Monasterio Ride in the Sacred Valley

Introduction to the Peruvian Paso

After breakfast, you will be picked up at 9:00 AM from your hotel in Cusco or the Sacred Valley and transferred to Hotel Sonesta Posadas del Inca, a historic Andean property built around an 18th-century colonial monastery, where you may leave your luggage. (Official check-in time is 2:00 PM.) It is recommended to wear your riding attire at pick-up.

A short drive brings you to the historic Hacienda Huayoccari, owned by the Lámbarri Orihuela family for over a century. The hacienda houses an exceptional private collection of preHispanic ceramics, colonial religious art, and traditional Andean folk art—carefully preserved and expanded across generations. Here begins your introduction to the Peruvian Paso horse, admired for its natural four-beat lateral gait (Paso Llano) and remarkable smoothness. Your trail guide will explain the traditional Peruvian riding style and tack before assessing your riding experience and preferences. This personalised evaluation ensures an optimal match between rider and horse, as each mount has its own temperament and character. Lunch is served at the hacienda, with panoramic views over the Sacred Valley. In the afternoon, set out on a gentle two-hour introductory ride through the surrounding countryside—an ideal opportunity to become familiar with your horse and riding style before the expedition begins. Return to the hotel around 5:00 PM, leaving time to rest and prepare for the days ahead. Dinner is at your leisure this evening. The hotel offers both Peruvian and Italian cuisine, and the onsite café La Placita del Café is ideal for coffee and desserts.

Riding time: approx. 2 hours Altitude: 2,800 m / 9,190 ft

The Andean Altiplan

After a restful night, you will be picked up at 9:15 AM and transferred to the stables near the village of Maras, where the horses await. Today’s route follows historic pathways across the Andean altiplano, offering expansive landscapes and a deep immersion into the region’s natural beauty and cultural heritage. Wide highland valleys unfold beneath snow-capped peaks, dotted with grazing livestock and highaltitude lagoons. Along the way, you may encounter Quechua families tending sheep or cattle, or farmers working the land with traditional ox-drawn ploughs—timeless scenes of rural Andean life. Before reaching Chinchero, our support team welcomes you with a picnic lunch overlooking Lake Huaypo. On clear days, the panorama stretches across the altiplano toward the peaks of the Cordillera Vilcabamba. After lunch, continue riding through open agricultural landscapes and past small highland lakes. Parts of the afternoon route overlap with terrain ridden earlier in the journey; however, the changing direction and vantage points offer an entirely different perspective. The final stretch brings us to the village of Huatata, located in the highlands just outside Chinchero. Here, at a family farm, the horses stay overnight under the care of the grooms. You are then transferred back to your hotel in the Sacred Valley. Dinner this evening is enjoyed at a local restaurant. Overnight: Hotel Sonesta Posadas del Inca, Sacred Valley

Riding time: approx. 4.5–5 hours Altitude: 3,550–3,800 m / 11,650–12,470 ft

Descent into the Sacred Valley

After breakfast, prepare for your final day on horseback. Returning to Huatata, where the horses spent the night, we begin a scenic ride along trails high above the Sacred Valley. The morning route passes through farmland and rural communities, offering a final glimpse into daily Andean life. As you descend toward the valley floor, sweeping views open below. Midway down the trail, our support team awaits with a picnic lunch in an open landscape. In the afternoon, continue toward the historic village of Urquillos, riding past cornfields and along the banks of the Vilcanota River. Crossing a traditional hanging bridge, you reach the opposite side of the valley and complete the final stretch to the stables in Huayllabamba, arriving around 4:00 PM. This evening, gather for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant—a final celebration of a remarkable journey shared with extraordinary horses.

Riding time: approx. 4.5 hours Altitude: 3,600 m down to 2,850 m / 11,850–9,350 ft