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This adventure ride is a
shorter version of our Cloud Forest to Highlands
Ride - it takes you through the very heart of the Western
Andes and their unbroken beauty, winding through their hidden depths and
heights. This ride addresses the nature lover with adventurous spirit,
not minding the lack of luxury in the outdoors and some long riding days
through difficult terrain. Amazing scenery that changes from day to day
will accompany you throughout the whole trip and more than compensate
your efforts. We'll come across lush green cloud forests, as well as
desert like landscapes, deep river canyons and steep mountain slopes,
hot sunny valleys and cool windy heights, picturesque farming land and
silent crater lakes. Cultural encounters range from pre-historical
testimonies to Spanish upper class descendents, from proud indigenous
identity to hard working mestizo farmers. Get into contact with the
hidden Ecuador, its natural wealth, its people and lifestyles, while
enjoying your ride on great, lively and very reliable horses!
 IT-ECRT08
Rates include: Accommodations in small inns, lodges, farms, all meals
except in Quito (B&B only), 5 riding days,
Quito city tour on day one, park entrance fees.
8 days/ 7 nights $ 1,325
Single + $195
2008 Dates:
01/14-01/21
02/07-02/14 03/17-03/24
04/17-04/24 05/15-05/22
06/09-06/16
07/28-08/04 09/15-09/22
10/16-10/23
11/13-11/20 12/11-12/18
Small groups: 2 riders only +395 per person
availability & reservations
Level:
Intermediate
Pace:
The riding pace varies - from canters on narrow paths to
slow pace and leading your horse on the trail.
Tack:
English
and Western
Horses:
Andean
Creole, Pinto, Paso Fino,
Andalusian, Anglo-Arab
Meeting:
Quito Hotel
Airport:
Quito
Transfer: Included
Pace:
Moderate with trots and canters.
Riders need to be physically fit.
Min/Max Riders:
3-8
Weight limit: 190 lbs.
Note:
Riders should have a good fitness level Your help in cleaning and
saddling the horses is required. Shared bathrooms at some places.
Accommodations:
We are constantly upgrading the comforts of this
remote trip - two nights are a bit rustic, but the
other nights make up for it - and then some! It is
still the real Ecuadorian backcountry
Bellavista -
upgraded private accommodations with private rooms
Nono - spacious
cabanas with private bath and fireplaces
Pululahua -
charming artsy country hotel with gourmet meals and
spectacular views
Aguacatal -
the remotest place on earth,
now has hot solar showers and three separate rooms -
a little bar and pool table
Cuicocha Crater
- amazing cabanas with private heaters and the best
hot showers in Ecuador, incredible food, fantastic
views
Amboisy &
San Jose de Minas
- rustic -- many riders love one of these two places
specially, because they have conserved their very
special character, and give an authentic insight
into Ecuadorian living style, but it is certainly
more rustic at these two locations.
Itinerary
Day 1:
Arrival day. Pick up from the airport or meeting point in Quito and
transfer to a local hotel. Trip briefing and afternoon guided tour of
the colonial town center of Quito while
enjoying views of the surrounding snow-capped mountains. Quito, with
it’s beautifully restored colonial center, as the first town worldwide,
has been declared cultural patrimony of humanity in 1975. With 7 tons of
gold along its walls, roof and altar, “La Compañía” is supposed to be
the richest decorated church in the world. After nightfall, take a ride
in a horse-carriage over the center’s old cobbled stone roads and
experience a glimpse of colonial life centuries ago. We recommend you to
arrive few days earlier for better acclimatization.
Day 2: From Quito we'll drive you over the western Cordillera in
direction of the Pacific cloud forest, where our horses await us.
Scenery and microclimate change around each major road-turn, and you
might get an impression of what variety awaits us on our ride. On our
way we have the chance to visit the Ecuadorian Monument 15-km north from
Quito as well as the Inca-Ruins of Rumicucho with their famous sun
channel, learning about the ancient cultures which once lived in “the
Center of the Earth” and who’s fascinating knowledge has mostly been
destroyed. Typical Ecuadorian lunch on the Equator and drive to "Bellavista"
nature reserve where we'll be welcomed into a cozy lodge with hot
showers and delicious, whole-some food. The bamboo-built, rounded “dome
house”, that will be our home for tonight, allows a 360-degree few on
the vivid bird- and plantlike around us: The place is surrounded by
hundreds of colorful hummingbirds, often Toucans and bright blue shining
Jays. From the balcony of our shared room, we can enjoy a breath-taking
view far over the cloud forest and listen to the sounds of exotic birds,
before the mist races in.
