05:00 h — Hotel pickup in Cusco. Private transport northwest through the Sacred Valley, past Ollantaytambo, and climbing toward the Abra Málaga pass (4,350m) — a 3-hour drive through progressively more alpine terrain. The road follows the valley of the Urubamba River upstream to its headwaters before crossing the Continental Divide.
~08:00 h — Abra Málaga (4,350m). Mountain bikes, helmets, gloves, and knee pads distributed. A brief safety briefing from the guide covers braking technique, road positioning, and speed management on the descent. No previous mountain biking experience is required; the route is a sealed road with a dedicated descent lane, but competence on a bike is expected. Children under 14 are not recommended.
08:30 h — Cycling begins. The descent from Abra Málaga to Santa María covers 65 km and 2,750 vertical meters in approximately 4 hours at a moderate pace. The road switchbacks down the western Andes slope through five distinct ecosystems:
High puna (4,350–3,800m): Cold, open grassland with ichu grass, Polylepis trees, and occasional herds of alpacas. Views back toward the Cusco valley and the distant snowfields of the Vilcabamba range.
Dwarf Andean forest (3,800–3,200m): Queñua (Polylepis) woodland, bromeliads on the rock walls, and the first hummingbirds. The road enters the Bosque de Protección de Tambopata catchment.
Cloud forest (3,200–2,400m): Dense canopy begins, the temperature rising noticeably with each 100m of descent. Tree ferns, orchids, mosses, and the first of the subtropical bird species. Waterfalls visible from the road.
Subtropical transition (2,400–1,800m): Bamboo, banana plants, and increasingly tropical vegetation. The air becomes warm and humid.
Subtropical valley (1,800–1,600m): Full subtropical forest at the valley floor, with the Apurímac River system audible below. Santa María is visible ahead.
Lunch is served in Santa María — a hot meal cooked by the support team.
~14:00 h — Santa Teresa (1,545m) and zip-line. After Santa María, a 30-minute transfer (or optional additional 7 km bike section) leads to the zip-line station above the Urubamba gorge near Santa Teresa. The zip-line consists of 5–7 lines in sequence, the longest approximately 400m at heights of 50–80m above the river.
~16:00 h — Optional: Cocalmayo Hot Springs. The geothermal springs at Cocalmayo, 3 km from Santa Teresa at 1,600m, are among the best natural hot springs in the Cusco region — 32–40°C pools in a tropical setting ($5–8 USD, not included). The contrast between the day's activity and a riverside hot spring at jungle altitude is considerable.
~17:00–18:00 h — Hotel in Santa Teresa or Santa María. Dinner included.
Hotel night 1: Santa Teresa or Santa María (~1,545–1,600m)
