"It was the trip of a lifetime! I had to pinch myself several times to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. I think the highlight was the Uyuni Salt Flats, surreal landscape. My favorite place we stayed had no electricity or hot water in La Higuera Bolivia but I give it a five star! Just riding through the small villages of Peru and Bolivia was great. Looking forward to another trip."
-That's the Adventure Riding spirit we love and hope to bring out of more Riders! Karl Arceneaux's Andes & Altiplano Guided Group Tour was clearly a success, and a real Adventure Rider understands that sometimes "things don't work" in places like Bolivia. We make the best of each situation, and have fun with the memories on all of these trips. So glad you enjoyed, Karl!
| "Just to let you know that we had a fabulous time in Peru! Excellent people, excellent route and excellent hotels!
I guess I didn't really know what to expect from Peru - but it surpassed any expectations I had many times over. It really is a sensational trip and both Helen and I loved the riding and the few bits of 'adventure' that we had!"
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-Michael Potter and his wife, Helen must have enjoyed themselves, as so many of us do when riding and exploring the incredible land of Peru. They were part of our Guided Group "Machu Picchu Express" tour, and we look forward to riding with them again in the Andes, soon.
"Just finished the Machu Picchu express tour. The tour was absolutely brilliant! It was very well organised, driving was fantastic. Food and accommodation great ! I will be recommending to my friends when I get home! Thanks very much! - Patrick Fives"
-Patrick and another group of Riders all enjoyed what the Andes Mountains of Peru had in store for them on the Machu Picchu Express Guided Group Motorcycle Tour. Patrick, if this just razzled up some curiosity about what the rest of the Andes may be like, please keep us in mind!
"My dad and I had the best time of our lives! Diederik and Edi were excellent, really help made it a great tour. - If anyone would like to contact me to ask questions about the or tour around Peru, please feel free to pass them my email and Cc; yourself."
-Alexandra Carroll from Australia, having given us exactly what we're after in this business: Great feedback about motorcycle trips! Alexandra and her father joined one of our "7 Highlights of Southern Peru" tours in early 2015.
"Javier was a great guide and a very fun and good person. We are making a movie of the trip (Javier was the main cameras man) and will share that with you. Here are a couple of photos from the trip. Thank you very much for an incredible journey in a wonderful country. Next year we are off to Russia for our annual cruise. We had an AWESOME trip. A big special thanks to Javier...he was extremely special."
-Charles Davidson, Brandon Batagol, and Bruce Syme from Australia after their private motorcycle tour of Peru. Glad you guys enjoyed so much, let's do those "hot springs" tours!
"Fantastic tour on the Machu Picchu Express. Good route with a mix of desert, mountains and rainforest. Some excellent riding and a good crew. Top marks to Geert and eddy who kept us entertained in the evenings and informed during the tour plus on the road whatever the problems that came up."
-David Kellaway from the U.K. after what was a successful first experience riding a motorcycle in the Andes Mountains of Peru on theMachu Picchu Express tour package
-Gustavo Priyoltensky from Massachusetts after what was clearly a great self-guided motorcycle trip in Peru with his father in early 2015. Come back again, guys!
- Mark Larson from Arizona in the U.S. after he and his wife, Melanie enjoyed exploring Peru on one of our BMW R1200GS rentals. Mark had done Patagonia a few years ago with us, and appears to be "conquering Lost Andes!"
"Guys had a great time, despite Phil almost being arrested LOL. He left his ID and money etc. under a mattress at one of the hotels a maid found it and turned it in but not before they were stopped at a checkpoint along the route. Phil had no idea he had forgotten it.
Your staff was wonderful in assisting them. Phil took like 1600 photo’s. Next time they want another motorcycle trip, I will definitely keep you guys in mind. Thank you so much for all your assistance."
-Written by Brandi who assisted in setting up a self-guided Peru motorcycle trip package for the Nelson brothers from the U.S. Worth noting here is that, while we don't recommend leaving things behind in hotels, there are definitely good people all over the world, including beautiful Peru!
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"Wow! Wow! WOW!!! The three principal environments in Peru are coastal desert, high mountains (and here I mean HIGH, as in really, really HUGE!), and jungle. But there is also everything in between from pine forests at 2000m to the incredible expanses of golden Pampas grasses on the "Altiplano", way above the tree line, starting at 3,000m and up for there. Our highest point was 4,900m, and still we were dwarfed by the giant peaks all around. Amazing is too weak a word for it. AWESOME is often a word that is over-used. This was truly that. |
- Rory Aitken from the U.K. after clearly enjoying his exploration of Peru on one of our BMW R1200GS rentals. With sentiments like this, perhaps more people will finally venture into the Andes Mountains of Peru on one of our motorcycle rentals!
