- +591 772 19634
- info@gravitybolivia.com
- #940, Linares St., Upstairs
Every year in May or June, we attend one of the premier international mountain biking races in the world: The Inca Avalanche.
Starting at nearly 5,000m (16,000 ft) on the backside of one of the 7 Wonders of the World – Machu Picchu, the Inca Avalanche is one of the highest races in the world. The race is not broken into different stages but rather one continuous run from the start to the finish line – about 5,900 vertical feet (1,800m) of descending over approximately 25 minutes, depending on your level of shred!
Riders from all over the world descend on Ollantaytambo, Peru every year to ride the unbelievable trails, visit Inca ruins, party at Inca festivals and race the Inca Avalanche. Riders like Chris Van Dine, Aaron Chase, Eric Porter, Rene Wildehaber, Brian Lopes, Cedric Gracia, and many other legends of the sport have all come to Ollanta to rip this ride. You don’t have to be a legend of sport to ride though, we have riders as young as 9 participate, and there’s even have a Hard-Tail class!
• Race with Pros!
• Ride the best of Bolivia and Peru!
• Chance to visit Machu Picchu and many other ancient Incan sites.
Riders ready for 2 weeks of world class shred topped off by a race in the Inca homeland. This is an amazing MTB holiday in South America.
Day 1 – ARRIVAL AND WELCOME DINNER
We will pick you up from the airport and take you to your hotel. You can go to the workshop and build your bike or let our mechanics do it before meeting other riders and your guides for dinner.
Day 2 – SECRET SINGLE TRACK
DayS 3 & 4 – CHORO 2 DAYS
DayS 5 & 6 – SPECTACULAR SORATA
Day 7 – DRIVE TO OLLANTAYTAMBO
The drive is approximately 10-12 hours. We will offer you breakfast and lunch along the way and enjoy the spectacular scenery of the Altiplano and Lake Titicaca. Once we arrive we will take you to the Hostel Janaxpacha located right in front of centuries old Inca ruins. Set up and make yourself at home, as this will be our base camp for the next week of riding throughout Peru.
Day 8 – BIKE ASSAULT
This incredibly scenic ride starts in the area around Moray (3,550m) and ends beside the Urubamba River in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We cycle amid traditional Andean communities where the way of life has changed very little since the Spanish arrived nearly 500 years ago.
Ancient historical sites, incredible views and amazing trails abound in this valley, and we will take you to see the best!
In Ollanta, we attend the Inca Avalanche Trail Festival Welcome Dinner where you will get to meet the other riders taking part and hang with the pros who will be racing with you in the Inca Avalanche this year.
Day 9 – PUMAMARCA
Pumamarca offers great views along the top edge of a massive, Incan terraced mountainside. We will visit the Pumamarca site first, which is a pre-Incan ruin dating back to the 1200’s.
After visiting the site, we begin the 7km singletrack descent back down to Ollantaytambo. The track is rocky, with some long smooth sections mixed in, and is one of our favorite local rides in Peru. It also has the bonus of passing by 3 different Incan sites that have only recently been uncovered – Choquebamba, Media Luna, and Muscapuquio. Depending on rider skills, energy levels and enthusiasm some or all of the riders may choose to repeat this trail, or hit another trail.
Day 10 – FIRST DAY TO LOOK AT THE INCA AVALANCHE TRAIL
On this day we could go riding for the first time on what will be the race course of the Inca Avalanche race, where you can get to know what you will be facing, or alternatively we could drive up to Cusco and do loads of downhill trail riding offering you a chance to ride from the ridges above Cusco and explore a variety of different routes, all of which end up back in town.
Day 11 – MACHU PICCHU OR MORE RIDING
On this day we have the option for you to visit the wonders of Machu Picchu. We would take you by train, with a meal included and a local guide to show you around one of the greatest wonders in the world. (Note: this option has an additional cost). No trip to Peru is complete without a visit to this ancient holy site, probably on almost everyone’s bucket list! If you would rather ride now, we can also offer this trip as an extension after the end of the race.
Alternatively we could do some more practice and coaching rides with our guides around Ollayntaytambo.
In the evening the Inca Avalanche race organizers will throw a party in Cusco with other riders and the pros. It is optional to attend, but we do recommend a night out!
Day 12 – INCA AVALANCHE COURSE
Today we have the opportunity to train on the world famous Inca Avalanche course.
We ride down this 20km trail as often as our bodies can handle it, maximizing our preparation for the race… this includes stopping to check out lines, options, and techniques.
This ride will push you to the limits, and get you into shape for the race. Back in Ollanta later in the evening, we can guarantee you’ll have a big smile on your face (even though you’ll be knackered)!
Day 13 & 14 – QUALIFYING AND THE BIG RACE
This is what you’ve been waiting for!!
Set in the midst of the stunning Andean mountains, in an ancient Inca village, this will be one of the top bike events of the year! Far from the typical downhill course, the Inca Avalanche starts out at an elevation of nearly 15,000 feet above sea level and descends an outstanding course over traditional Inca roads and paths to the finish line five thousand feet below!
The Inca Avalanche is a mass start enduro style downhill mountain bike race. It is one continuous run from the start to the finish line – about 5,900 vertical feet of descending over approximately 25-40 minutes.
On Saturday are the Qualifiers – there are 2 runs, the first is mandatory and the second is optional, your best run from these determining your starting position on the race grid for the finals on Sunday. One hundred and fifty+ racers are expected and are typically lined up in 10 rows of racers 15 riders wide.
The race is run using an “Open Course,” which means that the entire mountain is available to the riders in their quest to take the fastest line down to the finish line.
After the trophy ceremony we all have an after party in Ollanta to celebrate our adventures and say our goodbyes.
It will be the best story to tell at the table.
Day 15 – CHECK OUT
From here you are free to make your own adventures. We can help you set up anything else you would like to do in your time here in South America, just let us know!
If you are flying out today, we will take you to the airport.
#940 Linares Street, Upstairs
Between Sagarnaga & Tarija
La Paz – Bolivia