Packages and Options

Because of the nature of this ride, guests would benefit from arriving in Quito before the first day of the tour to acclimatize.

2008 Itinerary:

Day 1    
 HACIENDA LA CARRIONA
Transfer from airport to the Sangolqui valley in the southern outskirts of Quito. Your stop is in the first highland hacienda of the circuit: La Carriona. A forty minute drive, from the busy city to a vast green valley surrounded by mountain peaks from the Andean ranges, will take you to this luxury hotel and home of its host Fernando Becdach. Your suite, decorated comfortably to savour a family environment of the historical haciendas in the highlands also offers a modern bathroom with all necessary utilities. Immaculate garden lined with Jacaranda trees invite the guest to wonder around and discover peace and harmony away from the hustle and bustle of Quito. Its location, on the outskirts of Quito, is ideal for quick access to Quito’s historical centre, birth place of the first and most important colonial art school in South America. You are perfectly well situated at La Carriona to begin your ride in the central highlands through which you will be riding for the remainder of the circuit. You may choose to spend the rest of the day relaxing by the heated pool, in the sauna, or simply enjoying the beauty of the hacienda and its history.
Day 2  HACIENDA ALEGRIA:
Adaptation to horses and altitude; ride to Viudita Mountain  You will be collected from La Carriona and driven half an hour south along the spectacular "Avenue of the Volcanoes" to Hacienda La Alegria. Your host, Gabriel Espinosa, is passionate about horses and riding, and you will soon see why his operation is famed for the quality of its horses. You will be given the chance to get used to your horse in the safety of our "round" and paddock. A 4 hour ride to the Viudita mountain is scheduled. From its top you will be able to enjoy a spectacular sunset view of the volcano avenue, your riding area for the following days. Native moorland vegetation enriched with the humidity that rises from the coast provides the most unbelievable landscape and view of Quito and its surrounding valleys of Machachi, Pifo, and Puembo. This mountain is a perfect fit for a first day ride on Ecuador’s highlands. In the evening, riders will return to Hacienda La Alegria for dinner served in a cozy environment with a warm fireplace. You may later enjoy our bar and listen to the old farm tales.  Riding time 4-hrs
Day 3 
RUMINAHUI and COTOPAXI
Early breakfast and departure from Hacienda La Alegria towards the town of Machachi, known as the capital of the Ecuadorian cowboys “Chagras”. We will ride upward to 4,200m near the peak of the rocky Ruminahui Mountain and continue to Limpiopungo Lake in the Cotopaxi National Park. Our destination will be a cozy lodge awaiting us for your day’s  rest. An overnight stay  in this comfortable lodge and a hot shower will undoubtedly renew your body. Enjoy dinner and share our pleasant experiences close to an inviting fireplace. If the weather permits it, admire a star sparkled moonlight sky.
The following morning, get up early to appreciate the most incredible scenery right in front of your eyes.....the snow capped Cotopaxi volcano.
Day 4
COTOPAXI, Sto DOMINGO LAKE
This day will be opportunity to canter in some parts of the ride: crossing terrain that resembles the lunar surface, pass the Santo Domingo Lake 4100 mts high; descend to the Vicious Valley 3500 mts high, a canyon formed by the Cotopaxi lava flow route; and spot along the ride herds of wild horses, fox, deer and birds of the area. A hardy welcome will be given to the riders by the personnel at Yanahurco Hacienda, the largest hacienda in the Ecuadorian highland with its 72,000 acres. Its spectacular chagra traditions and farm life will enchant you from the moment you reach its premises. After Lunch, we receive the chagras that will work in the farm cattle round- up, explore the surroundings of Yanahurco by foot and admire this vast, widespread region that has preserved various endangered animal habitats. At night, enjoy a briefing of Yanahurco`s attractions and activities such as its annual cattle rodeo and its wild horse rodeo by a sparkling fireplace. Sleep in comfortable private rooms, warmed by furnaces, quits, and hot water bags for your delight. A hot water shower will surely be comforting after this wonderful and exciting day is over...    riding time-6 hrs
Day 5 
Jatuncocha Lake Ride
Today you will be given the chance to ride with real chagras, mustering wild fighting bulls in the most incredible mountain environment. The day starts with a hearty breakfast, don't hold back: you will earn it! We saddle up and gather in a circle on our horses to be given our riding instructions for the day by the head chagra. The circle of mounted chagras is a colourful sight. You will be assigned to a chagra who will take care of you for the day and make sure you are not in danger at any point. We ride up the paramo to the high ridges surrounding the local mountains, climbing from 3600 to 4000 m, and through a series of calls and whistles the chagras communicate to each other, indicating the position of the various groups of bulls – "vaca jaja!", "vaca carajo!". Gradually each rider works his/her way down pushing the cattle ahead down into the valley bottom. Some of the "bravo" bulls are lassoed with two ropes and expertly driven into the corrals. After a long ride east towards the gateway of the jungle, passing rain forests and land of wild cattle, at mid day you reach the spectacular Jatuncocha Lake (800 m long and 600 m wide). A rustic campsite stands next to this solitary and untouched site You can participate in this exhilarating work or hang back and watch. These bulls are effectively "wild" and have bred from Spanish fighting stock, so you must be an experienced rider to join in. Overnight accommodations are waiting for you and your team of riders and horses. Enjoy preparing trout you have fished during the evening next to a warm campfire and a delightful dinner which the chagras will serve you. Sleep tight under a star night sky with the sound of silence in a typical highland grass hut.   Riding time: 4- hrs
Day 6    RODEO
After breakfast, we ride back to hacienda Yanahurco pushing along the 800 heads of cattle rounded –up in this area of the hacienda. We have our lunch along the trail and arrive to the hacienda  late afternoon after a long beautiful journey working along with the chagras to keep the herd together. The cattle is placed in a huge closed natural corral right near the  farm house and  riders leave their horses in the fields. It is now time to  relax and enjoy a delicious meal at the farm. Once your ready, jump into bed and get a good night’s rest.
Day 7   ANTISANA
The day starts with a hearty breakfast at 7am! We saddle up and gather in a semi-circle again to listen to the “chagras” new riding instructions for this day. Right after this, we bid these hospitable cowboys farewell, to continue our ride on another route further north towards the spectacular snowy cone of Antisana  across the truly awe-inspiring land which lies between Quilindana, Cotopaxi, and the Sincholagua mountains. We cross Loma Gorda and arrive at lunch time to the Hacienda Antisana.  Here we say goodbye to our horses and after a short visit to the Mica Lake, we head back to Hacienda La Carriona/La ALegria for our last overnight. 
Day 8
Transfer to airport from La Carriona

