Apurimac Rafting
Three days of level III–V white water and canyon wilderness camping on one of the great rafting rivers on earth.
Mountain Biking · Peru ·
The AndesThe Peru
The Andes
The Peru
MTB Mission
Twelve days in the Peruvian Andes: white-water rafting the Apurimac, riding the best singletrack in South America down ancient Inca trails through the Sacred Valley, crossing 5,000-metre passes and standing before the wonder of Machu Picchu.
12
Days riding & rafting
10–14
Riders per group
5,000m
Highest pass crossed
The Adventure
Ride the Inca trails
Ride the Inca trails
of
the Andes
This is our great mission beyond Africa: a twelve-day adventure through the Peruvian Andes that combines three days of white-water rafting on the legendary Apurimac
river with days of world-class mountain
biking on ancient Inca trails high above the Sacred Valley.
From a base in Cusco we ride the best downhill singletrack in South America, the Lares, Yuncaypata and the Moray–Maras trails, crossing high passes, dropping
through pre-Inca salt mines and finishing at the heart of the Inca Empire. In between we visit Ollantaytambo and, of course, Machu Picchu itself.
The whole mission is fully supported by expert English-speaking guides, a cook, a bike mechanic, a support vehicle, camping gear and GPS and satellite tracking, so all you have to do is ride, raft and take it all in.
Ancient Inca trails above the Sacred Valley
What Awaits
A bucket-list
A bucket-list
Andean odyssey
Sacred Valley Singletrack
Ride ancient Inca trails high above the Urubamba, past Moray and down to the Maras salt mines.
The Lares Descent
Four hours of the best downhill in South America from the Huayracpunku pass, wrapped in the Vilcanota range.
Machu Picchu
A full guided day at one of the Seven Wonders of the World, with the option to climb Huayna Picchu.
High Andean Passes
Never-ridden Inca trails from 5,000-metre passes down toward the Amazon, with a soak in local hot springs.
Fully Supported
Expert guides, a cook, a mechanic and a support vehicle, plus GPS and SPOT satellite tracking throughout.
Day by Day
Twelve days, river to ruins
Plus two travel days from South Africa
and back. Duration and dates
confirmed on booking.
Day 01
Arrive in Cusco
Arrival
Acclimatise
Meet your Peru guide at Cusco airport and transfer to Hotel Amerinka. The afternoon is for rest and altitude acclimatisation, then a welcome dinner of Peruvian cuisine with live traditional music and dance.
Day 02
Apurimac Rafting · Day 1
Rafting
Camp
A four-hour drive to the Apurimac, with a view of the canyon from 2,000 m up. After a safety briefing and practice, run fun level II and III rapids and the first level III+ to a sandy beach camp at Las Paltas, under a starry canyon sky.
Day 03
Apurimac Rafting · Day 2
Rafting
Level IV
The best rapids on the river: El Chute, the Minefield and Purgatory, all technical level IV, broken by swims, cliff jumps and lunch on the beach. Collect firewood, then hot food and river stories around the campfire.
Day 04
Apurimac Rafting · Day 3
Rafting
Level V
The river starts big, through the Labyrinth, the Toothache and the grade-V Babaluba and Last Laugh, before easing off to the take-out. Lunch and cold beers, then a two-hour drive back to the hotel in Cusco.
Day 05
Yuncaypata Downhill
Cycling
3,650–3,200 m
The Cusco cycling adventure begins on the Yuncaypata trail: past Pucapucara, Sacsayhuaman and Inca temples, down
narrow stone stairways through San Blas to
the Cusco main square, on your bike.
Half XC, half singletrack.
Day 06
Moray & the Maras Salt Mines
Cycling
Sacred Valley
A full day on the Sacred Valley: XC to the extraordinary Moray terraces, a buffet lunch, then a thrilling downhill on Inca trails to the pre-Inca Maras salt mines and down to the river. Overnight at a country lodge near Calca.
30 km
Day 07
The Lares Descent
Cycling
4,300 m
From the Huayracpunku pass, four hours of the best downhill in South America on a section of ancient Inca trail to Calca. Then Ollantaytambo and the tourist train to Aguas Calientes, at the foot of Machu Picchu.
25 km
Day 08
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu
A full day at one of the Seven Wonders of the World: a two-hour guided tour, then open time to explore and to climb Huayna Picchu. Train and bus back to Cusco in the afternoon.
Day 09
Tink'i Pass to Marcapata
Cycling
5,000 m
Transfer to the 5,000 m Tink’i pass to ride never-before-ridden Inca trails down toward the Amazon rainforest at Marcapata. A box lunch on the way, then a soak in the local hot springs. Overnight at a lodge.
Day 10
Marcapata to Quincemil
Cycling
Jungle
On toward the jungle village of Quincemil on alternating dirt road and Inca trail, with a box lunch on the way. Overnight in a local lodge, deep in the green.
Day 11
Ride Back to Cusco
Cycling
An early transfer back to the Tink’i pass, then bike down dirt road and Inca trail to Ocongate before the vehicle takes us back to Cusco. Overnight in the hotel.
Day 12
Cusco & Home
Travel
A last breakfast, then our private vehicle takes us, fully loaded with unforgettable experiences, to Cusco airport for the journey home.
Good To Know
What the Peru
What the Peru
mission includes
Price to be confirmed on booking. A comprehensive package on the
ground in Peru.
What's included
- Private transport on all tours & a full-time support vehicle
- Expert English-speaking guides, cook and bike mechanic
- Accommodation in hotels, lodges and camps as listed
- Meals as listed, plus all camping and cooking gear
- Apurimac rafting guide, equipment and the tourist train
- Entrance fees to all sites, first-aid kit, GPS & SPOT tracking
- Copies of all photos and videos from
the tour
Not included
- International flights to and from Peru
- Your own sleeping bag and sleeping pad
- Drinks, personal spending and gratuities
- Travel insurance
Please note: this is a high-altitude adventure with passes up to 5,000 m, so a good level of fitness and time to acclimatise are essential. Dates are confirmed with the group on booking.
Scheduled & Tailor-Made
Peru your way
Join a scheduled departure or let us build this trip around your group. Tell us your dates and we’ll put together the itinerary,
logistics and pricing.