Day 1  Arrival to Quito and transfer from airport to your hotel and spend a night in the ancient city of Quito.

Day 2  Visit the city, exploring the town squares and churches, before we transfer to the Hacienda La Alegria for lunch and relaxation, take the afternoon to discover the charming hacienda.  Overnight at Hacienda La Alegria.

Day 3  Today is our first day of horseback riding! We will ride over the stunning Hacienda La Alegria property and in the nearby vicinity, learning and adjusting to our horses and saddlery and enjoying a pleasant lunch break. Today we spend the time acclimatized to the altitude here. Overnight at Hacienda La Alegria.

Day 4   We saddle our horses and depart from Hacienda La Alegria eastward, towards the Andes! We cross the valley and climb the volcano Machachi Rumiñahui until we find our shelter for the night that has all the rustic comforts we need on the trail. After a hot shower, we enjoy a delicious dinner by the fire together and rest up for the days ahead. Overnight at mountain refuge - 3750 meters. 

Day 5   Our horseback challenge today is to cover the northern base of Cotopaxi volcano, heading east on a long journey that will end in the plains of the volcano Quilindaña.  This valley was once part of an old volcano and is where we will find  Hacienda Chalupas, our next destination! Some of the chagras (cowboys) come from other remote haciendas to overnight here and participate in a rodeo! Overnight at Hacienda Chalupas - 3500 meters.

Day 6   After a hearty breakfast, we prepare for a long riding day that begins with a meeting of the chagras on horseback with their ponchos and warm fur coats.  They form a semicircle, where the rodeo chief distributes instructions for the day, very similar to a military strategy. Several groups of chagras will be used to cover the largest possible area. Gradually appear the first groups of cattle, some try to return to their hideouts in the mountains, and so is where the strategy is necessary and it will require the help of all riders. In the afternoon we reach the corrals where chagras "work" the cattle in their unique way. They lasso individuals and bring to them to the wood posts to mark, de-worm etc and eventually each are released back to the group for  the sales and others will be returned to the moor. At the end of the day chagras get together to sing music where the bull, horse and women are remembered in their songs for hours together with sugar cane liquor.  Overnight at Hacienda Chalupas. 

Day 7   Today, instead of the cattle, we will drive wild horses and take them to the corral. The aim is to cut the horses hooves and then do the de-worming. The hoof trimming is important because in these vast prairies the wear hoofs can be uneven and poor, which may ultimately harm the horse in its physical growth. The de-worming will reduce the burden of parasites, decrease the risk of disease and allow the horses to receive the best nutrition from the pasture.  We will have the opportunity to fish for our dinner tonight - some fresh and tasty trout!  Overnight at Hacienda Chalupas.

Day 8   The cattle and horse work done, we leave the mountains and head back west along wilderness trails of pine trees, back through the sheltered valley, we will serve a meal to give us more energy out on the trail and hopefully if the weather co-operates, we will see the giant volcano Cotopaxi from its south side.  We arrive to Hacienda La Cienega late in the afternoon (built in 1570, also former owners of Chalupas), the hacienda is now a luxury hotel that will allow us to recover in style and comfort after all the hard work with the horses and cattle.  Hacienda La Cienega is located at  an elevation of 2900 meters.

Day 9   Today, we ride north through the valley of Cotopaxi on our way to the Valley of Machachi. Late in the afternoon, we arrive back to beautiful Hacienda la Alegria, where we expect a wonderfully tasty meal, good friends and conversation and a most relaxing spa. Overnight at Hacienda la Alegria.

Day 10   A last full day spent relaxing with the horses, taking in the beautiful scenery, and enjoying excellent food and hospitality of your home away from home.

Day 11   Transfer to the airport for departure!

