? In this case – that you do regular exercise – walk/cycle/jog/squash/ etc), ride quite regularly i.e. commute and have an ‘adventurous’ disposition, then you might consider this too! As an experienced rider you will know that this type of trip will involve some (quite a lot really!) sweating and breathing hard! It will involve steep ascents and technical/fast descents. There may be sections of rough trail that falling off is not an option! The days are likely to be long, remote and even arduous at times. Our experienced guides will help you to develop your riding skills and confidence – there may be times where you (but not others!) are asked to walk a section of trail… Please follow the advice of the guide, they really do know what they are doing! Make sure you are comfortable with this description (and the remainder of the trip notes), if at all unsure, then drop us an email asking for more clarification. We want you to book the perfect trip for you!