Cotopaxi and Quilotoa

Introduction
Highlands Riding Tours Ecuador
Ride through volcanoes, valleys, forest, and pre-Inca sites with comfortable overnights traditional Highland Haciendas!

Come experience the stunning beauty of the Ecuadorian Andes on horseback! Each morning will bring us new experiences and a chance to contemplate the unique beauty of the impressive mountain range and valleys on the region. Friendly “chagras”, the local Ecuadorian horsemen, often pause from their work to greet you, to exchange local news, or some will even offer a drink as they wish you luck on your travels.

This ride incorporates visits to the Corazon, Ruminahui, Quilindana, and Chalupas volcanoes, and, of course, you will see the majestic Cotopaxi volcano from as many different angles as possible throughout our journey. The only form of transportation during your trek will be your horse. They will be your partner and friend throughout this authentic adventure. Our itinerary incorporates trips through dozens of authentic working haciendas dedicated to the production of regional dairy products, potatoes, broccoli and flowers. Around the cozy fireplace of each hacienda we will reminisce about the day's events and discuss local traditions of the culture here, especially those related to the chagras.

Accomodation

Accommodations
This is a progressive ride where nights are spent in different locations. 

Description
Hacienda Alegria has very nice and comfortable accommodations. The accommodations along the way are more basic, but all authentic and comfortable. There are 2 people per room with private showers in every accommodation. There is access to free Wi-Fi almost everywhere (except when camping) and laundry services are available at Hacienda La Alegria for a small gratuity.

Accommodation Itinerary - subject to changes based on availability
Nights 1 & 2: Hacienda La Alegria
Night  3: Hacienda Bomboli
Night  4: Hacienda La Alegria
Night  5: Hacienda in Pedregal Valley
Night  6: Tambopaxi refuge
Night  7: Hacienda La Alegria
Night  8: Lodge in Insilivi 
Night  9: Samay Kirutoa Lodge at Quilotoa crater
Night 10: Hacienda San Jose 
Night 11: Hacienda La Alegria


Hacienda La Alegria
The Hacienda was built in 1910 in Franco Italian Style and has been renovated and restored. It is made out of adobe and stones and its walls are over 80 cm thick! It is nestled amidst lush surroundings in the typical fertile and green farmland of the Ecuadorian inter Andean plain at an altitude of 2880m (9449 ft).
The Hacienda is a family-run organic farm and the hospitality of the Espinosa household is remarked upon by visors who return year after year. You will be welcomed with a roaring log fire in the sitting room, and in your bedroom when the nights are cold.
The farm can accommodate up to 24 people both in the farmhouse and a recently completed extension. The extension has been tastefully restored with solid cypress floors and beams and modern en-suite bathrooms with plenty of hot water and powerful showers. Split-level family rooms sleep five comfortably. Wi-fi internet is available at this property.

Hacienda Bomboli
This property offers basic accommodation for up to 16 guests. It is set in a beautiful rainforest and each room has its own bathroom with hot water. Due to its remote location, cell phone service is very limited and there is no electricity. The house is kept warm and lit with fireplaces and candles and your hosts even puts a warm water bottle in your bed before you go to sleep.


Lodge Tambopaxi in Cotopaxi National Park
This newly constructed mountain lodge recreates the traditional building style of the paramo houses in order to reduce their impact on the environment.
There are 6 bedrooms, each equipped with a private bathroom with hot water, an individual heating system an warm eiderdown.
WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge. Laundry service is available for a surcharge.

Hacienda San Gabriel (part of Hacienda San Jose) in Sigchos
The accommodation features simple rooms with a variety of arrangements (single, double, twin, triple or quadruple). Facilities include free Wi-Fi access and an indoor swimming pool.

Samay Kirutoa Lodge at Quilotoa crater
This lodge offers comfortable accommodations with spectacular mountain views. There are only 7 rooms and each are simply decorated with respect to the surroundings. There is a garden where guests can relax and free Wi-Fi internet is also available.

Llullullama Lodge at Insilivi
This Eco Lodge offers cozy accommodation in the heart of the Ecuadorian Andes. It is housed in an old farmhouse that has been renovated with respect to the environment. The Lodge offers a wide variety of rooms, each simply decorated with local artifacts. There are common areas with fireplaces as well as a terrace offering beautiful mountain views, where guests can relax and chat with fellow travelers. There is no internet at this property.

