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Ride World Wide, Staddon Farm, North Tawton, Devon, EX20 2BX. |
| South America | Ecuador | ||
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General Description
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 for 6 or 7 nights. Private trips can also be arranged for groups of 4 or more. Please contact us to discuss.
Summary
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Riding: 5-7 hours a day. | ||
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Horses: locally bred Criollo, Andalucian, Thoroughbred crosses. | ||
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Pace: moderate overall and varied; generally good chances to canter but some slower days. | ||
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Riding ability: suitable for intermediate to experienced riders. | ||
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Weight limit: 85kgs (13st 5 lbs). | ||
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Accommodation: colonial haciendas; local lodges & farms (2 options). | ||
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Group size: max 10 (min 4). |
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2008 Dates:  |
Colonial Hacienda Ride: Cotopaxi Ride: *= cattle round up, call for special itinerary / rate; (NB other dates are occasionally planned or can be arranged for groups on request - please contact us) |
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Season: |
year round |
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Horses and Riding
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.
Accommodation
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 Ride nights are spent at more simple haciendas, local farms ('fincas') and guest houses which are simple and rustic but reasonably comfortable.
Rates & Travel
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Rates 2008: |
(Assuming a minimum of 4 riders) |
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Colonial Hacienda Ride (7 nights) - £1185 Contact us for rates for tailor made rides (these depend on group size) | |
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Rates include - all riding, guiding and equipment, 6 or 7 nights twin accommodation, meals, riding and collection from and return to Quito as a group. | |
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Rates exclude - international flights to Quito, airport transfers, personal medical insurance (compulsory), drinks at hotels / haciendas, any visa fees and personal items such as tips, laundry etc. |
Travel
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 £600 to £750 economy return (fares vary with the airline and
season).
Itinerary in Brief (Colonial Hacienda Ride)
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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. | |
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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. |
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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 Carriona for dinner and the night. |
Day 5 |
A short drive to meet new horses and then set off riding along sandy tracks through farmland and open pastures. An impressive avenue of eucalyptus leads to Hacienda La Cienaga where the night is spent. |
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Day 6 |
A morning visit to a local market and a rose plantation. Lunch at an old hacienda then rejoin the horses and ride up towards Cotopaxi National Park following the main Inca route that once joined Cusco, the centre of the Inca empire in Peru, with Quito. Leave the horses at the entrance to the park and drive back to Hacienda La Cienaga for dinner and the night. |
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Day 7 |
Return to the horses and ride up into the National Park. The scenery is dominated by Cotopaxi Volcano. Ride around a lake, across barren plains an on to a small restaurant for lunch. After lunch ride down into the Machachi valley. Leave the horses and transfer to Quito. Night in a Quito hotel. |
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Day 8 |
Breakfast and morning transfer to Quito airport. |
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Contact us on 01837-82544 for further information, detailed itineraries, dates and answers to questions |
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