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Humboldt´s Avenue of Volcanoes - 8 days

Suggested Itinerary

 

The Otavalo indigenous market and colonnial Quito are just part of the activities that complement riding in several world famous national parks and natural preserves along the Avenue of Volcanoes: Cotacachi, Imbabura, Cayambe, Antisana, Cotopaxi, Sincholagua, Illinizas, and more... Accommodation will be at quaint haciendas and hotels throughout the Andes. This provides the perfect setting to learn about our country while we trace part of Humboldt´s path in terra incognita.

Day 1 (Friday)
The day begins at 8.30 am. We will pick you up after breakfast for a 20-minute drive to the ranch Criadero Ilalo, located just 13 miles from the city in the beautiful valley of Tumbaco, situated in the foothills of Ilalo Volcano, a nature preserve.

We start with a short tour of the premises. We will show you our breeding studs and working horses. An explanation of the history and the mechanics of the Peruvian Paso horse will be accompanied by a demonstration of our horses to show you the characteristics of our breed. The demonstration is followed by an introduction to the classic Peruvian equitation. You will have time to become comfortable with our tack and style of riding, and to become acquainted with the horse that will be your companion over the next few days, before we head out for a wonderful ride in the foothills surrounding the Ilalo Volcano.

We will leave the ranch at approximately 10.00 a.m. to begin the ride to the top of Ilalo Volcano (a 600 meter climb), located at 3,100 m.a.s.l. This climb will take approximately 2.5 hours. From the top of Ilalo Volcano, on a clear day, you get a spectacular 360-degree view of the entire region.This includes Quito, the Cumbaya and Tumbaco valleys, and all the volcanoes and snow peaks surrounding the region including Cotopaxi Volcano, Illinizas, Antisana, Sincholagua, Pasochoa, Pichincha and Cayambe volcanoes.

After a light snack and some time to relax at the summit, we will mount our horses to descend back to the ranch. The ride back takes more or less 1.5 hours. We return to the ranch at approximately 1.30 p.m. for lunch and some relaxation time.

We will leave the ranch after lunch and drive for 1.5 hours north to the Otavalo region. We will arrive at Casa Mojanda, a beautiful cozy lodge overlooking Otavalo, where we will spend the night.

Dinner and accommodation at Casa Mojanda.

Riding time: 4 hours.
Altitude: 2,500 to 3,100 meters.

Day 2
After a filling breakfast we will head down to the Otavalo Saturday market. Every Saturday thousands gather in the Plaza de Ponchos to buy, sell, bargain, or simply watch Ecuador´s most important indigenous market. Here we will spend the entire morning exploring the colourful textile and handicraft market, as well as the food market not far away.

Sometime before lunch we will leave the market and drive a short distance toward lake San Pablo. We will have lunch at Hacienda Cusin, a restored 17th century estate, known for its great cuisine.

We will continue to Cayambe after lunch. Cayambe is a small town in the base of Cayambe volcanoe, surrounded by heavily cultivated pastures, a rich agricultural region known for its cheeses and ornamental flower production. Located on the equator, Cayambe is the main region in Ecuador for rose production, Ecuador´s 4th biggest export. Here we will visit a rose plantation and learn the facts that make Ecuador´s roses the best roses in the world.

We will continue to Hacienda Guachalá, one of the oldest Haciendas in Ecuador. Dinner and overnight will be at Guachalá. You will have optional time to visit Guachalá´s private museum and collection.

Day 3
We will leave Guachalá after breakfast and take the road leading east to Oyacachi and to the Cayambe Reserve. Our horses will be waiting there for the 6-hour ride along the andean altiplano to Papallacta, our final destination. Today´s ride will take place at 4,000 meters (13,000 feet), with some sporadic up and downhills, and will cover approximately 36 kilometers (23 miles) along a private dirt road, perfect for our Peruvians.

As we begin the ride, we will leave Cayambe volcano behind and will head south. As we continue riding, we will pass by beautiful Andean scenery, and Antisana volcano will appear in the distance.

We will stop as needed to take pictures and to observe the flora and fauna of the area. Our provision vehicle will accompany us, and picnic lunch will be en route.

The last part of the ride involved a descend into the Papallacta valley, where Papallacta Spa & Resort is located. We will leave our horses here and enjoy the thermal hotsprings of Papallacta, a well deserved destination after a long day riding.

Dinner and overnight at Papallacta.

Riding time: 6 hours
Altitude: 3,900 to 4,100 meters

Day 4
After breakfast, we will relax and enjoy Papallacta Spa & Resort, as well as the surrounding areas. Our riding programme includes a 3-hour aromatherapy treatment, one of 6 different options for your choosing. Papallacta also offers the opportunity to visit the Interpretative Center and a self-guided hike.

Lunch will be at Papallacta. We will leave the resort after lunch, and drive for 1.5 hours back to Quito, where we will arrive at approximately 5 p.m.

Accommodation will be at the famous Hostal Café Cultura. The former French Cultural Center was restored and turned into a beautiful mix of English tradition and contemporary trend.

Dinner will be at Restaurant el Galpón. Transfer back to the hotel and overnight at Café Cultura.

