Two Civilizations: Chavín and Inka

Andean Challenge & Inca Legacy: A Two-Day Journey

This tour is designed for experienced and intermediate cyclists seeking a unique blend of technical challenge and deep cultural immersion. It promises to open your mind to adventure, exploration, and the unexpected. The demanding trails and high altitude of the Andes are dominant factors, guaranteeing an experience that will challenge, delight, and inspire.

Day 1: Summits and Ancient Mysteries

Your journey begins with a challenging hike to Yanashayash Pass (4680 m.a.s.l.), with bikes carried to the summit by donkeys. From this impressive height, you’ll start an exhilarating downhill bike ride on singletracks to the enigmatic archaeological site of Chavín de Huántar. Here, you’ll spend the night in a place that will transport you back to a millennia-old past. Chavín de Huántar is a mysterious temple where ancient religious ceremonies took place over 3000 years ago, a fascinating testament to pre-Inca cultures. Prepare for new cultural experiences as you travel through remote rural areas where services are limited but authenticity is immense.

Day 2: Riding the Great Inca Trail

The next day, we’ll load the bikes into a support vehicle, embarking on a journey through time as we ride one of the best-preserved sections of the Great Inca Trail, the vast road network of pre-Columbian Latin America, in the north-central Peruvian Andes. This paved path, a testament to Inca ingenuity, stretches across the vast, open grasslands of the Andean «puna,» offering a unique cultural landscape.

Your glorious bike ride culminates as you reach the Vizcarra River. From there, a short and comfortable vehicle transfer will take you to Huánuco Pampa, the largest Inca administrative center outside of Cusco. You’ll marvel at its fantastic, carefully planned imperial-style constructions, where sculptures of pumas, monkeys, and reptiles adorn the stone walls and doorways. It’s an opportunity to appreciate the engineering feats of a civilization whose stone cutting and placement skills remain unparalleled.

Day 3: Riding the Climate Change Route

On day three, we’ll bike the «Climate Change Route.» This ride offers a profound look at global warming’s irreversible impact as you witness glaciers melting—some potentially disappearing in little over a decade. It’s a moving opportunity to connect deeply with the Andes and understand the effects of climate change firsthand.

We’ll drive up to Huarapasca Pass, then begin our bike descent through the valley. Along the way, you’ll marvel at the Puya Raimondi, an iconic giant plant of the Andean highlands, reaching up to 12 meters (39 feet) tall and living over 100 years to bloom just once.

Depending on the distance and how challenging you want the ride to be, our support vehicle will assist with the return to Huaraz. This incredible journey will connect you with the history, high mountain passes, and nature of the Peruvian Andes in a way only they can offer. Are you ready for the challenge?