An Unforgettable Descent into the Central Jungle.
Tambillo is a small and often forgotten town hidden in the jungle region of Jauja, a province better known for its Andean landscapes than its tropical forests.

After many exploratory visits, we discovered the adventurous route we had been searching for: a way to reach Peru’s Central Jungle without riding along the busy main highway. The answer was a remote gravel road with almost no traffic, offering a true backcountry cycling experience.

To access this route, you can drive (or ride) to the village of Ricrán and then continue to the high pass above Tambillo, where the ride begins. From there, the adventure unfolds as you descend into the jungle.

Our ride started at nearly 4,600 meters above sea level in the district of Tambillo and dropped all the way to Monobamba at approximately 2,000 meters. Along the way, we crossed a remarkable variety of altitudes, landscapes, and climates. As is often the case in these mountains, the weather remains a mystery until the very last moment. You may encounter cold temperatures, rain, dense fog, and wet roads at the summit, then find yourself under bright sunshine and tropical heat just a few hours later.

Beyond Monobamba, the descent becomes less continuous. From this point, riders must continue pedaling through the valley to reach Vitoc, the gateway to San Ramón. This vibrant town marks the entrance to the Chanchamayo Valley, a region widely known throughout Peru as the Selva Central.

For the record, the ride takes approximately six hours and includes nearly 4,000 meters of vertical descent on gravel roads. However, for those seeking an even greater challenge, it is possible to start pedaling from Ricrán itself, adding a demanding 1,000-meter climb that may take two to three hours before earning the reward of the long descent into the jungle.

This route offers a rare combination of high-Andean scenery, remote gravel roads, cloud forests, and tropical landscapes, making it one of the most diverse and memorable cycling adventures in central Peru.