Room Occupancy
Single supplement is mandatory is we cannot find another rider to share.



Meals
All meals are included from lunch on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 12.

Meals are featuring delicious, gourmet international and Ecuadorian food. You will never go hungry with 3-4 courses offered per meal. Soups are a specialty in the highlands that we will use to warm our bodies after a good ride. Main courses can be chicken, pork, beef, trout, tilapia, pasta and more. Don't forget to save room for dessert!

This trip includes some wine/ beer with dinner.

Dietary Restrictions
We can cater to most dietary restrictions with prior notice.

This trip includes some wine with dinner.

Riding


Horses
Our horses are very important to us. We have more than 35 riding-horses as well as about 30 mares and foals. Most have been bred here on the farm from mixed Criollo (native South American), English Thoroughbred and Arabian stock, resulting in a near perfect combination of toughness, agility, calm temperament and “mountain sense”. Beginners and experienced riders alike have found them easy to ride, willing and good mannered.
We are happy to follow the Natural Horsemanship principles when training our horses.

Tack
There is a range of tack including North American style, English style, McClellan cavalry, Chilean and traditional Ecuadorian "Chagra" style with its intricate leatherwork and saddle horn.

Host
Your host Gabriel comes from a family steeped in equestrian tradition. His grandfather bred racing horses close to Quito and his father, was a keen polo player.
Gabriel and Paty's three daughters are all keen riders, and the enthusiasm of the whole family is reflected in the quality of the horses at the farm. We are proud to share that Gabriel was recently nominated as MAESTRO GUIA ECUESTRE -- there are currently only 3 in the world with this title.

Test Ride
Before starting our program, riders receive instruction and ride under strict surveillance by the guides and helpers. We start by riding in a circle where riders must demonstrate their confidence and ability to adapt to the horse, saddle, and equipment. After this, they move up to a larger arena (70x70 meters/200x200 feet), where they will be observed and guided before going out. The rider has the option to switch horses, saddle, or equipment upon request.



We enjoy a special relationship with chagras, participating with them in rodeos and festivals and visiting them in their homes each month, and so we want to share this closeness with you, our guests. You will come to appreciate theirs traditions and customs. The chagras' skill on horseback and knowledge of the Andean paramo are legendary. They are the true inspiration for our trek.

Itinerary


Sample Itinerary - subject to changes

Day 1: Arrival
Depending on your arrival time you can have a short ride at the hacienda, dinner included.
Meals included: Dinner
Overnight at Hacienda Alegria

Day 2: Introductory Ride
Ride in the arena and try horses to get acquainted with the horse, tack that we will be using the next days, we ride around the neighboring Haciendas at the west Andes. Our first contact with the heights starts this first day. Lunch at the Hacienda, visit the milking barn, the aging cheese cave, and at the end of this interesting day enjoy the hot tub and fireplace. 
Riding: 4 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hacienda la Alegria    

Day 3: Ride to Bomboli
Crossing extensive pastures and eucalyptus forests, we will have a nice view of the “Volcanoe Avenue”. From there we can appreciate the green and fertile Machachi Valley and we can also see the routes we will take the next day at the east mountain chain. We will ascend the Corazon volcano up to 4,000 meters and descend through the Cloud forest reserve.
At the cloud forest we can observe a great biodiversity of plants and flowers, including giant guneras, orchids, and birds such as the turkey of the forest. In the afternoon we arrive to Hacienda Bomboli at 3,000 m and relax by the fireplace enjoying the sunset and see the lights of the villages near the coast. We will arrive at tea time, then enjoy a delicious dinner.
Riding: 6 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hacienda Bomboli  

Day 4: Back to Hacienda La Alegria
In the morning we will walk at the Hacienda’s gardens and learn and see an incredible variety of the most beautiful orchids and cloud forest plants.
We ride up hill admiring the forest and the hundreds of flowers and plants. We will use the old road that was built in 1873 to connect Quito with the coast.
Arrive to Hacienda la Alegria for lunch, relax and enjoy the hot tub and the fireplace. 
Riding: 4 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hacienda la Alegria  

