Ultimate Peru Motorcycle Tour

This is a 15 day itinerary, covering around 1,600 miles in the heart of Peru. We start and end the the tour in Arequipa

Day 1:  Arequipa, Peru

Known as the White City, Arequipa is built from pale volcanic stone and sits in the shadow of the mighty El Misti volcano. Take the afternoon to relax and explore the historic centre, visit the impressive cathedral on the Plaza de Armas or wander the UNESCO listed Santa Catalina Monastery. There is also the option to visit the famous Inca mummy Juanita the Ice Maiden. In the evening we meet as a group for a welcome briefing and meal. Our hotel is a superb 5 star property within easy walking distance of the historic centre.

Day 2:  Arequipa to Chivay (103 miles)

After collecting the bikes, we leave Arequipa and head north into the high Andes. The scenery quickly changes as we climb steadily through volcanic landscapes and open plains. Look out for vicuña and alpaca as we gain altitude before arriving in Chivay, perched on the edge of the Colca Canyon. This afternoon there is time to explore the canyon viewpoints and, with luck, spot Andean condors soaring overhead.

Day 3: Chivay to Puno (186 miles)

A spectacular high altitude ride today as we cross remote Andean plateaus and mountain passes. The Mirador de los Andes at 4,910 metres is the highest point of the tour and offers incredible views across the surrounding peaks. Flamingos often gather in the high altitude lakes and the Imata Stone Forest adds to the dramatic scenery. By late afternoon we arrive in Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca.

Day 4: Puno Rest Day

A day to acclimatise and explore the highest navigable lake in the world. There is the option of a boat trip out onto Lake Titicaca to visit the floating reed islands of the Uros people, offering a fascinating insight into life on the lake. The afternoon is free to relax, explore the town or enjoy the views from the hotel terrace.

Day 5: Puno to Cusco (240 miles)

Leaving Lake Titicaca behind, we ride across the vast Altiplano plateau towards Cusco. The route crosses wide open grasslands and passes grazing alpaca and llama herds, with the Abra La Raya pass reaching over 4,300 metres. This is classic high Andes riding on quiet roads before descending into the former Inca capital of Cusco.

Day 6: Cusco to Ollantaytambo (47 miles)

Have the morning to explore Cusco at your own pace. Options include visiting the impressive Cusco Cathedral, the Plaza de Armas, the Santo Domingo Convent built on Inca foundations, or riding out to explore the Sacred Valley. Cusco’s blend of Inca and Spanish architecture makes it one of the most atmospheric cities on the continent. Short ride to the beautiful town to Ollantayambo sat in the mountains, lovely old town with cobble streets sets us up ready to train to Machu Picchu.

Day 7: Ollantaytambo (Machu Picchu Excursion)

Today is dedicated to one of the highlights of South America. We leave the bikes behind and take a guided excursion to the legendary Machu Picchu, set deep within subtropical cloud forest on the edge of the Amazon Basin. This incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site needs little introduction and is a truly unforgettable experience. (IF YOU WISH TO GO TO MACHU PICCHU YOU MUST ADD IT AS AN EXTRA WHEN BOOKING. THIS NEEDS TO BE BOOKED WELL IN ADVANCE)

Day 8: Ollantaytambo to Andahuaylas (212 miles)

One of the most rewarding riding days of the tour. Expect endless bends as we weave through deep valleys and climb over multiple mountain passes, often on narrow single track roads. The riding is technical, scenic and immensely satisfying, with passes rising above 3,000 metres. We overnight in Andahuaylas, deep in the Andes.

Day 9: Andahuaylas to Ayacucho (147 miles)

Another classic Andes route through remote rural Peru. Narrow roads cling to mountain ridges and wind through deep river gorges, passing small villages rarely visited by tourists. Ayacucho is rich in history and colonial architecture and offers a warm welcome after a superb day in the saddle.

Day 10: Ayacucho to Paracas (221 miles)

A dramatic change of scenery today as we descend from the cool Andean highlands through deep canyons and across the high Apacheta Pass at 4,750 metres. The road eventually drops into the vast Sechura Desert before reaching the Pacific coast and the relaxed seaside town of Paracas.

