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Hike and Ride - 4 Days
Suggested Itinerary
Day 1: Transport from Quito to the Green Horse Ranch inside the National Reserve Pululahua . On our way to the HQ of the Chaupisacha research station in the midst of lush mountain cloud forests, we'll come across eroded lahar fields where volcanic mineral water is oozing out of the ground, decorated by beautiful orchids. Passing by deep gorges, we'll enter the narrow valley of the Rio Blanco with its warm climate, coffee bushes, fields of sugar cane and banana trees. Lunch at the riverbank with the possibility for a dive into the refreshing volcanic stream. Ride back between pastures of grazing Zebu cattle to the Green Horse Ranch . Accommodation in a cosy country cottage in the mystical surrounding of the crater walls.
Day 2: Forests of bamboo are marking our way, while we start climbing gently but continually in order to leave the crater to the west. On our way, we'll enjoy a close look on "Cerro Portalanza" , a pre-Inca site that has been abandoned 600 years ago. From here, we only come across a few small farmhouses, where the highland farmers scratch a meagre income from the steep, infertile land beside the forest. The higher we climb, the wider the view over the cloud-forest covered mountains and valleys we leave behind. Our cottage camp and a hot evening meal await us in the mountain village of Yungillas .
Day 3: This section of the trip is not suited for horses anymore. In companionship of a local guide explaining about plants and wildlife, we hike along an old smuggler's path, through thick jungle and narrow hollow earth tunnels, down to the Maquipucuna nature reserve . Tonight's accommodation is in comfortable rooms in the reserve's ecological appropriate lodge. We will enjoy a good, hot shower under the stars, and a fine meal made with local ingredients.
Day 4: The 6000-hectare Maquipucuna reserve is one of the ten richest areas of natural variety in the world and is comprised of more than 80% primary forest. You'll have the opportunity to bath in the rivers and waterfalls of this virgin forest or find out more about the wide variety of animals and plants under the guidance of experts. Nature lovers have the chance to buy a 1000 square-meters of virgin forest for about 50,-USD, helping the reserve to grow bigger and protect this important eco-system from being deforested. Transfer back to Quito after lunch.
Participants: 2-10 persons with or without riding experience
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