November 8 (fly to Lima, Peru)
November 21 (fly home Saturday night)
602 miles 55 miles per cycling day
Introduction to PAC Tour in Peru
Since 1999 Lon Haldeman has traveled to Peru during 14 different tours. He has visited various areas and learned many things about the culture, history and daily life. Lon wanted to share these experiences with fellow travelers from the United States by organizing a unique tour to the Andes Mountains and Amazon Rain Forest.
The theme of this tour is different from most tourist oriented trips to Peru. Besides having a fun, educational and cultural tour, we will also have many rewarding experiences by helping people in the most remote areas of Peru. These tours are run as Net Cost, which means any extra money raised from these tours after tour expenses is put toward helping the projects we are supporting.
Our goal will be to contribute $5,000 to each of these projects. Many PAC Tour Alumni have helped support these projects and will be continuing to support this fund. The money will be split evenly between the Orphanages and Schools.
Tax deductible donations for these projects in Peru can be made to the: Christ Lutheran Church Peru Fund, P.O Box 303, Sharon, WI 53585. People making donations will receive our semi Annual newsletter about the progress of these projects in Peru. For more information see the Peru Projects page.
Our bike tour will depart from Lima, Peru and climb 16,000 foot high Ticlio Pass. This is the fifth time we have cycled this route. The destination of this tour will be to deliver supplies to the Puerto Occopa Orphanage located 300 miles in the rain forest jungle. The orphanage needs many basic items such as clothing, food and gardening supplies. Along the route during our bicycle tour we will be going on shopping trips and collect items for the orphanage. This tour will offer the satisfaction of accomplishing amazing cycling goals and also helping children who are relying on us to improve their lives.
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Daily Schedule (Click here for full details.)
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This tour includes guide fees, airport shuttles, hotels (some nights are single or double occupancy), breakfast, evening dinners, transportation in Peru by bus, van, boat, moto taxi. Our tour will have a full time support van and driver plus two local guides. A commemorative T-shirt and other items are provided for each tour.
Airlines to and from Peru (Lima). Long term luggage storage at the Lima Airport of $5.00 per day per bag. $10 per day for bicycle cases. We need to store bikes for one night at the airport Sunday when we arrive. Extra roadside snacks, lunches and souvenirs are on your own.
Our guides are donating their time to make this tour possible. Tipping is not expected. But if you want to tip our guides after the tour a reasonable tip in Peru is about $1 per day per guide. During a two week tour with three guides you could leave a tip of about $50 total for the guides.
Baggage LimitsDuring the tour each rider is allowed one 40 pound gear bag the approximate size of 30 inches by 14 inches by 14 inches (6,000 cubic inches). We need to plan to carry all our gear bags in our support van. Don't bring more than you can carry or lift up hotel stairs. Empty bikes cases will be stored at our base hotel at the start of the tour.
CostsThe price for The Assault on the Highest Paved Road in the World Bike Tour is $1,895 with eight paid riders. ($1,795 with nine or more riders). Maximum rider limit is about twelve participants with four local guides. Prices are based on an exchange rate of 3.00 Peru SOLES to the USA Dollar. Final tour costs are calculated on August 15th, 2009. Based on past price changes these tour costs could vary 5% up or down. Final payments are due September 1st.
This tour averages 55 miles per riding day. The roads from Lima over the mountains to Satipo have good pavement suitable for road racing bikes with 25 mm wide tires. The road from Satipo to the Orphanage is 46 miles each way with rough gravel and mud. A mountain bike with 2 wide tires is recommended. There is a taxi option for riders who do not want to ride this section. A suitable bike for all conditions would be a mountain bike with narrow slick tires for the road sections and then change to wider tires for the 96 miles of rough gravel near Satipo. Low gears are needed for all bikes. Consider what gears would you need to ride the mountains in Colorado...and then bring a lower bailout gear for the higher elevation. A low gear of 34 tooth chain ring and 28 tooth freewheel is recommended.
There are 10 long and dark tunnels along the route. You need to have a 5 bulb LED red tail light mounted to your bicycle. You need to have a white headlight suitable for riding through tunnels.
The weather can be changeable in the mountainous. All riders need to always carry a jacket and warm clothes in case of cold weather. Riders should always carry some emergency food (500 calories). Riders should bring a rack pack or day pack to carry extra clothes and food.
Also See Peru Projects.