This will be a travel day from home and you may arrive on an overnight flight to Lima, especially if traveling from North America, and connect directly to Cusco early the following morning. Arrangements can be made to assist you onto your connecting Cusco flight or we can advise you of the process should you feel uncomfortable in strange airports or arrange overnight in Lima if required at the Ramada airport hotel or other.

We will meet your arrival at the Cusco airport. The afternoon is scheduled for a walking introduction to the archaeological and colonial highlights of the old capital of the Inca universe. We’ll also visit the impressive ruins of Sacsayhuaman overlooking Cusco. Our ride leader describes the rituals and ceremonies that would have taken place at the massive walled limestone constructions and sculptured terraces surrounding the immense central plaza. We finish with a summary of the battle here in 1536 which took the life of Juan Pizzaro. We gather for dinner and discussion in the dining room at the centrally located comfortable lodging in Cusco. D.

The following morning, we drive a short distance up out of the Cusco basin to meet the waiting horses. Our journey begins in nearby rolling hills, noticeably etched by ancient fields and agricultural terraces. Passing several blue lakes hosting a noisy assortment of Andean shore birds, we arrive at the famous Indian market town of Chinchero at around 12,000 feet in altitude. An early colonial period church and large plaza frame well-made Inca walls that once were part of the Emperor Huayna Capac's Royal Estate. Our plan is to visit here during one of the market days when the plaza is full of tents with Quechua vendors selling every conceivable native handicraft, pottery, weavings, paintings and artifacts. Each day we plan an option for those who prefer just a half day ride in the morning with more time at the site and a ride in the van to the next inn. After a gala lunch in a side park and a discussion of Inca activities here, we journey on through stone walled Inca terraces and other Inca sites before descending several thousand feet down a broad, well-preserved, Inca road into the green Sacred Valley below. Corralling tired ponies with waiting alfalfa and grain at our selected Yucay lodging, we slip into the hotel bar for a warming spirit, then off to a hot bath before meeting again for dinner. We spend the night between 9-10,000 feet for the duration of the trip. (Saddle time 4-6 hours.)

A leisurely breakfast and shots of strong local coffee fuel us for the day's adventure. We start with a walk through the nearby ruins of another bit of tragic Inca history, the Palace of Inca Sayri Tupac. The life of this would be king and his tragic death is reminiscent of a classic Greek tragedy. An interesting story, we save the details for the trail. Cinches pulled up tight, girths to you Brits, Yankee easterners and other flatlanders, we move smartly out at a trot along gentle, level trails through small farms and country villages, and along side the peacefully flowing Urubamba River. Leaving villages behind, we climb steeply up a winding trail leading up onto a high plateau of rolling hills and immense grasslands. A spectacular panorama of the great Ice peaks of the Vilcanota range crowns the near horizon. Sometime around mid-day we arrive at an isolated cathedral seeming lost and forgotten by time and modern civilization. We are pleasantly surprised to discover our support vehicle and crew awaiting us with the table set for lunch. The destination for the afternoon ride is the Salineras. This is a huge area of terraces, which form hundreds of baths all fed by a single saline stream. The salt water is allowed to evaporate leaving the salt to be mined and carried out by burros. The Salineras are worked now much as they were in pre-Hispanic times. For those who prefer, the van will take you to the site for an extended visit before driving you to the inn. Or those in for the full day ride will have the opportunity for some faster riding across the high plateau before descending into the valley of the Salineras on a spectacular trail above the glittering white pools. We ride on into the welcoming courtyard of a very comfortable and friendly old Hacienda Inn. Valet parking with our wranglers seeing to the needs and comfort of our hoofed friends, we amble toward the evening watering hole. (Saddle time 6-7 hours.)

Saddled up, ponies energized, rearing to go, we ride out in early morning light, horseshoes clattering along the ancient stone paved trail. The powerful equatorial sun reflects brilliantly off of high ancient ice fields. Steadily, we climb up some 3000 plus feet along an old Inca trial to explore the enigmatic Inca ruins of Pumahuanca. Not much is known about this interesting complex of Inca buildings located in a magical setting below immense, 2000 feet high, glacier shaped granite walls. Gary Ziegler and the Andean Research Project conducted a study here in 2007. It is his opinion that it was the residency of a local governor, administering the rich crops and llama herds that the valley once hosted. Like most Inca sites it had multiple uses. It was likely a tambo or way station on the Inca road leading over the high pass beyond. Several of the buildings are storehouses qolcas, others are unusually large residences. Several viewing platforms, usnus and carved replica rocks suggest a ceremonial function as well. We talk about this in detail as our cameras click and flash inside the tall walls. Time permiting, we ride on up the valley to lunch above a spectacular waterfall. Two hours down trail takes us to our night's lodging, A comfortable small Inn with endless hot water showers and happy hour in a pleasant, lushly vegetated garden. (Saddle time 5-6 hours. If you choose not to ride today our bus can drop you at the inn for a leisurely day hanging out or light hiking from the Inn.)

