4 Day Chinchero Horse Riding Tour in Peru

Hacienda del Chalán is a family horseback riding business with 38 years of experience with horses and tourism. They are located in the heart of the Sacred Valley of the Cusco region of Peru and consider it very important that their horses are well cared and well fed. They have Peruvian Paso horses and Trotter horses for beginners till fully experienced riders and also pony's in different sizes for kids of different ages.

Daily itinerary

Day 1

This ride begins at an altitude of 2828 meters in Paucarbamba, where the hacienda is located. After mounting the horses, you cross the Vilcanota river over a suspension bridge and continue through the middle of a eucalyptus forest where you will be able to see one of the biggest Inka cemeteries located at the side of the flat valley path.

After passing the town of Yanahuara, you cross the suspension bridge of Tarabamba, which is also the location of the checkpoint you will have to pass to continue climbing to the complex of salt mines from the time of the Inkas. After visiting the complex of big salt pans and eating your first lunch there, you ride up to the mountain until you arrive at the small and remarkable indigenous village of Misminay, where you will spend the night at a local home.

Day 2

The view that Misminay offers you early in the morning is truly phenomenal. You can see most of the snow-covered mountains of the Sacred Valley, all the farmland of Maras, and eagles and falcons soaring against an amazing background. After eating breakfast, you will start the second-day ride.

This ride is longer than the one on the first day and leads across the large fields of barley and eucalyptus forests until you arrive at Lake Huaypo (3500 meters above sea level). There you will eat your lunch. The next part of the ride goes towards the town of Chinchero (3756 meters above sea level). You expect to take a hot shower at a small local hostel where you will also eat dinner and stay overnight.

Day 3

After breakfast on the third day, you will spend the morning visiting the archaeological complex of Chinchero and a museum of Andean textiles, and at midday, you have a traditional local lunch. In the afternoon, you ride in the direction of the Raqchi viewpoint (3810 meters above sea level) and the village of Wayna Qolqa, where you will be able to see small farms, people plowing their land, many groups of shepherds, big fields with agaves, small lakes, and snow-covered mountains like the “Chicón” or “Pitusiray”.

The viewpoint of Wayna Qolqa (3709 meters above sea level) is also marvelous because from this point is possible to see a big part of the Sacred Valley, the Vilcanota river, and some towns in the flat valley, like Yucay, Huayllabamba, and Wayoqari.

Day 4

After breakfast, you ride along the snow-covered mountain Chicön until you arrive at Ttiobamba, a marvelous Catholic complex that was built in the 16th century, which is 20 minutes away from Maras (3354 meters above sea level) and located in the middle of nowhere.

During the afternoon ride, you pass through Maras, a traditional Andean village where the people used to make their doorways out of stone with some heraldic drawings and the year in which the house was constructed. Just after passing the town of Maras, you start your downhill ride along a narrow trail that goes towards the flat valley, until you arrive at the viewpoint of Paucarbamba. In the last part of the ride, you will take a wide downhill path that will guide you back to the hacienda.

About the Peruvian Paso horses

Webster’s dictionary defines “luxury” as “the use and enjoyment of the best, most precious things offer the most physical comfort and satisfaction.” Luxury may be the single best word in the English language to describe the Peruvian Paso horse. There is something for everyone in this elegant animal: smooth riding comfort, high energy, straight, stamina, intelligence, a tractable disposition, animated, flashy presence, and 100 percent natural action which sets the Peruvian apart from others.

1. A breed apart

The Peruvian Paso horse transmits its unique smooth gait to its purebred foals. No artificial devices or special training aids are necessary to enable the horse to perform its specialty - a natural four-beat footfall of medium speed that provides a ride of incomparable smoothness and harmony of movement along with the utmost ground covering ability within on sequence of footfalls. This signature gait is called “Paso llano” and it is 100 percent unique to the Peruvian horse.

2. Flair and elegance

In addition to an easy gait, the Peruvian horse has a brilliant front action movement typified by the upward lifting of the front legs combined with “término”, an outward movement of the front legs similar to the loose rolling of a swimmer’s arms doing the crawl. Lift and término are 100 percent natural. Fluid, effortless, and well-integrated within the gait sequence. Of all of the traits that distinguish the Peruvian horse, his tremendous “Brio” is perhaps the most prized by both expert and novice horse people alike. Brio is an inherent quality of a noble and willing spirit that enables this tractable horse to perform tirelessly for many hours in the service of his rider.

3. A versatile horse

The Peruvian horse is the world’s greatest riding horse. Smooth to ride, beautiful to behold, and incredible brio - all traits that enable transportation. Peruvian horses excel in many aspects of pleasure riding: trail, competitive trail competition, team penning, sidesaddle, drill teams, musical exercise, and showing.

4. Conformation and appearance

Physically, the Peruvian horse is a horse of medium size and with refinement. The ideal height is between 14 and 16 hands tall, with good balance and almost even rations of girth, leg, and back. He may be any color. The coat and skin are refined and the mane is long and abundant with fine, lustrous hair. Bone is refined but dense; in all aspects, overall refinement, grace, and elegance are desired. Stallions exhibit the powerful arched neck and crest of their Iberian ancestors. Peruvian horse breeders pay scrupulous attention to genetics, with the three primary qualities being gait, soundness, and disposition.

5. Tack of the Peruvian horse

The traditional tack of the Peruvian horse has remained true to its heritage, but it may be ridden in any type of tack that fits properly. The headgear, saddle, stirrups, and “guarniciones” (trail gear) used today in shows are the traditional equipment imported from Peru where it has evolved over hundreds of years. Although many people choose to show their horses in traditional tack, any style may be used. And of course, on the trail, anything goes.