Day 5
After an early breakfast, we will leave Café Cultura for a 1.5-hour drive to Hacienda Antisana, a private Ecological Reserve located in the foothills of the Antisana volcano, the fourth highest mountain in Ecuador.

The Antisana Reserve sustains an abundance of wildlife. Lamas, rabbits, caracaras, black faced ibis, falcons, hawks, gulls, and hummingbirds are common sights in the area. Arguably 50% of the andean condors that live in Ecuador have chosen Antisana as their home.

We leave Quito and head southeast to the San Rafael valley. Passing by the town of Intag, we continue for 20 kilometers along a private road that will take us through isolated and magnificent paramo plains to the main hacienda house.

We will meet our horses at the Hacienda, and after a welcome drink, we will begin a 4 to 5 hour ride from the main house to the base of the volcano, across the foothills of Antisana, before returning back to the main house for lunch.

The open fields are perfect for riding our Peruvians. The view is magnificent, on a clear day Sincholagua can be spotted nearby, as well as the snow-capped cone of Cotopaxi and Illinizas. With luck, even the massive Chimborazo can be viewed in the distance.

We will ride at a slow pace, making frecuent stops to appreciate the scenery, or to enjoy a snack or drink. We will return to the Hacienda at approximately 1.30 p.m., and we will leave our horses here. Lunch will be waiting for us. After lunch we will take some time to relax and enjoy a warm drink before returning to Quito.

We will arrive in Quito at approximately 4.30 in the afternoon. Transfer to Café Cultura, and free afternoon and evening to explore the city.

Riding time: 4 - 5 hours
Altitude: 3,900 to 4,100 meters

Day 6
After a leisurely breakfast, we will visit the old town. The tour of the city will include a visit to the heart of colonial Quito, including several churches: San Francisco, Cathedral Metropolitana, La Compania and La Merced. We will also take in the Metropolitan Museum and the famous Panecillo, a lookout point from where most of the old town, with its steep and narrow streets, is visible.

Lunch will be at Café Mosaico, located in one of the most beautiful spots in the city, overlooking the old colonnial town.
After breakfast, we will leave Quito and drive for 2-hours south toward Hacienda La Ciénega, one of Ecuador's oldest colonnial haciendas. Located near the slopes of the majestic Cotopaxi volcano and its National Park, this mansion has been the scene of important happenings in the scientific and social history of the country. One of the important celebrities who stayed at La Cienega was Alexander Von Humbolt, who studied Cotopaxi's volcanic activity (1802) as well as its unique alpine flora.
Dinner and overnight at La Cienega.

Day 7
We will leave La Ciénega after breakfast and drive for 30 minutes to Yerovi, a private preserve, where we will meet our horses for a 4 hour ride in the foothills of Cotopaxi.

Today´s ride will take us through eucalyptus and pine forest. The terrain is excellent for riding Peruvians, sandy and soft. We will climb slowly in the foothills of Cotopaxi, before returning back to the base camp.

Our provision vehicle will carry our lunch, and picnic lunch will be en route.

After finishing the ride, we will leave our horses and return to Hacienda La Cienega.

Dinner and overnight at La Ciénega.

Riding time: 4 hours
Altitude: 3,500 to 4,000 meters

Day 8
We will leave La Cienega after breakfast and drive for 30 minutes to Cotopaxi.

Today´s ride will take place within Cotopaxi´s National Park. We will cross the main lahar valley called Limpiopungo, covering a distance of 20 kilometers from the south to the north entrance. The view is magnificent, with the impressive cone of Cotopaxi volcano on our right.

We will finish our ride at Tambopaxi, a restaurant/lodge with a perfect view of Cotopaxi. We will leave our horses here, have lunch and enjoy the scenery.

After lunch, we will drive for 2-hours back to Quito and to Café Cultura. The programme ends with a farewell dinner at Restaurant La Ronda, one of Quito´s best examples of ecuadorian cuisine and live entertainment. Transfer back to the hotel.

Riding time: approximately 4.5 hours
Altitude: 4,000 meters

Included :	All activities, our Peruvian Pasos that will be transported to all riding sites, private overland transportation throughout the programme, all meals, 1 local riding guide, our horse trainer who will also ride with us, plus 1 bilingual riding naturalist guide, saddlebags, entrance fee all museums and natural preserves, a provision vehicle that will accompany us at all times.
Not Included :	Alcoholic beverages, tips, personal expenses, riding gear, warm clothes, rain gear.
Best months:	November through March, late June to early September
Riding Ability :	Be comfortable in the saddle for 5-6 hours, be physically fit to ride at high altitudes
Riding Altitude :	2,500 to 4,200 m.a.s.l.
Climate :	Temperature can vary from the 40´s to the low 80´s.
Price per person :	Vary according to the number of riders, from US 522-913 per person
Group size:	Minimum 2, maximum 8 people.
Departing Dates :	Please contact us for scheduled and customized dates.

NOTE: Although this program is available all-year round, we recommend the dry-season months for clearer skies, better views, and more comfortable riding.

All riders will need to sign a WAIVER OF LIABILITY before the start of the programme.

The itinerary may suffer changes due to weather conditions and other situations outside our control.

Because of set dates (for example the Otavalo indigenous market), DAY 1 is always a Friday.

TOUR OPERATORS OFFERING THIS TOUR: