Horseback Riding in Peru
SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS RIDE |
Riding on Peruvian Pasos like these is a
delightful equestrian experience.
These comfortable, friendly Pasos
help make horseback riding in Peru a pleasure.
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The Sacred Valley of the Incas high in the mighty Andes was the center of that well developed civilization which controlled a vast area. The monolithic remains of this powerful empire are everywhere to be seen and wondered at. This ride on much loved Peruvian Paso horses bred for their grace, spirit and intelligence is a wonderful way to explore the Sacred Valley. You will travel between Cuzco, ancient capital of the Incas, to the incomparable Machu Pichu which has left travelers spellbound since its rediscovery less than a hundred years ago. It is a trip for adventurous souls; accommodations vary from outstandingly charming hotels to basic mountain camps near Inca sites. Along the way you will meet the Indian people who are descendants of the Incas, view ancient customs and dine on traditional foods.
Check out our other rides around the world on gaited horses.
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| Itinerary |
| Day 1: | Arrive in Lima and transfer to your hotel. The hotel is centrally located in Miraflores and is owned by Don Filipe Matelini, a true ´aficionado´ of the Peruvian Paso horse.
If time allows you can visit museums, shop in Miraflores or visit Barranco, a romantic and Bohemian district in Lima with a variety of nightclubs.
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| Day 2: | After breakfast transfer to the airport for the spectacular one-hour flight over the Andes, arriving mid-morning in the ancient Incan capital of Cusco (altitude 3,338 m / 10,952 ft). From here it is a one-hour drive to the hotel in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. There will be an opportunity to stop for a cup of coffee or coca-tea, which helps to combat altitude sickness.
The charming hotel is perfectly located in the heart of the Sacred Valley, between Cusco and Machu Picchu, and only 5 km from the stables.
A lunchtime barbeque is served at the ranch. In the afternoon there is time to wander around the stables or explore the wonderful surroundings. There is a great pottery shop and another selling quality alpaca goods just down the road in Urubamba. You will have an opportunity to become familiar with the beautiful Peruvian Paso horses and the traditional Peruvian riding gear. Before dinner you will get together for an informal briefing about the Peruvian Paso horse.
Dinner at the ranch and overnight at the Kuychi Rumi Lodge.
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| Day 3: | Today is a day to relax and enjoy being on holiday, while you acclimatize to the altitude before the ride begins. Around 9:30 AM take the short drive to Ollantaytambo where you will visit the ruins and village. According to legend, Ollantaytambo is named for a rebellious chieftain, Ollantay, who took up arms against his sovereign, the Inca Pachacuti, in pursuit of his forbidden love for the Inca's daughter, Nusta Cosi Collyu. Historical records tell us the site was actually a royal estate of Pachacuti, the Inca responsible for the Empire's most expansive growth. This would account for the fine stonework throughout the site, and the quality, abundance and scale of the ceremonial architecture. Although not designed as a citadel when it was built in the 1460s, Manco Inca successfully defended Ollantaytambo against Hernando Pizarro in 1537.
The village of Ollantaytambo is the only inhabited settlement that has survived much as the Incas laid it out. Its streets form a grid pattern, with many people still living in the original Inca canchas (blocks of multi-family homes sharing a large courtyard).
Lunch is served at the ranch around 1 PM. After lunch continue your riding course in classic Peruvian equitation in the security of a round pen. If time allows you will do a short ride into the valley to become comfortable with your horse.
Dinner and overnight as the previous evening.
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| Day 4: | After a leisurely breakfast, saddle the horses and depart around 10 AM to Ollantaytambo. Cross the Urubamba River and visit Pichingote, an old Andean village where the houses are built half into caves, and Salinas, the salt pans from Inca times, which are still being used by the locals to extract the salt from mountain spring water. The salt pans consist of a series of platforms where the salty water is channeled through an impressive irrigation system and left to evaporate in the sun. Take plenty of film to capture this unique sight.
