Mountain Bike Adventures

Address: 530 Jirón Lucar y Torre, P.O.Box 111, Huaraz

Telephone: (51 43) 424259

Web Site: www.chakinaniperu.com

About the Company

Mountain Bike Adventures is owned and run by local man Julio Olaza. Julio knows the area better than nearly anyone and is mainly responsible for pioneering the sport in the region. He speaks good English and understands well what is required to operate a good mountain-biking operation. Mountain Bike Adventures is a well established company that has been running successful tours since the early 90's. The company is recommended in Lonely Planet Peru guide book and highly recommended by South American Handbook. MBA also has lodging in the central part of town, storage facilities and offer Spanish lessons for travelers.

Equipment

8 TREK USA bikes (with front suspension), a maintenance shop and excellent logistic support.

Itineraries (tours)

Julio has designed three basic itineraries, lasting from four to seven days.
He can also arrange special itineraries to suit specific needs (more difficult, more culture, mountains, etc.). The information below has been provided by Mountain Bike Adventures:
 

Route 1: Querococha - Chavin - Los Conchucos - Llanganuco (7 days) 
This great circuit of the Cordillera Blanca begins with an easy pedal past Querococha Lake. The route then rises to cross the Cordillera before dropping down to the magnificent archaeological ruins at Chavin de Huántar. The route continues north along the Conchucos Valley before starting the long return ascent up over the Cordillera Blanca crossing at the 4,750 meter Portachuelo de Llanganuco Pass. Here the view is truly spectacular with the enormous peaks of Huascarán, Chopicalqui, Chacraraju and Huandoy so close they seem almost in the palm of your hand! The route finishes with an incredible descent past the Llanganuco Lakes and eventually bring us to the city of Yungay.

Route 2: Ulta - Chacas - Los Conchucos (6 days)

Regarded as the most defiant and scenic route in the entire Cordillera Blanca! This trip follows the Ulta Valley flanked by the imposing peaks of Nevado Huascarán, Chopicalqui and Ulta. After pedaling up the zigzag road to the Punto Olimpica Pass at 4,950 meters we follow a long and thrilling descent to the town of San Luis. The route then continues via Yanama up to the Portachuelo de Llanganuco Pass as in the previous itinerary.

Route 3: Conococha - Chiqian - Pachacoto (4 days)

This route maintains its scenic beauty in spite of the recent work done to widen the road. The circuit starts at Conococha Lake, source of the Santa River, and takes us to the city of Chiquian with magnificent views of the Cordillera Huayhuash including Nevado Yerupaja, Hirishanca and others along the way. A gradual ascent northwards brings us to Yanashalla Pass from where we descend the length of the Pachacoto Valley, location of the famous Puya Raimondi plants.
  

Itineraries (day trips)
Mountain Bike Adventures offers limitless possibilities for trips along a labyrinth of old roads crossing both the Cordillera Blanca and the Cordillera Negra. Roads that cross agricultural fields, small rivers, old bridges and traditional villages. The majority of these old roads have existed for years and serve to connect the highest towns in both Cordilleras with the principal cities. The condition of these old roads provide all the technical demands of mountain biking for cyclists with a minimum of technical experience to the most radical bikers.
  
Day trip Cordillera Blanca side: This trip offers something for everyone. It's great introductory sampling of all the challenges and scenic vistas you'll find in the region. Upon leaving Huaraz, we'll go up to the Cordillera Blanca and pass by traditional highland farming and herding communities. Throughout, we'll get impressive views of snow capped peaks, called here "nevados". But be prepared there are several unforgiving ascents and descents during this 4 to 5 hours trip.
  
Day trip Cordillera Negra side: Located directly opposite the Cordillera Blanca this circuit in the Cordillera Negra offers everything for all types of cyclists and is the ideal route for those wanting to learn the true meaning of an unforgettable mountain bike trip. A vehicle brings us up to nearly 4,000 meters from where we begin an easy pedal along an old flat and traffic free road, with spectacular panoramic views of the entire Cordillera Blanca range. The return to Huaraz begins with an exhilerating 25 km. descent along a hard top road with options of diverting onto old roads along the way to heighten the emotion.
  
Prices
For trips larger more than one day the prices depend of the number of people, but for the day trips we charge US$20 per person no matter the number of people.

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Office Address: Calle Garcilaso 265, interior patio 2nd floor, Cusco, Peru (just 2 minutes walk from the main Plaza de Armas). If you are coming to Cusco please bring a couple of second hand clothes, toys, school equipment and drop them off in our office. We will help distribute the items to people who really need them in small village schools and communities in the Andes. For more details visit our web page www.andeantravelweb.com/peru/projects  A map of our office can be found by clicking here.

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