Lares Biking, BBQ and Hot Springs 2d/1n

Get geared up for this awesome mountain biking trip, which is one of the most exciting Cusco has to offer. Complete with two descents, over 100 kilometers (62 miles) of terrain, hot springs, BBQ, and camping – it's a good way to satisfy your desire for adventure! A full-suspension Kona mountain bike will be your trusty steed on this voyage. On day one, climb to Amparaes Pass and enjoy a 2000-meter descent and then a relaxing soak in the Lares Hot Springs complete with a hot plate of BBQ. On day two, climb to Lares Pass and enjoy another incredible ride on authentic Inca Trails. This is your ticket to Cusco excitement!

Tour Itinerary

Day 1
Cusco – Abra Amparaes – Lares Hot Springs (Camping)

Leaving Cusco at 7 AM, we enjoy our included breakfast on the 2½-hour drive up to Abra Amparaes (4387 meters or 14,400 feet). Here we'll get set up with all the usual great biking equipment we supply including: 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!

After we're all set up, we receive a safety briefing including tips on cycling techniques. Then we set off! This downhill of over 63 kilometers (39 miles) and 2000 meters (6,500 feet) vertical descent takes us from the Andean mountains to the high jungle of the Amazon basin passing through numerous local communities. We have options of pure dirt road or on occasion we can take some fantastic single-track options. Along the way, we enjoy our delicious lunch. Close to the jungle town of Manto, we stop and load the bikes onto our private support vehicle for the one-hour uphill drive to the hot springs of Lares.

Arriving there, we unload all the kit and set up camp in the hot springs. Then with everyone pitching in, we prepare our succulent barbeque dinner and enjoy the heat of some of the hottest hot springs in Peru – possibly accompanied by a couple of cold ones or some wine (included).

Day 2
Lares Hot Springs – Abra Lares – Calca - Cusco

After a relaxed breakfast we have two options. Most opt for the famous Cola De Mono – one of the highest and longest ziplines in South America. This adrenaline-pumping ride consists of 6 sections of zipline totaling nearly 4 kilometers of high wire. Criss-crossing the valley, you begin the ride about 250 meters above the valley floor and finish at the bottom. The zipline costs $40 to do. The other option is to spend a relaxing morning in a town by the river and under the tropical sun, visit the famous hot springs a couple of kilometers from the town where there are various pools and the water is crystal clear (not included), or just hang out at the Cola de Mono Zipline area but not actually do the zipline.

After finishing our morning's activities, we take local transport to the Hydroelectric Dam. We then begin to make our way to Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu. We now have a relaxing and scenic 3-hour trek along the railway lines where we will see our first views of Machu Picchu itself and some new parts of it being uncovered that are only viewable from this trek! We will spend the night in Aguas Calientes in a comfortable hostel.