Horseback riding tour Cusco: Hidden Inca temples

Reach Inca ruins on horseback that most visitors never find

A full-day horseback riding tour from Cusco that takes you to four hidden archaeological sites: Kallachaka (an ancient temple linked to the stars), Inkilltambo (a restored Inca checkpoint), Laqo (the Temple of the Moon), and Rumiwasi (the Stone House), with a professional guide, hotel pickup, lunch and all equipment included. The ranch sits 20 minutes from the city, and the ride combines Andean villages, mountain terrain and sites that see few regular tourists.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore hidden Inca temples by horseback

• Travel to ranch near Cusco
• Horseback ride to Kallachaka wetland
• Visit Inkilltambo ceremonial site
• Explore Laqo Temple of the Moon

The experience

You start with hotel pickup and a short drive to the ranch, where the guide fits you with a helmet and pairs you with a horse suited to your experience level. The route heads into the Andean foothills northwest of Cusco, moving through wetland and mountain passes where the terrain itself tells the story of how the Inca engineered this landscape. The guide speaks English or Spanish and points out the carved rocks, platforms, fountains and narrow passageways that mark each site as you arrive.

Kallachaka comes early in the ride: a polygonal platform in the Wayllarcocha wetland where you can see the remains of Inca canalization work on the Inkilltambo river. The site sits in a setting few tourists reach, and the guide explains what the architecture reveals about the people who built it. Later you reach Inkilltambo, a ceremonial huaca from the time of Inca Wiracocha, restored only three years ago. The rectangular enclosures, staircases and carved rocks show the precision of Inca construction. Laqo (the Temple of the Moon) and Rumiwasi (the Stone House) round out the four stops, each one revealing details about the social hierarchy and engineering knowledge of the Inca period.

A box lunch and water come with you on the ride, so you eat somewhere in the route without breaking the day into separate segments. The whole experience runs six hours from pickup to return, which leaves the afternoon or morning free depending on your start time. Helmets, horses and all riding equipment are provided. The guide handles the pacing and the route, so you focus on the terrain and the sites themselves.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English or Spanish.
• private hotel transfer to and from the ranch.
• helmet and all riding equipment.
• well-cared horse matched to your experience.
• box lunch and water during the ride.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (6 to 85 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Horseback Riding Cusco

Is this one for you?The six-hour commitment leaves your morning or afternoon free depending on when you start, which works if you're splitting the day between the ruins and the city. The private transfer means you don't coordinate transport to the ranch, and the guide's pace is set for the group, so you ride without building the route yourself.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What kind of riding experience do I need for this tour?

The tour suits all fitness levels and no prior riding experience is required. The guide pairs each rider with a horse matched to their ability, and the pace is set for the group as a whole rather than for advanced riders.

What are the four archaeological sites I'll visit?

Kallachaka is an Inca platform in the Wayllarcocha wetland with carved rocks and canalization remains; Inkilltambo is a ceremonial huaca with rectangular enclosures, platforms and staircases restored three years ago; Laqo (the Temple of the Moon) is where archaeologists found the remains of eight children; and Rumiwasi (the Stone House) is believed to have been an important person's residence based on the quality of its architecture.

How far is the ranch from Cusco, and how do I get there?

The ranch is 20 minutes from Cusco city by car. Hotel pickup and return transfer are included, so you don't arrange your own transport to the starting point.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes the professional guide (in English or Spanish), all riding equipment and helmets, the horse, a box lunch, water, and hotel pickup and drop-off.

Are there any restrictions on who can ride?

The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnant travelers, or those with poor cardiovascular health. There is a weight limit of 200 pounds (90 kilos). Infants must sit on an adult's lap.