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The rides take place around Otavalo and Cayambe north of Quito and Machachi south of Quito
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Riding holidays and horse safaris
South America ~ Ecuador
These rides take you to Ecuador's famous Avenue of Volcanoes, up to its high Andean grasslands and to its prestigious colonial haciendas. 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, can join colourful Ecuadorian cowboys herding cattle into sheltered valleys and visit markets, weavers and woodturners who practice their traditional crafts in the villages. Two 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 can also be arranged for groups of 4 or more. Please contact us to discuss.
Riding: 5-7 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 contact us if you are over 85kg (13st 5 lbs).
Accommodation: colonial haciendas; local lodges & farms (2 options).
Group size: max 10.
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The horses are mostly the local Criollo breed, crossed with Andalucian, Thoroughbred, Paso and other warm blood 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. Some English saddles are available on request. One or two horses are only ridden in English tack, English style, but most of the horses are trained western style so are used to neck reining. Groups are normally limited to a maximum of 10 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.
A variety of accommodation is used on the rides, depending on the itinerary. On the 'Colonial Hacienda' rides, nights are at a selection of Ecuador's old Haciendas (colonial manor farms), many of which date back to the 17th and 18th Century and some of which are now hotels, whilst some still house descendants of the country's noblest families. These Haciendas, with their antique filled rooms, hold an important position in the country's history and staying at them gives a wonderful insight into Spanish colonial life. On the Cotopaxi & Volcano Rides nights are spent at more simple haciendas, local farms ('fincas') and guest houses which are simple and rustic but reasonably comfortable.
| Rates 2012 |
(Assuming a minimum of 4 riders) |
| Dates 2012 |
Colonial Hacienda Ride |
The meeting point for the rides is Quito, Ecuador's capital. There are flights to Quito from London with KLM via Amsterdam - usually overnight, arriving Quito early the next morning - and with several US airlines via the States - usually day flights, arriving Quito in the evening. For flights from London budget around £700 to £800.
Colonial Hacienda Ride
| The following is an example of the itinerary for the Colonial Hacienda Ride; the Cotopaxi Ride circumnavigates Cotopaxi volcano and takes you far off the beaten track to explore the highlands surrounding Antisana volcano with nights in rustic local accommodation. | |
| Day 1 | Met in Quito and driven about 90 minutes to the first hacienda. Lunch and an introductory ride, returning to the hacienda in the late afternoon. If time, visit the famous Otavalo market before dinner and the night at Hacienda Pinsaqui. |
| Day 2 | Set off riding in the shadow of the sacred mountain of Imbabura. The ride takes you to Lake San Pablo, stopping for a picnic on the way. Dinner and night at the lovely Hacienda Cusin, close to San Pablo Lake. |
| Day 3 | Breakfast and ride through farmland and small villages, climbing above Lake San Pablo with wonderful views of the lake and mountains. Descend into the Zuleta valley following sandy tracks to the working farm of Hacienda La Merced for dinner and the night. |
| Day 4 | The ride today crosses the high grassland, the ‘paramo’, of the Andes and stopping to admire views of snow capped Cayambe Volcano. Ride down into the Cayambe valley and leave the horses, driving south across the equator to Hacienda La Cienaga for dinner and the night. |
| Day 5 | A short drive to Cotopaxi National Park, visiting an hacienda built on Inca walls en route. Set off riding, skirting the almost perfectly conical shape of Cotopaxi and cantering across the barren plain at the base of the mountain. Lunch is at a small restaurant en-route and in the afternoon ride on to Hosteria Chilcabamba for dinner and the night. |
| Day 6 | A ride into another part of the Cotopaxi national park, again maybe meeting the wild horses as you ride across the plains and old lava flow. A picnic lunch before you ride out of the national park to an old Jesuit Hacienda Santa Ana for dinner and the night. |
| Day 7 | Breakfast and set off riding, climbing a high pass. Stop for a picnic lunch in this stunning high Andean wilderness. After lunch ride down into the Machachi valley. Leave the horses and transfer to Quito. Own arrangements for dinner, night in a Quito hotel. |
| Day 8 | Breakfast and morning transfer to Quito airport. |
| Contact us on 01837-82544 for further information, detailed itineraries, dates and answers to questions |
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