Condor's Canyon Trails

Introduction
Cusco Peru
Ride through remote villages and rugged mountains surrounding the Apurimac canyon.

Your trip starts from the village of Zurite, south of the Sacred Valley. From there, you climb up to 4,100 m above sea level, through beautiful mountain tracks rarely explored by foreigners. During this ride, you will cross rural communities and, if you are lucky, get a glimpse of the beautiful condor, flying over the Apurimac canyon.

After visiting the canyon, you will ride to a surprising stone forest, ending your trip with a visit to the beautiful town of Maras.

Accomodation

Accommodations
This is a progressive ride where nights are spent in different locations.

Description
You will spend most nights camping as well as ne night in a lodge.

Accommodation Itinerary - subject to changes based on availability
Night 1: Camping in Ch’uro
Night 2-3: Camping in Chonta
Night 4: Camping in Ch’uro
Night 5: Lodge in Compone



Camping
We provide everything needed for the camping overnights (tents, sleeping bags...) so no need to bring any special gear. You will sleep in a double cabin tent with 2 'rooms' and a shared entryway. We carry portable toilets. There are no showers at most camps but it is usually possible to freshen up in a nearby stream.



Lodge in Compone
You will sleep in wooden cabins close to a forest, at the border of the village. Rooms are usually private but might have to be shared. Facilities are shared.

Casa Andina Hotel in Cusco (optional extra night)
This charming hotel is ideally located in the heart of Cusco. It offers 93 comfortable and elegantly decorated rooms, each equipped with a safety box, heating, coffee kit, TV, free Wi-Fi access and a private bathroom with hairdryer. Check-in starts at noon.

Casa Andina Hotel in Urubamba (optional extra night)
This beautiful hotel located in the Sacred Valley provides rooms that feature cable TV, heating, ensuite bathroom and free Wi-Fi access. The hotel has a small garden where guest can relax in the evening.

Room Occupancy
In case we are unable to find you a roommate, a single supplement fee might apply. Please, note that accommodation for single travelers are not guaranteed at all locations.



Meals
All meals are included in your package from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on the last day.

All your meals are prepared by our cook who follows along the tour with our support vehicle (transporting suitcases).
The food served features Peruvian and international cuisine.

The meals are served buffet style so everyone can choose what they want to eat.

Plenty of drinking water will be provided during the rides.

Dietary Restrictions
We can cater to most dietary restrictions with advanced notice.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding


For the protection of all participants, the ride leader reserves the right to prevent anyone from riding who displays insufficient ability, or whose behavior endangers the safety of other riders, themselves, or the horses. No refund will be made to a participant who is rejected for any such reason, or who is unwilling or unable to complete a tour.

Horses
We have 20 Peruvian Paso horses which are known for their smooth gait and elegance. We have horses with different temperaments that can cater to all levels of rider.
The Peruvian Paso Horse transmits its unique smooth gait to its purebred foals. No artificial devices or special training aids are necessary to enable the horse to perform the “Paso llano”, that provides a ride of incomparable smoothness.

Itinerary


Sample Itinerary - subject to changes

Day 1: Zurite to Ch’uro
The meeting point to start this wonderful experience will be the village Zurite in the province of Anta. After your transfer from the Sacred Valley (or Cusco upon request) you will meet your guide and support staff. Your luggage will be carried in our support vehicle.
After getting to know and tacking up the horses, we start riding at about 10 am. Our riding adventure starts in the Pampa de Anta. After climbing a hill through an eucalyptus forest, we enjoy a wonderful view of the Chicón snow-capped mountain. Then, we will start riding downhill until we reach the Ankawasi village (Eagle’s Nest). We will stop for lunch in Ccacahuara (around 1 pm).
During the afternoon ride, we will reach an altitude of 4,000 meters above see level. It is the highest point at this day which is located at a distance of 2 hours from Caserío de Ch’uro, where we will spend the night. We expect to arrive in Caserío de Ch’uro at about 5pm. Then it is time to set up camp and prepare dinner.
Meals included: Lunch & Dinner
Overnight Camping at Ch’uro

