Abra Malaga — Cusco to Quillabamba CloudForest.

Distance

200 km

Duration

1 day

Climb

2,400 m

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Curated by Rider · Updated Jun 2026

Overview

Abra Malaga — Cusco to Quillabamba Cloud Forest.

A spectacular dive from Andean altiplano to Amazonian cloud forest in 200km. The road climbs from Ollantaytambo to Abra Malaga (4,316m) at the foot of glaciated Veronica Peak, then drops 3,000m of vertical through cloud forest, orchids, and tropical valleys to the cocoa town of Quillabamba on the edge of the Amazon basin. The temperature swing on a single day is 25C+.

Quick facts

SurfacePaved

Distance200 km

Days1

Total climb2,400 m

Fuel stops1 along route

DifficultyChallenging

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Day-by-day

The route.

ROUTE

6 stops

CuscoStart · Start in Cusco. Take the road northwest to Ollantaytambo via Chinchero.

Ollantaytambo Fuel & CoffeeFuel Stop · Last fuel and last good coffee before the climb to Abra Malaga. Café de la Casa is excellent.

Abra Malaga Pass (4,316m)Mountain Pass · The high pass beneath glaciated Nevado Veronica (5,893m). Cold, often misty. Apus (mountain spirits) tower on both sides. Add layers — descending into rainforest in shorts is a mistake.

Carrizales Cloud ForestScenic Point · The cloud forest band at 3,000m — moss-covered trees, orchids, Andean cock-of-the-rock (Peru's national bird). Constant mist. Magical.

Santa MariaRestaurant · Lunch in the tropical valley at 1,200m. Fish from the Urubamba river and tropical fruit. Heat hits hard after the pass.

QuillabambaEnd · End in Quillabamba — the cocoa, coffee, and tropical fruit capital of the Cusco region. Hot, humid, and surrounded by jungle. The Amazon basin starts here.

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