Monkey Run Peru
Full Details: Monkey Run Peru
Monkey bikes take some beating. Unless there’s a steep hill. Or bad weather. Or even a non-steep hill. Luckily there’s loads of that sort of thing in Peru, which is part of the reason this is currently the toughest thing you can do on a monkey bike.
The Monkey Run is also available in Morocco and Mongolia flavour.
1. The Vehicle
"You’re sort of spreading a wave of joy and happiness in your wake as everyone behind you bursts out laughing"
What this diminutive bundle of joy lacks in size, it more than makes up for in unadulterated pleasure.
• It's close to the ground, so you don't have far to fall.
• It's about the size of a rollerskate, so will fit through tiny gaps in traffic.
• It's incredibly light, so when it inevitably breaks down it's easy to carry.
• It's mechanically basic so a chimp could fix it.
They also have a super handy luggage rack over the rear wheel which can easily hold your wallet and maybe your keys (probably best to stick to three of four keys).
Here's some quick stats to prove just how spectacularly unsuitable they really are:
Engine: 90cc of 4 stroke genius
Power: 5.1 BHP
Weight: 72kg
Brakes: Disc front, drum rear
• It's close to the ground, so you don't have far to fall.
• It's about the size of a rollerskate, so will fit through tiny gaps in traffic.
• It's incredibly light, so when it inevitably breaks down it's easy to carry.
• It's mechanically basic so a chimp could fix it.
They also have a super handy luggage rack over the rear wheel which can easily hold your wallet and maybe your keys (probably best to stick to three of four keys).
Here's some quick stats to prove just how spectacularly unsuitable they really are:
Engine: 90cc of 4 stroke genius
Power: 5.1 BHP
Weight: 72kg
Brakes: Disc front, drum rear
2. The Un-route
We launch from Ayacucho, high up in the Andes, and in the Amazon's Manu Reserve in Madre de Dios. We're absolutely convinced that this route will blow your stinky socks off.
It is old-school adventuring at its very best.
There's a party at the end a bit of test driving at the start and in between, you're on your own. Just the way it should be.
Remember that Peruvian roads are unpredictable and washouts are common, potentially delaying your arrival into Cusco anywhere between 12-24 hours. We’re not joking here. Always allow yourself plenty of time with international connections. .
It is old-school adventuring at its very best.
There's a party at the end a bit of test driving at the start and in between, you're on your own. Just the way it should be.
Ayacucho
Ayacucho is a 10-hour overnight coach trip or a one hour flight from Lima. Peruvian coaches have an awesome first class option that puts the piss-stinking, overpriced and cramped UK coaches to shame. The coach is about $40USD, the flight is about $120USD.Finish Line in Manu Reserve near Pillcopota
The new finish line is in the Manu Reserve, tucked away in the Amazon. We will shuttle you back from there to Cusco the morning after the Finish Line party at 9am. It takes hours, so you'll arrive early evening in Cusco at around 7pm.Remember that Peruvian roads are unpredictable and washouts are common, potentially delaying your arrival into Cusco anywhere between 12-24 hours. We’re not joking here. Always allow yourself plenty of time with international connections. .
3. You're on your own
Our day to day lives are controlled so much we rarely get to put ourselves in danger. Which is a shame, because danger has so much opportunity for fun. Or if not fun, great stories to tell when you get home. To give you the greatest chance to seek out your chosen level of danger, you're on your own. That means no backup, no support, no friendly guides to tell you what to do. After all, you're not really in danger if there's a medic, a mechanic and a life coach with you at every turn. Right?
We give you a start line, a finish line, some training and more or less enough time to reach said finish line. The rest is up to you.
We give you a start line, a finish line, some training and more or less enough time to reach said finish line. The rest is up to you.
4. The Dates
April 2023
31st March Pre adventure beers1st April Test driving, mechanical briefing, launch party
2nd April The launch
9th April Finish Line & Party
September 2023
15th September Pre adventure beers16th September Test driving, mechanical briefing, launch party
17th September The launch
24th September Finish Line & Party
5. Money stuff
The entry fee is £1,395.
What you get for your entry fee:
• A mighty if diminutive bike to fall in love with for the week
• Bike paperwork and 3rd party vehicle insurance ready to go
• A launch party to kill half your brain and a finish party to kill the other
• The most ridiculous week of adventuring chaos imaginable
Paying by instalments?
