LynnG
05-19-2007, 03:26 AM
This adventurous ride in Ecuador is a trip of a lifetime - only experienced riders should sign up !
Explore remote Ecuador - a true backcountry adventure
Cloud Forest to Highland Ride
This adventure ride takes you through the very heart of the Western Andes and their unbroken beauty, winding through their hidden depths and heights. Certainly more challenging and demanding than a hacienda riding vacation, 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!
Level: Intermediate+
Pace: The riding pace varies drastically - from canters on narrow paths to slow pace and leading your horse on steep sections of 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. The riding pace varies drastically - from canters on narrow paths and open fields to slow pace and leading your horse on steep sections of the trail.
Min/Max Riders: 3-8
Weight limit: 190 lbs.
Note: Riders should have a good fitness level Riders will have to lead their horses on steep areas of the trail. Your help in cleaning and saddling the horses is required.
Shared bathrooms at some places.
The last 2 riding days are long hard riding days. And this is what some clients REALLY WANT and don't get anywhere else. Less seasoned riders can choose to ride only the first 7 or 8 days and then transfer back to Quito !
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 its 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 Compaa is supposed to be the richest decorated church in the world. After nightfall, take a ride in a horse-carriage over the centers 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 whos 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 Pichinchas 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, well 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 youve ever eaten, and their three charming girls will capture every visitors 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 Calacal. 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 youll 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: Having gone half our way to Otavalo, we will have a rest day today, - enjoying some leisure activities and refilling our energies with Mrs. Hildas Austrian Kaiserschmarrn in the middle of nowhere. In the morning we invite you for a 2-hours ride towards the river, were we shall take a wonderfully refreshing bubble-bath. When trail-conditions are difficult, we might take a look at mysterious 1300 years old stone-carvings instead. Those who want to also have the chance to explore the beautiful surroundings by horse on their own. Those, who'd like to change activity for a while, can go for a walk, collect tropical fruit, head for a shower under a natural waterfall or just hang out for a day, enjoying the enchanted and unique scenery of our rest place.
Day 8: This is the day of the adventurous! After crossing the bridge over the furious and turbulent river Guayllabamba, we'll be trekking along a nerve-wrecking trail above the river for several hours, following its direction upstream, leading us through the most hallucinating and breathtaking landscapes you can possibly imagine. You should not be afraid of heights. We will have to dismount on several sections of this trail and hike in difficult steep terrain. Fitness required! In the late afternoon we'll reach the wild-west-town of San Jos de Minas, which has lost its glory as an important mining place when the new road from Quito to Otavalo was built, leaving San Jos de Minas out of the way. The view of the town is dominated by a mighty colonial church with stories to tell about. In its stony archways, Marcelo and Janet run a Flintstone-designed fancy little hostel that offers us shelter for tonight. When Marcelo takes out his strange collection of German and American Country music and the Cuba Libres are served, the mood is rising.
Day 9: Today well be climbing about 1,000m in altitude, up to the cool and windy heights of the Paramo. Leaving the fertile valley of Minas behind us, we start riding and climbing along and across the fields and pastures of the authentic, charming Andean Highland, with cattle grazing on over 45 degrees inclined mountain-slopes. As we proceed, housing, clothing and features get more and more indigenous: we are entering the land of the Otavalo tribe, one the few indigenous cultures worldwide who have managed to integrate and to succeed in a globalize world without loosing their identity. Well reach the beautiful Cuicocha Crater Lake in the afternoon, encircled by rugged mountain walls. A boat trip around the islands in its midst can be organized. Here, we spend our last night in wonderful cottages with a romantic view over the lake and its mystical afternoon mists. You want to know it all? This is your chance to taste the traditional guinea-pig dish, famous and even sacred in the Andes since the time of the Incas.
Day 10: After breakfast in the sightseeing cafeteria, our accompanying vehicle will pick us up and drive us down to Otavalo with a far-reaching view over the valley and the surrounding mountains. In the small Andean town, world-famous for its handicrafts and wool products, we'll have the chance to visit its lively, colorful indigenous market. These textile products nowadays are sold around the world, and as poor as the mountain housings were we have seen yesterday, its also here in Otavalo where you can see more Mercedes Benz than anywhere else in Ecuador. After lunch in an exquisite local restaurant transfer back to Quito for your last overnight in charming hotel. Dinner is not included, but we will suggest some excellent restaurants in town.