Day 5: Ride to Ruminahui Volcano
We ride to the west mountain range and through the valley toward Machachi. We stop at the Machachi market (on Sundays), continue toward the Ruminahui volcano and stop at a beautiful Hacienda for a snack.
We then continue riding until we arrive to the Pedregal valley and stay overnight in a Hacienda at 3,500 meters
Riding: 8 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hacienda in Pedregal valley

Day 6: Cotopaxi Volcano Ride
We enter the Cotopaxi National Park, riding towards the Sincholagua volcano. We make a large loop downhill to the valley and after a snack, we continue crossing the different lava flows, ascending north of Cotopaxi up to 4,100 mts to the highest plains, where we complete the Highest Canter in the World.
We ride in close proximity to wild horse herds that live in the park and are descendants of the horses brought by the Spanish in the 16th century.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight camping near Tambopaxi refuge

Day 7: Ride back to the plains
We start riding towards Ruminahui volcano, continuing west. On the way, we pass to the highest point of our ride (4,250 m) on the edges of the Ruminahui Volcano. We continue our ride toward the green Machachi valley. We cross the Machachi plaza where horsemen are always welcomed; continuing our ride to the town of Aloag before arriving back at Hacienda La Alegria for a pleasant dinner.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hacienda La Alegria

Day 8: Ride to Isinlivi
We will start today's ride one hour south of Hacienda La Alegria (transferred by car to this point). We will ride by the Inca trail and dirt trails that will take us to Isinlivi.
From here, it is possible to admire the nice scenery from one valley to another. The colors and the mountains make the changes from “Paramo” to eroded land full of different color patches. In the distance, we will see the Eastern Mountain Chain.
The ride continues through several hills, arriving to a small village called Isinlivi, founded in 1857. Here we will find our Lodge for the night.
Riding: 5 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Lodge in Isinlivi

Day 9: Quilotoa
In the morning, we will take a small walk to get the horses on a hill. There is a viewpoint of the Canyon formed by several eruptions of Quilotoa volcano. We will then start our ride up hill to reach the Quilotoa crater lake.
Crossing a few villages and paths, we discover an agricultural landscape with fields of lupines, potatoes, quinoa and barley. Volcano pumice and dry soil hinder agriculture thus, just a few people live in this region.
Quilotoa volcano erupted 1,280 years ago, the volcano summit is at 4,000 meters above sea level, where our Lodge is awaiting. At the edge of the volcano we will enjoy and amazing view of the breathtaking Quilotoa Crater Lake. The 3-kilometer-wide caldera was formed by the collapse of this volcano after the last eruption. The water color changes with the light.
Riding: 5 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Quilotoa hostel, next to the crater lake

Day 10: Quilotoa to Sigchos
Today is a long journey on the saddle. We ride to Sigchos, the village that was known as the “last home” of the Inca general Ruminahui.
After breakfast, we head north by the ridge of Quilotoa Crater Lake. The trail goes across the highest mountain heading north-west. There, we will find some small dairy farms and a couple of artisanal cheese makers, we will stop for a short visit and cheese taste. 
This afternoon, we arrive to Hacienda San Jose, a working dairy farm and guesthouse. Our horses will have lush fields of fresh grass. 
Riding: 7 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hacienda San Jose

Day 11: Sigchose to Wingopana
We will ride through a dramatic landscape, including steep ravines. We start at 3900 meters and will ascend to 4000 meters high.
Even though we can visualize where we are heading and it seems close, we will have to cross several mountains chains to get there. This area is a combination of forest, rock peaks and eroded land from the past centuries.
We finish the ride on the sacred Wingopana Rock at 4000 meters. We will make our way back to Hacienda La Alegria by car for dinner and overnight.
Riding: 6 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hacienda la Alegria

Day 12: Departure
Breakfast and finish our services. Transfer to airport.
Meals included: Breakfast

Rates and Dates for Cotopaxi and Quilotoa

Dates Note: ** Quilotoa Ride is possible to book all year -- please inquire for availability

Other Info
Meeting: Quito Airport or Hotel
Airport: Quito
Transfer: Quito

Climate:
                                            Sigchos‎‎ area