Seeing all the tourist sights is all fun, but I love to get off the beaten path when travelling. On a tour you always share the place with many others, and I don’t like not being in control of where I go and where to stop.
Strolling through Cusco, I coincidentally walked past CuscoMotoActivities. The place is run by the Czech Ales, who rents out motorcycles and mopeds. As I asked for some information, he suggested to drive the loop to Quillabamba, across the mountain pass. That actually sounded like my kind of experience: riding a motorcycle through the Andes.
I rented the motorcycle for 6 days, and it sure was full of adventure!
On the first day I rode through the Sacred Valley, not only visiting the tourist highlights, but also making plenty of photo stops of the magnificent views from the road. At the end of the day I apparently took a wrong turn.
Don’t trust Google maps – stuck on a rocky trail
I’m a big advocate of Google maps and use it whenever, but I should know better that it’s not always trustworthy abroad. After my last stop of visiting the salt mines, I followed the route to Ollantaytambo. Well that road was not a road! Here I literally got off the beaten path.
The road started with some gravel, not a problem, I’m used to that! But from here the path slowly got a bit worse around every corner, until it was only a narrow, steep and rocky path for only pedestrians, or maybe mountain bikes.
At this moment I’m trying to handle the motorcycle through the steep curves, but I can’t really control it. And I’m unable to turn around on the narrow steep path either. Realizing I’m stuck, I’m shaking not to fall over the edge and I’m panicking. Luckily two locals walk along and see my distress. The guy gives me a hand, he holds the handlebar and instructs me to hold the back of the motorcycle to keep the balance. Slowly we both walk down the narrow trail, step by step, until we are back at an equal level. From here it’s only a short drive to the main road. I thank him multiple times and give him 100 soles for being such a lifesaver!
I got bitten by an aggressive stray dog
As life on the road is never boring, I also got bitten by a dog.
Gorgeous views
Throughout my motorycle riding adventures, I mostly was mesmerized by the various and beautiful landscapes.
Also coming across llamas and alpacas on the road
