Transfer Option:

Day 1: Transfer from hotel or airport for dinner and overnight to Hacienda La Alegria.
Optional accommodation: La Carriona

Day 2: Ride in the arena to try horses and get acquainted with the horse and tack that we will be using the next days. Lunch in the Hacienda house and later we ride around the neighboring Haciendas and the Viudita Mountain. Our acclimatization and first contact with the heights starts this first day.
Accommodations: La Alegria
Hours of Riding: 4 hours

Day 3: In the morning we enjoy a demonstration of the Chagras’ skills (the Ecuador Andes’ cowboys). After having lunch at Hacienda La Alegria we ride on what used to be the road to the coast. We ascend by the sides of Corazon to 3,500 meters and descend to the cloud forest. At the cloud forest we can observe a great biodiversity of plants and flowers, including giant gunneras, orchids, and birds such as the pava de monte (guan). In the late afternoon we arrive to Hacienda Bomboli 3,000 m (13,000 ft), and relax by the fireplace enjoying the sunset and watching the lights of the villages near the coast.
Option camping in Monte Oscuro, (Depends on the weather, min 4 pax)
Accommodations: Bomboli
Hours of riding: 4 hours

Day 4: We leave behind the cloud forest and ascend to the Corazon Volcano up to 4,000 meters. From there we can appreciate the green and fertile Machachi Valley and we can also see the routes we will take the next day. Crossing extensive pastures and eucalyptus forests we initiate the descent toward the valley. Snack and continue to the valley. Late afternoon we arrive for a delicious lunch at the Hacienda house.
Accommodations: La Alegria
Hours of riding: 6 hours

Day 5: We ride toward the west mountain range and through the valley toward Machachi. We stop at the Machachi market (on Sundays only), continue toward the Ruminahui skirts and stop at a beautiful Hacienda for lunch. We continue riding until we arrive to the Pedregal valley and stay overnight in a Hacienda at 3,500 meters.
Accommodations: Hacienda in the Pedregal Valley (near Cotopaxi)
Hours of riding: 4 hours

Day six, seven and eight: Horse Round up:
On day six we arrive early afternoon at the Hacienda hosting the roundup. You will be given the chance to ride with real Chagras, and assist them in the round up to bring the horses to the corrals. The next two days we will be working in the corrals and short rides around the area. The work in the farm corrals starts in the morning after a pleasant breakfast. At the corrals you will witness the spectacular work and skills of the Chagras: the lassoing of the horses, de-worming and trimming of the hoofs that grow abnormal due especially to the weather conditions. If you have some experience lassoing or trimming hoofs you can venture and help the Chagras with their job. If you have never done this before, today will be a good opportunity to learn and practice the basics of the lassoing.

After lunch you will have the opportunity to ride around the area or stay at the corrals watching and helping the Chagras. In the evenings you will savor a delicious barbeque. The horses are in the corrals and adjacent paddocks during these two days. You will have the opportunity to get in contact with the horses on a different manner. We will try to get close to them without lassoing or using force and establish a trusty relation with them. We have experienced that after approaching wild horses in this manner, they have followed us, as if they were broke and not wild horses.

Accommodations and hours of ride will vary depending on the Hacienda organizing the roundup.
*Note: Some of these facilities may not have hot water.

Day 9: We start riding toward the west, pass the Muchana rock (kissing rock), and mudadero where we can see hundreds of alpacas grazing. We pass the innumerable Cajas, Sto. Domingo lakes and get closer to the Cotopaxi Volcano. We pass the lava rocks that had descended to the valley and is now static; then we arrive to the only structure that is our very comfortable and warm mountain refuge.
Accommodations: Tambopaxi Refuge
Hours of riding 5+ hours

Day 10: Ride in the Lipiopungo plains (Cotopaxi base), feels like if you were riding on the moon’s surface. Here we do the highest gallop in the world. Pass to the highest point of our ride (4,200 meters) on the edges of the rocks of the Ruminahui Volcano. We continue our ride toward the green Machachi valley as always guarded by the volcanoes avenue. We cross the Machachi plaza where the horsemen are always welcomed; we pass the town of Aloag and arrive to Hacienda La Alegria for a pleasant dinner and rest time.
Accommodations: Hacienda La Alegria
Hours of riding 7+ hours

Day 11: Transfer to airport

    Subject to change

In Quito the temperature ranges from 7 degrees C (55 F) at night to 26 C (78 F) at noon, and averages 15 C (64 F). There are two seasons, wet and dry. The wet season is called winter and the dry is considered summer. Quito's summer lasts about 4 months, from the end of June to September. 

The temperatures in the Ecuadorian highlands are in the 70s and 80s Farenheit (20-25 celsius) all year.

Please note that the evenings can be very cold.

A warm sleeping bag is essential. Long underwear or pantyhose (to prevent chaffing), vests / T-shirts, sweatshirts / long-sleeve shirts, fleece jacket, wind stopper / rain jacket, riding boots or lightweight hiking boots, gloves, scarf, high factor sunscreen, sunglasses. We provide riding helmets, half-length chaps, waterproof full-length chaps and ponchos for wet weather

HACIENDA LA ALEGRIA
Hacienda La 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 in your bedroom when the nights are cold.

La Alegria 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. We have split-level family rooms which sleep five in comfort.

Paty and her staff provide full board if required. All meals are tailored for hungry travellers, riders and hikers, and combine delicious Ecuadorian and international cuisine. Our visitors book contains many compliments to the chef at La Alegria! Vegetarian / other special dietary options on request.

HACIENDA LA CARRIONA 
Hacienda "La Carriona" is located in the beautiful Valley of Los Chillos, a brief drive south down the highway from Quito. Constructed as an hacienda more than two-hundred years ago, "La Carriona" stands as a monument to Ecuador's colonial history. Its stone courtyard and garden hint of the exuberant Spanish Colonial lifestyle, while its name reminds us that it once belonged to the renowned Carrión family.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

At Hacienda La Alegria 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.

Tack:		Western style, Mclellan, Calvary, Chillean, Argentinean 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:		4-7 hours of riding daily Moderate with trots and canters. We ride on rough terrain and up and down steep slopes. | Walk | Trot | Canter | Gallop |
Level:		(3 to 4 out of 5)    Intermediate
Age:		Min 12	Max 70
Weight:		Max 190
Riders:		Min 3 riders	Max 8 riders

At Hacienda La Alegria 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.

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.