Adventure and spirituality in Cusco

Adventure and spirituality in Cusco have always gone hand in hand. Cusco is a geographic space that allows a unique connection because by following adventure activities, they can culminate in spaces loaded with spirituality.

Cusco - Ideal geography for cycling

Cusco is located at 3,399 meters above sea level, and is also located within the Andes mountain range.

As such, it has a quite varied geography full of mountains of various shapes, cliffs and also a large number of valleys.

Cusco possesses ancient spirituality

Not only is the beautiful geography of Cusco an attraction, but also the history it embodies. It was the capital of the Inca Empire and sacred spaces could be found.

The sacred places were temples, huacas and also some mountains, rivers, caves, cliffs and other natural spaces, but considered as sources of energy and renewal.

Live an unforgettable experience in Cusco

Having so many attractions and tourist activities, Cusco is one of the most visited places in the world. Therefore, an unforgettable experience is not only guaranteed in any of the activities to be carried out, but all activities are safe to do.

A brief tip for visiting Cusco is that you should set aside several days on your schedule to appreciate and learn about all the activities that can be done. As we mentioned, you can do activities full of adventure or simply short walks through the city or its main attractions.

Cycling – The best natural alternative for tourism

• Is spiritual cycling possible in Cusco? Of course. Cusco has many sacred mountains, as well as tourist destinations that allow you to get close to these places, such as the Apus Salkantay, Ausangate and Pachatusan.
• By doing this activity, you will be doing conscious tourism as well as visiting beautiful places. Both for the destinations and the route itself, which have their own charms due to the beautiful views they offer.
• Access destinations full of energy that are rarely visited. In addition to the exercise that this activity provides, you can reach places that will renew your energies, because most of these routes are surrounded by nature.
• Bicycles as a means of transportation are zero-polluting, so sustainable tourism will be done in respect of Pachamama and the earth.
• By following alternative routes, we will learn about some of the communities of Cusco. There you will learn more about the traditional activities of the ancient peoples and even the opportunity to contact an Andean shaman or paqo.

Cycling route through the Sacred Valley of the Incas

In the Sacred Valley we can find different activities that allow us to do cycling routes. However, we want to focus on the routes whose destination are sacred sites loaded with spirituality.

Route that connects Pisac – Urubamba – Ollantaytambo

• This cycling route is ideal for those seeking an active, spiritual and cultural experience in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Although it connects well-known tourist destinations, the cycling journey completely transforms the traditional experience.
• Doing this route in Bike Tour format allows you to enjoy unique landscapes, rural roads, and a more intimate connection with nature and the energy of the Apus (sacred mountains).
• It is essential to hire an agency specialized in adventure cycling, offering bicycles in good condition, helmets, certified guides and mechanical assistance during the journey.
• The total distance varies between 50 and 58 kilometers, starting at the archaeological site of Pisac. From there you descend to Calca, cross Urubamba and culminate in Ollantaytambo, one of the most mystical towns in the Sacred Valley.
• To enter the archaeological sites of Pisac and Ollantaytambo, the Cusco Tourist Ticket is required, which costs 70 soles. This ticket also includes access to Chinchero and Moray; and is valid for 2 days.
• The price of a complete Bike Tour, which includes food, entrance fees, guide and bicycle rental, can range from 120 to 150 USD, depending on the agency and additional services.

What spiritual places can I visit?

• In Pisac, it is recommended to visit the Temple of the Sun, a ceremonial space that still retains a strong energetic charge. Ideal for meditating and taking photographs of the place.
• Along the route, the Vilcanota River accompanies the traveler. This river is considered sacred by Andean cultures, so it is suggested to perform a small blessing or energy cleansing ritual on its banks.
• In Ollantaytambo, in addition to the Temple of the Sun, you can visit the Baths of the Ñusta sector, where it is believed that Inca women performed purification rituals.
• This route also allows you to contemplate the tutelary Apus of the Sacred Valley, such as Apu Pitusiray and Apu Sawasiray, which can be honored with a symbolic offering during the journey.

