I agree about the roads being sketchy and dangerous to get to Hyrdroelectrica. The largest problem in my opinion is that once you make it to Hydroelectrica there is no easy to find safe place to park your motorcycle. It is a tiny little town on the side of a mountain with no tourist business's at all. To get to the town, you have to cross a nightmare section of 100m of softball sized rocks.

To do it over again I still would have rode instead of taking the train, but would have found a nearby tourist town to Hydroelectrica and asked a hotel to pay to store my motorcycle and shuttle me to Hydroelectrica.

That would be a way better solution than having to worry about the safety of your motorcycle in Hydroelectrica while you are doing Machu Pichu. Also, if you are traveling with any beginners or women I think parking your bike in Hydroelectrica is one of those things that is likely to start a mutiny situation. lol

Yes its easy to bike to Santa Maria and then walk the rest to Machu Picchu:

http://motorradtouren-suedamerika.de/?report=en_peru

@gatogato

you can park your bike safe at hydroelectrica.

30m before you register is a bridge to the left. Cross the bridge and after 100m is a parking place. they take care for the bikes for small money.

i read it it this thread already...and i have been there last month

I think you'll find plenty of female riders perfectly capable of riding this or any road a man can. A German lady we met in Patagonia rode the Camion de Laguna (5200m asl) on her own and my wife also rode both the north and south Yungas roads last week - and said the southern road was far more challenging than the so-called Death Road - though both are pretty easy. Assuming women cant do something is a pretty old fashioned view. :oops2:

Thats fine, I'm okay with being old fashioned!:Beach::Beach:


btw: I think it was pretty obvious from the overall tone of the post that I was not trying to single out women.

I try to be helpful and informative in the posts that I make here. Saying things like: Latin America is no more corrupt then any other place. Or, well 1% of women motorcyclists could ride that does not really add much useful content to these threads in my opinion. :offtopic:

Ah, but you did single out women.:rain: and not 1%, but generally.
It's equally fair then, to say that fat old Murricanes would find it too hard. :nono:
Of the several dozen women riders I know, only to a handful would I make recommendations about what and where to ride - and then, only if asked.
We leave Cusco for Santa Teresa today. :scooter:

Message from my wife: "I suggest this sexist get some trainining - or training wheels. This road represented nothing hard to this 58 year old, overweight, asthmatic woman rider."

Wrong Century, Buddy
 

I think someone missed a few centuries of evolution in gender equity.

doh

Just to add to this, wife and I have just visited MP, riding from Cusco to Santa Maria, then on the dirt to Santa Teresa, 2 up on a fully loaded 2015 GSA...... no issue at all....... my dog could of ridden this road..... if he could ride!! (smart dog:innocent:)

We then rode to Hydro at 0430 again no problem at all..... sure its a bit bumpy....we both stand when required..... and sure you need approach each corner as if something is coming the other way but other than that...... no issue.....the base is a solid as a rock...... give it a go...... and if it gets to hard..... turn around and go back

David and Em