Hiking and Biking Peru's Inca Trails

Guidebook to hiking and mountain biking Inca trails in the Sacred Valley of Peru, including 7 routes to Machu Picchu. A range of mountain bike and trekking routes: half-day, full-day and multi-day. All routes graded for difficulty, and the guidebook includes many previously unpublished routes away from the tourist trails.

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Overview

Guidebook to hiking and mountain biking in the Sacred Valley of Peru, including the Inca Trail. 40 routes (7 to Machu Picchu) visiting all major Incan sites discovered from Cusco, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, Vilcabamba and in the remote region around Mount Ausangate. The routes are graded for difficulty, and most routes can be done on foot or by mountainbike and timings are given for each, as well as advice on whether it is preferable to undertake a particular route with a local guide or trekking agency, in the less well-known areas. The guidebook includes practical information on getting to and around the area, how to make the most out of any trip as well as plenty of background detail on the Incan history and places of interest explored on the routes. The Andes are the second highest mountain range in the world, after the Himalaya, but they have the most spectacular range of altitude - from 6000m down to just above sea level - making for some thrilling MTB descents on ancient Incan roads. The area also has a spectacular collection of ancient Incan sites, with new sites yet to be uncovered, and is still farmed by the direct descendants of the Incas, often seen in their colourful traditional dress in the local villages.

Table of Contents

Contents
Introduction
The story of the Incas
The Sacred Valley
History in the making
Don’t miss…
Exploring by bike or on foot
Centres and bases
Getting there
Getting around
When to go
Accommodation
Food
Health matters
Safety
Language
Money
Communications
Trekking
Mountain biking
What to take
Cultural impact
Maps and waymarking
Using this guide
1 Tourist Trails to Machu Picchu
Route 1 Agua Calientes to Machu Picchu
Route 2 The Classic Inca Trail
2 Around Cusco
Route 3 To Calca via H’uchuy Cusco
Route 4 The back way to Ollantaytambo
Route 5 To Urubamba via ‘44’
Route 6 Urquillos Canyon
3 Around Urubamba
Route 7 Salt Mines of Maras and Moray
Route 8 Moray to Paucarbamba
Route 9 Abra Azulcocha to Calca
Route 10 Calca to Lares
Route 11 Chicón summit
Route 12 To Lares via the Pumahuanka valley
4 Around Ollantaytambo
Route 13 Pumamarca
Route 14 Choquechaca
Route 15 To Lares via Abra Wakawasi
Route 16 To Lares via Patacancha
Route 17 The Weaver’s Trek
Route 18 Inca Raccay and Q’orimarca
Route 19 Ñaupa Iglesia (Pachar Caves)
Route 20 Las Canterras quarries and Inti Punku
Route 21 The Veronica glacier
Route 22 Patacancha valley
Route 23 To Quillabamba via Abra Yanamayu
Route 24 To Quillabamba via Abra Malaga
Route 25 To Ivochote and Pongo de Manique
Route 26 Machu Picchu ‘back door’ route
Route 27 To Huayllabamba and the start of the Inca Trail
Route 28 Ollantaytambo to Soraypampa via Salkantay
5 South and West of Machu Picchu
Route 29 Mollepata to Huayllabamba
Route 30 Soraypampa to Machu Picchu via Salkantay
Route 31 Soraypampa to Machu Picchu via Hydroelectric
Route 32 Choquequirao from Cachora
Route 33 Inca Wasi from Yupanqua
Route 34 Huancancalle to Choquequirao
Route 35 Huancancalle to St. Theresa via Yanama
Route 36 Huancancalle to St. Theresa via Abra Mojón
Route 37 Mollepata to Choquequirao
Route 38 Espiritu Pampa (Vilcabamba)
6 Ausangate
Route 39 Tinqui to Pitumarca via Ausangate
Route 40 Tinqui to Pitumarca via Puca Punta

Appendix A Route summary table
Appendix B Glossary of Spanish and Quechan words
Appendix C Useful contacts
Appendix D Further reading

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Reviews

'The author, reassuringly, is a north American - 'gringo' in local Peruvian parlance - who's settled in Ollantaytambo where he runs a hotel and adventure tour business - see www.kbperu.com - so should know what he's talking about and we reckon the book is potentially indispensible for anyone heading off on a trekking or biking holiday to one the most popular areas of Peru.'

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Jon, Outdoors Magic, August 2013

...'The book is incredibly comprehensive, with detailed directions, maps and photos that direct hikers to some amazing, but surprisingly little visited, Incan sites.
My wife and I were so inspired by the book that we changed our plans and decided to spend several days in Ollantaytambo hiking to these hidden gems.'...

Extract from Trip advisor review of Hiking and Biking Peru's Inca Trails. May 2014. Our thanks to Trip advisor, and to their contributor for the review.

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