Day 11: Paracas to Nasca (131 miles)

We follow the Pan American Sur through sweeping desert landscapes, with the option to divert inland to visit the Huacachina oasis surrounded by towering sand dunes. Continuing south, we pass the mysterious Nasca Lines before arriving in Nasca for a two night stay.

Day 12: Nasca Rest Day

A free day to explore the area. Options include an early morning flight over the famous Nasca Lines, visiting the ancient Cantalloc aqueducts, or a trip to the Chauchilla Cemetery to see pre Inca mummies preserved in the desert. Alternatively, relax by the hotel pool or explore the town.

Day 13: Nasca to Camana (250 miles)

Today’s ride takes us through barren desert landscapes broken by pockets of irrigated farmland and small settlements. The road offers wide open views and an incredible sense of scale, with the Pacific Ocean appearing as we approach the coastal town of Camana.

Day 14: Camana to Arequipa (105 miles)

Our final riding day sees us leave the coast and climb steadily inland along the Camana River Valley. The landscape becomes increasingly volcanic as we return to Arequipa, completing a stunning loop through southern Peru. In the evening we enjoy a final group meal to celebrate an unforgettable journey.

Day 15: Fly Home

Transfer to the airport and fly home.

Flights:  We do not include your passenger flight in our prices.  Once we have confirmed a guaranteed departure for the tour, it is your responsibility to book your own flights.

You are in for a treat on this tour as we use different styles of accommodation, to suit the area we are in.  You will stay in a 16th century monastery converted to a hotel, a lakeside hotel overlooking Titicaca.  The standard of the accommodation is mainly 3* or 4* star, with one 5* hotel. In the more remote Andean, towns we aim to stay at the best accommodation in the area, which is often the equivalent to a 3* standard. In the main towns, we use high standard hotels such as:

• Hotel Costa del Sol, Cusco.  A magnificent colonial 4* hotel in a converted 17th century mansion, with all modern amenities and within 5 minutes’ walk of the main Plaza de Armas.
• Private Collection Casa Andina, Puno.  A well equipped 4* hotel with balconies offering magnificent views overlooking Lake Titicaca.

You should note that as we like to provide characterful hotels close to the colonial centre of towns, on occasion, parking is not available on site, so we need to park the bikes in a secure location within a few blocks of the hotel.  We think this is a small price to pay for some of the magnificent locations we are staying in.

You have the benefit of booking your motorcycle tour with a UK operator, acting in accordance with The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, ensuring your money paid in advance is protected.

Before you go

• GlobeBusters Guidance Handbook with all pre-trip information.
• Daily hard copy route notes (road book) with GPS co-ordinates and information about the hotels, the roads and the sights.
• Loan SD Card with open source GPS mapping for countries outside of Europe, suitable for Garmin units.
• Downloadable routes in GPX format and custom waypoints for hotels, lunch stops, viewpoints etc, suitable for Garmin, TomTom and phone navigation Apps, such as Scenic
• Peru Tour Shirt

En Route

• Hotel bed and breakfast accommodation on a shared basis (unless Single Room booked) for 14 nights.
• Standard of accommodation is 14 nights in 4* hotels, 5 nights in 3* hotels, 1 night riverside cabin.
• Two evening meals; Welcome & Farewell Meal. (Start of the trip and the last night)
• Local overnight hotel parking charges.
• Half day visit by boat to the floating reed islands of Uros on Lake Titicaca. Included.

Support Crew

• GlobeBusters Motorcycle Tour Manager on a motorcycle to accompany the group
• Local Support Driver and Vehicle, equipped with cellular phone, spare fuel, water, tools, selected spare parts and emergency first aid kit, acting as a sweeper vehicle

Motorcycle Hire

Where you have chosen to rent a motorcycle, this is organised us with the local motorcycle rental provider.   Your rental fee includes:

• 13 days hire of the model of motorcycle as chosen by you (or equivalent model)
• Side cases / panniers.
• Local third party motorcycle insurance in Peru
• Damage Waiver limiting your liability for motorcycle loss or damage to US$700

We act as agent for the local rental agency and on arrival you will be required to sign the local motorcycle rental contract and provide your credit card details as a guarantee against damages.

