
Itinerary
Highlights
- A mixture of riding and sightseeing/hiking
- Experience beauty and majesty of the Andes mountains and the Sacred Valley of the Incas
- Guided and supported by a Peruvian team who are local and familiar with the mountains
- As the expedition is an exclusive ride of Equus Journeys departure dates are flexible. Don't hesitate to propose yours and we will try to organise it.
Dates & prices
Price details
IMPORTANT : As this trip is exclusive to Equus Journeys, we can be flexible with the dates, contact us if you are interested in doing this ride on different dates!
- Flights (international/domestic) are not included, but can be booked on request - please contact us for rates. Flights from Lima to Cusco and Juliaca to Lima are currently priced at around $340/£265 subject to change.
- Rates are per person, based on two riders sharing a twin or double tent.
- Groups are composed of a minimum of 6 international riders and a maximum of 10 riders, plus guides. Please note: the ride will also confirm for 3-5 riders on payment of a supplement. Once the group has reached 6 people, we will remove this supplement from your invoice and refund you if you have already paid it.
> For three riders in the group, the supplement is c. $525/£415/€475 per person
> For four riders in the group, the supplement is c. $470/£365/€430 per person
> For five riders in the group, the supplement is c $280/£215/€255 per person
> There is a discount of c. £130/€150 per person if there are more than 8 riders in the group
- There is a single supplement of c. $370/£295/€335 if you are not prepared to share your room/tent with another rider. There is no single supplement if you are prepared to share with another rider.
INFORMATION : A shorter version of this ride (12 days) also takes place - please see the Inca trail (short version) on the website.
Please Note
The itinerary may be modified at anytime for security reasons, meteorological or events beyond our control such as blocked roads, rivers in flood, drought, strikes and local holidays. Equus Journeys, our local partners and their local guides will always strive to find the best solution and will alter the itinerary as needed.
The names of the hotels and accommodation are given for information only and depending on availability, they may be modified without notice and replaced by another of a similar standard.
Price includes
Support Team
1 local horse guide
Logistics
1 assistant cook
1 horse equipped with saddle and bridle per rider
Pack horses, pack mules and one team in charge of them
Inland transport
Airport transfers except if your travel dates are different from the rest of the group
Boat excursion on day 17 and 18
Train + bus to Machu Picchu
Accommodation
Double rooms in a 2 or 3* hotel
Meals
Additional equipment
Extras
Price doesn't include
Meals
Lunch and Dinner are not included in Lima, Cuzco and Puno (breakfast is included). The 13 meals to be paid for are: lunch on day 2,3,6,19,20 and dinner on day 1,2,3,5,6,16,18, 19, 20.
Transport
Airport local fees from Lima (internal + international flights)
Internal flights Lima-Cuzco on day 2 and Juliaca-Lima on day 19
Extras
Small group supplement. For price list see the note above in price details
Insurance
Optional
Accommodation
Equestrian info
Horses
Guide & local team
Minimum riding ability
Minimum riding ability
The rider weight limit is 90kgs, contact us if you weigh more than this and wish to ride
Pace
Tacking ability and participation
Trip conditions and Requested experience
The ride is at an altitude of 3,000m - 5,000m and requires you to be in good health. The weather in the mountains can be variable with cold nights (down to -10c) possible at the high altitude camps.
Visiting a new country offers the opportunity to meet other cultures with different mentalities, therefore it is important to accept these differences and respect the local way of life.
Equestrian equipment
Travel info
Comfort
On the trail, you will camp in spacious two man tents with mattresses provided. There will be a central mess tent for the kitchen/dining complete with small table and chairs.
On the island of Taquile, you will stay in homestay accommodation with the locals.
The hotels you stay in may differ to those shown in the itinerary depending on availability at the time of booking. All alternative hotels will be of the same standard as those listed in the itinerary.
Meals
You should bring purification tablets such as Micropur.
Climate
In the heart of the Andes, the wet season runs from October to April, and the dry season from May to September. To make the most of the view and the atmosphere, the dry season is the best time to visit.
In Cusco (3,250m) temperatures can drop to as low as zero celsius in July/August, and as high as 23c in November.
In Arequipa (2,525m) temperatures can drop as low as 6c in July/August and as high as 23c in November. There is very little rainfall in this area.
Generally there are cold nights and mornings because of the altitude, but the days can be sunny and pleasant.
