Big Little Rides

Peru

The Roof of the World

An all-female Peru adventure motorcycle tour from Arequipa to Cusco with a 4×4 chase truck (and Eddie the mechanic) so you can ride light and stare at the Andes like it’s your job. Think Colca Canyon condors, Salineras + Moray Maras off-road weirdness, Machu Picchu, and a pisco sour victory lap in Cusco.

Sound like your kind of thing?

Peru is not a new destination for us: it’s a full-blown fever dream with a license plate. One minute you’re carving through high-altitude passes on a CF Moto 450, the next you’re in the Colca Canyon locking eyes with a condor like you’ve just been accepted into some ancient sky cult. And yes — it’s Big Little Rides rules: all-female guides, zero fluff, maximum holy sht, is this my life?

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This expedition runs Arequipa → Cusco via Chivay and the Colca Canyon (deep, dramatic, and casually one of the deepest canyons on Earth). We’ll roll through Quechua-first regions where the local abuelitas are so delighted to see women on motorcycles they may attempt to adopt you on the spot (or hitch a ride — we’ll negotiate).

Then, we crank the dial into off-road shenanigans around Ollantaytambo, the moon-ish Salineras salt pools, and the Moray Maras rings — which we’re pretty sure were designed by aliens who were really into agriculture and geometry.

The grand finale: a Machu Picchu hiking rest day, a ride through wildflower-splashed Andean peaks, and a pisco sour party in Cusco because finishing Peru without a little chaos would be disrespectful.

And because luggage on bikes is boring (plus, we’d rather stare at the views than worry about flat tires), we’ve got Eddie — a lovely Peruvian mechanic — in a 4×4 chase vehicle backing us up.

BOOK NOW - DEPOSIT ONLY

BOOK NOW - FULL PRICE

Riding level

Beginner/Medium

Date

December 8-15, 2026 - June 17-24, 2027

Price

4,700 €

Bikes

CF Moto 450's

Guides

Egle

On Road/Off Road

30/70

Daily Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival to Arequipa, the White City of Peru, surrounded by snow-capped volcanoes and boasting a gorgeous Old Town with traditional Spanish galleries, cute little boutiques, cafes, and vibey restaurants. Once you settle into our Arequipa hotel, we’ll head out for a meet-and-greet dinner and tour brief.

Day 2

Time to saddle up! After breakfast in a spacious garden under a bright blue sky, we’ll handle the motorcycle paperwork, start those engines, and head out into the wild. Today, we’re covering some 166 paved kilometers toward the Colca Valley, climbing higher in altitude on a twisty backroad until the ancient Inca terraces open up below around the town of Chivay. Today, our destination is the Colca Lodge and SPA – a dreamy resort built atop of natural hot springs. Think luxurious vibes, delicious cuisine, and incredibly starry skies while you soak in the thermal pools!

Day 3

Now’s the time to test out our mojo on some dirt. Leaving Chivay, we’ll follow a mellow backcountry road until we turn off onto a graded dirt road leading us deeper into the Andes Mountains. This is pure wilderness – the only souls we’ll meet on this trail are wild vicunas and a curious llama or two, and we’ll stop for an improvised lunch in a tiny indigenous village along the way. Next up, we’ve got a long section of beautiful paved curves leading to the town of Sicuani where our Spanish hacienda-style hotel awaits with fireplaces roaring and dinner ready.

Day 4

Turning our tires toward the famed Inca citadel in the heart of the Andes, we’ll descend into a canyon following River Urubamba, stopping for lunch at a quirky little rooftop restaurant and ending the day’s ride in one of Ollantaytambo’s most beautiful hotels with a spacious inner courtyard and spectacular mountain views.

Day 5

Rest day in Ollantaytambo, arguably the most colorful Andean town where you can both get accidentally adopted by a local indigenous abuelita and have an absolutely glorious frappucino (or pisco sour – YMMV). This is your day to explore, shop for souvenirs, and unwind.

Day 6

Early start to Ollantaytambo’s train station, where you’ll embark on a scenic railroad ride to Aguas Calientes. From there, you’ll be greeted by our local guide Edith who will take you to Machu Picchu and guide you through the ancient Inca City on foot. Edith’s got an in with the Machu Picchu staff, so access to secret nooks and crannies nobody else gets to see is guaranteed – plus so many Instagrammable moments you might need to clear your phone storage for the day!

Day 7

Back on the bikes, we’ll leave Ollantaytambo behind, cross a wooden bridge over the Urubamba, and cover a short section of dirt before turning onto a ridiculously gorgeous backroad leading toward the Salineras – the salt mine terraces that look like they’ve been carved on the surface of the Moon – and have lunch at the Mountain View Lodge where horses roam free against the backdrop of the mountains, and the restaurant has a resident baby llama minding the bar. From there, it’s a scenic ride to Cusco, the adventure capital of Peru, and a pisco sour party to end the tour with a bang.

Day 8

Farewell breakfast and departure for those flying out today; if you have a day to spare, we highly recommend staying another day to enjoy Inti Raymi – Peru’s most beloved Sun Festival that, if we say so ourselves, rivals the Rio de Janeiro carnival.

Until we braap again!

Luggage

All bikes are equipped with top cases (side cases also available at an extra USD 15/day charge), and your travel suitcases will be carried in the chase vehicle.

Gear

For this tour, we recommend bringing ADV riding gear. If you want to mix and match/layer, all good; the weather is going to be warm and sunny, but it always gets cooler at higher altitudes, so do bring a warmer layer (and rain gear – Just In Case).

Accommodation:

A mix of comfortable Spanish hacienda-style hotels, a stunning resort built atop natural hot springs, quirky Quechua guest houses in more remote areas, and a spacious hotel in Ollantaytambo with stupidly gorgeous views.

If you’d rather have a single room instead of twin share, the extra cost is $80 per night.

Motorcycle rental, insurance, and safety deposits:

Your bike rental and bike insurance are included in the tour price. The rental company also requires a $2500 security deposit which you’ll get back once we return the bikes.

Alternatively, you can choose to add an extra layer of insurance that covers damage to the rental motorcycle at $20 per day (so $100 total), and you’ll only need to leave a $700 security deposit which you’ll get back after the tour.

The Nitty Gritty

WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE TOUR PRICE

Motorcycle rental+basic insurance

All hotels and breakfast meals
Airport transfers
Luggage delivery to Cusco
Chase vehicle+Eddie the Mechanic
Fuel
Motorcycle pickup from Cusco
Machu Picchu tickets and a local female guide

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

Flights
Lunch/dinner meals
Personal travel insurance

All tour participants must hold a valid motorcycle license. Tour itinerary may be slightly altered no more than 3 months prior to the tour.

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