If you require any other motorcycle accessories (tank bag, top box, GPS mount, GPS unit etc), please request these on booking and an additional charge may be applicable.

Not Included

• Day visit to Machu Picchu, on Vistadome Train with English speaking guide and entrance to Machu Picchu NOT INCLUDED but available to book (CAN ADD AS AN EXTRA UPON BOOKING TOUR. NEED TO BE PRE-BOOK).
  If you book the extra Machu Picchu you will get the following included for the day visit to Machu Picchu:
  • Vistadome Train ticket roundtrip from Cusco /Machupicchu/Cusco
  • Transfer roundtrip to the train station
  • Bus ticket up and down in Machupicchu
  • Entrance fee to Machupicchu ruta diseñada 2
  • English speaking guide
  • Lunch
• Return passenger airline flights or any other travel costs to get to the start and from the finish point for the tour.
• Personal travel, accident and medical insurance
• Motorcycle insurance or motorcycle breakdown recovery insurance
• Entrance fees to sights and parks, optional excursions or activities, (except where stated)
• Lunches, snacks or evening meals (except where stated). Any meals whilst on board ferries.
• Personal spending money, tips, souvenirs or other extras.
• Personal documentation (eg visas, passport), vaccinations, personal taxes, border crossing fees.
• Fuel, oil & other motorcycle consumables, toll road fees, traffic fines.
• Cost of parts, labour or other indirect costs relating to the repair of any damage to your motorcycle or a rental motorcycle
• We do not supply riding gear; you must bring your own helmet, jacket, trousers and gloves.
• Any other item not specifically stated as included in the price.
• Machu Picchu Day Tour & Entrance Fee

Flights

For clarity, we do not include your passenger flights.  It is your responsibility to organise your own flights to and from the destination.  Once we have confirmed a guaranteed departure, you need to book an outward flight to our start point, Arequipa to arrive no later than around 12pm on 06 October 2028.  The earliest leave date is any time on 20 October 2028 from Arequipa.

Should you wish to arrive before the official date date or stay after the official end date, please simply request extra nights at the time of booking and we can make the reservation at our group hotel.

Please also refer to our terms and conditions.

When you book a tour with us, we provide you with Tour Specific Guidance Notes that give you detailed information about what you need to know to prepare and plan your tour, and what to expect when on tour. Here are some of the questions that we often get asked before a rider makes a booking:

What riding experience do I need?
This route is primarily a paved road route, with some dirt / gravel roads in the Andes, but mainly twisting tarmac mountain roads and across the high altitude Altiplano.  Generally road conditions are good and once out of town, roads are traffic free.  You do need to watch out for slow moving trucks in blind bends and skittish wildlife.  The larger cities of Cusco and Arequipa are busy and a little chaotic. You will be riding at altitude, including some passes over 4,500m high and some nights are at altitudes of 3,300 – 3,800m.  This tour is suitable for a good road rider, preferably with previous experience of touring.  It is also suitable for experienced two-up couples.

Do I have to ride in a group?
No!  We do not make you ride in convoy.  We offer you the freedom to decide how you would like to ride.  We give you a road book, GPS co-ordinates, a highlighted map and hotel information.  You can use this to self-navigate.  If you prefer to ride with our Motorcycle Tour Leader, then you can do this.

What is the average group size?
Our groups are normally between 8 – 10 riders (some riders will have passengers).

Is this ride suitable for a passenger?
We have had other riders successfully complete this ride with a pillion passenger.  Your passenger needs to also be an experienced tourer.

Is there a support vehicle?
Yes, this tour operates with a local support vehicle and driver.  The support vehicle will carry a maximum of one piece of luggage per person, up to a maximum of 60 litres each.  Your luggage should be dustproof and waterproof and we recommend soft bags such as Ortlieb.  Hard suitcases or baggage with wheels are not recommended.

Tell me about motorcycle rental
Where you have chosen to rent a motorcycle, this is organised by us with the local motorcycle rental provider in Chile.   Your rental fee includes:

• 13 days of motorcycle rental of the model as chosen by you (or equivalent model)
• Motorcycle is supplied with side cases / panniers.
• Local third party motorcycle insurance in Peru.

