Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
tempt the 500km-plus trip all the way to Puerto Maldonado, a great hot and sweaty chal-
lenge.
The following bike operators are recommended:
Amazonas Explorer
( 25-2846;
www.amazonas-explorer.com
)
Offers excellent two- to 10-day mountain-
biking adventures; great for families, with kids' bikes available.
ADVENTURE TOUR
Cusco Aventuras
( 984-13-7403; cuscoaventura@hotmail.com)
Local legend of loconess Luchín will
give you the ride of your life.
ADVENTURE TOUR
Party Bike
( 24-0399;
www.partybiketravel.com
; Carmen Alto 246)
Traveler recommended, with
downhills, tours to the valley and through Cusco.
ADVENTURE TOUR
Gravity Peru
( 22-8032;
www.gravityperu.com
; Santa Catalina Ancha 398)
Allied with well-known
Gravity Bolivia, this professionally run operator is the only one offering double-suspen-
sion bikes for day trips. Highly recommended.
ADVENTURE TOUR
Horseback Riding
Most agencies can arrange a morning or afternoon's riding. Alternatively, you can walk to
Sacsaywamán, where many ranches are located, and negotiate your own terms. Choose
carefully, however, as horses may be in a sorry state.
Select agencies will offer multiday trips to the area around Limatambo, and there are
some first-rate ranches with highly trained, high-stepping thoroughbred Peruvian
paso
horses in Urubamba (
Click here
)
.
Bird-Watching
Serious birders should definitely get a hold of
Birds of the High Andes,
by Jon Fjeldså and
Niels Krabbe. One of the best birding trips is from Ollantaytambo to Santa Teresa or Quil-
labamba, over Abra Málaga. This provides a fine cross section of habitats from 4600m to
