Travel Insurance
Travel insurance, including emergency evacuation coverage, is compulsory for all our tours. We recommend that you purchase travel insurance that includes cancellation protection so that you will be covered in the event that you are unable to attend our tour (due to injury, illness or other unforeseen circumstances) or in the unlikely event that our tour must be cancelled.
You can purchase discounted comprehensive insurance from our partners at Bikeflights.com directly via our site at our insurance page.
Arrival and Departure Airport
You should fly into and out of Lima International Airport (LIM). Please see the schedule page for the exact pickup and dropoff times for your particular trip. You can, if necessary, arrive earlier - we will arrange a pickup for you.
Pickup & Drop-off Information
Included in the price of your trip is a free shuttle from the airport to our hotel in Lima. Upon leaving customs and heading into the main passenger pickup area of Lima airport, look for your shuttle driver with a Sacred Rides sign in his/her hand. We will have a pre-arranged shuttle booked for you to take you to the hotel. n.b.: You will need to notify us in advance of your flight number and arrival time by using the trip details webform.. If your flight is delayed and you happen to miss your pickup shuttle, head to the Taxi Green counter located outside customs and we'll reimburse your cab fare.
On the last day of the trip, we end up in Cusco. There are 4 flights per day heading back to Lima, starting at 8:50 am, ending at 1:45 pm (this is included in the tour price). The flight takes about an hour, and the airport shuttle to Cusco airport is included in your tour price, provided you are flying out on the last day of the trip, or the following day. If you are staying longer in the Cusco area, you will need to book your own shuttle or taxi to the airport (this is not expensive and is quite easy to arrange).
Since most flights back to North America, and some European flights, depart late at night, it's best to take the last flight back to Lima, and then either check your bags in for your flight home if possible, or check them in at the baggage storage area. You can then head into Lima for dinner if you prefer not to stay at the airport.
Flights
We do not book international flights for our clients. Please contact your local travel agent for information on booking flights for this trip.
Baggage Fees on Peruvian Flights
Machu Picchu and extending your trip
Machu Picchu is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and a can't-miss destination in Peru. We offer an excellent one-day visit to Machu Picchu for $295 CAD. This includes return train trip through the Sacred Valley, bus to Machu Picchu, admission, and guide.
If you want to extend your trip by arriving early or staying on after your trip, we have several excellent trip extensions:
1) Colca Canyon/Arequipa trip (4 days, 3 nights): $1050 CAD
2) Tambopata National Reserve/Amazon Jungle trip (4 days, 3 nights): $1200 CAD
3) Puna + Lake Titicaca (3 days, 2 nights): $650 CAD
These trips can be booked online when making your original booking or can be added to your booking at any time. n.b.: There is a single supplement fee for solo travellers if there is no one that we can pair you up with.
Extra Hotel Nights
If you are planning on spending a few extra nights in either Lima or Cusco before or after your Ride, we recommend you use the same hotels we'll be using to make things easier. Please use the following links to book your room online.
Our hotel in Lima is Britania Hotel Miraflores (click on the British flag top right for English) or email our contact Oni Flores at consultas@hbritania.com.
Our hotel in Cusco is Hotel Cahuide.
Fitness Requirements
You should have a moderate level of fitness (yes, downhilling is physically demanding too!) and be able to bike for up to five hours a day in order to fully enjoy the spectacular scenery and riding on this trip.
We recommend you train in advance of this trip, in order to get the most out of this trip. Our instructors have developed a pre-trip training program for Riders interested in a professional, supervised training program. Visit our pre-ride training page for more information.
Travelling with your bike
If you've never traveled with your bike, don't worry - it's much easier than you think! If you don't have a case for your bike, then you can pick up a cardboard travel box for your bike at your local store. Some stores will also pack your bike up for you for a fee.
Alternately, if you are planning on traveling with your bike more than just this one time, we sell travel bags for bikes, handmade by Pikapackworks. These travel bags are specially made for bikes and can often go on flights without having to pay the extra charges incurred by cardboard boxes or hard cases. The bags cost $395, including shipping withing North America. Click here for more information on our bags.
n.b. you will need to pay an extra fee for traveling with your bike on the flights within Peru. Cost is about $10-$20 USD in each direction.
Bike Rentals
Although we strongly recommend you bring your own bike on this trip (you will ride better on your own, familiar bike), we offer beautiful 2012 Pivot Firebird full-suspension bikes for rent. Price is $500 CAD for the duration of the trip.
What type of bike should you bring?
We recommend you bring a high-quality freeride or beefy all-mountain bike with you on this trip, with at least 6" of travel and front & rear hydraulic disc brakes (8" rotors are preferable). A bike with at least 2 rings up front is recommended as there are a few short climbs on this trip, so you will appreciate being able to ride your bike rather than pushing.
Armor and Helmet
We recommend you bring at least arm and leg protection with you. Full-body protection is not mandatory, but if you have some it certainly wouldn't hurt to bring it. Full-face helmets are required for this trip, and we recommend goggles to go with your helmet.