Riders must be age 25 years and older, with a valid, full motorcycle licence.  We work with the local motorcycle rental provider that is an approved BMW Approved Travel Partner.  Motorcycles are provided with side panniers.  We act as an agent for the local provider.  You will need to sign the local terms and conditions of rental (a copy of which you may request from us in advance) and provide a valid credit card as a guarantee in case of damage – please ensure that you have credit limit to cover up to US$700 .  Bikes are provided with Local Third Party Cover called SOAT which provides limited coverage for personal injury to the rider, passenger and third parties. Additional Damage Waiver is INCLUDED , which covers damage to the rental motorcycle, with an excess/deductible of max. US$ 700.00.  Your “Security Deposit” (paid cash or major credit card) is US$700. On collection, we advise you to check your rental motorcycle carefully and to take photographs of it, as proof of its condition.

Please note that on rare occasions we may need to substitute your choice of motorcycle for something similar.

If you require any other motorcycle accessories (tank bag, top box, GPS mount, GPS unit etc), please request these on booking and an additional charge may be applicable.

What documents do I need?
You will need your original documents as follows:  Passport, Driving Licence, International Driving Permit.

What about flights?
You must book your own passenger flights to and from.  The normal route is to fly to the international airport in Lima, Peru and then transfer to domestic airlines to fly direct to and from Arequipa, Peru.  From London, there are no direct flights to Arequipa, Peru. When you book a flight, please make sure that it arrives in Arequipa  before 3pm on the first official day and you can fly home any time on the final official day.

Machu Picchu 

Day visit to Machu Picchu, on Vistadome Train with English speaking guide and entrance to Machu Picchu is NOT INCLUDED but available to book as an extra. You can add this as an extra upon booking the tour. The cost is £440 GBP You need to book this in advance, if you have a change on mind when in Peru you will not be able to go. If you changed your mind and don’t want to go it is non-refundable and you will not get back your money for the day tour.
If you book the extra Machu Picchu you will get the following included for the day visit to Machu Picchu:

• • Vistadome Train ticket roundtrip from Ollantaytambo /Machupicchu/Ollantaytambo
  • Transfer roundtrip to the train station
  • Bus ticket up and down in Machupicchu
  • Entrance fee to Machupicchu ruta diseñada 2
  • English speaking guide
  • Lunch

What will the weather be like?
We are travelling at the end of the dry season in the Andes, so we would expect some rain showers.  It is also chilly at high altitudes, especially in the evening.   We can also experience deep blue skies and sunshine, but remember at altitude the sun can be very strong, so make sure you have sun cream.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather
http://www.worldclimate.com/

Do I need visas for travel?
At time of writing, UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and most EU Citizens do not need any visas in advance for travel.  This information is provided in good faith.  It is your responsibility to have the correct visas in place prior to travel.  Please check what requirements are necessary for your nationality.

What about my health when I am abroad?
It is a condition of your travel with us that you have in place travel / medical insurance to cover you for medical treatment and repatriation if you suffer any illness or injury when on the expedition, including any injury sustained from riding or being a passenger on a large capacity motorcycle.

Before you travel, we strongly recommend that you visit your GP or a specialised travel clinic to get advice on the recommended vaccinations and other health protection measures needed for the countries on this trip. As background, the websites listed below may prove useful.

http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/
http://www.masta-travel-health.com/

Please note that many countries on this route do not have the same level of medical infrastructure nor consistent medical standards that you may be used to the country of your residence.  In particular, emergency services often may be a long distance away, with no co-ordinated response, or sometimes no medical response available within reasonable times.  The above factors mean that injuries or illnesses that may be recoverable, if you were in your home country, may have serious or fatal consequences.  This is a risk that you accept on booking.

What about local currency?
The base currency for this trip is the US Dollar. The US Dollar is readily exchangeable for the local currencies. When you bring US Dollars, it must be in MINT condition or locals will not readily exchange the notes.  The websites below will give you the current rates of exchange.
Otherwise the main local currency is Peruvian soles.

http://www.oanda.com/
http://www.travelex.co.uk/