Back

Cycling from Lake Titicaca to Machu Picchu

CUB29_Cycling in the Vinales Valley_iStock_Free

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.

Activity Rating: challenging

Peru
Cusco

Papagaio

Your edit for Latin American inspiration

Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.

View Extraordinary Inspiration
Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Sophie
    Sophie Barber - Travel Expert

    Sophie lived in Chile before joining us and has travelled extensively across Latin America, from Mexico to the furthest tip of Patagonia and beyond to Antarctica.

  • Mary
    Mary Anne Nelson - Travel Expert

    Born in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, Mary’s insider knowledge and dry sense of humour make her a highly valued member of the Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tour sales team.

  • Hannah
    Hannah Donaldson - Travel Expert

    Having spent part of her childhood in Colombia and worked in Brazil and Costa Rica, Hannah's ties to Latin America run deep. Hannah is a much valued Travel Expert in our Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tours sales team.

  • Maggie
    Maggie Wilson - Travel Expert

    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.

  • Alex
    Alex Walker - Travel Expert

    A globetrotter since her childhood, Alex spent a year studying abroad in Guadalajara and has returned to Latin America countless times since then.

  • Charlotte
    Charlotte Daubeney - Travel Expert

    Charlotte's fascination with Latin America began with a family holiday to Belize. She went on to study Spanish in school and at university before spending a year living in Santiago, Chile.

0 1 2 3 4 5