Colonial Haciendas
                       & Inca Trail
A ride into Ecuador's History

A journey back in time along ancient Inca and Spanish colonial routes, between the best preserved ‘haciendas’ (grand colonial farming estates) of South America, in two stunningly beautiful, yet very distinct areas of the Andean highlands. Crossing vast plains and riding through pastoral valleys, we follow the ‘Avenue of Volcanoes’, skirting the towering, snow- capped peaks of Cayambe & Cotopaxi and cantering through the meadows below. The days are packed with varied rides through forests, up into the mountains and along Inca roads with visits along the way to local indigenous markets and craft villages where the customs and rhythm of life have changed little over the centuries. Most nights are spent in 16th, 17th and 18th century haciendas – historic country houses where guests can relax in front of open fireplaces and enjoy the fine period detail, atmospheric courtyards and flowering gardens. The prestigious haciendas that open their doors to us are unique and hold an important place in the history of Ecuador; most are still the homes of the noblest of Ecuadorian families including past presidents. Hundreds of years after they were first built, the haciendas continue to welcome visitors to Ecuador as they once did to such famous guests as Simon Bolivar and many of the 16th-19th Century's greatest scientists and explorers.

IT-ECRT03
Rates include accommodations, meals (as indicated), English speaking guide, 6.5 riding days and transfers from Quito.
8 days/ 7 nights  $ 2,250  Single: +$350
2008 Dates:  
06/28-07/05   07/12-07/19    07/19-07/26 
07/26-08/02   08/09-08/16    08/23-08/30
09/13-09/20   09/20-09/27    10/04-10/11  
11/22-11/29   11/30-12/07    12/06-12/13
12/20-12/27* 12/27-01/03*
  see availability

* dates: add $150 for festivities and special dinners during the holidays
... rates based on a total of 4 riders, small group supplement applies for 2-3 riders $1000 - or we will keep the rate and change the itinerary slightly to compensate


Included: 7 nights, 7B (cooked), 7 lunches (PL= picnic, but not just a sandwich), 6 dinners (not in Quito, help given in choosing from excellent variety and quality of restaurants).
Accommodation: every night at hacienda/hotel, in private rooms with en suite facilities, often fireplace in room.
Prices exclude all personal expenditure such as bar bills, laundry and telephone calls, national park entrance fees (Cotopaxi currently US10), international airport departure tax (currently US25) payable on departure
Airport:    Quito
Meeting:  Quito airport
Level:        Intermediate +
Tack:         McClellan, English
Horses:     Paso, Quarter,
                 Thoroughbred cross
Pace:         Moderate, trots and canters
Min/Max: 4-12 riders
Note:        Weight limit 185 lbs 
-- With prior agreement, riders over 185 lbs can be accepted, but there is a small surcharge to be paid - 2 horses are needed due to the demands on the horse on hills and rough terrain at altitude.

Key: AB= cooked breakfast, L= lunch, PL= picnic lunch (different menus, never just a sandwich), T = tea, D=dinner.

