Riding an Epic trail near Mt. Salkantay in Peru
Jan 1, 2009
This is a story of an EPIC ride in Peru. It's Epic because it's located on a remote area of the Peruvian Andes, because we have descended more than 4,000m (13,123ft) and we have reached Machu Picchu.
Peru is getting known as one of the most extreme destinations for mountain biking around the globe. We have been showing great trails that we have on our Andes Mountains. Long lasting descents with more than 4,000m (13,123ft.) are not easy to find like in Peru!
Peru is getting known as one of the most extreme destinations for mountain biking around the globe. We have been showing great trails that we have on our Andes Mountains. Long lasting descents with more than 4,000m (13,123ft.) are not easy to find like in Peru!
Just a few days ago we thought that our trail from Olleros (3,550m – 11,646ft) to the Pacific Ocean was the biggest descent in Peru. Now we have found a bigger descent and we are sure that there are even bigger descents to be discovered by mountain bikers! Most of these trails were built hundreds of years ago by our past cultures.
[PI=2834229 size=m align=c]Mollepata Town[/PI]
A few days ago we made an exploration trip near the Salkantay Glacier (6,721m – 22,050ft.) in Cusco. We knew that there was a trail for hikers and we decided to go with our mountain bikes. We studied the trail a bit by checking maps and asking local people and immediately we knew that we were going to face a super challenging trail never tried by mountain bikers. It’s a trail that is not easy to get there and it’s located in a remote area of the Andes of Cusco. We knew that we were going to see great landscapes on our way because we always check that area on the flight´s to Cusco.
[PI=2834226 size=m align=c]Going to Salkantay[/PI]
We started early from Cusco and our first destination was the town of Mollepata where we start to push our bikes a little bit and ride until we reached the camp site of Soraypampa (3,800m – 12,467ft.). Fortunately a great lodge was waiting for us with hot springs and warm rooms. Was one of the best places I have ever been! We were just in front the two big glaciers: Salkantay (6,721m – 22,050ft.) and Humantay (5,917m – 19,412ft.).
[PI=2834224 size=m align=c]Trail to our First Lodge[/PI]
[PI=2834223 size=m align=c]Humantay Glacier 5,917m[/PI]
[PI=2834221 size=m align=c]Our Lodge in Soraypampa[/PI]
[PI=2834218 size=m align=c]Salkantay Glacier 6,721m[/PI]
The next day was the hardest day of our expedition. We had to climb (trekking) to the mountain pass of Salkantay at 4,644m (15,236ft.) and then start descending to the Amazon jungle!
We put our bikes on the mules and horses and we started to trek to the pass. The climb was spectacular, looking at the glaciers all the time and each time closer and closer! We met with a few groups of trekkers on the way and they were amazed looking at all our gear and our mountain bikes. We only hear from them expressions like: That’s crazy! We can just walk here and they are with mountain bikes! It took us around three hours to reach the pass at 4,644m (15,236ft.).
[PI=2834217 size=m align=c]Mules Taking our Gear[/PI]
[PI=2834216 size=m align=c]A View of our Lodge in Soraypampa[/PI]
[PI=2834215 size=m align=c]Heavy Climb to the Top![/PI]
[PI=2834213 size=m align=c]The Porters Getting Closer to the Top![/PI]
[PI=2834211 size=m align=c]Reaching the Top![/PI]
The cold weather was strong but we could handle it because we were with all the adrenaline and emotion to start descending with our bikes. The trail looks amazing from here!
Once we had everything ready, we started our dream descent. It was very technical at the beginning due to the loose rocks everywhere. The altitude was playing a big roll here too! We were feeling very tired with just descending a few meters, and he had many more hours of pure downhill! Fortunately we were so happy and focused on the trail that we forgot that we were tired.
[PI=2834210 size=m align=c]Start of the Downhill[/PI]
[PI=2834209 size=m align=c]Amazing descent![/PI]
We divided the descent in two stages because at the middle was another great lodge that we didn’t want to miss! Immediately we start to see a change in the vegetation, we were descending to the Amazon Jungle! We started on top of the Andes Mountains were the air is thin, dry and cold and with little vegetation. Now we are getting closer to the Amazon Jungle where the air is hot and humid and the vegetation is everywhere!
[PI=2834207 size=m align=c]A Short Break to Admire the Landscape[/PI]
The next day we continued with our descent to the Amazon Jungle. Specifically, we were going to descend to the village of Santa Teresa, which is very close to Machu Picchu in the middle of the Peruvian Jungle! We had some climbs on the way but the altitude was not playing a big roll this time. We now saw a great change on the landscape. We were closer to the Amazon Jungle! The trees were covering the trail and we could hear the sound of the Macaws, Parrots and many other animals from the jungle. It was a magic sensation.
