4 day Sacred Valley, Maras Salt Flats, Huaypo Lake, Piuray Lake, Huchuy Qosqo
​A ride with all kinds of terrain, cultural workshops and epic landscape.

On this 4 day journey you will visit the important archaeological sites of Maras Salt Flats and Huchuy Qosqo hidden Incan outpost. We will stay near the two most important lakes in the region and travel by many glistening high Andean Lakes. Enjoy epic food and the chance to meet local families and traditional weavers. On this ride we can accommodate riders of all levels who feel ready to embark on this epic adventure, please ask us.

  Price:

COST PER PERSON:   
4 day / 3 night (minimum 2 participants)
2 people - 1895 US$
3-5 people - 1645 US$
6-10 people - 1510 US$

Including 10 gourmet meals, entrance to the Salt Flats and Huchuy Qosqo, lake and cultural activities, guided tour, 3 nights lodgings in rustic mountain lodges, transport at the start of the tour and back, luggage transfers throughout the journey, 4 days of horseback riding.

Conditions

Payment is required to book any journey. A standard responsibility release waiver provided by the ranch much be signed by each rider. Upon requesting a booking a detailed list of conditions, inclusions and exclusions will be provided. No cancellations or refunds will be made after booking. For any concerns please contact the ranch. Entrance ticket to the main part of Moray archaeological zone is not included, time dependant and optional.

4 day Expedition - Intermediate to Advanced Riders

Day 1

• We will begin our journey at 9am(collected from hotel earlier), at Frontierlab Ranch, Urubamba, Sacred Valley of the Inkas. Riding along the Willcamayu riverside, we will take in stunning views of the Sacred Valley. On the first day of riding we will follow the Urubamba river and after an hour ascend up from the Sacred Valley of the Inkas(2885m.), we will pass through the Pichingoto canyon and up to Maras Salt Flats. We will visit the amazing, pre-Inkan salt production, still in operation today. After enjoying lunch in the village of Maras we will carry on across the vast plains of Maras, enjoying panoramic views of the glaciers, arriving to Huaypo andean lake to spend the night in beautiful mountain lodgings.

Day 2

• We will enjoy the lake early in the morning! At a secret “huarique”, a hidden lakeside hangout, we will have an epic fish brunch and have the opportunity to kayak or paddle board on the mirror like lake, considered Sacred in the region as it provides water to the vast farming planes all around. Departing after brunch through the quilt like fields, we will ride along a prehispanic trail to Piuray Lake. We will ride around the large Piuray lake, all the time with epic views of the Apus (mountains Veronica, Chicon and Salkantay. Piuray is one of the most important water sources in the entire Cusco region, supplying over 42% of the city’s drinking water. Legend has it that the two lakes, Piuray and Huaypo, are the spirits of the children of Inti, the Inkan sun god. In the evening we will reach the small village of Taucca, Chinchero, famous for its gorgeous textiles. This night we will stay in local homestays from the local weavers collective. The rustic homes offer us the opportunity to really experience authenticity of Andean mountain family life.

Day 3

• After breakfast we will take part in a textile workshop with the local weaving collective and cook our our ceremonial “Pachamanca” lunch, cooked underground with hot stones. Following lunch we will go over the Piuray high pass, enjoying epic views of the natural ‘andes” terrace formations, glistening lakes and then drop down a steep trail towards the ancient Incan fortress of Huchuy Qosqo, which means, “little Cusco”. You will be surprised by the totally hidden extensive site, perched over cliffs above the Sacred Valley. We will rest at our second comfortable lodge with the community members in the tiny village beside the site. We will enjoy dinner full of Andean flavour.

Day 4

• Waking up in the community, we will have some time to explore the hidden Incan fortress of Huchuy Qosqo, “little Cusco” with our guides. Inhabited around 1400 AD, Huchuy Qosqo was built by the eighth Inca King Wiracocha. After the Hispanic conquest, Manco Inca, the rebel king, used this citadel in 1533 to move his army from Cusco to the Sacred Valley and later retreat to Vilcabamba. Around 1534, the conquistador Gonzalo Pizarro ransacked Huchuy Qosqo. The site's main features include a series of temples, plazas, and storage buildings.​
  
  On this final day of riding we will start our decent at 11am down to the Sacred Valley. We'll ride through the canyon, and follow the Incan trail along the river. We will have lunch in the Sacred Valley, then carry on along the riverside to meet our transport near the town of Urquillos to return to your hotel.
  Ask us about helping you book your visit to the enigmatic Machu Picchu.