Horseback Riding Tour in Peru

Join in a horse riding tour designed so that you can learn about and interact with natural and cultural attractions of the Inca culture. Take the chance to ride for two days through the beautiful nature and ruins of Cusco, discovering the beautiful landscape and interesting facts about culture and traditions of the Incas.

Key Information

Rider Weight Limit: 190 pounds / 86 kilograms
Horse Breed: Peruvian Paso and Criollo

Highlights

2 days of horse riding
Approximate daily riding time: 2 - 4 hours
Visit Huchuy Qosqo and Chinchero archaeological sites
Pass by and visit the Yanacocha Lake and Piuray lagoon
Service of a professional guide with Spanish or English
Use of camping equipment and extra carrier horses
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the ride
1 nights accommodation in tent

Skill level

Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced

Styles

1 days with instruction in English

The organizer also speaks: Spanish

Program

Itinerary

Day 1: Hike to Huchuy Qosqo

You will be out of Cusco at 09:00 and you will travel by car for 20 minutes' ride to the archaeological complex of Sacsayhuaman. There, you will begin your journey on a horseback ride for three hours towards the Yanacocha Lake (3,800 meters or 12,543 feet) where you will have lunch. In the afternoon, you will continue to Huchuy Qosqo (the Inca archaeological site)for two hours on a horseback and you will be arriving approximately at 17:00. Here, you will overnight in a camping.

Day 2: Huchuy Qosqo - Chinchero - Cusco

After breakfast, you will visit the archaeological complex of Huchuy Qosqo and then continue your ride for approximately four hours to Chinchero (an archaeological site of the Inca). On the way to Chinchero, you will visit the Piuray lagoon and also you will witness the beautiful view of the Sacred Valley and the snow of Chicon and Veronica. After the tour in Chinchero, you will return to Cusco by bus and will arrive at approximately 17:30.

Peruvian Paso Horse

What is the Peruvian Paso horse?

The Peruvian Paso horse is a horse breed native of Peru, descended from horses introduced during the conquest and early colonial times. This breed is protected under Peruvian law and has been declared Peruvian breed by the National Institute of Culture.

The Peruvian Paso horse is characterized by a lateral gait or "flat step" that is his characteristic. It is typical of the northern regions of Peru, where it was originated. However, the Peruvian Paso horse gets adapted successfully to the Andes of Peru, where it is prized and it is used for general sightseeing tours in the Sacred Valley of the Incas and the surrounding areas of the city of Cusco like Sacsayhuaman, Temple of the Moon, and Maras Moray.

What is the most important feature?

The way of walking of "Peruvian Paso" is the important characteristic about the Peruvian Paso horse. Unlike other breeds of horses in the world, it is his walk, trot, or intermediate speed. The trot is called "flat step" in its most typical rhythm but may have different velocities, which in turn, may be executed by the same specimen. This makes the ride especially nice. Softness is one of the fundamental virtues and more appreciated in this horse breed.

It has an innate harmonic displacement. The Peruvian Paso horse has the characteristic of the most predominant harmonic movements in the arms than in the legs. The march differs markedly from the lateral movements of other breeds. That is why it is one smooth movement horse, very comfortable to ride.

Criollo Horse

"Criollo horse" is called a horse breed that is distributed throughout South America, Central America, and North America. In the countries of the continent it has been developing in different ways and especially in Peru. The "Criollo horse" is the feature breed of the Andes of Peru and each year there are more people who owns them, use them for hard farm work, or enjoy their leisure time.

Features

The "Criollo horse" is considered a hard resistance horse, famous for the marches of resistance that are held in Argentina and Uruguay, it is a horse for work in any field, but can be used as a riding horse for leisure riding, is a very versatile horse. A great companion to crossings, his character is friendly and always ready to listen his rider, sometimes it is quite territorial because remember "this breed grows up in nature". He is pretty energetic and friendly with humans, specially with kids.

Origins

The “Criollo Horse” is descended from Iberian horse brought by the Spaniards to America. A genetic compound derived from the Berber horse from North Africa, Horses from the Guadalquivir valley in Andalusia and others who were grouped in the "working horses". Back in South America, some of them escaped the plantations and religious missions or were stolen by the natives. In the field they formed large troops and exposed to a wild environment, natural selection and inbreeding, set their own genetic characteristics. It should be noted that these genetic lines are totally or virtually extinct in Spain and Portugal today.

Only the strongest will to survive and reproduce. Those horses were learning to defend against hazards such as mountain lions (Pumas) and other predators also enduring extreme climates.

The incredibly adaptable to the "invader monster, "Aboriginal peoples learned to adapt to their way of life and achieved a symbiotic relationship with the Criollo horse, so much so that at present continues to expand the study of the "Indian dressage".

How safe is it the horseback riding tour in Cusco?

The practice of outdoor activities has inherent risks. To reduce them to a minimum, Horseback Riding Cusco works with qualified personnel and qualified guides with experience in the places in which they operate. They are proud of their guides, and muleteers. All have a deep knowledge and great love for the work they do. Thanks to them, their safety record is excellent.

Who will be your guides?

For all Horseback Riding Cusco's programs will be accompanied by muleteers and professional guides who constantly ensure your safety and satisfaction in your adventure. All the guides are graduates of the University of Cusco and technical training institutes, they are accredited with their respective Professional Carnet.

Advice for horse riders

This tour is organized for all travelers and doesn't demand good physical condition because there are not hard activities to do. This package is dedicated to families.

Rating your horseback riding ability

This is a critically important first step in choosing a riding tour. For most of Horseback Riding Cusco's multi-day riding trips, you must have a good knowledge of the basics and some experience in riding cross-country.

The tour guide has full authority to exclude a rider from a trip for inability to ride or behavior that endangers the other riders or the horses. No refunds will be made under these circumstances.

If you wish to participate in a ride that requires experience beyond your current ability, please contact Horseback Riding Cusco to learn about lessons at the ranch. They can teach you the fundamentals of the classic Peruvian equitation. It may be possible to increase your comfort level and skill to a level that will allow you to participate in one of our rides.

Beginner

A rider who has limited experience, is unable to apply basic aids, and does not have a firm and balanced seat.

Novice

A rider who is capable of mounting and dismounting unassisted, capable of applying basic aids, comfortable, and in control at the walk.

Intermediate

A rider who has a firm and balanced seat, is confident and in control at all paces, but does not ride regularly.

Strong Intermediate

An intermediate rider who is currently riding regularly and is comfortable in the saddle for at least six hours per day.

Advanced

All of the above, plus an independent seat, soft hands, and capable of handling a spirited horse in open country.

Food

You will be provided daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner starting with lunch on day 1.

The following meals are included:

Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:

Regular (typically includes meat and fish)

If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation

What's included

2 days of horse riding through the old Incas empire
2-4 hours of ride per day through the highlands
Service of a professional guide with Spanish or English
Use of camping equipment (double occupancy tents, dining tent, kitchen tent, and mattresses)
Use of saddles and horses
Use of extra horses to carry all the equipment
Use of first aid kit
Horsemen
Private transport back and forth
All meals starting with lunch on day 1
1-night accommodation

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The organizer has discretion over price and availability for each inquiry.

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