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A circuit of the perfectly
conical, snow-capped Cotopaxi volcano, through
breathtaking, wild open country including Cotopaxi
National Park and seldom-visited open plains high in
the Andes. A chance of seeing the Andean wildlife
(the mighty Andean condor among other raptors, high
altitude hummingbirds, foxes and deer) as we cross a
variety of scenery including rugged passes, barren,
luna-like landscapes and rolling, grassy hills. The
pace is varied, including plenty of chances for long
canters across the wilderness. Where there is a
break in the sea of high Andean grasslands the
ground is carpeted with wild flowers and we pass by
primary woodland with native trees and shrubs.
During part of the ride, we cross old lava flows
dotted with rocks catapulted out from the erupting
volcano, where only lichens grow and the streams fed
by snowmelt run red from the iron deposits. The
glacial retreat, followed by the volcanic activity,
have sculpted intriguing landscapes.
On some days we ride along old Inca routes, on
others we pass by adobe cottages and patchwork
fields farmed by the charming and very friendly
local people. The children are often out and about
herding errant pigs and donkeys.
Nights are spent in a wonderful mixture of haciendas
and farmhouses, built of adobe with thatched roofs,
original Inca stone and even a very comfortable
lodge built of straw bales covered with adobe.
 IT-ECRT04
Rates include accommodations, meals (as indicated), English speaking
guide, 7 riding days.
7 days /
6 nights $ 1,450
Single:+$195
2008 Dates:
01/19-01/25 01/26-02/01
02/09-02/15
06/21-06/27 07/19-07/25
08/16-08/22
09/27-10/03 11/29-12/05
12/13-12/19
see availability
Meeting: Quito - Santa Barbara hotel
Airport: Quito
Transfer: take taxi to hotel
(not included)
Level:
Intermediate
Tack:
McClellan saddles
and English
Horses:
Paso,
Quarter, Thoroughbred
Pace: Moderate
- trots and canters
Note: Single
supplement is for 4 to 5 nights. Private bath for
Day 1 and 6 - add $110
A ride for fit
riders capable of riding in multitude of challenging
terrains and spending long days in the saddle.
Prices
include
horse (spare horses
taken), guide and grooms, 3 meals per day (see
below), snacks and water on rides, 6 nights
accommodation, national park/private reserves etc.
entrance fees, transport to and from Quito,
transport of bags between lodgings and all local
taxes. Saddlebags and poncho for each guest.
Itinerary
Key: AB= cooked breakfast,
L= lunch, PL= picnic lunch (different menus, never just a sandwich),
D=dinner.
Day 1:
We drive out of Quito and meet the horses (1h). This
first day offers a very varied route including some
tricky sections – where we dismount and let the
horses negotiate the rocky riverbeds on their own,
and also some riding along country lanes, through
forests and across grasslands (5-6hrs). We arrive at
a working hacienda (ranch) and have to carefully
negotiate the pastures - this farm is famous for its
feisty Spanish fighting bulls! The scenery is
spectacular and very varied with green valleys and
rolling hills and we are surrounded by jagged rocky
summits and snow capped peaks. We leave the horses
to descend down the valley to a beautiful old Jesuit
hacienda in time for tea, then to admire the sunset
in magnificent surroundings. A delicious 4 course
dinner and overnight at this magnificent hacienda
with verandas and large flowering gardens. PL, D.
Shared bathrooms (option of paying a supplement for
a suite with private bathroom).
Day 2: We
rejoin the horses, enjoy some exhilarating canters
across the pastures and ride into Cotopaxi National
Park across the arid plains approaching the
perfectly conical shape of the snow-capped Cotopaxi
Volcano (the highest active volcano in the world)
(7hrs). The luna-like landscape formed by both
glacial and volcanic activity is fascinating and the
arid plains scattered with huge boulders thrown out
by the volcano provide a wonderful surface for some
long canters. (The volcano is currently dormant!).
We often meet the herds of wild horses that roam the
park, they gallop alongside us, long manes and tails
flowing. We then climb up out of the park over a
high pass and descend into the Machachi Valley,
arriving at a beautiful converted farmhouse with
flowering gardens filled with lilies in time for our
evening meal (usually a delicious barbeque) and
overnight. AB, PL, D. Double/twin rooms with private
or shared bathrooms.
Day 3:
Today we ride south through the ‘Avenue of
Volcanoes’. The views are magnificent, with the
rocky Ruminahui peak, Corazon Volcano, the twin
Iliniza peaks sprinkled with snow and a host of
other summits lining the central valley (6hrs). Our
destination, on the Lasso plains, is a very old
family hacienda. 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 coloured, pleated skirts and their
traditional hats. 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 leave the horses in good
pastures and take a short drive to a comfortable,
working hacienda, the original part built in the
1600s. We enjoy a delicious dinner of traditional
Ecuadorian fare before retiring for the night.
Double/twin rooms with private bathrooms. AB, PL, D.
Day 4: An
incredible ride high up into the ‘paramo’ (unique
Andean vegetation) (7hrs). We once again leave the
adobe huts and patchwork fields behind and climb up
into the huge expanses of wild grasslands. Enjoying
views of several of the snow capped peaks of the
‘Avenue of Volcanoes’: Chimborazo (Ecuador’s highest
peak), Tungurahua in the distance (actually erupting
at the moment) and Cotopaxi, we cross the beautiful
paramo grasslands, without a house in sight. After
another delicious picnic in the breathtaking
scenery, we cross over a ridge into a valley and
spot the isolated hacienda house in the distance.
Very few people manage to visit this stunning place
and the wonderful tranquility and huge expanses of
open space, almost uninhabited, is appreciated by
all. Cottage with 3 bedrooms (2, 4 & 4 beds) &
lounge area to sleep in (2), number of people per
room depends on number of riders. Shared bathroom.
AB, PL, D.
*in case of bad weather we pass through part of this
valley then ride on to the accommodation of day 5 –
for two nights. In that case, the ride on day 5 will
be a circuit ride, a different route to day 4 and
day 6.
Day 5: A
ride across the paramo to a ‘tambo’ built out of
Inca stone (4-5hrs). Amazing scenery, riding along a
river bed and across the grasslands close to the
jagged Quilindana summit, admiring the crater lakes
below. A good chance of seeing the mighty Andean
condor, deer, the Andean fox and high altitude
hummingbirds (hillstars) as well as large birds of
prey soaring overhead. We occasionally meet a lone
‘chagra’ (Andean cowhand) with his trusty dog riding
out to check the cattle. As we round a hill and
cross some native scrubland we come very close to
Cotopaxi and often sight Antisana Volcano complete
with glacier on the horizon - the views are truly
magnificent. The house we stay at tonight is cozy
and once again guests can enjoy the incredible
location. There is no light pollution and the
Equator-line sky is packed with stars, including the
southern cross. Twin bedded rooms (partitions
dividing the sleeping areas) in this charming house
built of Inca stone, shared bathrooms. AB, PL, D.
Day 6:
Today we turn west and ride back into Cotopaxi
National Park, through the northern foothills of the
Volcano. Leaving the tambo we follow a rocky
riverbed then carefully traverse some marshlands
between a series of small lakes. Andean duck and
also Ibis are often seen here,
among the wild iris. The valley then opens out and
we follow a lava flow with strange conical hills
‘popping out’ at intervals – |
see
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