Ecuador
These rides take you to Ecuador's famous Avenue of Volcanoes, up to its high Andean grasslands. You will ride in the shadow of the giant volcanic peaks of Cayambe and Cotopaxi, see the brightly clothed Indian farmers and shepherds who tend flocks of sheep and llamas in the hills, join colourful Ecuadorian cowboys herding cattle into sheltered valleys and visit markets, weavers and woodturners who practice their traditional crafts in the villages. Three ride itineraries are offered, following ancient Inca routes and taking you either from comfortable hacienda to hacienda or using local lodges and farms.
Rides are run from fixed dates year round usually for 7 or 10 nights. Private trips and tailor made itineraries can also be arranged for groups of 2 or more. Please contact us to discuss.
SUMMARY
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)
Accommodation: haciendas & country hotels; local lodges & farms (2 options)
Group size: max 8
Season: year round
Price: 7 night trails from USD 3175 (approx £2440) per person
HORSES & RIDING
Horses: The horses are mostly the local Criollo breed, crossed with Andalucian, Thoroughbred, Paso and other warmblood breeds. They are between 14.2hh and 16hh, are generally fairly narrow in build but strong and sure footed. They are well suited to the terrain and are calm but also responsive, forward going and fun to ride. The saddles are ex US Cavalry saddles, classed as western style but really half way between English & western and covered with a comfortable sheepskin. Most of the horses are trained western style so are used to neck reining. Groups are normally limited to a maximum of 8 guests.
Hours: There is usually 5 or 6 hours riding a day, riding from hacienda to hacienda, or between farms and lodges with breaks for rests, lunch and sightseeing.
Pace and experience required: To take part in these rides you need to be a reasonably experienced rider. You should be comfortable, secure and in control on a well schooled horse at a walk, trot and canter and used to riding in open country and over varied terrain. You should have a reasonably good level of general and riding fitness.
ACCOMMODATION
A variety of accommodation is used on the rides, depending on the itinerary. On the 'Hacienda' rides, nights are at a selection of Ecuador's haciendas (manor farms), and country hotels. These are all comfortable, and rooms have own bathrooms etc. On the Andean Adventure & Volcano Rides nights are spent at more simple haciendas, local farms ('fincas') and guest houses which are simple and rustic, bathrooms are sometimes shared, but reasonably comfortable.
RATES & DATES
|
Rates 2021 |
(Assuming a minimum of 4 riders) |
|
Dates 2021 |
Hacienda Ride |
Average temperature guide
ITINERARY
Itinerary in brief - Hacienda Ride. Please enquire for other itineraries
| The following is an example of the itinerary for the Hacienda Ride. Contact 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 exploring the Zuleta Valley and surrounding area with a picnic lunch. Return to Hacienda La Merced for dinner and night. |
| Day 3 | Breakfast and ride south through farmland, forest and open country with some good chances to canter. Leave the horses and drive a short way to a Jesuit Hacienda for lunch. In the afternoon continue driving south to a country hotel on the slopes of Pasachao mountain where the night is spent. |
| Day 4 | A circuit ride today takes your from lush cloud forest into the high grassland, the ‘paramo’, stopping to admire views of snow capped Cotopaxi Volcano. Return to your hotel by a different route for dinner and the night. |
| Day 5 | 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 6 | The ride today is again into the Cotopaxi National Park, maybe meeting the wild horses as you ride across the plains and old lava flow. A picnic lunch before you return to Los Mortinos for dinner and the night. |
| Day 7 | Breakfast and set off riding, climbing the slopes of Ruminahui Volcano, up to around 4000m. Stop for a picnic in a hidden valley before riding on, with unforgettable views, the the roadhead. Leave the horses and transfer to an hacienda close to Quuito airport for dinner and the night. |
| Day 8 | Breakfast and own arrangements for onward travel. |
| Contact us at info@rideworldwide.com or on tel (+44) (0)1837-82544 / 825440 for further information, detailed itineraries, dates and answers to questions. |
TRAVEL
The meeting point for the rides is Quito, Ecuador's capital. There are flights to Quito from London with KLM via Amsterdam and Avianca via Bogota - both usually overnight, arriving Quito early the next morning - and with Iberia via Madrid and several US airlines via the States - usually day flights, arriving Quito in the evening. For flights from London budget around £850 economy return.