Day 2: Caserío de Ch’uro to Chonta
After breakfast at about 8 am we hope to get back in the saddle for 9 am. Today, we intend to cross a part of the central mountain range, using very old horse paths that connect small hamlets. We will eventually arrive at the Pampa Huaylla stream, from where we will begin to ascend to a height of 4,100 meters above sea level. At this height, both us and our horses’ breathing will be accelerated by the scarcity of oxygen. Surrounded by grasslands we will observe scarce vegetation.
We stop for our midday break in the grasslands. Then, a wonderful view of the snowcapped mountains of Humantay and Salkantay will be our inseparable companions until arriving at the Chonta community, around 5pm.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight Camping at Chonta

Day 3: Condor viewpoint (no riding) 
After enjoying a delicious breakfast, we will meet a guide that will carefully guide us down the steep paths of the condors viewpoint. We will cover this way by foot, as the road is suitable for us to enter but not with our horses. It is narrow and right at the edge of one of the deepest canyons of Peru, the Cañón del Apurimac. This scenery is the home of the impressive and majestic condor. Sometimes condors fly over the canyon in search of food in the morning and evening hours.
Once back in Chonta, we will eat our lunch.
If the conditions were not favorable during the morning walk, the strong winds in the afternoon tempt the birds to take flight into the depths of the canyon. In order to see this we can access three different observation points (by foot).
We should be back at our camp for 5:30pm.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight Camping at Chonta

Day 4: Chonta to Ch’uro
This morning, we ride back to the heights of the grasslands at over 4,100 meters of altitude. The terrain that awaits us during the afternoon ride will allow us to move more easily until arriving at the town of Pampa Huaylla. Located in the heart of a ravine, from here, we will ride to the side of the stream which is also named Pampa Huaylla, until we reach Ch’uro village.
We expect to arrive at our campsite in Ch’uro village for 5 pm.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight Camping at Ch’uro

Day 5: Ch’uro to Compone
After an hour of riding uphill, a rocky and difficult road opens up in front of us. This one will take us to reach an indescribable beautiful forest of stones. There are rocks that resemble prehistoric animals as well as giant birds. Undoubtedly the sites of Ventanayoq, Waachayoq, Quinsa Rumi and Yuraq Qaqa are magical religious places from the beginning of our history.
After lunch, we go on a recognition walk through the lithic collection of Yuraq Qaqa. This place, due to its capricious morphological characteristics, was used by the locals to hid the cattle or horses that they stole from different towns. This natural corral camouflaged and concealed by the dense forest of Qeuñas and endemic shrubs has been used by astutely rustlers.
At about 3pm, we start our downhill ride to the town of Compone. Dinner and overnight at a lodge where it will be finally possible to take a hot shower.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Lodge in Compone

Day 6: Last Ride
After a good night of rest, we take our breakfast at 8am. During the morning ride, we cross the flat Anta área from one side to the other, passing by the towns of Markjo and Huerta. After passing through an eucalyptus forest, we will arrive to the town Huaylla Qocha and its beautiful catholic chapel constructed in the XVI century. We stop for lunch here.
During our last afternoon ride, we will see different water reserves in the high communities of Chaquepay, Mahuay Pampa and Maras. Maras town draws our attention giving us the opportunity to discover different ancient little streets and its typical gates. Just after passing Maras town, we start our descent ride in the direction of the valley.
We expect to arrive at our hacienda for 5:30 pm.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch

Note: If you wish to extend your stay in Peru, we suggest to sign up for the Machu Picchu Mountain Lodges Ride.

Rates and Dates for Condor's Canyon Trails

Dates Note: It is possible to arrange tours for private groups on request (private group fee applies)

Other Info
Meeting: Zurite
Airport: Cusco
Transfer: Cusco or Sacred Valley

Climate:
                                                Cusco area