Bike Touring Peru?

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kendalpaul
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Joined: Wed Nov 26, 2014 4:43 pm

Bike Touring Peru?

Post by kendalpaul »

Has anyone been to Peru bike mountain bike touring. Just looking at how many spare parts to take and how easy to get gas for stove and any other use full info. one of the main aim of the trip is to have a look at the https://vimeo.com/92753479 this is a / biking route round Huayhuash.

Thanks for any info Paul
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johnnystorm
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Re: Bike Touring Peru?

Post by johnnystorm »

I've never been but there is an article in the new MTB Mag https://www.cranked.cc/ about Fat-packing in Peru. I also haven't read about it beyond flicking through the nice photos yet...
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99percentchimp
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Re: Bike Touring Peru?

Post by 99percentchimp »

Great blog here on the subject http://www.whileoutriding.com/south-ame ... huash-peru
I walked it in 2001 and I'd say if you can't mend it on the spot you'll have a long push till the next downhill. Stunning scenery and very friendly locals (who saw very, very few trekkers when we were there then).... great place and I recall walking on old Inca (?) trackways too that would be a great ride. Bear in mind the whole circuit is high so once committed over the first pass you'll need to be well acclimatised.
Hope that helps.
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mikehowarth
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Re: Bike Touring Peru?

Post by mikehowarth »

That was me in some of those photos in Cranked, Cass (whileoutriding) and I rode a good chunk together last year following the Andes.

I'd say the most accessible mountain bike tours are in the Cordeillera Ausangate (near Cusco) and Cordeillera Blanca. The Cordeillera Huayuash is a little bit more difficult to get to, either 3-4 days ride out of Huaraz with a big climb to get you to the starting village or a long bus journey.

Huaraz is relatively high (> 3000m) so you will need a few days acclimatising if you are coming straight up from Lima, but it a comfortable city with lots of tourists and with it gringo eateries and the like.

Depending on the amount of time you have you could explore around Huaraz, and then ride the Peruvian Great Divide down to Cusco and maybe even on to La Paz. That region contains some of the finest bikepacking in all of South America....I should know because I rode the length of it!

Wherever you decide to head Peru is an absolute mecca for dirt touring so will will undoubtedly find some amazing riding.

A word of caution, the Inca trail out of Cusco is very difficult to access by bike, given the Peruvian governments attempts to milk that cash cow. Unless you are a walker you have to be very covert about it, and possibly ride at night.

It's possible to buy gas in Huaraz but its expensive. Petrol, or Alcohol are better ways to go. Alcohol is available virtually everywhere, given the locals drink it!

More of my trip on: www.mikehowarth.co.uk.

If you have any specific questions, drop me a message through my site.
mikehowarth
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Re: Bike Touring Peru?

Post by mikehowarth »

Just to follow up on riding the Inca trail....

Its definitely possible, given that it runs a very long way....all the way to Quito in fact. I interesected this and the Inca Royal Road quite a few times on my travels, a lot of it is very remote and not very continous with lots of hike a bike stuff. The problems I mentioned related to the 'classic' Inca Trail leading to Macchu Picchu.

My friend Michael, has an excellent post on his site of a 8 day family packing they did on parts of the Inca Trail: http://www.eltaraumara.blogspot.co.uk/ and the Sacred Valley.

You could hook this up with the Ausangate circuit I mentioned previously, which was only of the highlights of my trip: http://www.mikehowarth.co.uk/la-paz-cusco-mountains/
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