Cotopaxi Adventure Ride

Introduction
Highlands Ecuador

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.

Accomodation

AB= cooked breakfast, L= Lunch, PL= picnic lunch (different menus, never just a sandwich), T= tea, D= dinner.

A variety of snacks and also bottled water are provided each day. 

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.

Included: 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.

Ride is at high altitude above 2600 metres.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding

Riding time per day :

All times given are approximate.

Weight restriction:

Due to the altitude and terrain, there is a weight restriction. The limit is 85kg or 185 lbs. It may be possible to arrange for riders over 85 kg/185lbs (2 horses required), with a supplement to be paid.

Riding responsibility

It is understood by Ride Andes that guests booking any of their tours are in a suitable condition to participate, not riding against any physician's advice and that guests know of no reason why they should not be participating in such a tour. Guests will be required to sign a waiver of liability at the start of the tour.

Insurance: Guests are responsible for having an adequate, valid insurance policy including cover for all the sporting activities that they are likely to participate in. Appropriate medical insurance is obligatory.

Pace:

The pace is very varied due to the great variety of terrain. Each day there are opportunities for fast paced riding and on the last few days of the scheduled departure itineraries there is ample opportunity for long canters, depending on the guests' wishes. The rides in Ecuador - due to the altitude - are not suitable for guests wanting to ´gallop flat out´ for most of the day, please consult us for other destinations (the plains in Argentina).

Non-Riders:

If non-riders wish to accompany the tour, alternative activities can normally be organised for them and, during a lot of the rides, everyone can meet up for mid-day meals and at the hotels. Please ask for further details.

Guides/Grooms:

Guests are accompanied by a guide (bilingual: English/Spanish) and at least one local groom.

The guides and grooms have excellent local knowledge of the highlands of Ecuador and are expert riders. The guides have many years of experience guiding on and off horseback. Professional guides speaking other languages are available on prior request. One groom is present for every 3-4 guests. There is also additional ground staff.

Itinerary

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 – these mounds are formed by volcanic hotspots (now cooled down!) and create quite a bizarre topography. In the afternoon we arrive onto some wonderful grassy plains allowing some long canters – often joined by the wild horses that roam the area, until we arrive at our accommodation for the night: a wonderful adobe and thatch farmhouse. Guests can sip ‘canelazo’ and taste ‘empanadas’ around the roaring fire before enjoying another delicious, traditional dinner. Twin rooms (partitioned sleeping areas) with shared bathrooms (option to pay supplement for room with private bathroom). AB, PL, D.

Day 7: We ride out for a final day in the wild open ‘paramo’ (6 hrs). After some fast paced riding, we climb up scree slopes and over rocky outcrops close to the summit of Sincholagua.  As we cross the expanses of grassland and admire the endless views across the rolling hills -not a fence or even a hut for miles around, we have an excellent view of the peculiar geological features such as drumlins, hillocks, mud and lava flows produced by ice age (glacial) activity and then various eruptions of the mighty Cotopaxi volcano. We pass through some native Andean woodlands and also enjoy the sight of tiny Andean wildflowers – Indians’ paintbrush, gentians, deer’s head, lupines, all seemingly too fragile to survive in the highlands. This is another good spot to see the Andean condor and also deer. Overnight at hotel in Quito.

Day 8:  Departure after breakfast.

The ‘chagras’ that guide us across this haunting landscape spend their lives here and carefully lead us between the muddy wetlands. The skyline is dominated by the magnificent Andean peaks: Cotopaxi, Antisana, Quilindaña, Pichincha and many more – the land of the volcanoes. Descending Sincholagua, we arrive back at the farm where the horses stay, we say farewell to our local guides and our trusty steeds and drive back to Quito. AB, PL.

Rates and Dates for Cotopaxi Adventure Ride

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: Quito Hotel
Airport: Quito
Transfer: Pick up and drop off at Quito Hotel Sebastian

Climate:

The climate in the Ecuadorian highlands allows us to offer rides all year round. During the day the temperatures can rise to 28C, although most days start with a crisp 8-10C and the night-time temperature can be 4C. At night around the crater lakes the temperature can drop to freezing.

This temperature change is most marked from June to November. From December to May the days remain cooler (25C) and the nights not quite as cold.

In the 'rainy' season (October to May in most areas) the rain does not fall daily and is hardly ever prolonged. Afternoon showers occur, by then the day's ride is over. The strong possibility of heavy afternoon rains make camping inadvisable in May and October so the overnight stops on the adventure rides are altered slightly to eliminate camping. Rain ponchos are available for each guest.

ALTITUDE

This ride takes place at above 2600m.

All the hotels have telephones and on certain rides mobile telephones and/or radios are carried.

Guests are kindly requested on all rides to take a minimum of personal belongings with them. Pack animals or a vehicle bring on guests belongings to the Haciendas. Luggage storage can be organised in Quito during the ride.

All bed linen and towels will be provided on the tours. No camping. Sleeping bag not needed.

Equipment provided by Ride Andes (where applicable):

- Rain ponchos
- Chaps/ Half Chaps (a few pairs are available on prior request).

Please bring enough film and batteries especially film/cartridges/memory cards for more modern equipment.  (We advise 400ASA for 35mm cameras.)  The backup vehicle can carry video cameras for guests but the vehicle will not be with the riders all the time. At altitude batteries tend to run down more quickly.

VALUABLES

Although Ecuador has one of the best records in Latin America for safety we advise:

-please take the minimum valuables and avoid wearing expensive watches/jewellery in public.

-please use the hotel/hacienda safety deposit box.

-please use money belts and do not leave valuables 'on show' or in back/outside pockets.

-while riding, valuables can be handed in to the guide for safe storage.

-in Quito, taxis should always be taken at night.

Ride Andes cannot accept any responsibility for loss/theft during your stay in Ecuador.