After lunch you will climb with the horses (almost 1,000 meter / 3,281 ft) to the alti-plano of the Andes. This climb takes about two hours, and will be at an easy pace because the change of altitude does not only affect the horses. At 3,700 meter (12,140 ft) you will be impressed by the stunning scenery and the snow-capped mountains of Chicon, Veronica and Salcantay. Continue your ride to Maras, a typical Andean village with a beautiful 400-yr-old colonial church for a picnic lunch. After lunch ride to the agricultural terraces of Moray. The ancient peoples of the region took four huge natural depressions in the landscape and sculpted them into levels of agricultural terraces that served hundreds of years ago, as an experimental agricultural station for the development of different crop strains. This was possible due to the discovery of a fascinating phenomenon: the climates of many different ecological zones were present at a single site. In the thirty or so meters of altitude between the bottom and top levels of Moray´s main depression, one scientist, John Earls, has recorded a full 15 degrees Celcius difference in temperature. That is equal to the difference between the mean annual temperatures of London and Bombay. It is likely that Moray played a key role in the original transformation of maize into a high-altitude crop.
There are no great ruined structures in Moray, it is more for the contemplative traveler with an affinity for such phenomena as the Nazca Lines, the stone rings of Avebury and the menhirs of Brittany.
From Moray continue riding to Tiobamba where you arrive around 5 PM. The back-up van will return you to your accommodations at Kuychi Rumi Lodge or similar in the Sacred Valley. Riding time: 5-6 hours. Altitude: 2,700 – 3,700 m / 8,860-12,140 ft. Dinner at one of Urubamba’s famous local restaurants.
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| Day 5: | After breakfast at the lodge transfer back to Tiombamba where the horses spent the night. Follow primitive trails across the altiplano. The scenery is spectacular with snowcapped mountains, wildflowers and beautiful mountain lakes. You will meet smiling Quechua children with their herds of sheep or cattle and see Campesinos ploughing their fields in the traditional way – oxen hitched to a wooden plow. Maybe you will even share a Chicha (their traditional maize drink) with them. Follow the trail to Cinchero where Quechua porters and llamas are awaiting you with the picnic lunch.
On a clear day the views from Chinchero are tremendous; to the west and northwest stretches a vista of rolling alti-plano, ringed in the distance by the dramatic snowcaps of the Cordilleras Vilcabamba and Urubamba.
The main square of the town is famous for its massive Inca wall, set with ten of the largest trapezoidal niches known among Inca structures. This was probably the base wall of a palace --perhaps that of Topa Inca --that once overlooked the square. There will be time to visit the ruins. At Cinchero you will also visit a textile workshop where you will see an impressive demonstration of ancient techniques of spinning, dying and weaving. Riding time: 5 hours. Altitude: 3,000-3,800 m / 9,840-12,470 ft. Dinner in Urubamba and overnight at Kuychi Rumi Lodge.
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| Day 6: | From Lago Piuray criss-cross through the rough and sturdy Andean landscape passing remote Quechua communities, herder’s huts and small farms or Chacras, to the impressive Inca ruins of Tambo Machay, Puca Pucara, Quenco and Sacsayhuaman. Travel along a cobblestone paved section of the network of Inca roads called Capac Nan, and enjoy beautiful vistas as you climb to an altitude of 4000 m/ 13,125 ft. You will pass many impressive Inca ruins, including an ancient Inca aqueduct and Inca irrigation channels. Some technical riding is required as you cross more difficult gorges along the trail but your sure-footed mounts will be up to the task.
After a hard day’s riding following old Inca trails arrive at the historical city of Cusco, the oldest city in South America and once the capital of the great Inca Empire. The Inca empire was called Tawantinsuyu –"The Four Quarters of the Earth." Cusco was its heart, and its exact center was considered to be the main square of the city.
You will have dinner and spend the night in a comfortable hotel situated near the Plaza de Armas, the heart of Cusco’s archaeological center. If you still have energy you can explore Cusco’s legendary nightlife. Riding time: 6 hours. Altitude: 3,400-4,000 m / 11,160-13,120 ft.
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| Day 7: | Today is free to do as you wish. You can visit the numerous churches, cathedrals and museums, do some shopping or just relax. Some may opt for a one-day rafting adventure on the Urubamba River. The evenings in Cusco are full of exciting nightlife.
According to Inca legend, Cusco was founded around 1200 AD by Manco Capac and Mama Occlo. Manco Capac selected the site when the golden staff given to him by his father, the sun, sank into the earth and disappeared. Each Inca emperor built his own palace and compound during his reign. The Spanish initially tried to destroy the Inca buildings but soon realized that because of their quality construction, it was easier to reuse the foundations for their own buildings. Throughout Cusco many of the original Inca walls can still be seen today.
Cusco is a vibrant city and the vast majority of the native Quechua Indians live here. Despite being a major tourist destination, both for its own treasures and as a staging point for the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, Cusco has managed to hold on to its own distinct flavor. It retains a natural charm that is irresistible.
