Bike the Sacred Valley of the Incas/Machu Picchu
November 7-16 2008

Price: $3,345.00 per person. This price includes: All accommodations (4 star hotels), all breakfast and dinners (except one), and two lunches, three bike tours with private guides, bike rentals, deluxe motor coach throughout the tour, all entrance fees for tours and archeologcial sites, Bilingual English speaking travel manager throughout tour, gratuities at restaurants, beverages with meals. This price does not include: International airfare, telephone calls, laundry, gratuity for driver, local guides and porters, personal insurance, and airport taxes.

A $500.00 deposit is requested upon reservation, second $500.00 deposit is due by June 15 and final payment is due October 15.

Day 1 November 7
US to Cuzco, Peru Late day departure to Lima with early morning transfer to Cuzco.(11,156ft.)

Day 2 November 8
Cuzco to The Sacred Valley of the Inca (Huayllabamba) Our tour in Peru will begin at the airport in Cuzco and transfer to The Sacred Valley of the Inca to the town of Huayllabamba, where we will be based for the next three days. Our hotel, Sol y Luna,(www.hotelsolyluna.com) will be our base camp as we cycle for three days thru this fascinating valley. The valley itself is located at a much lower altitude(9,000 ft) than that of Cuzco making the temperature very mild and a perfect place to acclimate. This valley is very fertile and the Incas took full advantage of it; scattering towns and agricultural centers throughout the length of the valley. Some of the largest and sweetest corn in the world is found here, along with numerous archeological sites and Indian markets. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 3 November 9
Hyayllabamba to Pisac (Red route on the map) After breakfast we will start our first bicycle ride along the Sacred Valley from Huayllabamba to Pisaq on a back road where there is little traffic. The road and terrain is relatively flat so the ride will be a good warm up for us. We¹ll stop at the local Indain market for shopping and lunch, returning to the hotel in the afternoon to relax by the pool. Distance: 27 miles. Dinner at the hotel

Day 4 November 10
Yanahuara-Ollantaytambo (Green route on the map) Today will be another beautiful ride through the Sacred Valley on a back road along the river toward the village of Ollantaytambo. Again, this will not be a difficult ride. Ollantaytambo is dominated by a massive Inca fortress above the village. It is also the best surviving example of Inca city planning with narrow cobblestone streets that have been constantly inhabited since the 13th century. Lunch is on your own. Distance: 18 miles. Dinner at the hotel

Day 5 November 11
Chincero-Maras-Monray-Tarabamba (Blue route on the Map) After breakfast we¹ll take a short bus ride to the village of Chinchero at 12,408ft and begin our bike tour, passing by the Lake of Hyapyo, the village of Cruzpata, and then a visit of the Salineras de Maras, an eye-catching salt mine where an ancient method of drying salt is still practiced today. From here we¹ll descend into the valley and stop for lunch at the Hacienda Tunupa. The first part of the ride is a ³little up and a little down², the second half is down only. The ride is on a back roads and is considered moderate. Distance: 25 miles Dinner at hotel.

Day 6 November 12
Sacred Valley-Machu Picchu‹Agua Caliente (www.inkaterra.com) Early departure by train for the lost city of the IncasŠ..Machu Picchu. Optional hike, the train will drop you off four miles from the entrance of Machu Picchu , so you can hike two and a half hours on the Inca Trail Machu Picchu with it¹s aweinspiring location , is the best known and most spectacular archaeological site on the continent. This bewitching sanctuary is the most perfect surviving example of Inca architecture, having never been looted or damaged by the Conquistadors. Archaeologists today are forced to rely heavily on speculation and educated quesswork as to its function. It¹s name comes from the ancient Quechua word that means ³old mountains.² Discovered in 1911 by an American researcher, Hiram Bingham, there are now many hypothesis regarding the construction of the city, only one thing is for certain, it was built to represent the Incas most important center for worship and astronomic observations. After a guided tour we¹ll take a bus down to Aqua Caliente, the nearest village from the ruins, and stay at the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, a fabulous lodge located in the middle of the rain forest. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 7 Agua Caliente----Cuzco
Breakfast and morning at leisure: An early trip back to the ruins to see them in the morning light or a guided walk from the hotel to see the tea plantation with humming birds and Peruvian orchids. Early afternoon train ride to Cuzco (3 hours 45 minutes). Transfer to hotelŠwww.casa-andina.com. Dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 8 Cuzco
Breakfast and a half day sightseeing tour of surrounding areas around Cuzco including the Inca ruins of Sacsayhuaman, the Red Fortress of Puka Pukara, the Baths at Tambomachay and the Temple of Qenqo. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner on your ownŠa chance to explore the exquisite cuisine of Cuzco..

Day 9 Cuzco
A day of leisure for optional activities: Shopping, photography, more sightseeing, relaxing. Farewell dinner in a Peruvian restaurant.

Day 10 Cuzco-Lima-USA
Departure for Lima. Upon arrival in Lima, we¹ll have a sightseeing tour of the colonial and modern areas of the city. Lunch and time to stroll around before we head to the airport and transport back to the USA.

Map of the Bicycle Ride
 

 

To make Reservations, or for more information, please call
CHALLENGE UNLIMITED
1-800-798-5954 or (719) 633-6399,
or e-mail us at info@bikithikit.com