Day 3: On horseback, we'll be heading through a lush green region
of virgin forests studded with waterfalls, while steadily climbing
uphill, drawing closer to Pichincha volcano, which towers above us at
almost 4,800 m. If lucky with the weather, we might find ourselves
riding close to Guagua Pichincha’s ashy crater slopes and its ridge,
often enough steaming with sulfur fumerolas. Just before reaching the
tiny, picturesque village of Nono, nestling at the northern face of the
volcano, we’ll be crossing over a ridge that divides the Western
Cordillera from the Interandean Valley where we shall be surprised by
the dramatic change of scenery. We set up tents at a friendly welcoming
farm. Next to a hot chimney fire, our host is always eager to tell
interesting stories about people and lifestyles, while his wife Betty
prepares the loveliest trout you’ve ever eaten, and their three charming
girls will capture every visitor’s heart.
Day 4: Today, we'll be riding along green, hilly pastures,
wealthy Andean agriculture land, passing several stately farms, where we
can observe fighting bulls and flower crop for exportation, getting a
good impression about present and past of the country. Some extensive
canters between fields and pastures make our way shorter this time. This
picturesque valley is also the home and breading place of many beautiful
horses. Overnight is in the 300 year old romantic country hostel (with
walls up to 1 meter thick) next to the volcanic springs of Calacalí.
This Hacienda was already the home of the “Count of Amboise”, one of the
members of the famous geodesic commission that measured the Equator in
the midst of the 18th century. Measuring instruments bought
in Paris in the year 1715 and old Luis XIV- furniture can be admired in
our fabulous dining room, while enjoying traditional “Locro de Papa”.
Bring your bathing dress for the springs or the mineral water Jacuzzi!
Day 5: After breakfast in the mighty colonial chamber, we ride
out crossing the Equator from the southern to the northern part of the
globe. While slowly winding downhill through forests of bamboo, we only
come across a few small farmhouses along the way, where the highland
farmers scratch a meager income from the steep, infertile land beside
the forest. We keep approaching the impacting scenery of the ancient
volcano "Pululahua", with the biggest crater in the whole Americas and
one of only two inhabited worldwide! At the bottom of the crater, a
mystical and very peaceful place, we can observe farmers plugging their
fields with sticks and oxen, like they did 300 years ago. The green corn
fields, swaying gently in the breeze, paint the picture you’ll take home
from this part of your journey. We'll be resting in a cozy little
country cottage, until the call of a donkey or cock awakes us the next
morning. Larger groups also in tents.
Day 6: Leaving the volcano
through a small opening in its crater walls, we'll be passing by deep gorges,
steep mountain slopes covered with mossy cloud-forest, crossing eroded lahar
fields blooming with wild orchids, to finally enter the narrow valley of the Rio
Blanco with its warm and tropical climate where we shall find coffee trees,
fields of sugar cane and a lot of tropical fruits. Pre-historical ruins can be
observed along the way. When the afternoon light breaks through the clouds over
the pre-Inca-fortress “Portalanza” this mountain-valley looks most certainly
like taken from a fairy tale. "Aguacatal" is the name of the very remote (no
electricity!) and beautiful farm that offers us beds for tonight.
Day 7:
After refilling our energies with Mrs. Hildas
Austrian “Kaiserschmarrn” in the middle of nowhere,
we head off on horseback towards the pre-Inca ruins
of Portalanza. Galloping along the sandy canyon
ridges of Río Guayllabamba and Río Blanco, we enjoy
fantastic views, until reaching a rock with
mysterious 1300 years old stone-carvings from the
Yumbo-culture - another evidence of the historical
interest of this area. Avoiding a recent land-slide
which has taken part of the trail, we circle around
the mountain on enchanted narrow forest paths which
includes some hiking in steep terrain. We can take
our time, and on the other side, a beautiful
refreshing bubble-bath in a volcanic stream will
help us cool down again. After crossing the river,
our trail will lead through fields of sugar cane,
sweat-smelling guava-trees and pastures with grazing
zebu-cattle. Arrival at Ranch in the afternoon and
transport back to Quito for overnight.
Day 8: Departure after breakfast and transfer to the airport.
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