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The tour arranged by H-C Travel exceeded all expectations by a long way. I've done a lot of travelling, both with and without a bike, but this trip really stands out as being something special. The combination of the bikes used, the variety of terrain, the history, the culture, the excursions, the people and the food would be extremely difficult to beat, anywhere in the World" 

Dave King, UK, 2003

Also known as The Paracas/Cuzco Tour, this is our main motorcycle tour in Peru. Lasting 12 days, it is the ideal time to spend in Peru in order to ride through its three main regions and visit its most important tourist attractions. The tour has every ingredient to make an unforgettable ride. From the sealions' and flamingos' habitat in the Paracas National Reserve you ride along the virgin beaches, sand dunes and moonlike terrain of the Great Ica Desert and cross the coastal Pacific Desert. In less than 2 hours, climb from the Nazca Lines at 500 m (1640 ft) and observe the delicate Vicuña troops of the Pampa Galeras National Reserve at 4000 m (13,000 ft). Cross the deep and picturesque Andean valleys and highlands observing unique natural habitats and hidden Indian villages all the way to historical Cuzco and the famous lost city of Machu Picchu. From Cuzco, cross the Sacred Valley of the Incas in Urubamba and travel to the amazing Amazon rain forests of Quillabamba.

Highlights

• Ica desert
• Ballestas Islands
• Nazca Lines
• Nazca – Abancay highway
• Cusco
• Machu Picchu
• Manu cloud forest
• Pisaq
• Urubamba

Itinerary

DAY 1. ARRIVE LIMA. You will be met at the airport and taken to our hotel. Meeting with the rest of the tour participants. Welcome drink. First briefing to cover the general aspects of the tour.

DAY 2. LIMA - PARACAS (250 km). After breakfast, we travel south along the Pan-American highway by coach for 3-1/2 hours. After lunch an explanation of the working and starting of the motorcycles. We will have a short ride on the Paracas peninsula to get familiarised with the motorcycles. Hotel accommodation.

DAY 3. PARACAS - ICA (155 km). After breakfast, we take a marine excursion to the Ballestas Islands, located 20 km from the coast and part of the Paracas National Reserve. You will be able to observe much of the fauna in their natural habitat, including sea lions, different bird species, and the unique 'Candelabro', an enormous sculpture in one of the biggest dunes of the reserve, probably made by the ancient Incas, and probably related to the famous Nazca Lines. Briefing to explain today's journey. Once on the motorcycles, we head south along the coast of the reserve following the solitary beaches of the Pacific Ocean for 90 km, before changing course and crossing the desert for another 60 km, until we reach the city of Ica. Dinner and briefing. Hotel accommodation.

DAY 4. ICA - NAZCA (220 km). This is a challenging day not only for the distance covered, but also for the type of terrain. Departing early in the morning, we head south-west towards the Pacific, crossing through one of the most desolate areas of the Great Ica Desert, crossing dunes and mountains. Upon reaching the ocean and after a packed lunch, we will head towards Nazca, crossing the desert once again, past villages and old haciendas. On this part of the route you can to observe closely the ways of life of the villagers. Tonight's accommodation will be an old hacienda specially converted into a hotel.

DAY 5. NAZCA - PUQUIO (155 km). After breakfast we fly over the famous and mysterious Nazca Lines and Geogliphs. It is possible to admire these enigmatic pre-Inca figures only from the air, and we still do not know the purpose for which these animal, humanoid and geometric drawings were made. We then make a short visit to the pre-Nazca tombs of Chauchilla where it is possible to observe how the ancient Incas mummified and buried their dead. After lunch, we head off towards the Andes, ascending an impressive paved road for 110 km to reach an altitude of 4100 m in under 2 hours. The route crosses the Pampa Galeras National Reserve, where we can observe at close hand the vicuna, the most precious Andean cameloid. After a brief stop in the reserve, we descend to Puquio, at 3100 m, and our basic motel accommodation for the night. The stop is important to allow time for everyone to acclimatise and prepare for tomorrow. This and tomorrow’s ride is considered one of the five most unforgettable short rides in the World by author and biker Mike Carter.

