5-day bikepacking route around Apu Ausangate — Cusco shuttle ride, homestays, glacial lakes, hot springs, alpaca herds, Pachamanca dinner, and a final pedal along Sigrenecocha.
Day 1
Local Cusco MTB Trails, Hot Springs, and Local Home Stays
Today, we'll meet at the Haku shop in Cusco at 8 a.m. Since we'll have a lengthy drive ahead of us today, we'll rip a quick DH shuttle run or two before our drive out to the mighty Ausangate! There are many singletrack MTB trails right above Cusco and we will take advantage to go and ride one or two today.
Our drive will take us three hours though the beautiful Andes and to the base of the Ausangate mountain range.
Once we arrive at the towering Ausangate, we'll settle in and have some tea with our local hosts. Then we'll go for a small acclimatizing hike or mountain bike ride around sunset. Tonight we will sleep in the home of a local family at more than 14,000 ft/4267 m of elevation!
Stats — Altitude: 4267 m/14,000 ft
Lodging: Local homestay
Meals included: L, D
Day 2
Glacial Lakes, Towering Peaks, and Epic MTB Downhill to Thermal Hotsprings
Today we'll wake up bright and early for a 6:30 am breakfast and head out at 7 am. The hike up to the MTB trailhead is about 15-20 minutes; since the route is at very high-altitude, we'll just take it slow and enjoy the scenery. There will be a porter to accompany us who will carry any additional gear we may need and help push a bike if someone can't pedal.
There will be a lot of cross country style pedaling today with a combination of ascents and descents. After about an hour we'll come across the calm, emerald beauty of the first of many stunning glacial lakes of the day, with a hulking glacier just on the other side of it. As we continue on, high alpine alpacas will be grazing on either side of us. On the way down, we'll ride past more glacial lakes and stunning views of towering, 20,000ft snow-capped mountains. We will end the trail at a set of hot springs where we can relax before heading to lunch with our local family. After lunch, you are free to relax or head back up to the hot springs. We'll have a light dinner and be free to sleep, hang out, and take in the beauty of this Incan holy site.
Stats — Distance: 20 km/12.4 mi · Max elevation: 4876 m/15997 ft · Ascent: 655 m/2148 ft · Descent: 579 m/1899 ft
Lodging: Local homestay
Food included: B, L, D, snacks
Day 3
Stunning Vistas of the Vilcanota Range
After such a big second day, day 3 will be a bit more relaxed. In the morning we'll have about 3 hours of hiking while your bikes will be pushed by porters and then about an hour or two ride downhill into camp! Today is a wonderful day to take our time and take lots of pictures.
Once you arrive in camp, tea, snacks, and lunch will be waiting. Our campsite is in a valley surrounded on all sides by mountains and a river. Once in camp, you can either relax or go explore the surrounding mountains on your bike. There are loads of alpacas; you'll probably encounter vicunas, alpacas, and llamas while hiking or biking. If you're lucky, you will get to see locals weaving textiles in the backcountry to the backdrop of the dreamlike Andes mountains.
When you've explored to your heart's content, head on back to camp for dinner. We always include a cook and cook tent which serves as a camp kitchen in which to eat and pass the evening. Relax and watch the sun setting on the Vilcanota Mountains as you eat a delicious dinner.
Stats — Distance: 10.58 km/6.57 mi · Max elevation: 4684 m/15367 ft · Ascent: 427 m/1400 ft · Descent: 400 m/1312 ft
Lodging: Camping
Meals included: B, L, D
Day 4
Spotting Vicunas and a Pachamanca Alpaca Dinner
There's nothing quite like waking up in the Andes. Today is the longest day, and we'll be pedaling for quite a bit of it. We'll begin to pedal and hike up to a mountain pass and then follow as it winds downhill to a huge alpine glacial lake. On arrival, the camp will be set up with hot food awaiting you. Tonight we will have a "Pachamanca" dinner with our team. After an afternoon of pedaling pachamanca is a perfect meal. Our local horsemen and cook will create an oven out of rocks. After the fire has heated the oven throughly, they will smash down the rocks and place the food on the rocks, layering the meat and potatoes with the hot rocks. Once everything is placed in the "oven" we will cover it with dirt and allow it to cook slowly over an hour. This is a traditional Peruvian experience.
Tonight you'll sleep right next to a beautiful, crystalline glacial lake.
Stats — Distance: 10.29 km/6.4 mi · Max elevation: 4780 m/15683 ft · Ascent: 450 m/1476 ft · Descent: 460 m/1509 ft
Lodging: Camping
Meals included: B, L, D
Day 5
Pedal along the Sigrenecocha Glacial Lake
Today we'll finish out the trip with a beautiful pedal along the alpine glacial lake Sigrenecocha. The day isn't very long but the views are especially gorgeous. Take in your last experience of the Andes as you reflect on an incredible Ausangate bikepacking trip. Your transport back to Cusco will be waiting at the end of the trail. Guests are typically back in Cusco around 5 p.m.
Stats — Distance: 8 km/5 mi · Max Elevation: 4348 m/14,265 ft · Ascent: 55 m/656 ft · Descent: 184 m/603 ft
Lodging: Hotel in Cusco
Meals included: B, L, Farewell Dinner
