5 Day Ancient Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Horse Riding Trek in Peru

Horseback riding to Machu Picchu is still a very affordable activity. Horses remain an important transport vehicle in rural life. Almost every farm worker and the Peruvian cowboy called arriero owns various animals and is happy to gain some extra income by offering horseback tours to tourists.

This is a journey in the Andes through highlands that explores the indigenous Andean communities between Chillipahua, Lake Ancascocha, and Cachiccata. You will travel on a horseback among a wild landscape, through millenary paths like the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, the later was used by Spanish conquerors.

This Machu Picchu horse riding trek is a trip outside the beaten paths, allowing an exceptional interaction with the villagers that live in the small communities that cross the route. You will enjoy the communities' homey feeling and comfort and share delicious Andean traditional food together with the local people.

Itinerary

Day 1

Wari Adventures will pick you up from Cusco or Sacred Valley of the Incas. They will coordinate with you before the horse riding to Machu Picchu. Their highly-trained guide will meet you at your hotel to go over final details and ensure you are ready and excited for the adventure ahead.

Option 1: Cusco - Killarumiyuq - Chillipahua

You will be transferred from Cusco to the starting point of riding. After a one-hour journey, you will stop at the sacred Inca Killarumiyuc (in the Quechua language) or the Moonstone sanctuary. It is an ancient temple dedicated to the deity of femininity. The site is not only an age-perfect design but also includes areas of cultivation systems and the moon cult became a sacred area for the people of the Andes. After seeing the agricultural experimental center, you will continue to the village of Huarocondo (3,331 meters above sea level). Then, you will be driven for 25 minutes to Paropiso.

Option 2: Sacred Valley - Ñaupa Iglesia - Chillipahua

You will be transferred from Sacred Valley of the Incas in Wari Adventures' private transportation. After a 25-minute journey, you will explore the spiritual Inca Ñaupa Iglesia (ancient church). There, you will find an Inca cross of Andean called Chakana. After seeing the sacred place, you will continue to the village of Llama Pintayoq (in Quechua language) or Llama painted. You will see pre-Inca paintings on the rock. Then, you will continue up the valley for 25 minutes until the starting point of your trek. Hence, you will meet Wari Adventures' team and start trekking on the horses.

Horse riding

You will start horseback riding to Machu Picchu on a wide path north, above the west bank of the river called Huarocondo. You will observe beautiful valleys, mountains, archaeological ruins, and the impressive Inca city of Wat'a, an important pre-Inca fortress that dominates the crest of a hill at 3,855 meters. Immediately, you will explore the city, which is admired for its strategic location. Then, you will descend for 30 minutes to the lunch spot before going to Chillipahua village (3,750 meters above sea level), the village where you will spend the night. You will also have the opportunity to participate in the daily life of the local people.

• Distance: 7 miles / 12 kilometers
• Riding hours: 3 hours
• Low altitude: 3,331 meters / 10,928 feet
• High altitude: 3,750 meters / 12,303 feet
• Campsite altitude: 3,750 meters / 12,303 feet

Day 2: Chillipahua - Lake Ancascocha

After a delicious breakfast, you will start your horseback riding. You will climb gradually through potatoes fields, Inca aqueducts, and native trees of chachacomo. This is a landscape of pastures and big fields that cling to the steep slopes and red mountains. On the way, you will find indigenous Peruvian villages that still keep the Incas ancient traditions regarding agriculture, religion, music, language, culture, and others. Then, you will continue on your way up to the Accoccasa Pass (4,425 meters above sea level).

Here, you will enjoy a breathtaking view of the immense, snowy peaks. You will feel the full extent of the Andean sky with its' cold, dry air. Later, you will continue your journey on the flat trail, which is used by indigenous pastures. You will then descend to Qenqo Mayu valley and have organic lunch there. Then, you will reach your camp in the spacious Lake Ancascocha area (4,150 meters above sea level.), opposite of the glaciers of the Cordillera Huayanay.

• Distance: 5 miles / 9 kilometers
• Riding hours: 5 hours
• Low altitude: 3,750 meters / 12,303 feet
• High altitude: 4,625 meters / 15,173 feet
• Campsite altitude: 4,150 meters / 13,571 feet

Day 3: Lake Ancascocha - Inca Quarry

After breakfast, you will continue horseback riding to Machu Picchu. You will ascend to the head of Chancachuco valley. Here, you will able to see Inca aqueduct carved out of the cliffs to take water from Chancachuco valley to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, which is miles away. Later on, you will reach your final step at Rainbow Pass (4,340 meters above sea level). From this pass, you will descend along the hidden valley and narrow trail.