Tools to bring
- multitool (preferably with chainbreaker)
- tire levers
- small bottle of chain lube
- tire pump
- suspension pump
- sealant (if you're on tubeless)
Spare parts for your bike
Although there are some parts available locally, we recommend you bring the following parts with you to Peru to avoid problems in case of breakdown or broken parts:
- rear derailleur hanger (at least 1, preferably 2)
- front and rear brake pads
- extra chain if your chain is more than 6 months old
- 4 tubes
- 2 extra spokes
N.B. If you are renting a bike, the above is not necessary (with the exception of a few spare tubes).
Packing List
- comfortable clothes for riding, such as biking jerseys and padded shorts. 2+ sets are ideal, 1 is a must.
- helmet
- bike gloves (2 sets is ideal)
- lightweight, weather-resistant outerwear for riding in inclement weather.
- warm clothing such as sweaters and fleece jackets and pants for nighttime.
- sunglasses/eye protection for sunny and/or muddy days.
- hydration system that can carry at least 2 litres (bottles and/or hydration pack)
- toiletries i.e. toothbrush, shampoo, soap
- camera
- sunscreen and insect repellent
Weather and Clothing
The weather in the Peruvian lowlands can be quite warm, with highs between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius. However, it can and will get quite cool in the mountains, especially at higher altitudes where it can get as low as 5 degrees Celsius (41 Fahrenheit). We recommend you bring layered clothing that you can wear while riding and in the evenings (e.g. start your ride with a long-sleeve jersey in the morning and then take off a layer once you warm up). You'll want to bring long pants and a light jacket for the evenings spent up in the mountains.
Although rain is rare in the winter months, it isn't unheard of, so we recommend you bring some sort of rain gear or shell.
Passports & Visas
All travelers require a valid passport (with a minimum of 6 months validity). Citizens of some countries will also require a visa. For more information, visit the World Travel Guide website.
Altitude
Much of the riding on this trip occurs at moderate to high altitude (2,000 m/6,600 ft to 4,500m/14,000 ft.). If you are in decent shape without any lung conditions, the acclimatization we do at the start of the trip should be more than sufficient. If you are concerned about your ability to deal with altitude we recommend arriving a day or two early and doing some extra riding in the Lima area. Please contact our office to enquire about additional riding/acclimatization days. So far we have had no clients experience anything more severe than a mild headache or sinus congestion.
We do recommend you bring Diamox, just in case.
Emergency Contacts
If you need to contact us in an emergency, you can reach us during office hours at the following numbers:
Dialing within North America: 1 (888) 423-7849
Dialing outside of North America: +1 (647) 999-7955
If you feel that you need to contact us outside of office hours, our Peru operations manager Wayo Stein can be contacted at +51-1-99511-7026
If you do not receive an immediate answer when calling the above numbers, please leave us a detailed message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Food
We take care to select restaurants that are well-regarded for their cleanliness, in order to avoid food-borne illness. We also supply you with bottled water for drinking for the duration of your trip. However, there is always some risk of contracting a food-borne illness when traveling in a developing country. We recommend you exercise caution when purchasing food, and avoid unwashed fruit and vegetables and improperly cooked meals.
Other expenses and best ways to get/use money
Other expenses include souvenirs, alcoholic beverages, optional activities such as massage and extra baggage weight. On most flights, you are allowed to bring 2 suitcases for a total of 23 Kg. A $36 (USD) charge is usually applied for baggage weighing up to 32 Kg, and $72 (USD) for baggage weighing up to 45 Kg, which is typical when carrying a bike.
The best way to pay for these services is to withdraw money from an ATM in Lima or Cusco with your bank card - you can withdraw local money and will usually be charged the best rate by your bank at home. However, you will typically be charged about $5 per transaction, so we recommend withdrawing enough for 2 or 3 days at a time to avoid paying bank fees every day.
Vaccination Requirements
Vaccinations are required for Peru. In general, you will require typhoid, Hepatitis A, yellow fever, measles/mumps/rubella, and tetanus vaccinations for this trip. However, for the most up-to-date information, please visit your local travel clinic.
Safety & Security
Peru is a very safe country, however certain precautions should be followed, as with all foreign travel. To maximize your safety during our tours you should exercise common sense and caution at all times. We recommend that you always stick to set travel arrangements, and avoid unknown areas. We also recommend that you wear minimal jewelry and that you keep valuable items safely stored. Always keep a copy of your passport, airline tickets, travelers checks and credit card numbers separate from where you keep the originals.
Meals
On this trip, all breakfasts and lunches are included in the trip price. Dinners are not included and are typically taken in local restaurants. You should budget $10-$15 CAD per dinner (depending on the quality of restaurants you choose).
Other expenses and best ways to get/use money
Other expenses include souvenirs, alcoholic beverages, and optional activities such as massage. The best way to pay for these services is to withdraw money from an ATM in Lima or Cusco with your bank card - you can withdraw local money and will usually be charged the best rate by your bank at home. However, you will typically be charged about $5 per transaction, so we recommend withdrawing enough for 2 or 3 days at a time to avoid paying bank fees every day.
Tipping
Gratuities of 5-10% are common in Peru. We encourage you to tip your guides if you feel you have received excellent service and have had an enjoyable trip. A typical gratuity $20 - $100 per guide.
Currency exchange
The Peruvian currency is the Nuevo Sol. For the latest currency exchange information use the Yahoo! Currency Exchange Calculator
Our Guarantee
We're so sure you'll have an amazing time on this trip that we're offering a satisfaction guarantee. View more information about our guarantee.