If you have chosen to pay by instalments then you would have been charged for the first bit immediately. The next payment will come out of your bank automatically around 28 days later. Following payments will come out on the same day each month until the full amount is paid.
What you get for your entry fee:
• A mighty if diminutive bike to fall in love with for the week
• Bike paperwork and 3rd party vehicle insurance ready to go
• A launch party to kill half your brain and a finish party to kill the other
• The most ridiculous week of adventuring chaos imaginable
Paying by instalments?
If you have chosen to pay by instalments then you would have been charged for the first bit immediately. The next payment will come out of your bank automatically around 28 days later. Following payments will come out on the same day each month until the full amount is paid.
6. Paperwork
Driving License - You can drive a 90cc motorbike in Peru on a standard car license.
IDP - While International driving permits aren't compulsory in Peru, they act as a useful translation of your driving licence so we recommend getting one.
Bike insurance - The bikes come with 3rd party motor insurance.
Personal insurance - You'll need travel insurance to cover you for the whole of the Run. You should make sure it specifically covers you for what you are doing and where.
Visas - Most nationalities don't need a visa for Peru for up to 180 days but check to make sure.
Vehicle deposit - We charge a £300 returnable vehicle deposit to make sure we get our bikes back at the end of the adventure, this is fully returnable and we wont charge you for general wear and tear.
IDP - While International driving permits aren't compulsory in Peru, they act as a useful translation of your driving licence so we recommend getting one.
Bike insurance - The bikes come with 3rd party motor insurance.
Personal insurance - You'll need travel insurance to cover you for the whole of the Run. You should make sure it specifically covers you for what you are doing and where.
Visas - Most nationalities don't need a visa for Peru for up to 180 days but check to make sure.
Vehicle deposit - We charge a £300 returnable vehicle deposit to make sure we get our bikes back at the end of the adventure, this is fully returnable and we wont charge you for general wear and tear.
7. Food, fuel and lodgings
Whether you’re in the mountain or jungle you’ll find food, water and petrol fairly easily. Wherever you find a town, there should be a hotel, in smaller villages there will almost definitely be someone with a spare room that is the designated Guest House. If you’re stuck ‘tween villages camping could be a good option.
8. Going solo?
Registration for the Monkey Run is per person. The Monkey Run is perfect for those going solo because, well, you can only fit one person on these bikes. Some do sign up with friends but there are runners that tackle the Monkey Run solo every time. It's easy to meet others during the test driving to convoy for at least part of the trip if you don't fancy going alone.
9. Saving the world
Not only is the Monkey Run an
industrial dose of adventure, it’s also
about Saving the World. We ask every
rider to make their best efforts to raise a
minimum of £500 for the official charity
Cool Earth
Anything above this can be raised for
any other registered charity of your
choice.
Cool Earth works alongside indigenous villages to halt rainforest destruction. Local people stand to lose the most from deforestation but the most to gain from its protection, that’s why they are the forest’s best possible custodians.
All Cool Earth partnerships are community-owned and led.
By developing local livelihoods, their mission is to end the cycle of deforestation entrenching villages into further poverty. Creating strong, self-determining communities.
Cool Earth works alongside indigenous villages to halt rainforest destruction. Local people stand to lose the most from deforestation but the most to gain from its protection, that’s why they are the forest’s best possible custodians.
All Cool Earth partnerships are community-owned and led.
By developing local livelihoods, their mission is to end the cycle of deforestation entrenching villages into further poverty. Creating strong, self-determining communities.
10. Contacts
11. Follow the Monkey Run
Follow The Adventurists
12. The Warning
These are genuinely dangerous things to do. The website is written in a light-hearted fashion but you cannot overestimate the risks involved in taking part in this adventure.
Your chances of being seriously injured or dying as a result of taking part are high. Individuals who have taken part in past Adventurists' adventures have been permanently disfigured, seriously disabled and even lost their life.
This is not a glorified holiday, it's an unsupported adventure and so by its very nature extremely risky. You really are on your own and you really are putting both your health and life at risk. This is what makes them adventures.
Your chances of being seriously injured or dying as a result of taking part are high. Individuals who have taken part in past Adventurists' adventures have been permanently disfigured, seriously disabled and even lost their life.
This is not a glorified holiday, it's an unsupported adventure and so by its very nature extremely risky. You really are on your own and you really are putting both your health and life at risk. This is what makes them adventures.