"Just got back from a great ride in Peru...RIDE Adventures helped nine of us to build and ride a personalized tour of Peru...the ninth person was a Peruvian that lives here in the States. Having a Spanish speaking guy with you really makes the trip
-Ted Beck - Montana - If you want more particulars - email me! (Ted and his group did a self-guided motorcycle trip of Peru with motorcycles we provided, and hotels and maps we arranged for them.)
"All around, a great trip. Your entire organization is totally professional. Your email responses were always prompt and accurate. Like I said, Lars was very honest in his assessment of my trip and he was right. It's obvious that all of you actually ride and you know the routes.
-Terry Banen from the U.S, after what was clearly a great self-guided motorcyle trip in Peru, including Lake Titicaca and Machu Picchu.
- Valérie Julie Brousseau from Canada sent another smile across our faces when we saw this note about her motorcycle trip experience in Peru. We are so glad you enjoyed, Val!
- Todd Thorsell and his buddy Roger clearly enjoyed themselves in Peru, taking this photo near the Colca Canyon on our Guided Group "Machu Picchu Express" motorcycle tour. Glad you enjoyed, guys!
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival in Arequipa, Peru
Altitude: 2300m
YOUR ADVENTURE BEGINS!
Welcome to Peru and what we think is one of the best motorcycle trips ever! For your convenience, airport transfers are included in this historical city of Arequipa, bringing you to your hotel which is perfectly located for enjoying this lively historical city. A basic check-in process and motorcycle familiarization will begin, depending on your arrival time, and our Staff will be ready to answer any questions you have to prepare you for the incredible itinerary that we've prepared for you.
Day 2 – Arequipa to Puerto Inka, Peru - 420km
Altitude: Riding down to sea-level
Finally, the beginning of a long-awaited RIDE in Peru! A long riding day full of twists and turns requires an early start in order to arrive at Puerto Inka before dark while capturing all the photos riders will want to take this first day. Some stretches of the PanAmerican Highway riding northbound along the Peruvian shoreline might resemble California's Pacfic Coast Highway, but this time, you're RIDING in PERU!
Feel free to cast a huge smile within your helmet and shout for joy about this feeling that so many riders from around the world have been dreaming about. With waves crashing to your left, lunch should be in Camaná or Atico before twisting and turning approximately 100km more along the coastal route to Puerto Inka for a first night listening to the crash of the Pacific surf.
Day 3 – Puerto Inka to Nazca, Peru – 165 km
Altitude: to 520m
This is a shorter riding day across the dry Peruvian desert which can include a stop at the Chauchilla Cemetery to witness the mumified remains of Peruvians from the 9th Century A.D. The town of Nazca is famous for the mysterious Nazca Lines, which are geoglyphs and formations drawn out across the pampas (open grassy plains) just outside of the town.
Riders can either take a local flight over the area to get the best views of animal and other figure-formations drawn in the dirt and sand below, or a nearby tower can be climbed for those who prefer to stand or RIDE instead of fly : )
Day 4 – Nazca to Chalhuanca, Peru - 361km
Altitude: to 4500m
Today marks the climb into the Andes mountains! More twisties and vast scenery accompany the gradual ascent to this town high in the Andes, with minimal effort thanks to the "twist of your wrist." Lunch could be in the town of Puquio before heading up further to Chalhuanca, a very remote spot that will cause one to stop and ponder the amazing place in the world they've just arrived to. You're below the equator, on a motorcycle, riding in Peru, and with so much great riding yet ahead!
Day 5 – Chalhaunca to Cuzco, Peru - 320km
Altitude: to 3400m
Continuing east on the way to Cuzco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire awaits you but not before a long series of fun twists and Andean hairpin turns. Valley and cliff settings atop tiny small towns all show the way to Cuzco where accommodations await you near the Plaza de Armas in the town center, and a perfect location for exploring the nightlife, arts, and crafts offered here. Norton Rat's Tavern right there on the plaza has a Guest Book and beverages to enjoy while meeting travelers from every corner of our world.
Day 6 – Rest Day in Cuzco
Altitude: 3400m
Take a break in this charming city, and enjoy the architectural and cultural surroundings. Walking tours of Cuzco focusing on the historical highlights can be enjoyed, or many of the ancient Inca ruins found just outside of the city can be easily reached with the rental motorcycle you've been enjoying in the Andes.
Day 7 – Cuzco to Ollantaytambo, Peru - 100km
Altitude: to 2800m
Today's brief ride through the beautiful Sacred Valley of the Incas makes Rider very glad they're on a motorcycle instead of being trapped inside a bus. Lunch can be enjoyed there in Ollantaytambo with ancient ruins all around. Notice the hole-covered valley walls in some spots? Grave diggers long ago discovered that ancient Incas were buried with all their gold and jewelry possessions, and the deceased have since been "relieve" of their belongings. This location sets you up for even more highlights ahead.
