Mountain Biking from Patapampa to Chivay

Leaving early in the morning from Arequipa, we drive through the spectacular landscapes of this diverse region to Patapampa, a high mountain pass at an elevation of about 4,800 meters above sea level (15,748 ft). At Patapampa, your guides and biking specialists will give you all the necessary instructions and equipment for your descent down towards Chivay and the Colca Valley. The ride is of moderate difficulty and is suitable for a range of ages, but the physicality of mountain biking is more suited to people in reasonably good physical condition.

Setting off downhill from Patapampa, you’ll have beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and volcanoes such as Walka Walka, Ampato and Sabancaya. We’ll ride along ancient roads that date back to the Incas and pre-Incas, passing by small villages where the old traditions of the Colca Valley are still very much alive. We’ll pass by farmers, many of whom still wear the traditional and very colorful clothes of the region, as they herd their sheep and llamas. Your guides will also point out some of the most notable flora and fauna of the region. If you’re lucky, you might even see an Andean condor – the largest flying bird in the world – swooping over you, an impressive sight indeed. 

The descent by bicycle lasts for about two hours. We then arrive at the town of Chivay where we’ll have a well-deserved buffet lunch. After lunch you’ll have some free time to explore Chivay, a charming town with colonial architecture and traditional culture.

After exploring Chivay, we’ll head off to the famous thermal baths of La Calera where we can relax, unwind and soak our tired muscles. The Colca Valley is dotted with natural hot springs and thermal baths, thanks to the seismic activity in the region. La Calera, located about 3 km from Chivay, has public thermal baths which are said to have healing properties, due to the minerals in the water. The temperature of the main thermal bath is around 38 C (98 F). After bathing at La Caldera we’ll return to Arequipa, tired but happy after a day of adventure, culture and relaxation.