12 Cusco Horseback Riding Tours Worth Booking Ahead

1.3-Hour Horse Riding Tour to the Temple of the Moon

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 105 reviews · from $65Our pick

Ride from Vieja Estancia Ranch toward Cusco’s Temple of the Moon with a bilingual guide and muleteer. You’ll get a helmet, saddle, and basic riding guidance, then explore the site on foot as your guide explains Incan and pre-Incan history. Groups are limited to six, and guides include Holger, Jorge, and Beni.

“This was absolutely amazing! Holger was really knowledgeable. The route was beautiful and the horses were very gentle, so it worked well for me despite my limited horseback riding experience. I would definitely recommend this!”

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2.Half-Day Horseback Riding at Devil’s Balcony

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 89 reviews · 4 hours · from $85

Leave central Cusco for a ranch near Sacsayhuaman, where a guide matches you with a horse and gives a short riding lesson. Follow countryside trails past farms and local animals to Devil’s Balcony, a rock opening above a river, then visit nearby Lanlakuyoc before returning to town.

“Holgar is a very capable guide. The route is very scenic as well.”

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3.Horse Riding Chacan Mountain And Temple Of The Moon

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 78 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $65

Ride Cusco’s outskirts on Inca trails to the Temple of the Moon and a viewpoint on Chacan Mountain. Gabriel’s ranch provides hotel transfers, horses, safety equipment, snacks, and a bilingual English-Spanish guide. The tour lasts about three and a half hours, with 9:00 am and 1:00 pm departures.

“Gabriel and Sergio were very kind and Knowledgeable. They were very professional and provided great snacks and the entire experience was amazing! Loved how we learned so much about culture. Really stood out that the horses were rotated between rides and well taken care of. They were healthy and cared for.”

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4.Horseback Tour in cusco to Temple of the Moon & Hidden temples

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 54 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $65

Ride for about two hours from a ranch near Cusco, with a guide leading you past countryside scenery and lesser-known Inca sites. You’ll leave the horses to walk around the Temple of the Moon, also called Amaru Marca Wasi. Hotel pickup, a muleteer, helmets, and water are included. Guides such as Holger have led the ride.

“Well organised experience with two hours of horse riding as well as guided tour of the less well known Incan ruins behind Sacsayhuaman. Spectacular scenery and very multilingual professional staff. Catered well to our family of five including children. Highly recommend !”

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5.Horseback Riding Plus Tour to Sacsayhuaman, Quenqo, Puka Pucara and Tambomachay

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 40 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $95

Spend about four hours visiting Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Puka Pucara, and Tambomachay, with roughly an hour to an hour and a half on horseback. A guide explains Inca history and customs, while a muleteer tends the horses. Private transport, helmets, saddles, and water are included. Admission tickets cost extra.

“We had the best experience! The horseback riding was by far the best part. Felt like we were in a movie with all of the gorgeous scenery. The archeological sites were great and our guide knew sooo much information! 10/10 recommend.”

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6.Half day Horseback Riding tour around Sacsayhuaman park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 37 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $75

Ride the hills around Sacsayhuaman on a calm horse, with a local guide, views over Cusco and stops at Inca sites such as the Temple of the Moon. You’ll travel by included transport from Cusco, wear a riding helmet and have time to explore forested trails and the sacred Inca Face. Beginners are welcome, but tell your guide if you’re new to riding.

“Absolutely everything about this tour was AMAZING!!! I rode their stallion Fuego and he was a prince! Holger was a phenomenal horseman and tour guide. The ride was was filled with beautiful scenery and Holger shared so much history about the land. I can't WAIT to come back ! These horses are very well cared for and loved and you can tell Holger and his family care very much about their ranch and their customers. I wish I could rate this as 10 stars but it only allows 5. I own horses so I ride all the time, but this is also totally suitable for beginners.”

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7.Rainbow Mountain Horseback Riding Tour + lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 10 reviews · 1 day · from $75

Start with hotel pickup in Cusco between 4:00 and 5:00 am, then have breakfast in Cusipata before a roughly 90-minute horseback ascent toward Rainbow Mountain. Your English- or Spanish-speaking guide leads the day; guides named Alex, Wilfred, and EberForever have led past departures. Expect camelid sightings, time for photos, lunch, and a return to Cusco around 5:00 pm.

“very well organized with pickup,time allocations and stops. A great experience. The only aspect I had concerns about,was around the arrangement with horses. We prepaid our horses and the other travellers were asked to pay 80soles to our guide,Wilfred, if they wanted a horse and then we got on a horse with a horseman. We rode up to a point and when we got off,we gave a tip to our horsemen...but they were most upset because it wasnt enough as fare. it was really hard to explain in Spanish that our travel guide has to pay them the fare ( not sure they understood ). Our guide had walked up…”

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8.Rainbow mountain horseback riding tour + Buffet Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 9 reviews · 6 hours · from $70

Leave Cusco before dawn for Rainbow Mountain, stopping in Cusipata for buffet breakfast and lunch. The outing includes a guide, transport, oxygen and a horse for the ascent, subject to availability from the local community. At 5,200 meters, expect a high-altitude walk, mineral-colored slopes and possible camelid sightings. Attraction tickets are extra.

“Had a great day! Our tour guide, Alex, was informative and very helpful. The only area that could use a bit of improvement is the communication from the tour company. Apart from that, everything was excellent.”

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9.Rainbow mountain horseback riding tour + Buffet Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 7 reviews · 6 hours · from $70

Leave Cusco before dawn for Cusipata, where breakfast comes before a horseback ascent toward Rainbow Mountain. The horses cover the uphill portion only; you continue on foot to the 5,200-meter viewpoint. Expect camelids, time for photos, a buffet lunch, and a long day. Guides include Alex, Jonathan, and Wayra, though your assigned guide may differ.

“The views are outstanding, organisation very good but the food was poor. Apart from that a good trip.”

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10.Sacsayhuaman Guided Tour and 1-Hour Horseback Ride

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 4 hours · from $90

Visit Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Tambomachay, and Pucapukara with an English- or Spanish-speaking guide, then ride for an hour near the Sacsayhuaman National Park. Central Cusco pickup, helmets, saddles, a muleteer, snacks, and water are included. Guides Beny and Holger have both led the tour.

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11.Horseback Riding at 7 lakes Ausangate Private |Optional Hike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 12 - 15 hours · from $139

Leave Cusco before dawn for Pacchanta, where a local breakfast starts a long day beneath Ausangate Mountain. Visit seven high-altitude lakes on foot or choose the horseback riding option, with a bilingual private guide, meals, and a hot-springs stop. Guides Alexander and Julio have led this route, though your guide may differ.

“Alexander was great. The breakfast and lunch was amazing and the views were second to none. You must do this while in Cusco you will not regret it!”

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12.FULL DAY| MOUNTAIN OF COLORS ON HORSEBACK

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 1 day · from $70

Leave Cusco before dawn for a full-day trip to Vinicunca, at 5,200 meters. The small group travels by vehicle to Cusipata for breakfast, then follows a guided route toward the colored mineral bands and views of Ausangate. A horse is included for the ascent. Guides Alex and Alfredo have led past departures, though your guide may differ.

“Really so beautiful. Rainbow mountain is pretty, but the surrounding area like red valley really makes this special. Did have a little confusion with pre booking the horse as well. I recommend booking a tour that doesn’t include the horse, and just pay in person. Alfredo supported us, and even offered someone oxygen when they weren’t feeling well. We added red valley last minute and it was so worth it. Food was good too.”

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