Transfer Cusco - Sacred Valley by private car. Pick up at 08:30 am. From Cusco it is a one-hour drive to the Hotel Sonesta Posada del Inca in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The charming hotel is perfectly located in the heart of the Sacred Valley, between Cusco and Machu Picchu, and only 3 miles from the stables.

Once you have settled at the hotel we will bring you to our riding centre. You will have an opportunity to become familiar with our beautiful Peruvian Paso horses and the traditional Peruvian riding gear. There will be a demonstration of classic Peruvian equitation, followed by an introductory Peruvian riding course. Lunchtime barbeque at the ranch. After lunch we mount our horses and set off in the direction of Maras. We cross the Urubamba River and then on to the Salinas, the salt pans from Inca times. The locals to extract salt from the mountain spring water are still using the saltpans. The saltpans consist of a series of platforms where the salty water is channelled through an impressive irrigation system and left to evaporate in the sun. Take plenty of film to capture this unique sight. We continue our ride to Maras, a typical Andean village with a beautiful 400-year-old colonial church. From Maras we ride to the church of Tiobamba, where we arrive at around 16:00 pm and where we will leave our horses for the night.

Our back-up van will bring you back to your hotel in the Sacred Valley.

We have dinner at the ranch and overnight at the hotel Sonesta Posada del Inca in Yucay.

Riding time: 3,5 hours. Altitude: 2.850 – 3.600 m/9,350 - 11,810 ft.

After a filling breakfast at your hotel, our van will pick you up to transfer you back to Tiobamba, where our horses and grooms are waiting. We follow primitive trails across the altiplano. The scenery is spectacular with snowcapped mountains, wildflowers and beautiful mountain lakes. We will meet smiling Quechua children with their herds of sheep or cattle and see campesinos plowing their fields in the traditional way, oxen hitched to a wooden plow. We will follow the trail to Chinchero where our staff is awaiting us with our picnic lunch. On a clear day the views from Chinchero are tremendous; to the west and northwest stretches a vista of rolling alti-plano, ringed in the distance by the dramatic snowcapped peaks of the Cordilleras Vilcabamba. After lunch we continue our ride and arrive around 4 PM at Lake Piuray where we will leave the horses. Our back-up van will bring you to Chinchero. The main square of this village is famous for its massive Inca wall, set with ten of the largest trapezoidal niches known among Inca structures. This was probably the base wall of a palace - perhaps that of Topa Inca - that once overlooked the square. At Chinchero we will also visit a textile workshop where we will see an impressive demonstration of ancient techniques of spinning, dying and weaving. The beautiful weavings are still made as in times of the Incas. After our visit to Chinchero we drive back to our hotel in the Sacred Valley. After some rest and a warm shower we’ll have dinner at one of Urubamba’s local restaurant.

You spend the night at the hotel Sonesta Posada del Inca in Yucay.

Riding time: 5 hours. Altitude: 3500 - 3800 m/11,480 - 12,470 ft.

Pick up at 09:00 am and transfer to Lake Piuray where are horses and groom will be waiting for us. From Lago Piuray we ride through the rough and sturdy Andean landscape, passing remote Quechua communities, herder's huts and small farms called chacras. Today is one of the most beautiful riding days. We will travel a cobblestone-paved section of the network of Inca roads called the Capac Ñan, and enjoy beautiful vistas as we climb to an altitude of 4000 m/13,125 ft. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking, with impressive views of the many snowcapped mountains and the altiplano. We will pass many impressive Inca ruins, like an ancient Inca aqueduct and Inca irrigation channels. Today some technical riding is required as we will cross some difficult gorges along the trail. It is not a dangerous ride, but some uphill canters are necessary. Our hardy, sure-footed mounts will be well up to the task.

