Andorran Mountaineer Completes 270km Bike Expedition in Peru's Cordillera Blanca

Pau Costa, an experienced Andorran mountaineer, recently returned from a demanding 270-kilometre bike expedition across the remote Cordillera Blanca and Huayhuash ranges in Peru, where the sheer scale of the landscape humbled the group.

The nine-day journey began with a four-day acclimatisation loop in the Santa Cruz Valley, followed by five days in Huayhuash. The route featured over 12,500 metres of elevation gain, with riders carrying their bikes on foot during steep sections. "In that deep valley, with 3,000 metres of vertical drop, you realise you're just a grain of sand in the world," said one team member, Jaume, capturing the sense of insignificance amid the towering peaks.

Challenges started early. At the outset, the group spotted a rescue helicopter retrieving stranded hikers who had been calling for help for days—a stark reminder of the area's isolation and limited resources, where such operations are rare compared to Europe. Weather added to the strain: on day two, after a rough night and hours of pedalling at 4,000 metres, rain hit as they neared the final pass. Costa, exhausted, admitted he was ready to call it quits.

Logistics proved the biggest hurdle. The team relied on a local agency, with camps shifted daily by mules shared with trekkers. Coordinating distances with their mule handler and cook was critical, as no infrastructure linked the remote sites. Interactions with locals were highlights, however. Communities welcomed the visitors with pride, and the support crew bonded through playful races—though the Peruvians always won.

This marked Costa's seventh such adventure, evolving over 25 years from Pyrenees outings to the French, Swiss and Italian Alps, and Nepal. Organised organically through his mountain sports passion, the trip included full documentation for his children. Back home, Costa noted everyday life feels unchanged: "Always waiting for the weekend to head out again."