In this part of the path, you will be hiking for 45 minutes. Finally, you will reach the Intiwatana, the sun gate. This temple is located at the highest point in the area. This area was important to the Incas to make astronomical observations and for the planning of the agricultural year. From there, you will have a breathtaking view of Nevado Veronica (5,682 meters). There, you will enjoy the sunset and the view of the Urubamba River.

Then, you will continue with the hike and reach Cachiccata (3,525 meters), a large terrace at the edge of a huge quarry with the same name. This was an Inca city. It is inhabited by hundreds of architects and workers of the empire. Buildings are used for administration, housing, terraces, and burial chambers. Also, irrigation canals can be found in Cachiccata. The streets were very well-planned as well.

• Distance: 7 miles / 11 kilometers
• Horseback riding: 5 hours
• Low altitude: 3,525 meters / 11,564 feet
• High altitude: 3,940 meters / 12,926 feet
• Campsite altitude: 3,525 meters / 11,564 feet

Day 4: Inca Quarry - Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes

You will get up early to watch the sunrise over the Sacred Valley from your campsite high above it. After breakfast, you will start your expedition to Ollantaytambo (2,792 meters above sea level). Along the way, you will descend a wide Incan road, through the area of the quarries.

Then, you will continue downhill, crossing the Vilcanota River and finally arriving at the famous Sun Temple in Ollantaytambo. You will have time to explore the village and the temple before taking the train that will take you to Aguas Calientes (2,040 meters above sea level) in the afternoon. Once you get to Aguas Calientes, you will check in to your hotel, where you will spend the night.

• Horseback tour distance: 5 miles / 8 kilometers
• Riding hours: 3 hours
• Low altitude: 2,792 meters / 9,160 feet
• High altitude: 2,040 meters / 6,692 feet

Day 5: Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Cusco

You will get up early in the morning in order to enjoy the sunrise at Machu Picchu. Then, you will eat breakfast and take the bus to Inca ruins. There, you will have a guided tour that will take approximately two to three hours and then you can climb Huayna Picchu. After you finish your visit, you will return to Aguas Calientes. In the city, you can enjoy amenities like lunch, and later in the afternoon, you will take the train back to Cusco with PeruRail Vistadome. Upon arrival in Cusco, your transfer will be waiting to take you on a private van to your hotel. This is the end of the adventure.

Notes: You will return from Aguas Calientes together with your adventure guide. Time to be confirmed.

Training

Wari Adventures encourages you to prepare by exercising regularly and having a healthy, balanced diet prior to the trip to Machu Picchu.

This horse riding holiday will take place in Peru. You will ride to Huarocondo, Wat'a, Chillipahua, Lake Ancascocha, Cachiccata, Ollantaytambo, and Aguas Calientes.

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During this horse riding holiday, the passengers will have access to a great variety of food. There will be dishes rich in calories, vitamins, and proteins that will provide all of the energy that you need for the trek. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be served daily and you will also receive snacks and hot drinks like infusions in the afternoon. Along with your breakfast, you will receive a cup of coca tea, which will help you to adjust to the cold air of the mountain.

Wari Adventures can also accommodate special requests such as vegetarian meals, diabetic diets, allergies, etc. These special requests must be done during the booking process. They would like to emphasize that their menu has been elaborated by their professional chefs. Additionally, water will be provided every day during the entire Moonstone trek.

• 4 days of horse riding
• 1 Moonstone - Paropiso trekking
• Services of professional and experienced English, Quechua, and Spanish-speaking hiking guide
• Uses of horses to carry passengers' personal belongings up to 8 kilograms
• Services of muleteers to carry the equipment needed for the campsites (from the beginning of the Moonstone trek)
• The assistance of a professional chef, assistant cook, and a waiter
• Air mattress, dining, and kitchen tent
• Tableware, camping tables, and chairs
• Bathroom tent / portable toilet
• First aid kit (alcohol, bandages, medication for altitude sickness, oxygen water, Band-Aids, oxygen tank, cotton, rescue ropes, e.g.)
• Use of 1 walkie-talkie per group
• Entrance to Machu Picchu Citadel
• Entrance to Huayna Picchu mountain
• Pick up from your hotel in Cusco in tourist bus to start of the Moonstone trek - Paropiso
• Round trip train tickets with PeruRail Vistadome from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes with snacks
• Round trip bus transfer from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
• Train ticket with PeruRail Vistadome leaving from Aguas Calientes in the afternoon
• Pick up from the train station in Ollantaytambo on the bus and transfer to the hotel
• 4 nights' accommodation
• Breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and drinks

• Lunch and dinner on the last day
• Travel insurance

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• A reservation requires a deposit of 14% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.