Bike Tour or Cycling to Qoricocha in Cusco

• This route is ideal for those seeking an active and spiritual experience in the Andes, away from conventional tourist circuits. The journey to Qoricocha lagoon, located in the heights of Chinchero, offers a deep connection with nature and the Andean worldview.
• Doing this route in Bike Tour format allows you to cross puna landscapes, agricultural fields, and ancestral paths that lead to one of the most sacred bodies of water in the region. Qoricocha lagoon is considered a space of feminine energy, linked to fertility and ancestral wisdom.
• It is recommended to hire an agency specialized in mountain biking, which provides bicycles suitable for irregular terrain, helmets, certified guides and mechanical assistance. Some agencies also include a brief ceremony of gratitude to Pachamama upon arriving at the lagoon.
• The total distance varies between 25 and 30 kilometers, depending on the starting point (near the district of San Sebastián). The first section can be demanding, so it is suggested to acclimatize beforehand and carry sufficient hydration.
• No tourist ticket is required to visit the lagoon, as it is an open natural space. However, if you wish to combine the route with a visit to Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo and other attractions in Cusco, you can purchase the Partial Tourist Ticket, which costs 70 soles and is valid for 2 days.
• The price of a complete Bike Tour to Qoricocha can range from 90 to 130 USD, depending on the services included, such as food, spiritual guide, transportation and bicycle rental.

What spiritual places can I visit?

• On the way to Qoricocha, you can make a stop at Huallarcocha, which is another lagoon where Andean wise men perform ceremonies of connection with the Apus and Pachamama.
• Qoricocha lagoon is considered a sacred mirror of water. Many travelers perform energy cleansing rituals, meditation or simply silent contemplation there to receive the energy of the place.
• Along the way, there is a panoramic view of the city of Cusco and in the distance the presence of Apu Ausangate. It is recommended to bring a small offering (coca leaves, flowers or water) to thank for its protection during the journey.
• This route also allows you to connect with the natural rhythm of the Andes, ideal for those seeking an experience of introspection, healing and spiritual reconnection.

Cycling route through Maras and Moray

This route is perfect for those seeking an active, spiritual and cultural experience in the Cusco highlands. Although Maras and Moray are well-known tourist destinations, touring them by bicycle transforms the experience into a deep immersion in the Andean worldview.

• Doing this route in Bike Tour format allows you to cross agricultural fields, ancestral paths and natural viewpoints that connect the traveler with the energy of the earth and the Apus. The journey offers moments of contemplation, silence and connection with the environment.
• It is advisable to hire an agency specialized in adventure cycling, which provides mountain bikes in good condition, helmets, certified guides and mechanical assistance. Some agencies also include stops to perform gratitude rituals to Pachamama.
• The total distance varies between 30 and 35 kilometers, depending on the community where we start. The route includes dirt roads, gentle descents and panoramic views of the place.
• To enter Moray, the Partial Tourist Ticket is required, which costs 70 soles. This ticket also includes access to Chinchero and Ollantaytambo, and is valid for 2 days.
• The price of a complete Bike Tour to Maras and Moray can range from 100 to 140 USD, depending on the services included such as food, spiritual guide, transportation and bicycle rental.

What spiritual places can I visit?

• In Moray, the circular terraces evoke natural mandalas and are believed to have been used as spaces for energy harmonization. Many travelers perform meditations or ceremonies of connection with the cycles of the earth there.
• In Maras, the salt mines represent natural abundance and community work. It is considered a place of purification, ideal for performing energy cleansing rituals or simply contemplating the flow of salt water as a symbol of renewal.
• Along the route, you can observe the tutelary Apus such as Apu Antaquilla and Apu Chicón. It is recommended to bring a small offering (coca leaves, flowers or water) to thank for their protection during the journey.
• This route also allows you to connect with the natural rhythm of the Andes, ideal for those seeking an experience of introspection, healing and spiritual reconnection through conscious movement.

