This is an off-the beaten path and away-from-the-crowds adventure where you ride through an ancient village, between the corn fields, and along a beautiful river that was very special to the Incas. Our bilingual guides are locals knowledgeable about the area and dedicated only to your group, and our horses are exceptional: well trained and well-cared-for specimens of the Peruvian Paso horses. 

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The adventure begins on our beautiful ranch where you’ll receive a warm welcome and get to meet the team - the guides and the horses. This is where we’ll go over a few basic riding and safety instructions.  

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We begin the ride through the scenic rural community of Pichingoto, a small village so off-the-beaten-path that it doesn’t even exist on google maps. We’ll cross a hanging bridge and ride along the Vilcanota River. Along the way, we will see cavern-like dwellings which were once home to the Incas, with striking facades built into the sides of the mountain. We will pass by an old church and finally reach a beautiful open grassland with crops and natural pastures, where we’ll take a break for beautiful photos of the Sacred Valley and to enjoy the beauty of the mountains that surround us. 

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Start time:

This ride can start anytime during the day. We recommend starting the ride in the morning (9 am) or after lunch (2 pm)

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Total duration of ride/tour: Approximately 2 ½  hours depending on the rider skill level and desired pace.

Time for refreshments or lunch/dinner: 1 - 1 ½ hours

Total time, including a meal: 3 - 4 hours + transit time (see below)

Time spent in transit: The Ranch is located approximately 1 hour drive from Cusco or Pisac, and 15-30 minutes from Sacred Valley hotels.

Altitude: 2800 m.a.s.l. / 9,186 feet
(slightly higher than Machu Picchu and lower than Cusco)
This ride is mostly flat, there is little to no elevation gain or loss.

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Group size: A minimum of 2, usually 4, maximum 9
Type of horses: Peruvian Paso / Creole Horse
Weight limit: 85 kg / 188 pounds

Distance: 5.6 kilometers

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Price per person: 2 or 3 people US $128; for groups of 4 or more US $118

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Included:

• A bilingual guide and guide’s assistant(s)

• Safety helmet

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Optional upgrades: 

• After the ride we recommend having lunch or dinner in our beautiful Ranch dining room.

  • Prix-Fixe 4-course Lunch OR Dinner - add $70 per person

  • Light Lunch: Cheese, avocado, or chicken sandwich on sourdough bread, with a side salad from our organic garden - add $40 per person

  • Sweet Break: Chocolate or banana cake served with ice cream, Peruvian fruits, and coffee or tea - add $10 per person

• As we are located directly at the foot of the hill under the Salineras de Maras site, after lunch you can rest in the hammocks, and then do a Salt Workshop which we offer at the famous Salineras site. This is only a 30-45 minute moderate and stunning hike. You get to see Salineras from a perspective that most don’t get to see and enter the private areas of the Salineras to do the salt collection yourself along with the locals.

• This ride can also be combined with any of our other workshops for a full-day experience: Chocolate Workshop, Coffee Workshop, and/or Adobe/Mud Brick Workshop. All our workshops.

• Each ride and workshop can be conducted as private (only for your group) for an additional fee.

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Not included: 

• Transport (We offer a private transportation service to and from our Ranch and recommend this option for the most comfortable and efficient journey. See more about transportation and prices.

• Gratuities for guides

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We recommend you bring: 

• Sunblock and Sunglasses

• Long-sleeved shirt, preferably in light color (for sun protection) 

• Wide-brimmed hat or sun shield ball cap

• Comfortable walking shoes or sneakers 

• Rain jacket and a mid-layer fleece

• Long comfortable pants or jeans

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