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| Day 8: | The horses are waiting just outside of Cusco. Today’s ride will take you through open country with spectacular views. Start from Sacsayhuaman where you follow a footpath leading north. Topping a rise you will see the Pisaq highway to the right. The trail turns north and becomes the old Inca highway to Calca; traces of it are still visible. After climbing gently for about 450 m see a stone-lined Inca irrigation channel which parallels the trail for about 800 m. Ascend a steep and narrow valley to reach a pass at 4,300 m, and enjoy the view of the small, shallow Lake Quellacocha. A group of stone corrals lies beyond the lake and in clear weather the snowcapped Sawasiray is visible. Descend the high trail around the north end of the lake and ascend eastward to Lake Qoricocha. Many herds of Llamas, Alpacas and Guanacos can be seen around here. The people of Q’enco will be waiting to welcome you at the campsite with traditional folk dances, music and the traditional meal of Guinea pigs. They are friendly, hardworking farmers who grow potatoes. Q’enco is one of the communities the outfitter supports. Projects here included building a greenhouse, installing playground equipment and distributing toiletries, clothing and school supplies. You can purchase local weaving made by the women. Riding time: 5 to 6 hours. Altitude: 3,600 - 4,350 m / 11,800 – 14,280 ft. We will stay the night at our campsite near Lago Qoricocha. |
| Day 9: | From Lago Qoricocha ride northeast in the direction of the Sacred Valley. The scenery en route is absolutely spectacular and you will have plenty of breaks to soak up the atmosphere before the descent from the altiplano into the valley.
Descend to the village of Umaspampa and from there to the village of Cuper Alto and Cuper Bajo, arriving in the early afternoon at Chinchero, where you have lunch. From Chinchero ride across the altiplano to Racchi. From here ride another 3-4 hours along spectacular trails to Lake Huyapo, where you will find your last campsite. Riding time: 6 -7 hours. Altitude: 4300 - 2800 m / 14,110 - 9,190 ft. Dinner and overnight at our campsite at Lake Huyapo.
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| Day 10: | After breakfast, leave for your last day with the horses. Follow an interesting trail towards Huarocondo for about 3 hours to arrive again at the village of Maras. After lunch complete the descent into the Sacred Valley, arriving at the ranch around 3 PM. We will celebrate our return with a traditional Pisco Sour. Riding time: 4 hours. Altitude: 2,800 - 2,600 m / 9,200 - 8,550 ft. Dinner at Huayocari Hacienda, a private residence with an impressive collection of Incan and colonial art and artifacts, hosted by its owner. Overnight in the comfortable Hotel la Casona or Hotel Sonesta Posada del Inca in Yucay. |
| Day 11: | Start the day early by taking the 6 AM train from Urubamba to the ruins of Machu Picchu. The experience of visiting Machu Picchu is not limited to the ruins themselves; the train journey is one of the most spectacular in the world.
Since its discovery by Hiram Bingham in 1911, Machu Picchu has captivated the minds and hearts of the modern world. Take lots of film, this is every bit as magnificent as you have imagined.
In the afternoon take the train back to Urubamba, arriving around 7 PM. Farewell dinner at the ranch, and a last chance to sample Pisco Sours. Overnight at a hotel in Yucay.
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| Day 12: | Early in the morning, transfer to the airport in Cusco for your flight to Lima. The driving time is one hour, followed by a one-hour flight, arriving in Lima at 1:00 PM. Earliest possible departing flight from Lima is 3:00 PM. |
| THIS ITINERARY IS FLEXIBLE. CHANGES MAY OCCUR DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. |
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| Pricing and Dates |
| Meeting Point | Lima |
| Length of Ride | 12 days, 11 nights and 6 days riding. |
| Riding Ability | Intermediate |
| Group Size | Minimum-4 Maximum-9 |
| Riding Per Day | 5-7 hours |
| Pace | slow / moderate |
| Tack | Peruvian |
| Horses | Peruvian Paso |
| Weight Limit | 200 lbs |
| 2008 Dates | April 17-28, May 6-17, May 22 - June 2, June 12-23 (no camping), July 3-14 (no camping), July 24 - Aug 4, Aug 21-Sept 1, Sept 11-22, Sept 30 - Oct 11, Oct 16-27 |
| 2008 Price | $ 4,630
(includes the internal flights Lima / Cusco / Lima) |
| Single Supplement | $ 520 |
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