Day 8 – The TRAIN RIDE to Machu Picchu, Peru - 30km
Altitude: to 2360
Finally, the approach to Machu Picchu! Arguably the most famous site in all of South America, the story of Hiram Bingham's 1911 journey to find the "Lost City of the Incas" is one you can now appreciate better, having passed through the thick and lucious terrain of Peruvian rainforest. Due to the non-existent road to Aguas Calientes (the base village below Machu Picchu), the only other way to arrive would be by hiking the Inca Trail for about 3-5 days.
The early 2 hour train ride to Aguas Calientes glides along the Urubamba River to this small town, just before a brief bus ride up to the gates of Machu Picchu. With plenty of time to adore the grandeur of this magnifient discovery, the train ride back to Ollantaytambo at the end of the day will undoubedtly be one with a smile on your face.
Day 9 – Ollantaytambo to Puno, Peru - 420km
Altitude: to 3800m
Another big riding day full of gorgeous Andean surroundings awaits you, rising from the Sacred Valley of the Incas on the way down to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Conditions can get a big windy in this part of the ride, so plan on taking some rest stops along the way in many of the unique small towns and villages en route.
Day 10 - Rest Day in Puno
The Floating Islands of the Uros people and a fascinating Peruvian setting on the border of Bolivia are definitely worth a day's rest, and the charming town of Puno will be perfect for a rest day or some local exploration. With a charming city center and plenty of shopping and dining options, you're of course welcome to do some more local motorcycle exploration today.
Day 11 - Puno to Yanque - 320km
Views of volcanos, vicuñas, llamas, and alpacas lead you to the edge of the Colca Canyon, and stunning views of one of the world's deepest canyons. The riding in the Colca Canyon remains the only portion of the trip which is off-pavement, but the simple hard-packed gravel found within the Canyon walls is a surface most motorcycle riders find quite easy to navigate, while adding some thrill to the overall trip.
Day 12 - Yanque to Arequipa - 260km
With more time for riding the Colca Canyon, early morning is the best time to see the Andean Condors in flight as they feed along the road you ride. Valley walls covered with agricultural interests that support the region all melt into one twisting and turning ride marking the Colca Canyon yet another highlight of this trip.
Then rising up from the canyon to make your way back to Arequipa, congratulations to all riders who have now completed this incredible journey through southern Peru!
Day 13 - Arequipa & Departure
Ask about having extra nights built into your package if you'd like to stay and enjoy some more of the cultural and urban offerings found in Arequipa. Your airport transfer is included when it's time to leave, so start organizing your photos and prepare to show friends and family and the rest of us the highlights of your motorcycle trip in Peru!
BMW F750GS
X
32.1 in
493lb / 223kg
4 gal / 15 L
853 cc
BMW R1250GS
X
33.5/34.3 in
549lb/249kg
5.3gal / 20 L
1254 cc
CF Moto MT800
- Wet Weight - 509 lbs
- Seat Height - 32.5 inches
- Fuel Capacity - 5 gal
X
32.5 in
509 lbs
5 gal
800cc
CFMOTO 450MT
The CFMOTO 450MT is built extra tough to take you beyond where the road ends. This adventure bike brings multi-terrain capability and versatility to CFMOTO's adventure touring category. Now lighter in weight, it boasts responsive power and torque from its acclaimed engine, making it perfect for the adventurous rider.
Smartly equipped for dirt, the 450MT is designed to handle a variety of terrains with ease. Whether you're exploring rugged trails or enjoying long-distance touring, the 450MT is perfectly crafted to meet the needs of those who seek adventure.
X
31.4 in/32.2 in | 800 mm/820 mm
386 lbs | 175 kg
4.6 gal | 17.6 liter
449.5 cc
Honda Africa Twin CRF1100 (2020+)
X
33.5/34.3 in
505 lb
5.0 gal
1084 cc
Honda NX500
The 2024 NX500 is a versatile adventure motorcycle, designed with a focus on power and agility.
It features a DOHC twin-cylinder 471cc engine, providing a perfect balance between strength and maneuverability. The inverted fork design enhances rigidity, offering precise steering input and feedback.
The NX500's adventure styling, tall windscreen, and sturdy passenger handholds add to its rugged look and functionality. Equipped with an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) and a digital instrumentation TFT screen, this motorcycle ensures safe and informed riding.
The NX500 is ready to inspire both seasoned adventurers and those new to the thrill of off-road exploration.
X
32.8 in
432 lbs
4.7 gal
471cc
Kawasaki KLR 650
X
35.0 in
432.0 lb
6.1 gal
651 cc