[PI=2834206 size=m align=c]We are Now in the Amazon Jungle![/PI]
[PI=2834204 size=m align=c]Awesome![/PI]
[PI=2834203 size=m align=c]Little Bridge on the Trail[/PI]
Near the end of this amazing trip, the trail was flatter and we had to pedal more. It was like a light descent with some little climbs all surrounded by trees and noisy animals. You could smell the jungle! Anyway, we were going more downhill than uphill. Without doubt, it was amazing!
[PI=2834202 size=m align=c]A View of the Andes Mountains Towards the Amazon Jungle[/PI]
[PI=2834195 size=m align=c]Downhill Sections[/PI]
[PI=2834191 size=m align=c]Downhill Sections[/PI]
[PI=2834190 size=m align=c]Hot Springs on the Trail[/PI]
[PI=2834187 size=m align=c]Close to Santa Teresa[/PI]
Finally we arrived at Santa Teresa after many hours of downhill. In Santa Teresa it's possible to visit the hot springs that are considered as one of the best natural hot springs in Peru! It’s also possible to camp! The next day after a refreshing swim on the hot springs we went to visit Machu Picchu!
With our visit to Machu Picchu, we finished our exploration trip to Salkantay.
We had great memories of this trip and for sure is the best thig we have ever made on a mountain bike!
[PI=2834185 size=m align=l]Bike Wash[/PI]
[PI=2834182 size=m align=l]Waterfalls[/PI]
[PI=2834289 size=m align=l]Machu Picchu[/PI]
-wayo.pinkbike.com
[PI=2834229 size=m align=c]Mollepata Town[/PI]
A few days ago we made an exploration trip near the Salkantay Glacier (6,721m – 22,050ft.) in Cusco. We knew that there was a trail for hikers and we decided to go with our mountain bikes. We studied the trail a bit by checking maps and asking local people and immediately we knew that we were going to face a super challenging trail never tried by mountain bikers. It’s a trail that is not easy to get there and it’s located in a remote area of the Andes of Cusco. We knew that we were going to see great landscapes on our way because we always check that area on the flight´s to Cusco.
[PI=2834226 size=m align=c]Going to Salkantay[/PI]
We started early from Cusco and our first destination was the town of Mollepata where we start to push our bikes a little bit and ride until we reached the camp site of Soraypampa (3,800m – 12,467ft.). Fortunately a great lodge was waiting for us with hot springs and warm rooms. Was one of the best places I have ever been! We were just in front the two big glaciers: Salkantay (6,721m – 22,050ft.) and Humantay (5,917m – 19,412ft.).
[PI=2834224 size=m align=c]Trail to our First Lodge[/PI]
[PI=2834223 size=m align=c]Humantay Glacier 5,917m[/PI]
[PI=2834221 size=m align=c]Our Lodge in Soraypampa[/PI]
[PI=2834218 size=m align=c]Salkantay Glacier 6,721m[/PI]
The next day was the hardest day of our expedition. We had to climb (trekking) to the mountain pass of Salkantay at 4,644m (15,236ft.) and then start descending to the Amazon jungle!
We put our bikes on the mules and horses and we started to trek to the pass. The climb was spectacular, looking at the glaciers all the time and each time closer and closer! We met with a few groups of trekkers on the way and they were amazed looking at all our gear and our mountain bikes. We only hear from them expressions like: That’s crazy! We can just walk here and they are with mountain bikes! It took us around three hours to reach the pass at 4,644m (15,236ft.).
[PI=2834217 size=m align=c]Mules Taking our Gear[/PI]
[PI=2834216 size=m align=c]A View of our Lodge in Soraypampa[/PI]
[PI=2834215 size=m align=c]Heavy Climb to the Top![/PI]
[PI=2834213 size=m align=c]The Porters Getting Closer to the Top![/PI]
[PI=2834211 size=m align=c]Reaching the Top![/PI]
The cold weather was strong but we could handle it because we were with all the adrenaline and emotion to start descending with our bikes. The trail looks amazing from here!
Once we had everything ready, we started our dream descent. It was very technical at the beginning due to the loose rocks everywhere. The altitude was playing a big roll here too! We were feeling very tired with just descending a few meters, and he had many more hours of pure downhill! Fortunately we were so happy and focused on the trail that we forgot that we were tired.
[PI=2834210 size=m align=c]Start of the Downhill[/PI]
[PI=2834209 size=m align=c]Amazing descent![/PI]
We divided the descent in two stages because at the middle was another great lodge that we didn’t want to miss! Immediately we start to see a change in the vegetation, we were descending to the Amazon Jungle! We started on top of the Andes Mountains were the air is thin, dry and cold and with little vegetation. Now we are getting closer to the Amazon Jungle where the air is hot and humid and the vegetation is everywhere!
