Epic Travel → Central and South America → Peru → Sacred Valley Horseback Riding

Location: Pichingoto, Sacred Valley, Cusco Region

Time Required: 3-5 hours

Red Tape/Notes: Various outfits in the area offer horseback riding; try Hacienda del Chalan or Salineras Ranch.

What’s Nearby?: Ollantaytambo, Machu Picchu, Hiram Bingham

If you like horses, it’s definitely worth the effort to ride a Peruvian Paso Fino. We had a lovely meal when we arrived at the ranch in Pichingoto, then set off for a ride around the valley and along the river, occasionally encouraging our horses to trot or canter so we could enjoy the Paso Fino gait, which really is remarkably smooth. The countryside is lovely, and you’ll typically pass by some interesting historical areas or perhaps go to the archaeological site of Moray or the salt mines at Salineras. I think riding is a nice option for your first day, which is how we did it – it gives you the opportunity to acclimate to the higher altitude without doing anything that strenuous yourself (your horse is doing the real work, after all), but you still get to be outside and see quite a bit of the countryside.

Epic Travel → Central and South America → Peru → Sacred Valley Horseback Riding