Peru Motorcycle Tour: Machu Picchu & Colca Canyon

Motorcycle trip Peru: Andes, Inca & Machu Picchu

Nazca, Lake Titicaca and of course Machu Picchu: on this guided motorcycle tour you experience Peru's best known places and discover much more of this remarkable country along the way. The tour is relaxed to ride, runs mainly on paved roads and suits every motorcyclist with a taste for adventure.

How long? 14 Days

When? Spring, Autumn

Price € 5,855 / Person

On two wheels through the Andes to the sites of the Incas

You ride through extremely dry deserts and along deep canyons, visit lively cities and colourful markets and meet the typical animals of the Andes on the way. The big goal of this trip is the best South America has to offer: Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas, deep in the Andean rainforest.

You travel as a group with a guide and stay in pleasant 3 star tourist class hotels. The stages run on asphalt, so the tour suits everyone who fancies a motorcycle adventure in Peru.

View from a motorcycle rider's cockpit over a winding Andean mountain road, snow peaks in the distance

Snow-capped Andean peaks above a green highland wetland dotted with small pools of water

Machu Picchu ruins spread across a ridge with tourists walking the terraces and Huayna Picchu peak behind

Three motorcyclists on a switchback road through a red rock canyon in the Peruvian Andes

Group of motorcyclists posing at the Patahuasi altitude marker with a volcano in the background

Motorcycle trip Peru: Andes, Inca & Machu Picchu

Key Highlights of the Trip

01 Experience Machu Picchu

Experience Machu Picchu

The lost city of the Incas in the Andean rainforest is the big goal of the trip. You reach the citadel by train and bus, with train, bus, entrance and guide included.

02 Colca Canyon & condors

Colca Canyon & condors

The Colca Canyon is considered the deepest canyon in the world. At the Cruz del Condor you watch the Andean condor in flight, and the day before the hot springs near Chivay await.

03 Andean curve paradise

Andean curve paradise

Between Nazca and Chalhuanca one of the best motorcycle roads in South America begins, bend after bend for hundreds of kilometres, past llamas, alpacas and vicuñas.

04 Lake Titicaca & Uros

Lake Titicaca & Uros

On the highest navigable lake in the world a boat takes you to the floating islands of the Uros. On its shore lies Puno, your base by the lake.

05 Cusco & Sacred Valley

Cusco & Sacred Valley

You discover the former capital of the Incas on a guided walking tour and on your own. Then the route leads into the Sacred Valley with its many Inca ruins.

Martin B.

On the Peru Motorcycle Tours - Inca Adventure Tour, the group dynamics stood out in particular, coming into full effect with the maximum group size of 10 people...

reviews.translated_from_en · Show original

On the Peru Motorcycle Tours - Inca Adventure Tour, the group dynamics stood out in particular, coming into full effect with the maximum group size of 10 people. During the first days in Lima and Arequipa, the riding pace on the well-planned routes was pleasantly moderate, allowing the participants to get to know each other well and to experience the Inca culture more deeply through visits to Cusco and the Uros Islands. Even on more demanding stages, such as the adventurous ride to Abancay, the camaraderie stayed strong and the motivation high.

Martin B.

On the Peru Motorcycle Tours - Inca Adventure Tour, the group dynamics stood out in particular, coming into full effect with the maximum group size of 10 people...

Translated from German · Show original

Bei der Peru Motorradreisen - Inka Abenteuer Tour fiel besonders die Gruppendynamik auf, die in der maximalen Gruppengröße von 10 Personen gut zur Geltung kam. Während der ersten Tage in Lima und Arequipa war das Fahrtempo auf den gut durchdachten Strecken angenehm moderat, sodass sich die Teilnehmer gut kennenlernen und die Inka Kultur durch Besuche in Cusco und den Uros Inseln intensiver erleben konnten. Selbst bei anspruchsvolleren Etappen, wie der abenteuerlichen Fahrt nach Abancay, blieb der Zusammenhalt stark und die Motivation hoch.

Martin M.

The tour in Peru offered a well-planned support from an experienced German-speaking guide. The daily briefings made navigation easier, especially on the adventu...

Translated from German · Show original

Die Tour in Peru bot eine durchdachte Betreuung durch einen erfahrenen deutschsprachigen Guide. Die täglichen Briefings erleichterten die Orientierung, insbesondere bei der abenteuerlichen Motorradstrecke nach Abancay. Die Gruppengröße von maximal 10 Personen ermöglichte zudem eine persönliche Atmosphäre und eine effektive Unterstützung während der Erkundungsfahrten.

