Dropping into the Sacred Valley from Cusco is one of those rides that rewards patience. Most cyclists split this into two relaxed days, overnighting in Pisac or Urubamba, though fit riders comfortable at altitude push through in one long day. The gradient works in your favour: from Pisac the valley floor tilts gently downriver toward Ollantaytambo, rarely pitching above five percent.
That said, you start around 3,300 metres and the thin air has humbled plenty of experienced tourers, so allow a day or two of acclimatisation in Cusco before clipping in.
The surface is mixed in the best possible way. The main road through the valley is paved and in decent condition, though cracked in stretches after heavy rains. Several worthwhile detours – up to the terraces at Moray, or through the village of Maras – switch to graded gravel that requires nothing more than a sturdy hybrid or touring tyre.
You share the road with minivans and colectivos, which move assertively, so riding single file and staying alert around blind bends matters. Traffic thins considerably after Urubamba.
Scenically, it is relentless in the best sense. Inca terracing steps up near-vertical hillsides, women in bright woven skirts herd alpaca across the road, and Veronica glacier sits white and enormous above the valley. Pisac market on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays is worth timing your ride around. Accommodation ranges from good guesthouses in Pisac and Urubamba to a handful of comfortable eco-lodges.
Bike hire is available in Cusco through several outfitters on Plateros Street; quality varies, so inspect the brakes before you pay.
Ride May through September for dry roads and clear mountain views, and carry altitude sickness tablets if you are prone.