CultureTrack Peru:The Ultimate Llamajam

Active Adventure

Immerse yourself in Peruvian culture and epic mountain biking.

-Rip 25-kilometre downhills dropping over 5000 feet.
-Enjoy fresh trout from the Colca River.
-Play soccer with local Spanish and Quechua children.
-Ride singletrack all day amid some of the world’s most breathtaking scenery.
-Watch huge condors soar above thousand foot cliffs.
-Experience Quechua culture as it has remained for hundreds of years.
-Bike, bike, and bike some more!

The rides cover a stretch of the Colca Canyon approximately 80 kilometres long and can only be described as epic in nature. The trip includes both pre-planned rides as well as explorations and options to provide a fun and flexible experience (See the itinerary). Many opportunities exist for trekking and rafting if you wish to take part in these activities as extras.

While the Colca Canyon provides spectacular mountain biking, we believe that if we’re going to head for another continent we should submerge ourselves in the local culture, expanding our understanding of the world and stretching our experience. When not on the bikes, we take part in as much cultural activity as possible. This includes staying with local people, eating local food, playing soccer and other activities with local kids, and checking out everything from condors and geysers to ruins and rivers.



We stay in guest houses and resorts that do not isolate us from the local culture. These include Home Peru in Lima, Astorga Guest House in Arequipa, Rumi Wasi in Chivay, and Pachamarka Real in Maca.

A typical day is half riding and half cultural experience.

You're in good hands with two to three guides fluent in Spanish and First Aid certified, and at least one experienced bike mechanic.



All inclusive
Our trip is an all inclusive package, meaning that once you touch down in Lima you need not worry about any more logistics or expenses. We cover lodging, all in-country transportation, three meals a day, energy bars, tools, bike repair, bike trailers, shuttles, hot spring fees, and more.


Is This the Trip for You?

This is the question we hear most often from prospective clients. With the variety of bike trips available and the huge variation of rider abilities and fitness levels, this is understandable.



Type of Cycling
CultureTrack Peru is fully a mountain bike trip, with the majority of the riding on singletrack trails or rough track. While at least an intermediate level of mountain biking skill is recommended, the trip is kept very flexible to accommodate a wide variety of skill levels and pace preferences.

Level of physical activity
Some people fear that the intensity level or the pace of the riding will be too much for them. The intensity varies from day to day depending on location; however anyone who is involved in regular physical activity and has a proper weight will be able to enjoy this trip. There's plenty of climbing and descending, so a minimum level of health and fitness is important.

Choice of daytrips
To accommodate various levels of riders, we divide the group for daytrips. Since we have a minimum of 2 to 3 guides, we can split the group when necessary to allow you a choice of pace, difficulty, and distance. One group will go faster and longer, while the other goes shorter and slower. As well, all rides -- except for the treks between Maca and Chivay --are optional. This allows you to strike the right balance between biking, rest, and cultural activity.

Typical Day

Itinerary

Our itinerary varies slightly depending on the season but the following will give you an idea of the key elements.

Day 1
One of our guides will meet you at the Lima airport and bring you to Home Peru, an authentic Colonial Mansion in the beautiful Miraflores district. There you will meet the rest of the group over a dinner prepared by us and receive a briefing and overview of the trip.

Day 2
The next morning we fly to Arequipa in the south of Peru and stay at the Astorga Guest House. This is our base of operation in Peru and the place where your guides pick up the trailers and gear. Elevation at this point is approximately 8000ft above sea level. We may tour the City Centre if time permits.

Day 3
This morning we board a bus with all our gear and climb to 16,500ft before dropping to Chivay in the Colca Canyon. We settle into the Rumi Wasi, a colourful guest house run by a local Peruvian family. We unpack and assemble the bikes and acclimatize while checking out the village market. For those who are feeling up to it there are short optional rides in the area. Elevation at the base of the canyon is approximately 10,000ft.

Day 4
This morning we are up and going by 7am as mornings come early in this region (7am is their idea of sleeping in). We catch a shuttle to Pata Pampa at the top of the Canyon (approx. 16,000ft.) and ride down 25km back to Chivay on a mix of dirt road and great singletrack. Today is downhill only to allow for further acclimatization without intense effort. The afternoon is spent in cultural activities (soccer with the kids is always popular) and then we head for La Calera hot springs after supper for a soak before bed.

Day 5
We’re up even earlier this morning to load the BOB trailers and cycle 24km to Maca, stopping to check out the villages with their colonial churches along the way. This is rough dirt road riding with spectacular scenery. The feeling is almost that of a nomadic tribe as we pull our gear from village to village meeting locals along the way. We settle into the Pachamarka Real resort and spend the rest of the day exploring local trails, checking out the village, or just hanging out at the lodge overlooking the canyon.

Day 6
This morning we’re off early for a daytrip across the Colca River to the villages of Madrigal and Lari (awesome sand dunes) ending with a fabulous downhill rip back to the river, a soak in the Lari hot spring, and a zip line ride back across the river (season permitting). Options today include trekking to the Maca ruins, more local trails, mixing with the locals, or beating the guides at chess in the lodge.

Day 7
This morning we head for the most spectacular scenery via Pinchollio to Cruz del Condor, the deepest and steepest section of the canyon, to spot Condors soaring on the rising thermals. The vertical cliff face at this point is 3,200ft. straight down to the river bed. Here we split the group for an optional ride to the Pinchollio geyser where we have lunch then ride downhill back to Maca. This is some of the most incredible topography in the world. Total ride distance approx. 70km.

Day 8
Once again we load the BOBs and cycle back to Chivay and the Rumi Wasi. This afternoon we give you a taste of what we experience when setting up a trip. We take you to a new area that we’ve never explored and see what happens. Will it be a new epic ride or an afternoon to forget?

Day 9
Rising early once again we catch a shuttle to Sibayo in the east end of the canyon and ride back over 4-5 hours on one of the best trails on Earth, with breathtaking scenery and epic climbs and descents. After arriving back in Chivay we pack the bikes and hit the hot springs one more time.

Day 10
We catch a bus back to Arequipa and the Astorga Guest House. Tonight we dine in the heart of the White City.

Day 11
Fly back to Lima and Home Peru, capping it off with a visit to the best ice cream shop in the world (yes, it’s in Peru!). Then we tour the heart of the old city as time permits.

Day 12
Head home or wherever your heart desires.

Age range, type of group

Participants must be 18 years of age or older. Couples, singles and pre-arranged groups are all welcome.

Sleeping and meals

Accomodation provided at local guesthouses. All meals included. Meals range from campfire during daytrips to home cooked Peruvian meals.

Rates

$2650.00 US

Other Information

Dates:

February 28, 2005 to March 11, 2005

May 23, 2005 to June 3, 2005

July 11, 2005 to July 27, 2005

September 26, 2005 to October 7, 2005

November 7, 2005 to November 18, 2005

Custom dates available for pre-aranged groups of 7 or more.


Number of participants:
7-10 plus 2-3 guides.

Trip Length:
12days (7 riding).

Climate:
Dry with occasional rains. Daytime highs around 23C. Nighttime lows around 5C.

Approximate elevation range:
10,000 to 16,000 ft above sea level (riding).