Another full day of riding, we were back in the Lamay region and added some exploration of Huchuy Qosqo, little Cusco.  Riding through these amazing valleys with such cool ruins mid-ride was starting to feel ‘normal’ at this point and that’s what makes riding in Peru just that cool.  I  mean, I knew it would be cool, but could never image it would be this good!  

Ride 1: Huchuy Qosco to Lamay

While many hike up to these ruins, we took a very switchback-y road from Calca and rode into them from above.  It was super cool to have ruins this extensive in the middle of our bike trail!  After gazing on them for a bit, we undertook more switchbacks in a very narrow canyon (for a bike trail) than I would have previously considered possible for a mountain bike trail.  There goes Peru redefining possible again.  

The trail actually switchbacked down this ‘chute’ – I’ve never seen anything like it from a bike!

The trail is visible in this photo, including the chute!

Ride 2: Lamay higher start

From there we crossed the valley for another great ride in Lamay.  Perhaps of all the towns in the Sacred Valley, Lamay has the best variety of trails – all so fun!  

Ride 3: Lamay opposite side

Our third ride started from a side valley above Lamay and rode back to town.  It had super great views, especially of the ride we’d finished Day 1 with!  

Ride 4: Huchuy Qosco down to Calca

This ride was spicy and fun til the very end, working its way down a ravine back to Calca and the Rio Urumbamba.  There was one tech section that was as gnarly as any we’d encountered and surely a walk, as well as plenty of trailwide obstructions to control wildlife that made for interesting bike management.  I struggled a bit on this trail in part due to it being the 4th ride on an already big day!  It was super nice to ride all the way back home though, and another fabulous and kind of unbelievable day of riding.