Pick up at your hotel in Arequipa at 08:00 am. Drive to our stables in La Joya. After a short introduction to the Peruvian Paso horse and the Peruvian riding style we set off for a nice ride along the agricultural lands of La Cano. Farming in this area is mainly the cochineal, a parasitic insect that eats the leaves of cacti. The insect produces carminic acid that deters predation by other insects. The rich red of carmine is used in a wide range of foods - from meats to sweets - as well as in cosmetics and pharmaceutical products. Because of the instable price of the cochineal more and more farmland is today converted into the production of grapes, using a more sophisticated drip irrigation system. In the afternoon we ride towards the slopes of the Vitor valley where we can observe a lagoon at mid-slope elevation that is formed by the irrigation return flows from La Joya and La Cano. In the afternoon we return to our stables at around 3:00 pm. Transfer to the Hacienda Sambambaia in La Joya where you have dinner and a good night rest. The Hacienda Sambamba is owned by the Rivas family who are well-respected breeders of many prize winning Peruvian Paso horses and good friends of us.

After an early breakfast you will be transferred deep into the desert by 4x4 vehicles. At around 10;30 am we arrive at the starting point of today’s ride where the horses are waiting for us ready to go. We will be riding for around 5-6 hours (distance 40 km) through the Quebrada Arantas, a beautiful sandy gorge with some pockets of green areas due to fog condensantion. There will be a few challenging obstacles along the route and in some instances you may have to lead the horses for a short distance. At the end of the gorge we arrive at the Caleta Arantas on the Pacific coast. From here it is another 7km along the coast line before we reach the Caleta San Jose, a small, privately owned cove at the shores of the Pacific. No land vehicle is able to reach this secluded beach and all essentials are transferred by boat. Tonight you will be guests of Don Gonzalo and Omar Said, who have constructed very picturesque cabaña-style accommodation, in the style of Robinson Crusoe (basic accommodation but with showers and private bathrooms). The cool ocean will beckon you for an invigorating swim to celebrate your arrival, and afterwards you can relax in a gently swaying hammock while dinner is prepared for you.

In the evening experience a roaring campfire as you recount the stories of your adventure across the desert.

Today the horses will rest, and you can relax as well. For those who still have the energy, the morning is easily filled with activities such as snorkeling, fishing, canoeing or hiking. Others might opt for a few hours of relaxation on the beach.

After lunch we embark for a 2/3-hour boat trip along the Pacific Ocean. We will visit the Caleta Honorado and other coves along the coast to explore the amazing landscapes of the Peruvian coast with its massive cliffs and unpopulated desert beaches. You will encounter a fascinating richness and diversity of marine wildlife like sea lions, dolphins, penguins and other marine birds. Late in the afternoon we return to the Caleta San Jose and have dinner around a campfire. Overnight at the Caleta San Jose

From the Caleta San Jose we start our ride back to the desert. This time we ride through the Quebrada San Jose, a beautiful narrow and deep gorge that was formed between impressive rock formations. Some parts of the sandy trail is covered with some very soft white volcanic ash and you will need a bandana or mask to cover your nose and face, as there will be times that we will ride in a cloud of silver dust. At the end of the deep gorge the scenery will change from high dune ranges and sandy pass ways to wide-open desert plains. We cross some of the desert plains until we arrive at our campsite. Our back up team has set up our camp and will be waiting for us with some cool drinks. After a great deal of food, merriment and stories shared in the warmth of our campfire you will sleep under a sky of millions stars and enjoy the silence and peacefulness of the desert.

Today you covered approx 40km through challenging terrain between the Pacific coast and the vast desert plains.

After breakfast mount your horse for another day of riding through the unforgiving terrain of the desert. Although most of the ride today is over flat surfaces, some dunes with very loose sand must be climbed. After about 30 km you arrive back to our stables in La Cano (at around 16:00 pm). Here we enjoy our last drink together before our car will bring you back to Arequipa (1 hour+15 min. drive).

Click here to see our photo gallery of the Caleta San Jose Ride