FAQS

How long are the stages?

The riding days range from 80 to 480 kilometres, and all stages run on asphalt. The longest stage leads on day 10 from Quincemil up to Puno on Lake Titicaca.

Who is the tour suitable for?

It is a relaxed guided motorcycle tour mainly on paved roads and therefore suits every motorcyclist with a taste for adventure. Keep in mind that in the high Andes you ride at altitudes of up to around 5,000 metres.

Where do we start and finish?

The tour starts and finishes in Arequipa in southern Peru. All airport transfers are included in the tour price, and you book your flight to and from Arequipa yourself.

What does the trip cost?

The tour price is €5,855 per rider on a standard motorcycle in a shared double room. A non riding passenger pays €4,098 and the single room supplement is €803. Upgrades to larger motorcycles are available at extra cost.

Is fuel included in the tour price?

Yes. Fuel and tolls are included in the tour price, so you pay nothing for refuelling on the way.

What are the highlights?

Machu Picchu, Cusco and the Sacred Valley, the Nazca Lines, the high Andes, the jungle near Quincemil, Lake Titicaca with the Uros Islands and the Colca Canyon with its condors.

What are the entry requirements for tourists from the EU and Switzerland?

Travellers from the EU and Switzerland need a passport valid for at least six months beyond the date of departure. No visa is required for tourist stays; on entry the Peruvian immigration authority grants up to 183 days per year. The officer decides the length of stay actually granted on arrival.

Which vaccinations are recommended?

Check your standard vaccinations and refresh them if necessary. A hepatitis A vaccination is also recommended for Peru. For personal advice, talk to your family doctor or a travel medicine specialist.

Will I be picked up at the airport?

Yes. We pick you up at Arequipa airport and take you to the hotel. The transfer to your flight home is included too, as all airport transfers are part of the services.

What do you recommend regarding insurance?

The motorcycles only carry the Peruvian minimum insurance SOAT, which covers medical costs only to a limited extent. We therefore strongly recommend health insurance with maximum cover in Peru for the whole trip. For damage to the motorcycle there is an optional insurance for US$240 with a deductible of no more than US$700.

What is the accommodation like?

You stay in 3 star tourist class hotels with private bathroom (shower and WC) and breakfast. The tour price is based on a shared double room, and a single room costs a supplement of €803.

Do I need an international driving licence?

Yes. You need both your national and your international driving licence. Be sure to check the validity of both documents before departure.

Will I have mobile phone reception?

You will have reception in larger towns and mostly along the route as well. Affordable travel plans are worth it, so check this with your provider in advance.

What are the roads like?

All stages of this route run on paved roads. Any tolls are included in the tour price.

What traffic risks should I expect?

Traffic in large cities is lively, and in the countryside animals roam freely. We recommend defensive riding, full protective gear and zero alcohol.

What is medical care like?

In larger cities such as Arequipa and Cusco there are well equipped clinics. In rural regions care is limited. Strong health insurance with an emergency number is highly recommended for this long haul trip.

When is the best time to travel?

Peru has several climate zones, so there is no single best time to travel. In the Andean highlands the dry season from April to October is especially popular. In November the transition period begins, when it is greener and occasional showers are possible.

How will the altitude affect me?

At altitude, headaches, fatigue or shortness of breath can occur. The highest pass of the route is on day 12 at 4,910 metres, and Cusco and Puno lie at 3,500 and 3,800 metres. Drinking plenty and coca tea help you adjust.

Which motorcycle do we ride?

As standard you ride the CFmoto 450MT or the Honda NX500. At extra cost you can switch to a premium motorcycle: CFmoto 700MT, 800MT or 800MT-X, Suzuki V-Strom 800DE or 1050DE, BMW F 750 GS, R 1250 GS or R 1300 GS.

Will I see the Nazca Lines?

On day 3 you reach Nazca. The figures and lines on the pampa can only be made out from the air, so in the afternoon you can take a flight of about half an hour. The flight is not part of the included services.

Can I ride on rest days?

No. On the rest days in Cusco, on the Machu Picchu excursion and at Lake Titicaca the motorcycles are not available for riding.

What is the group kitty?

For small expenses at stops, such as coffee or ice cream, the group sets up a shared kitty. As a starting amount we suggest US$40 or 150 soles per person.