Exploring the Mountains Around Cusco, Peru on a Motorcycle

Exploring the Mountains Around Cusco, Peru on a Motorcycle

One of my favorite activities while traveling is exploring - picking an area that looks interesting and heading there, keeping eyes open with no fixed plan and following where my heart leads me.

In so many places around the world, I think a motorcycle is the best way to do that. On a motorcycle, you have so much more freedom than you ever could with an organized tour, you can go places where cars can’t, and cover much more ground than you could on foot, bicycle, or horseback.

The road to the mountains above Pisac
The road to the mountains above Pisac

It’s even better if you can bring a buddy along - so I was happy that my friend Brian was down to join me in exploring the mountains near Cusco, Peru on motorcycles.

Brian with our bikes at Kimsaqucha
Brian with our bikes at Kimsaqucha

We decided to ride northeast to Pisac - the road there from Cusco has great views and fun twisties, and the mountains above the town looked like they’d be great fun to explore.

Map of our route from Cusco to the mountains above Pisac
Head northeast, young man

The road to Pisac was indeed fun, traffic was light, and we had some great views of Cusco as well as the Urubamba River valley.

Urubamba River valley. Pisac is just out of sight to the right.
Urubamba River valley. Pisac is just out of sight to the right.

There are some Inca ruins just above Pisac… but, having just finished hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Brian and I decided to just ride around the small villages scattered through the hills.

Brian on the road to Laguna Azul Cocha
Brian on the road to Laguna Azul Cocha
Laguna Azul Cocha
Laguna Azul Cocha
Riding the Africa Twin above Kimsaqucha
Riding the Africa Twin above Kimsaqucha
The end of the road near Kimsaqucha
The end of the road near Kimsaqucha

The locals were always curious to see us and happy to chat. We saw many herding flocks of sheep to and from pastures on the mountainsides.

Hanging with some locals tending their flock (spot it behind me!)
Hanging with some locals tending their flock (spot it behind me!)

After exploring the villages, we decided to head up to the pass between this valley and the one just to the northeast. We gunned it up the dirt road, up and up into ever less hospitable terrain as it got steadily colder. The pass is around 13,500 feet (4,100 m) above sea level.

Finally we reached the pass to the next valley.
Finally we reached the pass to the next valley.

While taking in the sights, we spotted a local slowly making the trek straight up the steep mountainside and across the pass. He was headed to a village on the other side. He makes it regularly, he said, and claimed that it only takes him about an hour and a half. Brian gave him a ride, and based on the distance covered I remain skeptical about how long it would have taken him to walk. Either way, we made his day:

Brian gives a local a ride from one valley to the next
Brian gives a local a ride from one valley to the next
Heading back down towards Pisac
Heading back down towards Pisac

Back just above the town of Pisac we stopped to take in the sight of the archelogical park above Pisac, which we skipped in lieu of more riding time:

Parque Arqueológico Pisac
Parque Arqueológico Pisac

Shoutout to the folks at Peru Moto Tours in Cusco. There’s a bunch of places around town where you can rent a motorcycle, but Peru Moto Tours was the only place where you can rent a big bike like an Africa Twin - and I’ve really wanted to ride one of those ever since my great experience riding another Honda around Thailand.

The Africa Twin did great - the only problem is that I don’t have one back home… yet :)

The road to Laguna Azul Cocha
The road to Laguna Azul Cocha

It was a great day - honestly just as fun as the days hiking the Inca Trail. I really loved exploring the countryside and tiny villages in the rugged Andean landscape.

Looks like an adventure!
Looks like an adventure!
Krystof Litomisky's Picture

About Krystof Litomisky

Krystof is an engineer, adventurer, and all-around good guy based in Los Angeles, California.

Los Angeles, California

Comments