Clothing:
Shirt: Cotton or wool, long sleeved or turtleneck
Sweater: Heavy wool or fleece sweater or vest
Trousers: Full length, wool, blend, or pile or other warm pants
Underwear:  Light-weight (polypropylene) thermal underwear, top and bottom
Headwear: Skycap, wool hat or wide brim felt hat, bandana, and sunglasses
Jackets: Insulated or Gore-Tex mountain parka for rain and wind (important)
Gloves: Wool, leather, or polypropylene, recommended water proof
Socks: Wool or polypropylene
Footwear: Tennis shoes, lightweight hiking boots, or runner boots (if your shoe size is 9.5 US or less, boots are available at Hacienda La Alegria).

Accessories:
Cosmetic kit (reduce to minimum)
Sunglasses
Sunblock +30 and lipstick ointments (important)
Flashlight with extra batteries
Washcloth
Camera extra batteries
Binoculars

There is no set weight limit for your luggage as it will be transferred by car. 

Wool ponchos, rain ponchos, chaps, horse bag and helmets are provided.
 

ACCOMMODATIONS...

Hacienda Alegria is a family-run organic farm and the hospitality of the Espinosa household is remarked upon by visitors who return year after year. You will be welcomed with a roaring log fire in the sitting room, and another in your bedroom when the nights are cold. La Alegria can accommodate up to 24 people both in the farmhouse and a recently completed extended accommodations. 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. They are split-level family rooms which sleep five in comfort. Our visitors book contains many compliments to the chef at La Alegria!

Hacienda Chalupas
A remote and rustic mountain hacienda that is the center point of the cattle and horse round up.

Hacienda la Cienega
La Cienega, the oldest and most splendid colonial style hotel in Cotopaxi province of Ecuador, has belonged to the descendants of Marques of Maenza since the seventeenth century. Situated on the outskirts of Volcano Cotopaxi and its National Park, it’s surrounded by the Andes most magnificent snow-capped peaks. The hacienda, which was converted into a beautiful Ecuadorian mountainside lodge with two-meter thick walls carved from volcanic rock, finally opened its doors to the public in 1982, offering charm, history and tradition. The 34 rooms of hacienda offer our guests guaranteed quality and comfort. The restaurant offers only the freshest national and international cuisine. The chef Alfredo has been working at the hacienda since the hacienda opened its doors to the public and is extremely experienced in preparing delicious dishes to the delight of our customers’ palette.

MEALS...

All meals are tailored for hungry riders and combine delicious Ecuadorian and international cuisine. Vegetarian / other special dietary options on request!

Breakfast: coffee, tea, cocoa, oatmeal, eggs and/or French toast, natural fruit juice and fruit of the season.

Lunch: Trail days: high energy pack lunch (sandwiches, fruit, candy). Hacienda days: similar to dinner.

Dinner: typical Ecuadorian soup, chicken, beef, pork or pasta, vegetables, rice or potatoes, dessert. Vegetarian / other special dietary options on request.

Drinks: water, juices, soft drinks.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Tack:		North American style, English style, Mclellan calvary, Chillean and traditional Ecuadorian "Chagra" style with its intricate leather-work and saddle horn.
Horses:		mixed Criollo (native South American), English Thoroughbred and Arabian stock
Pace:		5-8 hours of riding. Moderate with trots and canters. We ride on rough terrain and up and down steep slopes. | Walk | Trot | Canter | Gallop |
Level:		(3.5 to 4 out of 5)    Strong Intermediate
Age:		Min 12	Max 70
Weight:		Max 190 lbs
Riders:		Min 4 riders	Max 8 riders

Our horses are very important to us. 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. If you have previous riding experience you will be given plenty of opportunity to canter.

We have a range of tack including North American style, English style, Mclellan calvary, Chillean and traditional Ecuadorian "Chagra" style with its intricate leather-work and saddle horn.

Riders should have a good fitness level. Your help in cleaning and saddling the horses is required.
There are 4 days that have 8+ riding hours each - only suitable for good riders.

Passports
Passport valid for at least six months required by all nationals referred to in the chart.
Passport Note
Passports must be carried at all times.

Visas
Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days.

Note: (a) A measles vaccination certificate is required by all nationals travelling from Germany and Italy and must be shown on arrival. (b) Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).
Visa Note
Extensions of a further 90 days are available through the local immigration authorities.