Spectacular Places to Cycle in Peru

This a long, bike-packing trip through the Peruvian Cordillera mountains. Along the way you’ll go through small, traditional villages, where you can stock up on supplies and water. For most of the time it’ll be just you and the road—and no tourists in sight. The road will take you through mountain passes and past waterfalls. It is a truly spectacular place to cycle, but is not recommended for the novice biker.

The Incas had a vast empire that stretched far and wide. Take one of their routes from the Peruvian Andes to the Amazon Jungle. These routes will be all downhill and will have you crossing various terrains from mountains and cloud forests to the jungle. You’ll want to pack plenty of water with you as the descent into the jungle gets hot and humid. These roads into the jungle also have historical value as well: they were used by the Inca king as escape routes to the jungle when fleeing the Spanish.

Where better to cycle than the Sacred Valley—the holy Inca land. With stunning views of mountains and open valleys, it is a great alternative to other, more touristic ways, to see the splendor of this land. You’ll experience high altitude and downhill riding, offering a little bit of everything to cyclers. There are also Inca ruins scattered through the valley, so any riding session can turn into a historical and scenic one.

Go anywhere in the Peruvian Andes and you’ll have spectacular rides and virgin roads. Peru is considered one of the best-kept secrets in the biking community, and the Andes are definitely the highlight, with a lot of downhill riding and, without many trees at the high altitudes, unrivaled, panoramic views. In these remote areas you’ll also come across less-visited Inca ruins that you can explore away from the usual tourist traps.

With a depth of 10,725 feet (3,270m), Colca Canyon is among the deepest canyons on Earth and nearly twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. There’s no better way to explore it all than biking through the breathtaking ravine. There will be more tourists around here, but with your bike you can find paths away from the noise and congestion. There are guides you can arrange multiple-day trips with, and downhill options as well.

La Costa Verde is a beautiful place to cycle while in Lima. Ride along Lima’s cliffside, away from the snarling traffic and gridlocked streets. You’ll go through beautiful parks in the up-scale neighborhoods of San Isidro, Miraflores and Barranco. To one side will be the Pacific Ocean and other will be Lima’s coastal neighborhoods.

This ride will be hot and humid, but when will you get another chance to ride through a jungle? Tour the jungle from the seat of your bike, as Parque Nacional Manu, Peru’s best-kept national park, will offer remote areas where you just might spot some wildlife.