Moray Ollantaytambo Bike Tour
A mostly downhill bike tour from Moray’s terraces to the fortress ruins of Ollantaytambo.
Most Sacred Valley bike tours loop back to where they started, or finish at a roadside pickup point. This one ends at Ollantaytambo — one of the few places in Peru where the Inca successfully held their ground against Spanish forces, and a town still laid out on its original Inca street grid. The ride itself is a genuine journey between two distinct kinds of Inca sites: Moray’s circular agricultural terraces and Ollantaytambo’s massive defensive architecture.
Like the route’s shorter cousin toward the Maras Salt Mines, this ride stays mostly downhill and on dirt roads, built for beginner and intermediate riders rather than technical mountain bikers — but the extra distance to Ollantaytambo makes this the longer, more complete version of the same corner of the Sacred Valley.
| 💰 From | $140 USD per person (group of 10) |
| ⏱️ Duration | Full day, ~8:30 AM–evening (biking time: ~1.5 hours) |
| ⛰️ Altitude range | Pachar 2,851 m up to Paradero 37 (start) 3,728 m |
| 🚶 Physical level | Moderate — mostly downhill, beginner- and intermediate-friendly |
| 📅 Season | April–December |
| 👥 Group size | Private, 1-10 travelers |
| 🎂 Minimum age | 11+ |
| 🏁 Ends at | Cusco, Ollantaytambo, or Urubamba — your choice |
A bike ride connecting two very different kinds of Inca architecture. – Start at Paradero 37, the day’s highest point, near Maras. – Ride through Moray’s circular agricultural terraces. – Descend through Pachar, along the Urubamba River. – Finish with a visit to Ollantaytambo’s fortress ruins. This is the Moray Ollantaytambo Bike Tour, from start to finish.
Moray and Ollantaytambo represent two genuinely different sides of Inca engineering — one built for agricultural experimentation, the other for defense and ceremony — and this route connects them by bike rather than by van, with the ride itself becoming part of the transition between the two.
The day starts at Paradero 37, near Maras, then takes a mostly downhill ride over dirt roads and open countryside toward Moray, whose concentric circular terraces archaeologists still debate as either an agricultural laboratory or a ceremonial site. From there, the route descends toward Pachar, following the Urubamba River valley, where a support vehicle carries the bikes for the final approach to Ollantaytambo — one of the only places the Inca successfully repelled Spanish forces, and a town still inhabited inside its original Inca street grid.
Both share the same opening stretch, but the destinations — and what’s included — are genuinely different.
| Feature | Moray Ollantaytambo Bike Tour | Maras Moray Bike Tour |
|---|---|---|
| Maras Salt Mines | Not included | Included |
| Final destination | Ollantaytambo’s fortress ruins | Ends at Pachar |
| Route length | Longer overall | Shorter |
| Best for | Travelers who want to end at Ollantaytambo’s ruins | Travelers prioritizing the Salt Mines specifically |
If the Maras Salt Mines are a must for your trip, choose that version. If ending your ride at one of the Sacred Valley’s most significant fortresses matters more, this is the one.
This route starts at its highest point — Paradero 37, at 3,728 m — and works generally downhill toward Pachar at 2,851 m, before the final vehicle-assisted approach to Ollantaytambo.
Private transport to Paradero 37, near Maras — roughly 50 minutes from Cusco. After bike setup and a safety briefing, the ride begins.
The route reaches Moray, entering through its circular lookouts and platforms — concentric terraces many archaeologists believe functioned as an Inca agricultural laboratory, each ring holding a distinct microclimate.
From Moray, the route continues through the mountains on a dirt road toward Pachar, at 2,851 m, close to the Urubamba River and the heart of the Sacred Valley — a genuine descent with open countryside views along the way.
In Pachar, a support vehicle loads the bikes for the final stretch to Ollantaytambo — one of the few places the Inca successfully repelled Spanish forces in 1536-37, and a town still laid out on its original Inca street grid.
What you’ll see at Ollantaytambo:
The group returns to Cusco via the Pachar highway — though if you’d rather be dropped off in Ollantaytambo or Urubamba instead, just let us know when booking.
Day 1 stats
Box Lunch
Moderate
Pedaling bike
Pedaling
Paradero 37: 3,728m (12,230 ft)
Pachar: 2,851m (9,353 ft)
Moray Ruins: 3,500m (11,482 ft)
Need a unique experience in Moray, Ollantaytambo? Take part in an unforgettable bike tour through this ancient Inca citadel!
This route doesn’t include the Maras Salt Mines and continues to Ollantaytambo’s fortress ruins instead of ending at Pachar—a longer route with a different final destination.
Roughly 1.5 hours of active pedaling, within a full day that includes transport, site visits, and the final vehicle-assisted stretch to Ollantaytambo.
Yes — the route from Paradero 37 through Moray to Pachar is mostly downhill or semi-flat dirt road, built for beginner and intermediate riders.
A support vehicle loads the bikes in Pachar for the final approach to Ollantaytambo, since that stretch isn’t part of the cycling route itself.
Yes, the recommended minimum age is 11, given the bike-handling skill the route requires.
The massive terraces climbing toward the unfinished Temple of the Sun, the town’s original Inca street grid (still inhabited today), and the hanging storehouses of Pinkuylluna on the mountainside above.
Yes — while the standard route returns to Cusco, we can drop you off in Ollantaytambo or Urubamba instead if that better fits your onward plans.
No — the route isn’t highly technical, and the pace adjusts to your group’s comfort level, making it accessible for beginner and intermediate riders alike.
Front-suspension mountain bikes and full safety gear — helmets, gloves, and safety vests — are all included.
No — bring your own water; it’s not included in the standard package.
April through December offers the most reliable riding conditions; outside that window, rain can make the dirt-road sections considerably harder to ride.
Private, tailored to your group specifically — pricing scales down the more travelers join you.
| Persons | Price (p/p) | |
| 1 | $ 476.00 USD | |
| 2 | $ 293.00 USD | |
| 3 | $ 226.00 USD | |
| 4 | $ 197.00 USD | |
| 5 | $ 179.00 USD | |
| 6 | $ 167.00 USD | |
| 7 | $ 157.00 USD | |
| 8 | $ 150.00 USD | |
| 9 | $ 145.00 USD | |
| 10 | $ 140.00 USD |
Moray Ollantaytambo Bike Tour
Moray Ollantaytambo Bike Tour
Moray Ollantaytambo Bike Tour
