Going to Peru may seem like enough of an adventure for some, but it's not. Visiting Cusco is a given, but visiting the neighbouring Sacred Valley isn't - and it should be. Many visitors do head to this spot to enjoy the lower altitude and gorgeous scenery. Others do it to take in some adventure, and one of the most popular tours of this ilk is off road mountain biking.
The country is beautiful in itself and the Urubamba River part of the Sacred Valley flows from Cusco, past Machu Picchu and towards the Amazon which makes it one of the most stunning. It was the heartlands of the Inca Empire and is therefore rich in ancient indigenous history. The region is dotted with ruins, many of which can be visited during biking tours.
There are a number of locations where it is common to bike to in the Sacred Valley. Depending on the amount of time you have, you can choose a single day tour and go to just a couple of them or you can combine several into a multi-day tour.
For a single day tour, a popular destination is the Inca ruins at Moray and the saltpans of Salineras. Moray is a fascinating site of circular agricultural terraces. The Incas used this area to grow crops - and many different varieties at that - which isn't able to do unless you are at this altitude. Spiritual significance, as with many spots around here, is believed to have played a part in this site. From a distance, many people see Salineras as a vast quilt thanks to the squarish patches of salt. You can see around 3000 salt pans in total. During the dry season, they are filled with salt water from a natural spring located above them. As the water evaporates, the salt is left.
Fascinating as these two sites are, if you have more time, to get a more varied view of what the Sacred Valley has to offer, you can include the Lares hot springs. The springs are located at around 4400 meters above sea level. This is a great place to relax for a while and overnight. On the way down, you can have the opportunity to ride on trails and steps that were once used by the Incas.
Around Ollantaytambo, there are various opportunities as well, such as the Inca quarries where the stones were taken to build the Ollantaytambo site. Heading to Abra Malaga is yet another option, when you can head up mountain pass to 4400 meters. There are a few different ways of descending from here, some of which are more challenging than others and meant for expert riders only.
Because there are so many possible trails in each area, it is possible for beginners, experts, and any level in between to enjoy these same tours. It's important, however, to be sure to sign up for what is appropriate for you. It's also a good idea to pay attention to reviews of the various agencies, particularly in terms of the quality of the equipment. Going on these tours on bikes that are not of good quality or in good condition will clearly affect your ability to enjoy the experience to its fullest.
Author Resource:-
Trips to Peru are more and more popular when you are heading to South America. Be sure that you get the best prices so that you can enjoy the top Peru adventure travel hot spots.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.infoblog.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
