(No availability) 2 Day Ancestral Secret Horse Riding Holiday in Chinchero, Cusco

On this horse riding holiday, you will be able to enjoy incredible landscapes which you will hardly forget and ride on the Peruvian horses passing through little-frequented roads. You will know places of great cultural and historical importance related to the Inca civilization. You will see the agricultural activities of the peasants of the area up close. You will have the opportunity to interact with peasant communities that preserve ancestral traditions.

Approximately five hours will be spent on the horseback each day. After a short explanation on how to get to know your Peruvian Paso and a demonstration on how to ride this noble and graceful horse, your trip will start.

Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco - Laguna de Piuray - Chinchero - Laguna de Huaypo - Rural Community

On the first day, you will enjoy the two lakes Piuray and Huaypo, linked by their mystic origin. According to legend, the Sun God asked the Inca Manco Cápac that his twin boy and girl leave with him in the sunset. Suddenly, Manco Cápac discovered that his son, who had walked in front, had been turned into a lake, Huaypo, and that his daughter, who walked behind, had been turned into the Piuray Lake.

Between the two lakes, you will pass through the Chinchero Village. You are lucky enough to spend time with a local community who will show you how they keep living in a very traditional way. You will sleep in their rustic accommodations in the village. Remember that rural tourism directly contributes to the communities in the area. This is one of the cornerstones of the philosophy of Apupacha Horse Adventure.

Day 2: Rural Community - Mirador de Wañyn - Moray - Salineras - Maras - Cusco

On the second day of the tour, you will continue your ride towards the Wañyn viewpoint from which you will have a beautiful view over almost the whole Vilcanota mountain chain with its impressive snowy tops and the plateaus of Maras and Chinchero. Later on, you will descend toward the archeological site of Moray, known as the Inca’s agricultural experimentation center.

The descent from Wañyn towards Moray will give you a “birds-eye” view on the site which is a fantastic scene which cannot, of course, be seen from the site itself. Las Salineras de Maras with its impressive salt wells will reveal ancient secrets as you ride through beautiful landscapes where you can see local agricultural and fishing activities, which is something that you couldn’t do if it wasn’t for the horses.

This beautiful adventure is experienced at only an hour and a half from Cusco. The transportation can be arranged for you especially or by using public transport.

Riding level

You do not need to have riding experience to participate in these excursions and trips.

Peruvian Paso Horse

This native race of Peru is hundreds of years old and descendants of the Andalusian and Arab horse. It is introduced by the Spaniards at the time of the conquest. This horse was declared as Cultural Patrimony of the Nation for two fundamental reasons. First, due to the isolation which it suffered for almost 400 years (the stabilization of the race took about four centuries, several generations of crosses, selection, and improvement) and the other, for the particularity of its corporal proportions and lateral walk or flat step, as a result of the selection of its breeders.

Within the characteristics, it has standout muscular and wide body, elongated and strong extremities, and flat and wide head. It is usually chestnut colored. A characteristic that differentiates this race from others is its intermediate speed, known as lateral trotting which is called Paso Llano. This is its most characteristic rhythm. In other races, it is known as a trot. The Peruvian Paso horse can have different rhythms and speeds which can be executed by the same horse.

This equine is considered the best saddle horse due to the smoothness of its walk, easy treatment, and stable temperament and therefore, it is not necessary to be a professional horseman to ride it efficiently, all of which differentiates it from the rest of the races in which a learning process is required. Being a race created for work and riding, it is characterized by its resistance and not having vices or natural tricks which allows an accessible ride for men and women regardless of their age. Its size is ideal for the comfort of the rider, which can easily be assembled and disassembled.

The chalán or the horse manager is the rider par excellence of this race. In men, their clothing is white and includes a poncho used in different colors. The poncho in habano or vicuña color is the most colorful and traditional. The belt that holds the pants and boots can be black or brown and white straw hat and a white handkerchief around the neck. Women usually wear white-embroidery skirt and blouse, the traditional straw hat adorned with flowers, and a blanket or shawl to color the poncho.