[PI=2834207 size=m align=c]A Short Break to Admire the Landscape[/PI]
The next day we continued with our descent to the Amazon Jungle. Specifically, we were going to descend to the village of Santa Teresa, which is very close to Machu Picchu in the middle of the Peruvian Jungle! We had some climbs on the way but the altitude was not playing a big roll this time. We now saw a great change on the landscape. We were closer to the Amazon Jungle! The trees were covering the trail and we could hear the sound of the Macaws, Parrots and many other animals from the jungle. It was a magic sensation.
[PI=2834206 size=m align=c]We are Now in the Amazon Jungle![/PI]
[PI=2834204 size=m align=c]Awesome![/PI]
[PI=2834203 size=m align=c]Little Bridge on the Trail[/PI]
Near the end of this amazing trip, the trail was flatter and we had to pedal more. It was like a light descent with some little climbs all surrounded by trees and noisy animals. You could smell the jungle! Anyway, we were going more downhill than uphill. Without doubt, it was amazing!
[PI=2834202 size=m align=c]A View of the Andes Mountains Towards the Amazon Jungle[/PI]
[PI=2834195 size=m align=c]Downhill Sections[/PI]
[PI=2834191 size=m align=c]Downhill Sections[/PI]
[PI=2834190 size=m align=c]Hot Springs on the Trail[/PI]
[PI=2834187 size=m align=c]Close to Santa Teresa[/PI]
Finally we arrived at Santa Teresa after many hours of downhill. In Santa Teresa it's possible to visit the hot springs that are considered as one of the best natural hot springs in Peru! It’s also possible to camp! The next day after a refreshing swim on the hot springs we went to visit Machu Picchu!
With our visit to Machu Picchu, we finished our exploration trip to Salkantay.
We had great memories of this trip and for sure is the best thig we have ever made on a mountain bike!
[PI=2834185 size=m align=l]Bike Wash[/PI]
[PI=2834182 size=m align=l]Waterfalls[/PI]
[PI=2834289 size=m align=l]Machu Picchu[/PI]
-wayo.pinkbike.com
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49 Comments
- + 9
whitetails
(Jan 1, 2009 at 0:17)
Wow, sounds - and looks! - like such a good place to be. This indeed is epic, for its trails and Macchu Pichu as well. Marked on my list
WOW looks amazing, and lucky u had the mules to carry your stuff, must have been a lot easier. looks like fun, i hope to do something like that one day.
oh yea, How long did it take you guys to get all the way from the top to the bottom on ur way down?
oh yea, How long did it take you guys to get all the way from the top to the bottom on ur way down?
very nice trail with a nomad yearrrrrrrrrrrr good bike for this trail .i have a nomad.happy new year for all........
christophe from corsica.
christophe from corsica.
Fabulous trip, i would like to know how many money did de the people ask you to take your equipment up ?
WOW this looks soooo nice. Did the mules take your equipment all the way up the trail that you rode down?
I did this trip last June with Big Mountain Bike Adventures ridebig.com based out of Vancouver. Amazing singletrack riding, scenery, and the warmest friendliest people imagineable.
[Reply]
[Reply]
hiked the inca tral and imagined rideing it the entire time. machu piccu was amazing. cool pics im jelous
[Reply]
that trail is amazing i walked the salkantay trail last year but i could only imagine how good it would be to ride it,
did you get that feeling when you stood looking at Machu Picchu that makes everything in the world seem worth while.
did you get that feeling when you stood looking at Machu Picchu that makes everything in the world seem worth while.
I did this trip to Peru with Sacred Rides in October and I can say it was an amazing experience. Would have loved to ride this trail and Wayo was talking about doing it when we were there. If any of you guys ever have the chance to do a trip like this, definitely make the effort, it is the an experience of a lifetime.
[Reply]
I did a DH Tour of Peru with Wayo. He is a great guide but mostly a true friend. He has many cool tours of Peru, I know i'm going back again.
It's the best thing I have ever made in Peru, it's nearly to an unreal trip! First, to answer some of the questions, we went up on one side of the mountains and then we descended on the other side (we had to pass the pass!). Then, of course, the mules took up our equipment and then they took the rest of our things down on the same way we went down. Of course they took more time!. Finally, we did the descent in two stages and took us around 6 hours in total to descend from 4,644m to 1,100m. That is, with the little uphills we had, around 13,000ft of downhill.
[Reply]
I hiked that a few years back and the whole time all i could think was "I wish i had my bike with me!!" I'm glad someone slayed it.
Hey! I'm travelling to Peru and was wondering if there were any DH/XC bike rental places in the area? I'd love to take my bike but it would be too much of a hassel through customs and they could lose it in transit. Also, if anyone can provide me with some names for some mellow trails over there it would be great seeing as I'll be taking a beginner with me, not to mention I'm not far off the start myself.
Hola! It depends where are you going to stay but I think you will not find anybody who just rents bikes. You will have to take a tour. There are nice trails around Cusco or Lima where you can enjoy great scenery without ging to a super challenging area. PM and I can give you more details.
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