Flowing westerly, the Vilcanota, or Urubamba River as it is called here, gently winds through small riverside hamlets, planted fields of corn and forgotten Inca ruins, slowly gaining speed for its insane roaring rush into the deep granite gorge at Machu Picchu. Amidst waving children and curious parents peering from doorways at the unusual site of gleaming horses and gringos, we trot along the old Inca route well away from the modern paved highway that speeds daily bus loads of tee shirt buying tourists to and from Cusco. We could be back in the 16th century. Modern Peru is centuries away. Tying up near an old Inca bridge, we hop a short ride in our support vehicle to visit the major Inca temple/fortress of Ollantaytambo. Probably built by the great Inca ruler, Pachacuti in the 1460s, it was the site of Hernando Pizzaro’s defeat by Manco Inca in 1536. Constructed of finely cut polygonal stones and rhyolite blocks, the fortress and nearby town represent the best of Inca architecture and construction. Large worked blocks, some weighting as much as 100 tons were quarried from a site more than a thousand vertical feet above the valley floor using a technique of pecking with hammer stones, then skidded down and across the Urubamba river several kilometers to the temple site. Inclined ramps were built to raise the blocks several hundred feet up hill to the construction area. We take ample time to examine the complex and ponder its many mysteries. Following a riverside lunch, we mount up again We have two options: We may ride up to the big quarries above the valley for a first hand examination of how and where the blocks were shaped or perhaps we will ride up a side valley to explored the interesting ruins of Pumamarca. (Some may opt to drop out for more time in town or at the lodge..) Late in the afternoon, we arrive at another carefully selected Inn. The food is near gourmet and rooms tastefully furnished in the best of neo-colonial style. Here we sadly say goodbye to our equine companions. We travel on by iron horse the next morning. (Saddle time: 6-7 hours)

Thursday: Our magical journey concludes with the narrow gauge train ride to the New World's most spectacular archaeological monument, Machu Picchu. We breakfast then hop aboard the morning narrow gauge train heading down valley. An interesting hour of click, clack and sway with all of the accompanying sounds and smells of rural Peru takes us to the bustling backpacker town of Aguas Calientes, the portal for Machu Picchu. Soon we are gathered at the gateway to famous "Lost Cities of the Incas"

MACHU PICCHU, one of the most magical and mysterious places on Earth! Situated on the spine of a jungle cloaked granite peak towering some 2,000 ft. above an entrenched meander of the roaring river below, the site is frequently shrouded in misty clouds pierced by the powerful equatorial sun. Constructed from precisely sculptured granite blocks carefully joined with the projecting exposed stone of the surrounding mountain, the site may well be the finest architectural achievement of the new world.

Machu Picchu, otherwise romantically known to the tourist world as "The lost city of the Incas". Our guide concludes the story of the raise and fall of the ancient civilizations of the Andes with the tragic end of the Inca and the enigma that this remarkable site remains. We bus back down to Aguas Calientes.

“In view, down the great canyon of the Urubamba below is the long cloud forested ridge of Llactapata. The steep slope conceals a large complex of Inca ruins rediscovered and investigated by our Inca Research expeditions led by Gary Ziegler and noted British explorer, Hugh Thomson in 2003.” Boarding the Cusco bound afternoon train, we arrive back in the Capital of the Inca and comfortable rooms at our selected hotel near the central plaza.. B:L:D

This is the day to rest, shop and wander around Cusco. The city abounds with small shops and street side vendors selling their wares. Colorful weavings and hand made alpaca sweaters are popular gifts for friends at home. Most migrate to the Cross Keys, Cusco's only authentic English Pub, for drinks and lively conversation with the resident congregation of guides, expatriates, adventurers, treasure hunters and smugglers from far corners of the universe. B.D

Morning to enjoy Cusco and we take you to the airport for flights home. ( we can arrange optional hotel and transfer services in Lima if needed.

We raise and train horses at our ranch in the Sacred Valley. These well cared for horses are no-nonsense, experienced, sure-footed, non-gaited mountain trail horses affording a secure, comfortable ride on steep pathways. Although you do not need to be an expert rider, we recommend some previous riding experience or confidence around horses We give instruction and attention to the less experienced as we travel. Our skilled Quechua speaking wranglers give careful attention to each rider as needed and care for our mounts while we lunch or hike through ruins.

Our route, logistical flexibility and nature of the trip offer an excellent program for teenagers to enjoy. Modified itineraries which permit riding and/or a day or two traveling along with our support vehicle can easily be arranged.