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Ecuador

7 and 10 night rides in the Ecuadorian highlands, using hacienda or simpler lodge accommodation and following ancient Inca routes. Run from set start dates most of the year for intermediate riders and above or can be tailor-made for private groups.
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Where is it?

Routes take you north of Quito, through the Zuleta valley, close of the town of Otavalo and then head south where you ride in the high Andean grasslands, in the shadow of the giant volcanic peaks of Cayambe and Cotpaxi.

What is it like?

A contrast of small cultivated fields tended by brightly clothed Indian farmers, villages and busy markets, shepherds with sheep and llamas, colourful Ecuadorian cowboys and the solitude of the wild, high grasslands under towering snow capped volcanoes.

Who does it suit?

A chance to see Ecuador’s bustling local life, people, villages, markets but also get off-grid to the fabulous riding country of the highlands. Super quality, well schooled horses are a treat for experienced riders but less experienced will also be well looked after by a very experienced team. There are three ride itineraries to choose from, all following the ancient Inca routes with accommodation either in comfortable hacienda hotels or using more remote local lodges and traditional farms.

Why we love it

The combination of culture and countryside. To see the daily lives of local people, the markets and busy villages then enjoy spectacular solitude in the mountains. And the horses are superb!

Travel with trust

When you travel with Ride World Wide, you can travel with trust. We’re a member of ABTOT (the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust) which provides financial protection for your booking through our ABTOT bond and under the ABTOT ATOL franchise. If you have any questions please ask.

In a Nutshell

Riding
4-7 hours a day
Horses
Locally bred Criollo, Andalucian, Thoroughbred crosses
Pace
Moderate overall and varied; generally good chances to canter but some slower days
Riding Ability
Suitable for intermediate to experienced riders
Weight Limit
95kgs (15 stone) but supplement is be payable if you are over 85kg (13st 5 lbs)
Group Size
Maximum 8
Accommodation
Haciendas & country hotels; local lodges & farms (2 options)
2026 Dates
Year round, set dates; see “Key Information” below
2026 Prices
7 night rides from approx USD 3,425 (approx £2,635) per person; see “Key Information” below
What you'll be doing

Itinerary in Brief

Haciendas of the Andes Ride

Below is an example itinerary. Please ask us for other itineraries.

Day 1

Met in Quito and driven about 90 minutes to Cayambe, with a stop to visit the market. Lunch and meet the horses, an introductory ride over to the Zuleta Valley. Dinner and the night at Hacienda La Merced.

Day 2

A full day ride through a patchwork of fields to San Pablo lake, stopping for a picnic lunch en-route. Dinner and night Hacienda Cusin.

Day 3

Breakfast and ride south through farmland, forest and open country with some good chances to canter. In the afternoon leave the horses and drive south to a country hotel where the night is spent.

Day 4

A spectacular ride today, crossing the foothills of Cotopaxi National Park, beautiful remote wilderness with good chances to see Condors. Dinner and the night at Los Mortinos, a lodge with unbeatable views of Cotopaxi.

Day 5

The ride today is again into the Cotopaxi National Park, maybe meeting the wild horses as you ride across the plains and old lava flows. A picnic lunch before you return to Los Mortinos for dinner and the night.

Day 6

Set off riding, heading to the slopes of Ruminahui volcano, climbing to around 4000m for one of the hightest canters in the world! The night is spent at a Jesuit hacienda.

Day 7

Breakfast and the final ride takes you close to Cotopaxi volcano. An exhilarating canter across the high plains before riding down to the valleys and roadhead in the afternoon. Leave the horses and transfer to an hacienda close to Quito airport for dinner and the night.

Day 8

Breakfast and own arrangements for onward travel.
Our Rider Feedback

What People Say

“I enjoyed every bit of this ride; so it is difficult to pick out highlights, though nothing quite beats the euphoria that comes from cantering across spectacular highland terrain with Cotopaxi Volcano and its glaciers as a backdrop.. Sally is a wonderful, attentive guide with a deep knowledge of the landscape and culture of the sierra. The horses she uses are responsive and well-mannered and she makes every effort to accommodate the desires of clients when it comes to choosing mounts. The staff and the chagras who accompanied us were friendly and efficient and the haciendas we stayed in were very comfortable and often situated in spectacular settings”
RB (USA)
"A truly exceptional and a once in a lifetime experience riding in the most beautiful scenery with excellent horses and a guide, Sally, who has a horsemanship which is second to none. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is seeking a true adventure in a unique setting and an extremely welcoming country and group of people. The places we stayed at and the food we ate was just exceptional and Sally kept outdoing herself. My only wish is that it went on forever! Thank you Sally and your team!"
XL (London)
"Sally is an exceptional guide and has nice horses and runs an excellent operation.......we definitely benefited from her extensive knowledge about horses and about Ecuador. She was really interesting,, so impressively hard working and good company. The horses were lovely, and it was a pleasure to see how much she valued them and the care that she took looking after them. What a star!"
CS (Hampshire)
“We had the most wonderful trip to Ecuador. It was a fantastic adventure and Sally and all her team were brilliant. The horses, landscape, food, itinerary, experiences, people and overall impact were amazing. We are very happy to rave about the experience to anyone thinking of going with Sally to Ecuador. Thank-you so much for helping to organise this brilliant experience.”
SK (Buckinghamshire)
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Key information

You’ll find all the information you need at the ‘Download Full Details’ link above. If there’s anything else you would like to know, please contact us to ask.

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Booking Request

To request a booking on a particular ride, please fill in the details below, and we’ll get back to you as quickly as possible. (Please note this is a request for space not a guarantee of booking!)

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