Cloud Forest to Highlands Ride – Ecuador

• Day 1 From Quito we’ll drive you over the western cordillera in direction to the Pacific cloud forest. Scenery and microclimate change around each major road-turn, and you might get an impression of what variety awaits us on our ride. On the way, we have the chance to visit the Ecuadorian Monument 15-km north from Quito as well as the QUITSA-TO scientific project about the most ancient culture that has determined the equator line more than thousand years ago. We?ll learn some interesting facts about the people which once lived on “The Center of the Earth” and who’s fascinating knowledge has mostly been destroyed. Typical Ecuadorian lunch on the Equator and drive to “Bellavista” nature reserve where we’ll be welcomed into a cozy lodge with hot showers and delicious, whole-some food. The bamboo-built, rounded ‘dome house’, that will be our home for tonight, allows a 360-degree few on the vivid bird- and plant-life around us. The place is surrounded by hundreds of colorful hummingbirds, often Toucans and bright blue shining Jays. From the balcony of our shared room, we can enjoy a breath-taking view far over the cloud forest and listen to the sounds of exotic birds, before the mist races in.
• Day 2 About 40 minutes further down the road we shall meet our horses, choose the right one for each and start riding through a lush green region of virgin forests studded with waterfalls, while steadily climbing uphill, drawing closer to Pichincha volcano, which towers above us at almost 4800 m. If lucky with the weather, we might find us riding close to Guagua Pichincha’s ashy crater slopes and its ridge, often enough steaming with sulfur fumerolas. Just before reaching the tiny, picturesque village of Nono, nestling at the northern face of the volcano, we?ll be crossing over a ridge that divides the Western Cordillera from the Interandean Valley where we shall be surprised by the dramatic change of scenery. Spacious country-style-suits with a beautiful view over the valley await us. Next to a hot chimney fire, the farmer’s family might tell us some interesting stories about people and lifestyles and spoil us with the chefs cuisine.
• Day 3 Today, we’ll be riding along green, hilly pastures, wealthy Andean agriculture land, passing several stately farms, where we can observe fighting bulls and flower crop for exportation, getting a good impression about present and past of the country. This picturesque valley is also the home and breading place of many beautiful horses. Enjoy some nice canters along the fields and pastures. Crossing the Pucara hot springs around noon, we have the chance to relax our mussels in sulfur mountain water. Accommodation in the 350 years old, up to 1-meter thick colonial walls of a romantic country Inn. This Hacienda was already the home of the Count of Amboise, one of the members of the famous geodesic commission that measured the Equator midst of the 18th century. Measuring instruments bought in Paris 300 years ago and old Luis XIV- furniture can be admired in our fabulous dining room. Bring your bathing dress for the springs or the mineral water Jacuzzi!
• Day 4 After breakfast in the mighty colonial chamber, we ride out crossing the Equator from the southern to the northern part of the globe. While slowly winding downhill through forests of bamboo, we only come across a few small farmhouses along the way, where the highland farmers scratch a meager income from the steep, infertile land beside the forest. We keep approaching the impacting scenery of the ancient volcano “Pululahua”, with the biggest crater in the whole Americas and one of only two inhabited worldwide! At the bottom of the crater, a mystical and very peaceful place, we can observe farmers plugging their fields with sticks and oxen, like they did 300 years ago. The green corn fields, swaying gently in the breeze, paint the picture you’ll take home from this part of your journey. Accommodation in comfortable country Inn in the mystical surroundings of the crater walls.
• Day 5 After looping around the central volcanic core, we shall be leaving the volcano through a small breech in its crater walls, passing by deep gorges, carved by lava streams thousands of years ago. Riding along steep mountain slopes covered with mossy cloud-forest, crossing eroded lahar fields blooming with wild orchids, we finally enter the narrow valley of the Rio Blanco with its warm and tropical climate where we shall find coffee trees, fields of sugar cane and a lot of tropical fruits. Legendary historical sites can be observed along the way. When the afternoon light breaks through the clouds over the pre-Inca-fortress Portalanza, this mountain-valley looks most certainly like taken from a fairy tale. “Aguacatal” is the name of the very remote (no electricity!) and beautiful farm that offers us beds for tonight.
• Day 6 Having gone half our way to Otavalo, we will make a rest day today – enjoying some leisure activities and refilling our energies with Mrs. Hildas Austrian Kaiserschmarrn in the middle of nowhere. In the morning we invite you for a 2-3 hours hike or ride, to take a look at mysterious 1300 years old stone-carvings from the Yumbo culture. The visit of a nearby Hacienda that was ruled by the Jesuit-community during colonial time and shows interesting historical evidences, is another option. Those, who’d like to change activity for a while, can go for a walk, collecting tropical fruit, head for a shower under a natural waterfall or just hang out for a day, enjoying the enchanted and unique scenery of our rest place.
• Day 7 This is the day of the adventurous! After crossing the bridge over the furious and turbulent river Guayllabamba, we’ll be trekking along a nerve-wrecking trail above the river for several hours, following its direction upstream, leading us through the most hallucinating and breathtaking landscapes you can possibly imagine. You should not be afraid of heights. We will have to dismount on several sections of this trail and hike in difficult steep terrain. Fitness required! In the late afternoon we’ll reach the wild west town of San José de Minas, which has lost its glory as an important mining place when the new road from Quito to Otavalo was built, leaving San José de Minas out of the way. The view of the town is dominated by a mighty colonial church with stories to tell about. In its stony archways, Marcelo and Janet run a Flintstone-designed fancy little hostel that offers us shelter for tonight. When Marcelo takes out his strange collection of German and American Country music and the Cuba Libres are served, the mood is rising.Day 7 (Alternative):
  Unfortunately, over the last few rainy-seasons, the trail situation towards Minas has gotten more and more deteriorated. So, depending on the season and situation, we opt for an alternative route, with the same scenic highlights plus the advantage that most of the trail can be ridden, we don’t have to dismount that often, and it is not that straining on horse and rider. We ride along the opposite side of the dramatic Guayllabamba river valley, overlooking the steep and winding gorges, a comprised version of the Grand Canyon. This valley has been settled long before the arrival of the Incas, by cultures who were farming the steep difficult land, building temples for their gods and knowing the exact position of the equator line. Today’s 8 hours ride along the river and up Pululahua´s outer crater walls, combines steep adventurous climbs through dense vegetation with long gallop stretches on mountain ridges with wide open views. Towards the end of the day, we’ll be crossing an old Arrayan forest, winding downhill amongst mystical mossy trees, back into the crater valley and towards the legendary art-style country inn of Rolando Vera, Ecuador’s fastest Marathon runner. His burning “volcancitos”, hot volcanic drinks, are part of your experience of a lifetime.