Cycling tour of the Native Potatoes

• This route is ideal for those seeking an active, educational and spiritual experience in the Andes. The Native Potatoes Tour by bicycle allows you to travel through high Andean communities where more than 3,000 varieties of potatoes are cultivated, many of them with ritual and symbolic value in the Andean worldview.
• Doing this route in Bike Tour format allows you to cross puna landscapes, cultivated fields and ancestral paths, while learning about the agricultural wisdom of indigenous peoples. The journey connects the traveler with the earth, the cycle of life and respect for biodiversity.
• It is essential to hire an agency specialized in experiential tourism and mountain biking, offering bicycles suitable for irregular terrain, helmets, local guides and mechanical assistance. Some agencies include visits to community plots, tasting of native potatoes and gratitude rituals to Pachamama.
• The total distance varies between 20 and 30 kilometers, depending on the starting point (Pisac or nearby communities). The route includes dirt roads, moderate ascents and spectacular views of the tutelary Apus.
• No tourist ticket is required for this route, as it is mainly done in communal spaces. However, some agencies may include visits to Moray or Chinchero, in which case it is recommended to purchase the Partial Tourist Ticket (70 soles, valid for 2 days).
• The price of a complete Bike Tour can range from 100 to 150 USD, depending on the services included such as food, local guide, transportation, tasting and participation in cultural activities.

What spiritual places can I visit?

• Along the route, Quechua communities are visited where thanksgiving rituals for the harvest are performed, linked to the energy of the potato as sacred food. These rituals may include offerings, songs and participation in community ceremonies.
• At some points of the journey, a payment to the earth ceremony can be performed, guided by local wise men, to honor Pachamama and ask permission to transit through her domains.
• The native potato cultivation fields are considered spaces of ancestral wisdom, where each variety has a spiritual, medicinal or ceremonial purpose. Direct contact with these crops allows an experience of deep connection with indigenous knowledge.
• During the journey, you can contemplate the tutelary Apus such as Apu Antaquilla and Apu Chicón, which silently accompany the journey. It is recommended to bring a small symbolic offering to thank for their protection.

Frequently asked questions about spiritual cycling in Cusco

1. What is spiritual cycling and how is it practiced in Cusco?

It is a form of conscious tourism that combines physical activity with spiritual connection. In Cusco, it is practiced by touring routes that cross sacred mountains, energetic lagoons and ancestral communities.

2. What cycling routes are recommended for a spiritual experience in Cusco?

Some featured routes are: Maras–Moray, Qoricocha lagoon, the Native Potatoes Tour and Pisac–Urubamba–Ollantaytambo. All offer natural landscapes and access to sacred spaces.

3. Why is Cusco ideal for spiritual cycling?

Cusco has varied geography, located in the Andes mountain range, with mountains, valleys and cliffs. In addition, it has ancient spirituality with huacas, temples and Apus that enrich the experience.

4. What spiritual benefits does cycling in Cusco offer?

Connection with Pachamama, energy renewal, introspection, contact with Quechua communities and participation in rituals such as earth payments or energy cleansing.

5. Is previous cycling experience necessary to do these routes?

Not necessarily. There are routes for all levels, although it is recommended to acclimatize to the altitude and have good physical condition for more demanding routes.

6. What does a spiritual cycling tour in Cusco include?

It generally includes bicycle, helmet, certified guide, transportation, food, mechanical assistance and in some cases, participation in Andean ceremonies.

7. What communities are visited on the Native Potatoes Tour?

High Andean communities that cultivate native potatoes with ancestral techniques. There you can learn about their spiritual value, participate in rituals and taste unique varieties.

8. Is a tourist ticket needed to access these destinations?

For archaeological sites such as Moray, Pisac and Ollantaytambo, the Partial Tourist Ticket (70 soles) is required. Natural routes such as Qoricocha or agricultural communities do not require it.

9. Is cycling in Cusco safe?

Yes, as long as it is done with specialized agencies and recommendations are followed. The routes are well established and surrounded by nature.

10. How is adventure connected with spirituality in Cusco?

Cusco allows adventure activities such as cycling to culminate in spaces charged with spiritual energy, such as lagoons, Apus or temples, generating a transformative experience.