Itinerary

DAY 1: ARRIVAL QUITO
--   INTRODUCTORY RIDE
Guests are met at the Quito Sanata Barbara hotel (we advise arriving the day before, we can meet you at the airport and arrange hotels) by a bilingual guide and driven into the northern area of Ecuador.
Visit to the famous Otavalo market on this the busiest day of the week. As well as the bustling craft market and stalls with exotic fruit, there is a food section where the locals - dressed in their very distinctive traditional costume - come down from their tiny farms in the mountains to sell their farm produce and buy their weekly supplies.
Then a short drive to a hacienda frequented by the great South American liberator, Simon Bolivar.
Members of the charming family (horse fanatics themselves!) that have owned the hacienda for several centuries greet us warmly. With its courtyards, ornate fountains, terraces and gardens graced with citrus, palm and monkey puzzle trees it is an ideal location to leisurely drift into the relaxing Andean surroundings.
Introductory ride (2-3hrs) along the tracks and through the tiny fields on the slopes of the Imbabura Volcano. We often see the very friendly but dignified locals in their immaculate traditional dress working in the fields using hand tools or cattle to work the land. These tiny fields are surrounded by stone walls and earth banks topped with sisal plants and an array of wild flowers.
Guests first try their horses in an enclosed area before we ride out and the guides and grooms are always at had to help.
After a welcome drink in the cozy bar accompanied by the music of an excellent Andean band and a delicious, traditional dinner (a la carte) overnight at the hacienda (Hacienda Pinsaqui), fireplaces in most rooms.   PL, D.
DAY 2:
SACRED IMBABURA
& SAN PABLO LAKE
We leave this historic hacienda - once a very important weaving centre, on horseback and ride on to another colonial hacienda built in 1602 (5 hours). We ride past tiny hamlets of adobe huts, through woodlands, cross rocky gorges and wind our way around the patchwork fields of quinoa, potatoes, maize and tree tomato orchards. Magnificent views of the San Pablo lake and the jagged Mojanda summit as we ride across the slopes of the sacred Imbabura Volcano (extinct) - the focus of many Inca legends. As well as seeing a great variety of exotic Andean fruits and other crops, we meet the locals in vibrant traditional dress going about their daily tasks, the children shepherding the unruly pigs and sheep - trying to keep them off the crops. On the way through small villages with thriving cottage industries, we visit a family of local weavers. This family still produces exceptionally fine, unique rugs using the ancient pre-Inca backstrap loom that most weavers have abandoned in favor of more modern looms. The wool is still dyed using plants and then hand spun as the family sticks rigidly to the traditional weaving processes.
Late PM: wander through the beautiful flowering gardens admiring the avocado trees, bromeliads, orchids and kitchen garden with passion fruit, tree tomato and a host of other interesting plants.
Overnight at this early 17th Century (1602) hacienda (Hacienda Cusin) adorned with local crafts and antiques. Fireplaces in most rooms.  AB, PL, D.
DAY 3:
PASTORAL ZULETA VALLEY
A stunning ride into the beautiful pastoral Zuleta Valley (6hrs). Along country lanes then through eucalyptus forests, we rise out of San Pablo Valley enjoying wonderful views across the lake and also of Imbabura volcano, riding onto the plains beyond for some fast-pace riding. Views of Zuleta valley, the verdant gorges and the ‘paramo’ (the unique Andean habitat of high grasslands) as we pass dewponds and hedges of aloe vera and spikey agave (sisal) atop mud walls. Following sandy tracks, we then descend into the Zuleta valley with dramatic views across to the hanging valleys and rocky ridges above. With views of the ancient tumili and earth pyramids erected by the pre-Inca population we ride on to a working farm in the middle of this tranquil valley seldom visited by tourists. A chance of seeing the mighty Andean Condor as well as other species such as hummingbirds and bright scarlet flycatchers. Andalusian horses, fighting bulls and a dairy herd are among the farm inhabitants.
PM: Guests can walk into the tiny village and see examples of the hand embroidery that has made the valley famous and also enjoy exploring and observing the activities on the working farm. Overnight at Hacienda La Merced. Fireplaces in most rooms.  AB, PL, T, D.
DAY 4:
THE SNOWS OF CAYAMBE
& THE EQUATOR LINE
A chance to get to know about the Andalusian breed, the farm owners will chat with you about their champion horses. We then ride out of the hacienda along tree-lined trails between the fields then passing the traditional adobe and thatch cottages we climb into the open grasslands (3-4 hrs). Taking to the steep paths following the gorges and climbing high onto a ridge we enjoy spectacular views of the distant peaks and the valleys below, including some pre-Inca earthworks. Usually we see the llamas and also the fighting bulls, admiring the powerful animals with sleek black coats. We ride through forests and onto the Pesillo plains. Arriving in the Cayambe Valley dominated by the snow-capped Cayambe Volcano, which straddles the Equator Line we leave the horses at a typical village square. We then cross the Equator Line, and travel (2hrs), bypassing Quito, to a comfortable hacienda complete with a steaming Jacuzzi waiting and the possibility of massages. Guests can relax in the swimming pool, Jacuzzi or sauna then enjoy the delicious dinner in this delightful hacienda.
Overnight at Hacienda La Carriona, fireplaces in most rooms. AB, PL, D.
DAY 5:
THE AVENUE OF VOLCANOES
& ILINIZA TWIN PEAKS
The day starts with a short drive south through the ‘Avenue of Volcanoes’. The views are magnificent, with the verdant horseshoe shaped crater of Pasachoa, the twin Iliniza peaks sprinkled with snow and a host of other summits lining the central valley. Riders meet fresh horses and we ride south out of the Machachi valley and into the foothills of the Iliniza peaks – very different scenery to the previous days’ rides.
The wide sandy tracks and grassy paths are ideal for some more fast-pace riding as we ride the length of a valley scraped out by glaciers at the end of the ice age. In places we ride over layers of pumice stone – deposited by the volcanoes, and during the ride the horses expertly negotiate two steep gorges. We often pass the local ladies wearing brightly colored, pleated skirts and their traditional hats chasing errant donkeys. The original houses in this area are built of dried grass laid over a wooden frame and, from the back, look like haystacks rather than dwellings, nevertheless happy children come piling out to chase their llamas, pigs and sheep off to open pastureland.
We ride to the entrance of the Cotopaxi National Park, where we will leave the horses and continue on by car to a very ornate and historically important 17th Century hacienda. On the way, guests visit the fascinating Agustin hacienda built on an Inca site. Fine examples of Inca stonework – including complete walls are on view.
 