Day 11: Departure after breakfast and transfer to the airport.
Explore remote Ecuador - a true backcountry adventure
Cloud Forest to Highland Ride
This adventure ride takes you through the very heart of the Western Andes and their unbroken beauty, winding through their hidden depths and heights. Certainly more challenging and demanding than a hacienda riding vacation, 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!
Level: Intermediate+
Pace: The riding pace varies drastically - from canters on narrow paths to slow pace and leading your horse on steep sections of 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. The riding pace varies drastically - from canters on narrow paths and open fields to slow pace and leading your horse on steep sections of the trail.
Min/Max Riders: 3-8
Weight limit: 190 lbs.
Note: Riders should have a good fitness level Riders will have to lead their horses on steep areas of the trail. Your help in cleaning and saddling the horses is required.
Shared bathrooms at some places.
The last 2 riding days are long hard riding days. And this is what some clients REALLY WANT and don't get anywhere else. Less seasoned riders can choose to ride only the first 7 or 8 days and then transfer back to Quito !
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 its 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 Compaa is supposed to be the richest decorated church in the world. After nightfall, take a ride in a horse-carriage over the centers 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 whos 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 Pichinchas 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, well 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 youve ever eaten, and their three charming girls will capture every visitors 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 Calacal. 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 youll 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: Having gone half our way to Otavalo, we will have a rest day today, - enjoying some leisure activities and refilling our energies with Mrs. Hildas Austrian Kaiserschmarrn in the middle of nowhere. In the morning we invite you for a 2-hours ride towards the river, were we shall take a wonderfully refreshing bubble-bath. When trail-conditions are difficult, we might take a look at mysterious 1300 years old stone-carvings instead. Those who want to also have the chance to explore the beautiful surroundings by horse on their own. Those, who'd like to change activity for a while, can go for a walk, collect tropical fruit, head for a shower under a natural waterfall or just hang out for a day, enjoying the enchanted and unique scenery of our rest place.
Day 8: This is the day of the adventurous! After crossing the bridge over the furious and turbulent river Guayllabamba, we'll be trekking along a nerve-wrecking trail above the river for several hours, following its direction upstream, leading us through the most hallucinating and breathtaking landscapes you can possibly imagine. You should not be afraid of heights. We will have to dismount on several sections of this trail and hike in difficult steep terrain. Fitness required! In the late afternoon we'll reach the wild-west-town of San Jos de Minas, which has lost its glory as an important mining place when the new road from Quito to Otavalo was built, leaving San Jos de Minas out of the way. The view of the town is dominated by a mighty colonial church with stories to tell about. In its stony archways, Marcelo and Janet run a Flintstone-designed fancy little hostel that offers us shelter for tonight. When Marcelo takes out his strange collection of German and American Country music and the Cuba Libres are served, the mood is rising.
Day 9: Today well be climbing about 1,000m in altitude, up to the cool and windy heights of the Paramo. Leaving the fertile valley of Minas behind us, we start riding and climbing along and across the fields and pastures of the authentic, charming Andean Highland, with cattle grazing on over 45 degrees inclined mountain-slopes. As we proceed, housing, clothing and features get more and more indigenous: we are entering the land of the Otavalo tribe, one the few indigenous cultures worldwide who have managed to integrate and to succeed in a globalize world without loosing their identity. Well reach the beautiful Cuicocha Crater Lake in the afternoon, encircled by rugged mountain walls. A boat trip around the islands in its midst can be organized. Here, we spend our last night in wonderful cottages with a romantic view over the lake and its mystical afternoon mists. You want to know it all? This is your chance to taste the traditional guinea-pig dish, famous and even sacred in the Andes since the time of the Incas.
Day 10: After breakfast in the sightseeing cafeteria, our accompanying vehicle will pick us up and drive us down to Otavalo with a far-reaching view over the valley and the surrounding mountains. In the small Andean town, world-famous for its handicrafts and wool products, we'll have the chance to visit its lively, colorful indigenous market. These textile products nowadays are sold around the world, and as poor as the mountain housings were we have seen yesterday, its also here in Otavalo where you can see more Mercedes Benz than anywhere else in Ecuador. After lunch in an exquisite local restaurant transfer back to Quito for your last overnight in charming hotel. Dinner is not included, but we will suggest some excellent restaurants in town.
Day 11: Departure after breakfast and transfer to the airport.