Tips
Packing list
Head
- Equus Journeys strongly recommend that you wear a riding helmet and that you take your own to ensure a correct fit. There are many lightweight options available nowadays
- Sunhat for when not riding
- Sunglasses - with a cord attached so they don't fly off when riding
- Buff or bandana
- Warm hat for cold nights when camping
Upper body
- Thermals (long or short sleeved)
- Long sleeved shirts provide protection from the sun and are an extra layer
- T-shirts
- Lightweight fleece or jumper
- Warm fleece or jumper
- Warm and waterproof jacket - it can rain at any time of year and the evenings can be particularly cold
Legs
- Lightweight, comfortable riding trousers or jodhpurs - we recommend riding in them at home before taking them on holiday to ensure they don't rub
- Thermals
- Casual trousers for the evenings, such as jeans or tracksuit bottoms
- Waterproof over trousers
- Lightweight, comfortable trousers for non-riding days
Hands and Feet
- Comfortable riding boots. We recommend short boots with half chaps but you may wish to take long chaps as an extra layer against inclement weather. We don't recommend taking your favourite long leather boots in case they get damaged
- Waterproof shoes/boots can be useful for abundant dew in the mornings or when it rains
- Trainers or equivalent light shoes for moving around the camp in the evenings
- Several pairs of warm, thick socks
- Gloves - your hands are particularly exposed to the sun, cold or rain whilst riding. Waterproof gloves can be particularly useful
Nightwear
- Sleeping bag. You need at least a comfort factor down to minus 15 celsius, or minus 20 if you feel the cold.
- Sleeping bag liner - silk, cotton or fleece - adds an extra layer
- Pyjamas or tracksuits or thermals for sleeping in
Our Recommendations
- Please don't take a hard sided suitcase. Your luggage should be soft sided with a capacity of 60-80 litres. We recommend taking a backpack or similar. Remember that you are supported by pack horses/mules so please pack light.
- Backpacks cannot be worn whilst riding. We recommend a small bumbag or a coat with pockets so that you can carry small items with you during the day (camera, sunscreen, lipbalm etc)
- We recommend travelling in your riding boots and carrying your hat and some riding clothes in your hand luggage - then if your luggage goes astray you are still able to ride!
- Even if foam/floor mattress is provided, we recommend to take your own inflatable mattress.
Other useful items
- Swimsuit - for swimming/bathing in rivers
- Small backpack for accessing items required during the day (carried by support crew)
- Camera and high capacity memory card. Spare battery
- Bumbag for carrying your camera and small items whilst riding
- Headtorch or small torch for moving around camp at night - bring spare batteries and bulbs
- Water bottle (2 litres or 2 x 1 litre)
- Wet Wipes or equivalent (for when washing facilities aren't available)
- Toilet paper and a lighter to burn it with
- Small plastic bags for rubbish
- Ear plugs (for light sleepers)
In your hold luggage
- Any liquids, such as shampoo, moisturiser, deodorant unless they are less than 100ml and all bottles can fit in a small, clear, plastic ziplock bag. We recommend biodegradable washing products where possible.
- Swiss army knife (or equivalent)
In your hand luggage
- Any valuables, such as your camera, ipod, ipad etc.
- Your riding hat
Medical kit
- Sunscreen and lip balm - should be high factor
- Insect repellent, preferably containing deet
- Any medication you regularly take
- Blister plasters in case of any rubs
- Antiseptic cream, plasters, aspirin, anti-histamine, insect-bite salve etc...
- Spare prescription glasses/contact lenses
- Eye drops
- Imodium or similar anti-diarrhoea medication
- Re-hydration sachets
- Water purification tablets
- Antiseptic wipes
- Handwash gel
You may wish to ask your doctor for some specific medication for travelling at High Altitudes. We recommend that you discuss this directly with your doctor who is best placed to advise on your personal medical history.
Miscellaneous
- We recommend taking a copy of your passport and insurance documents with you in case you lose your originals
- Please take your rubbish home with you. There are no recycling facilities in Peru, so take your used batteries, aerosols etc back home and dispose of them appropriately. Try to leave excess packaging material at home before travelling
Sustainable tourism
- Travel light. It's a little known fact, but the lighter you pack, the better for the environment as heavy bags will produce higher emissions (when flying a plane or driving a car!).
- Reduce plastic waste. Take your favorite reusable bottle with you. Avoid single-use bags, cups, or straws.
- Preserve nature. Always take your rubbish with you during the ride and recycle them. Leave all the flowers or plants as you found them, and never get too close when observing wildlife. Make sure to use eco-friendly products such as body wash or laundry detergent (if camping) to protect both your skin and the environment.
- Choose your experiences carefully. Respect animal life by not participating in any activities that abuse wild animals (shows, elephant rides, etc.).
- Support local populations. Buy local handicrafts, be respectful of customs, and learn about the culture of local communities.
- Share! Raise awareness among your family and friends about sustainable tourism.
Did you know?
Did you know?
During the time of the Incas, the Incan people saw neither cow, sheep, pig or horse; the only animal that the Incas existed alongside was the llama, which they domesticated. Later, horses were introduced by the Spanish conquistadors and they became an integral part of Peruvian life; for both work and travel.
In Colonial Peru where there were immense homesteads, the farmers needed solid and reliable mounts to hold over 12 hours as they inspected the sugar cane and coton plantations often covering over 50 km of dust tracks which separated one verdant valley from the other before, at the end of a long day, repeating that distance to return home without breaking stride. It is during these long days in the saddle that the caballo de paso came into its own, with an ambling pace of which the hind-leg movements are extremely fluid and therefore make for a very comfortable ride.
In contrast, in the Andes, the nature of the work and movements of the horses over time have favoured the development of a horse that is small in stature, sure footed and has extraordinary endurance.