After a hard day's ride following old Inca trails, we arrive around 5:00 PM at the historic city of Cusco, the oldest continuously inhabited city in South America and the former capital of the great Inca Empire. The Incas called their empire Tahuantinsuyu,'the Four Quarters of the Earth'. Cusco, meaning 'the Navel of the World', was the center of Tahuantinsuyu; its main square, the Huacapata (today's Plaza de Armas), marked the heart of Cusco and of the Inca Empire.

Dinner on your own in Cusco. You will stay at the comfortable Hotel Picoaga located just a few blocks from the Plaza de Armas, the heart of Cusco's archaeological center. If you still have energy you can explore Cusco's legendary nightlife.

Riding time: 6+ hours. Altitude: 3.350 – 4.000 m/10,990 - 13,125 ft.

Relax; today is yours to spend as you wish. You can visit the numerous ruins, churches, cathedrals and museums of Cusco, do some shopping, or just relax in one of the many coffee shops, restaurants, or bars. Some may opt for a one-day rafting adventure on the Urubamba River. The evenings in Cusco are full of exciting nightlife.

According to Inca legend, Cusco was founded around 1200 AD by Manco Capac and Mama Occlo. Manco Capac selected the site when the golden staff given to him by his father, the Sun, sank into the earth and disappeared. Each Inca emperor built his own palace and compound during his reign. The Spanish initially tried to raze the Inca buildings to the ground, but soon realized that because of their quality construction, it was easier to reuse the Inca foundations for their own buildings. For this reason, you can still see many of the original Inca walls throughout Cusco.

Cusco today is a vibrant city of some three hundred thousand, the vast majority of whom are native Quechua Indians. Despite being a major tourist destination, both for its own treasures and as a staging point for the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, Cusco has managed to hold on to its own distinct flavor. It retains a natural charm that is irresistible. Lunch and dinner on your own. Overnight at the comfortable Hotel Picoaga.

After breakfast we will continue our expedition, visiting more mysterious places along old Inca trails. Today's ride will take us through open country with spectacular views providing another memorable riding day in the Andes. The horses are waiting for us just outside of Cusco at Sacsayhuamán. We start by following a footpath leading north. After climbing gently for about 450 m (1,480 ft.) we see a stone-lined Inca irrigation channel which parallels the trail for about 800 m (2,625 ft.). Ascending a steep and narrow valley, we reach a pass at 4350 m (14,275 ft.), and enjoy the view of the small, shallow Lake Quellacocha. This is the highest point of our ride. A group of stone corrals lies beyond the lake and in clear weather the snowcapped peak of Sawasiray is visible. We descend the high trail around the north end and have lunch at Lake Quellacocha. After lunch we ride eastward towards Lake Qoricocha. Herds of llamas and alpacas can be see grazing around us. The scenery en route is absolutely spectacular and we will have plenty of breaks to soak up the atmosphere before the descent to the village of Umaspampa where we will leave our horses with our grooms.

Riding time: 5-6 hours. Altitude: 3.350 – 4.350 m/10,990 - 14,275 ft.!!!!

The night is spend at the hotel Sonesta Posada del Inca in Yucay. You have dinner at one of Urubamba’s local restaurant or at our ranch.

After breakfast we leave for our last day with the horses. We will follow a trail along Lake Piuray towards Chinchero. We will have lunch along the route. From Chinchero we will continue our ride following an old and almost forgotten Inca road that leads to the village of Urquillos in the Sacred Valley. This road is part of the famous Capac Ñan. At one point we might have to lead our horses for a while (approx 200-meters) as the road is a bit rocky and narrow. The scenery during the two hour descent is absolutely spectacular.

After a 2-hour descent we arrive at the Hacienda Falabella where we leave our horses with our grooms. Our back up van will bring you to our ranch where we have the change to sample our last Pisco Sour before saying good bye.

Riding time: 5-6 hours. Altitude: 2.850 – 3.800 m/9,350 - 12,470 ft.

Transfer to Cusco (or any other place in the Sacred Valley) around 05:00 pm. End of the ride.