see Slide Show

Hacienda Cusin

Otavalo Indiginous Market

Arriving by way of a very impressive avenue of eucalyptus trees, the portico of the magnificent hacienda where we spend the night leads us into a building  that holds a very special place in history: the scene of several independence battles and used as a base by many explorers and scientists such as Condamine and Humboldt during their expeditions to the ‘new world’.   Overnight at Hacienda La Cienaga.  AB, PL, D.
DAY 6: SAQUISILI MARKET & COTOPAXI
An early morning visit by vehicle to the nearby rural Saquisili Indian market. Having visited the animal market and purchased alfalfa (Lucerne) and oats for the horses, guests can amble through the squares and streets buying local crafts or a traditional poncho or simply watching the locals trading on this, the most important market day. Men sit behind old sewing machines putting the collars on new ponchos or behind stone wheels grinding knives for people, ladies pass through the market selling a multitude of wares.
We drive back to the park entrance to meet the horses and ride up through the national park. A spectacular ride (6hrs). We rejoin the horses and ride up into the National Park to canter across the wide, barren plain at the base of the Cotopaxi Volcano (the highest active volcano in the world). Several herds of wild horses inhabit the park and to ride along side these long-maned horses galloping freely across the rugged terrain is an exhilarating experience. Part of this ride follows the main Inca highway which linked Quito with Cusco, Peru. Close by, there is a route running eastwards, along which the Incas went to the Amazon rain forest, in the distance we can see remnants of the Inca hilltop fortress that guarded this route. The ground is covered with tiny pumice stones and lichen on this arid plain created by lava and ash from the mighty Cotopaxi volcano. Passing a shallow lake on the high plains we then ride across a very surprising ‘luna landscape’ – huge boulders and hard baked ochre-coloured mud and onto rolling grassy hills. Arriving at a ‘hosteria’ just outside the national park for an overnight stay in a stunning location  AB, PL, D.
DAY 7: HIGH ANDES MOUNTAIN PASS*
Guests ride out of the beautiful hosteria and head up over a high mountain pass (4200 meters) to enjoy the stunning high Andean scenery in this wilderness (6-7hrs). In these remote Andean ‘paramo’ areas the local ‘chagras’ are the only people to venture– checking their herds of cattle on their trusty horses. A local horseman will accompany our group, guiding us through a sea of grass, along mountain tracks, across streams of snowmelt passing native scrubland. Guests really experience the remoteness of the magnificent high Andes with wonderful views of the surrounding peaks: Cotopaxi, Ruminahui. Sincholagua, Pasachoa...to name but a few. Varied terrain and pace – after some canters across the open, grassy plains we start climbing, Deer, condor, Andean foxes have been spotted on this route, high altitude hummingbirds (hills tars) are often sighted zooming between the native wildflowers as well as swifts and other Andeam species. Once over the high pass and across the scree slopes guests descend into the valley. We say goodbye to the horses andare driven back into Quito (90 minutes).
Overnight in a very comfortable hotel in Quito. AB, PL.
*the route can be altered if anyone is worried but guests have always been acclimatized by day 7 of a ride and we have not had any problems.
DAY 8: DEPARTURE
Following breakfast, guests are accompanied to the airport in time for their outward flights, or are picked up at their hotel to continue on extensions. BB.

TOUR SUMMARY: Varied paced riding on top quality horses in two stunning yet very distinct areas of Ecuador in the heart of the Andes. Accompanied by local horsemen, we start the ride on grassy tracks between the patchwork fields of the verdant valleys of the northern highlands and end the ride with long canters across the arid plains in the national park just below the magnificent snow-capped Cotopaxi Volcano. The tour now includes a day in the wild Andean ‘paramo’ grasslands. Guests stay at or visit a wonderful selection of different historic haciendas – some built by the first Spanish settlers and one based on Inca walls – and a working farm. Other visits along the way include two market visits -the famous Otavalo market and the fascinating local market at Saquisili, and visits to a rose plantation and a weaving centre.
Meeting point is in Quito/at Quito international airport.
A wide range of excellent trips to complement the ride are on offer, for example: Galapagos Islands, Amazon rain forest, historic towns, hot springs/spa, cloud forest.
Options for non riders accompanying the group are available and this is an excellent tour for families (adapted for younger children) & private groups.

SECTION ONE: 
4 days in Highlands of Ecuador, north of Quito