• Day 8 Today we’ll be climbing about 4000 feet in altitude, up to the cool and windy heights of the Paramo. Leaving the fertile valley of Minas behind us, we start riding and climbing along and across the fields and pastures of the authentic, charming Andean Highland, with cattle grazing on over 60 degrees inclined mountain-slopes. As we precede, housing, clothing and features get more and more indigenous: we are entering the land of the Otavalo tribe, one the few indigenous cultures worldwide who have managed to integrate and to succeed in a globalized world without loosing their identity. We’ll reach the beautiful Cuicocha Crater Lake in the afternoon, encircled by rugged mountain walls. Here, we spend our last night in comfortable double room cabañas with the best hot showers in Ecuador, while the cold Andean winds are blowing outdoors. A beautiful, picturesque hiking trail winds down from our hotel-yard to the lagoon, for those who still want to do some exercise.Day 8 (Alternative):
  After a wholesome rich breakfast on Rolando’s scenic terrasse, we saddle our horses for our last short riding day back to the Green Horse Ranch. Around the old lava-dome Pondoña, our way leads to the youngest testimony of volcanic activity, la Reventazón, where wild epidendron orchids and mountain grapes are growing as pioneer plants on sulphuric yellow ground. Towards noon, we reach the ranch, say good-buy to our trusty horses and take the accompanying vehicle to Otavalo. Traditional lunch along the way, where those who dare might even try the Guinea-pig. Accommodation in cozy hotel within walking distance from all the markets in Otavalo.

• Day 9 Many options for this day: The “early-ups” might check out the animal market starting by dawn or watch the indigenous people build up the textile market. Others might want to sleep in and visit the lively, colorful indigenous market after breakfast. The small Andean town is world-famous for its handicrafts and wool products, these textiles are successfully sold around the world, and as poor as the mountain housings were we have seen on our ride, it’s here in Otavalo where you can see more Mercedes Benz than anywhere else in Ecuador. After shopping, our program still offers a visit to the leather town of Cotacachi, the beautiful crater lake of Cuicocha, encircled by rugged mountain walls, as well as a boat-trip around the islands in its midst.After lunch in an exquisite local restaurant, our main program has ended and participants will have the choice either to stay in Otavalo on their own (nearby attractions are the lakes of Mojanda and the Peguche waterfall) or to drive back with us to Quito.

levels: advanced intermediate to expert). Fitness and adventurous spirit required!

Included…

Transport from and to Quito
An accompanying provisions vehicle for the whole tour
Transportation of the horses
Full Catering
Accommodation in farms, hotels, reserve lodges and tents
Horse and its equipment
The tour guide and helpers
Entrance to national parks, pools and other fees
Tours of the natural reserves
Wellington boots

Not Included…

Flights, Insurance, travel insurance, breakfast of the first / dinner of the last day, extra drinks, tips