5 Day Ancient Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Horseback Riding Trek

We’ll pick you up from your accommodation in the Sacred Valley in our private transportation for a 30-minute journey to the Inca site of Ñaupa Iglesia (Quechua for Ancient Church). This mysterious site boasts a an Inca cross known as a chacana perfectly carved into an enormous rock. From here, we will continue to the village of Llama Pintayoq , and is named after the enigmatic pre-Inca paintings on a rock near the village which we’re going to visit. After this, we’ll quickly reach the starting point of our trek where we’ll set off on a wide path northward on the west bank of the river called Huaracondo. We’ll cross beautiful valleys, mountains, archaeological ruins to reach impressive Inca village of Watta, an important pre-Inca fortress that dominates the a peak of 3,855 meters (12,650 feet). After exploring the site, we’ll descend on our horses for 30 minutes to the lunch spot before going to the community of Chillipahua.

Ñaupa Iglesia (Quechua for Ancient Church). This mysterious site boasts a an Inca cross known as a chacana perfectly carved into an enormous rock.

the entire day in the traditional Andean village of Chillipahua participating in many of the villagers’ every day activities. These include helping out in the field and learning more about cultivating heirloom potatoes and other crops; trying your hand at weaving or even spinning wool; learning about and preparing traditional home remedies; picking up some words and phrases in the native language of Quechua; and of course: sharing a meal with the inhabitants which was probably cooked over a traditional open fire. An unforgettable day of cultural immersion where you’ll truly experience the genuine folklore still alive in this part of the Andes in modern times.

bye to its inhabitants and to resume our horseback riding adventure to Machu Picchu. We will climb gradually along potato fields, Inca aqueducts and native chachacomo trees. You’ll love the surrounding landscape of pastures fields clinging to the steep slopes and red mountains. After passing a few more traditional highland communities, we’ll reach Accoccasa Pass (4,425 masl/14,500 ft). Here we will enjoy a breathtaking view of the immense, snowy peaks completely surrounding you. On the other side of the pass, we’ll follow a flat trail used by indigenous shepherds to descend to Qenqo Mayu Valley. We will have a break from riding to tuck into a delicious, organic lunch. Soon after this, we’ll reach our campsite near Ancascocha lake (4,150 masl/13,600 ft), opposite the striking glaciers of the Huaynay mountain range.

the entire day in the traditional Andean village of Chillipahua participating in many of the villagers’ every day activities

After breakfast, we will continue horseback riding towards Machu Picchu. We will go up to the of Chancachuco Valley from where we will follow a narrow trail downward for about 45 minutes. This will lead us to the enigmatic Intiwatana, the Sun Gate, strategically located by the Incas to make astronomical observations and plan the agricultural activities for the year. we will continue riding down and reach Cachicata. Then we will continue downhill, crossing the Vilcanota River and finally arriving at the famous Sun Temple in Ollantaytambo. We will have time to explore the village and the temple before taking the train that will take us to Aguas Calientes. Once we get to Aguas Calientes, we will check in to our hotel where we will spend the night before the big day when we will get to explore Machu Picchu!

a large terrace at the edge of a vast quarry with the same name. This was an Inca city inhabited by hundreds of architects and workers of the Inca empire and features buildings used for administration, housing, terraces, burial chambers, and irrigation canals

Aguas Calientes is a town in the Urubamba River Valley, in southeast Peru. It’s known for its thermal baths and as a gateway to the nearby Inca ruins of Machu Picchu

We will get up early to enjoy the sunrise over Machu Picchu, tuck into a hearty breakfast, and take the bus towards up to explore one of the Seven Wonders of the World. We will have a guided tour that will take approximately 2 to 3 hours. Some of the highlights of this marvelous place are the Sun Dial (Intihuatana) and the Temple of the Condor and the views of the mountains covered by high jungle vegetation surrounding this amazing fortress. After we finish our visit of the archeological complex, we will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes to have lunch or do some last-minute souvenir-shopping, and later in the afternoon, we will take the Expedition train back to Ollantaytambo. Here, you’ll be picked up by our private van to take you to your hotel in the Sacred Valley or Cusco. The tour may be over but the experience will stay with you forever!

Aguas Calientes is a town in the Urubamba River Valley, in southeast Peru. It’s known for its thermal baths and as a gateway to the nearby Inca ruins of Machu Picchu

Cusco, a city in the Peruvian Andes, was once capital of the Inca Empire, and is now known for its archaeological remains and Spanish colonial architecture.