DAY 6. PUQUIO - ABANCAY (305 km). This is our longest and most demanding day. We travel along hard-packed dirt roads through the spectacular Andean scenery, crossing several mountain ranges and desert plateaux. We then descend into the deep and picturesque valley of Abancay, arriving at Abancay (2300 m) and our hotel, the Hotel de Turistas, for a reviving hot shower and delicious dinner.

DAY 7. ABANCAY - CUSCO (200 km). We leave for Cusco after breakfast, the first 60 km on packed dirt, followed by paved road to Cusco. The Andean scenery is our constant companion - snow-capped mountain peaks, eucalyptus forests, steep valleys, deep gorges and interesting flora and fauna. We finally enter the Urubamba, or Sacred Valley of the Incas, and arrive at the archaeological capital of South America, and Imperial City, Cusco. Hotel accommodation.

DAY 8. CUSCO. After a late start to recover from the previous demanding riding, we board a coach for a city tour, which covers the most outstanding places in the city like the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, the temple of Coricancha, the ruins of Kenko and Puca Pucara, and the Inca resort of Tambomachay, among others. The afternoon is free so that you may walk around town and enjoy its charming main plaza, craftsman shops and pubs. Hotel accommodation.

DAY 9. MACHU PICCHU. The excursion to the citadel of Machu Picchu starts very early. We transfer to the railway station to meet our guide board the train that follows the Urubamba River along the Sacred Valley of the Incas for nearly 110 km. Our guide will show us round Machu Picchu and explain the world of the Incas and the secrets of this majestic and truly spectacular ruin, before we return to Cusco. Hotel accommodation. Helicopter flights over Machu Picchu can be arranged.

DAY 10. CUSCO - MANU CLOUD FOREST (190 km). From Cusco we head south for 30 km along paved roads to the Vilcanota Valley. We then ride on hard-packed dirt through picturesque terrain, through typical Andean villages, before stopping for lunch at Paucartambo. We then begin our twisty descent to the Manu Cloud Forest. The change in fauna and flora is immediate as we cross the ridge dividing the Andes from the Amazon forests. After a 2-hour descent we arrive at our jungle lodge, situated beside a rushing stream and a 125-m high waterfall.

DAY 11. MANU CLOUD FOREST - CUSCO (190 km). Before starting our return trip to Cusco, we the nearby observation platform for the visit of the Cock of the Rock, the Peruvian national bird. This crow-sized, flame-red bird gathers in small groups at their 'leks' to 'dance' gracefully to attract females. We will also see hundreds of different coloured butterflies that fly shyly with the first rays of the sun. For our return to Cusco we take a different route, reaching the Indian market town of Pisaq, also known for its Inca ruins. After a stop, we continue on paved roads back to Cusco. This evening we take a farewell dinner.

DAY 12. CUSCO - LIMA. Transfer to Cusco airport to board the flight to Lima. The rest of the day is free until your flight home. We suggest you take a walk to the nearby main plaza of Miraflores or, for those wishing a programmed activity, we can take you to visit to the Gold or Anthropological Museum, or on a city tour of Colonial and Modern Lima. Hotel accommodation.

Total distance  c. 1650 km

Dates

We run what we call a ‘Latin’ tour calendar for Costa Rica – you suggest your preferred dates and we’ll run a tour as close to those dates as possible.

Inca offroad tour   Rider Passenger Sgl rm suppl. £2,175.00 £1,795.00 £375.00

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Tour includes: Honda XR400 or XR600 with fuel and oil; bilingual riding guide, support/luggage vehicle for non-riders, daily maintenance, mechanic; mainly 3* hotel accommodation, twinshare/double rooms; breakfasts and dinners throughout; airport transfers and internal flights in Peru; tour T-shirt; Ballestas Islands tour, Nazca Lines flight, Machu Picchu lost city full day excursion, Cusco city & ruins tour; biker’s rucsac.

Tour excludes: Most lunches; international flights (available through H-C Travel), local airport taxes; travel insurance (available through H-C Travel); visa fees; riding gear (bring your own); $400 damage deposit (refunded if motorcycle returned undamaged); additional nights' accommodation and expenses due to flight cancellations; laundry; phone calls; radio calls or messages; any items of a personal nature

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