The day has arrived and it’s finally time for the long-awaited departure to Lima. Here we meet the rest of our team and the Charity Challenge representative, before saying goodbye to family and friends. There may be a short stop-over in the Peruvian capital before we head for Cusco. This will be confirmed before departure.
Touching down in the ancient Inca Capital of Cusco (3,350m), we will be met by a local Charity Challenge representative. As altitude sickness can be a problem, we spend the day acclimatising with a city walk, taking in the Plaza de Armas, the Inca Museum, the ancient ruins of Qoricancha (Temple of the Sun) and Cusco’s cathedral. Soak up the surroundings before a briefing and team dinner.
The day starts early as we board the train to Machu Picchu with our bikes. We disembark at Aguas Calientes, from where it’s a short ride to Machu Picchu. There is a guided tour and time to explore the ruins. After lunch in Aguas Calientes, we catch the train back to Ollantaytambo. Spend the evening in a hostel preparing for the challenge ahead.
Having loaded our bikes for the first day of cycling, we wave goodbye to Ollantaytambo and head along the Sacred Valley. Today’s route is generally flat and tarmacked, allowing us to acclimatise. Winding through the fertile valleys and villages of Urubamba, we stop for a picnic on the banks of the river. Our first night’s camp is just outside Pisac, a town famous for its artisan market.
Starting with a steep climb we leave the Sacred Valley and head into the Altiplano. After an arduous 20km climb, the group deserves a rest and a picnic. Then it’s a short bus ride to the top of the pass at 4,230m. Brace yourself for an adrenaline-pumping downhill, before levelling off into the beautiful town of Colcapata. The night is spent camping by Inca ruins at 3,400m.
It’s the toughest day, but we ease in with a rapid descent into Paucartambo (3,000m). There’s time to explore the village’s famous square before hopping back in the saddle for a demanding three-hour climb to the entrance of Manu National Park at 3,850m where we stop here for lunch. The track thereafter is rough and undulating. Our goal is to reach our campsite at Tres Cruces (3,950m).
As the sun rises over the steamy Amazon, the light can sometimes refract creating the sensation of several suns. Cycling back to the main road, keep an eye out for wildlife. The next section is 49km of pure downhill through cloud forest and into the steamy Amazon basin. We finish at the small community of San Pedro (1,400m), with time to swim before dinner around a campfire.
The last day on two wheels will be spent in the increasingly hostile rainforest environment. Taking the gentle downhill track, we can then cool off in pristine jungle streams. There follows a short sharp climb to the viewpoint over the national park. Then comes a fast descent until the jungle village of Atalaya, where we spend our last night outdoors.
After packing up camp it’s time to say goodbye to our support staff. We then head back along the road, this time able to appreciate the views. If time permits we can cycle back into the Sacred Valley on a good dirt road before continuing to our Cusco hotel for a celebratory dinner. And for those keen to keep partying, Cusco is home to some buzzing nightlife.
After breakfast there will be some time left for last minute sightseeing and shopping. Then it’s off to the airport in the afternoon, from where we will fly to Lima for our international flight.
As we touchdown in the UK it’s time to head to arrivals to find your family and friends. Don’t forget to swap details with your team mates, as only they share the memories of your incredible journey.
BELIEVE >> ACHIEVE >> INSPIRE