2009 Itinerary:

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.
Acommodations: 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:  Cattle Round up:
We cross the Cotopaxi valley and arrive mid day to the hacienda that’s hosting the rodeo. We will participate in the activities that take place in the corrals or we will round up more cattle towards the corrals. You will have the chance to ride with real Chagras, mustering wild fighting bulls in the most incredible mountain environment. We gather in a circle on our horses to be given our riding instructions by the head Chagras. The circle of mounted Chagras is a colourful sight. You will be assigned to a Chagra who will take care of you for the day and make sure you are not in danger at any point. We ride up the paramo to the high ridges surrounding the local mountains, climbing from 3600 to 4000 m, and through a series of calls and whistles the Chagras communicate to each other, indicating the position of the various groups of bulls - "vaca jaja!", "vaca carajo!". Gradually each rider works his/her way down pushing the cattle ahead down into the valley bottom. Some of the "bravo" bulls are lassoed with two ropes and expertly driven into the corrals.

You can participate in this exhilarating work or hang back and watch. These bulls are effectively "wild" and have bred from Spanish fighting stock, so you must be an experienced rider to join in. When the bulls are safely corralled it is time for a late lunch and a relaxing afternoon of watching the Chagras tag and brand the livestock. Some amateur displays of bullfighting may also be put on. The evening meals will consist of a traditional barbeque and you can indulge in the knowledge that you helped round up the animal in question! The Chagras sing traditional songs in Quechua and the Aguardiente is sure to be passed round. And so to bed!

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

(The February cattle round up is held at an Hacienda located farther than the others, for this reason we will arrive the morning of day seven to join the cattle round activities)

Day eight’s activities will depend on the location of the rodeo. We will either help the Chagras all day with their round up and corral duties or bid a sad farewell to the hospitable Chagras after a half day of round up activities and continue our ride. We arrive to the Vicious Valley and will possibly see some deer, and condors.
Accommodations: Hacienda at Vicious valley or camp site
Hours of riding: 4- 7 hours

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

The temperatures in the Ecuadorian highlands are in the 70s and 80 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 ALEGRIA is a family-run organic farm and the hospitality of the Espinosa household is remarked upon by visors 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 

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:		North American style, English style, Mclellan calvary, Chillean 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	Max 12

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.