Cycling from Lake Titicaca to Machu Picchu
An exhilarating seven-day cycling expedition from Lake Titicaca through the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo, launching pad for a visit to Machu Picchu.
The area of starkly beautiful grasslands and farmsteads carpeting the altiplano around Lake Titicaca, and the pulchritudinous, ultra fertile Sacred Valley of the Incas are two of Latin America’s most attractive regions. Between the two, Peru’s Central Valley is defined by snow-dusted Andean mountains: the higher regions are grazed by llamas and alpacas herds; lower down, adobe cottages are perched on fields of cereals and fruit. Add to this the multitude of Inca ruins of temples and posthouses which stud the landscape and you can see why journeying from the lake to the region of Machu Picchu by motor vehicle doesn’t afford the scenery the attention it deserves.
Now you can cover this ground by bike, cycling from the lake’s edge right through the valley until you arrive at Ollantaytambo, gateway to Amazonia, and finish off your journey to Machu Picchu by train. It’s not an adventure for the faint-hearted: you’ll be cycling on unpaved roads and tracks for several hours a day, much of it at altitudes over 4,000m. The total distance cycled over 7 full days is 492km, averaging around 80km per day. But you’ll be able to absorb the views at a leisurely pace, taking in all the detail, probably engaging the surprise of local people as you glide by, camping under the stars or in friendly, simple inns.
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Tell us where you want to go, and we’ll take it from there. No obligation, no sales pitch – just a conversation with someone who knows the region inside out.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
Rosie embarked on a year-long backpacking trip across Latin America. She is excited to share her knowledge and experiences with others.
Finn discovered his passion for travel on an extensive 18-month trip to Latin America, experiencing the vibrant Carnaval in Rio, the end-of-the-world city of Ushuaia, trekking the Andes and volunteering on the Galápagos Islands.
Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.
Gary discovered what he had been missing with his first foray into the wilds of Latin America. In his role as Product Manager, he combines this personal obsession with years of industry experience to help ensure that travellers will fall for the region every bit as much as he has.
