Eduard van Brunschot (better known as Eddy) is the founder of Perol Chico and is of Dutch and Peruvian descent. In 1996 he purchased some land in the historic and mythical Sacred Valley of the Incas. He also bought a couple of Peruvian Paso horses for his own enjoyment and started to explore the wonderful trails high in the surrounding mountains.
Eddy soon discovered that the Peruvian Paso was the ultimate riding horse: unrivalled in terms of endurance and comfort. He realised that there was no established or professional horse-riding operation offered in Peru at the time, so he founded a company for this purpose and named it after the land he purchased – Perol Chico.
It was not long before Perol Chico’s riding activities were discovered internationally, and they now appear in reputable guidebooks and in the brochures and websites of the best specialist equestrian travel agencies. Accounts of Perol Chico’s exceptional riding expeditions high in the Andes have also been published in many prestigious horse magazines worldwide. National Geographic selected Perol Chico’s Sacred Valley Ride as being one of the top 10 horseback rides in the world.
Eddy continually seeks more opportunities to develop, promote and improve equestrian travel in Peru. His motivation lies in the preservation of the traditional characteristics and virtues of the magnificent Peruvian Paso breed, whilst fostering a deep appreciation and respect for these beautiful horses amongst locals and tourists alike.
Maria Zans Gamarra joined the company in 2004 and is responsible for the organisation and administration of all equestrian and non-equestrian activities at Perol Chico. Maria is also the founder and managing director of Maria Zans Gia Eirl, a Peruvian-based travel company specialising in equestrian and non-equestrian adventure travel in Peru.
Quality over Quantity
In contrast to what is generally expected in business Perol Chico wants to stay a small company. Eddy believes that by keeping his riding operation small he is able to offer and maintain the highest quality possible. The location of the ranch in the heart of the Sacred Valley and high in the Peruvian Andes offers stunning riding opportunities but it is not the most ideal place to keep a large number of working horses. During the 7 months of the dry season, which is also the riding season, good pasture for the horses is hardly available. During these months high quality alfalfa is purchased and trucked in from Arequipa, about 800km/500miles away. Nothing is spared to offer only the very best for the horses. For Perol Chico it is quality rather than quantity that really matters.
Reinventing Equestrian Travel
The days that extensive land travel was done on horseback are long gone. More and more people moved to urban areas and heartless motorised vehicles replaced the use of horses. Our noble and loyal travel companion became redundant and equestrian romanticism went out of the window.
Perol Chico is convinced that traveling on horseback is, and has always been, the only way to truly discover the heart and soul of a country. It offers a deeper and more genuine connection to the places you visit. The company achieved to reinvent equestrian travel and convert it into the most exclusive, authentic and once-in-a-lifetime equestrian journey. With the very best horses, delicious meals, breathtaking sceneries, professional staff and comfortable hotel accommodations along the way Perol Chico provides the ultimate, all-inclusive, travel experience.
