Is Airfare Included? What is the best way to get to the trip start location?

No, airfare is not included. This trip begins and ends at the Cusco, Peru airport (CUZ). You should aim to arrive between 8AM to 10AM on Day 1 (Sunday), and depart between 3PM - 5PM on Day 7 (Saturday). Our team will pick you up at the airport in Cusco and drop you off there at the end of the trip. Upon booking, we will send you a complete packet that goes into this and other aspects of your trip in great detail.

Do I need to be in good shape?

A common concern for people doing a group mountain bike trip is whether they will be able to “keep up”. We want to stress that will not be an issue. First of all, the vast majority of the riding is, well, going downhill. Gravity fed so to speak by our shuttles. That is because the mountains are so big it would take all day to climb up them, so we don’t. This also means the group stays together much easier. No one is in a hurry and the scenery and culture tends to shock even the most jaded of travelers, meaning that frequent stops for photos, talk to a local farmer, etc are common and enable us to move around each day without any stress.

How difficult is the mountain biking?

This trip is rated intermediate skill level and above. That means a solid comfort level while riding a mountain bike off road on singletrack, and a fair amount of experience doing so. It is not an expert rated trip. There are no mandatory jumps or drops, or extreme steeps. There are, however, a lot of rocks in the trails, and exposure (riding near the edge of a long fall or dropoff) is definitely part of the trip. Our guides are experts and trained to warn of these ahead of time, prepare, etc. Walking around obstacles is totally okay too, so someone with the right attitude of patience and common sense can overcome skill level to a certain extent. If you have any further questions about if your skill level is appropriate, just let us know.

What are the accommodations like?

All rooms are double or triple rooms, all of them with private in-room bathrooms and hot water 24/7. Your hotel in Ollantaytambo is very nice - bright, sunny, outdoor gardens and lots of space. Spend one night in a jungle ecolodge that everyone loves. And one night in Aguas Calientes, where the hotels are a bit more basic due to no road going to the town, but still nice, clean modern and private baths.

Do I need travel insurance?

While it is not required, we always recommend purchasing travel insurance for all trips. Travel insurance allows you to seek reimbursement if you are forced to cancel your trip for unforeseeable reasons, or if you need to cover medical help, emergency transport, and/or theft or accidental damage while traveling. We recommend World Nomads. 

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How much extra money should I budget?
Figure on $25 a day to eat lunch and dinner at the local restaurants, not including alcoholic beverages, which tend to greatly increase costs so factor that into your budget based on your preferences. Most people like to spend $50-100 on gifts for friends and family - textiles, ceramics, paintings, etc. And maybe a few hundred dollars for discretionary / emergency spending.

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