This is a particularly challenging ride, and probably ranks among the most adventurous riding tours offered by any commercial operator around the world. Only experienced, fit and hardy riders should consider this ride. The reward of completing such a ride will be a lifelong sense of achievement.
The route described below was ridden by James Harris of Britain and Roberto Marcel of Ecuador in March 2005. The section between Huagrahuasi and Baņos is particularly challenging and an alternative route for this section can be offered. Due to the remote nature of the terrain (at the edge of the feared Llanganatis Mountains), you will be accompanied by three experienced guides, if possible including James or Roberto.
This program is for 2 to 6 riders and can be arranged on request. Due to the inherently dangerous nature of equestrian sports we require guests to sign a liability waiver.
Day One - acclimatization at Hacienda La Alegria & ascent of Viudita
Riding difficulty: Easy. Riding time 4 hours
Morning: transfer from Quito airport or hotel followed by a tour of the old city. Transfer to Hacienda La Alegria (one hour south of Quito) in time for lunch. All meals are tailored for hungry riders and combine delicious Ecuadorian and international cuisine. Our visitors book contains many compliments to the chef at La Alegria! After lunch you will be matched with a horse suitable for your level of riding ability and experience. You will be given the chance to get used to your horse in the safety of our "round" and paddock. We will then make the four hour ride up La Viudita ("The Widow", 3760m), our "local" mountain. From the top, weather permitting, you will be able to enjoy the spectacular equatorial sunset. Eight of Ecuador's volcano giants are visible from the summit. The spectacular view encompasses Quito city and its surrounding valleys as well as the mountains, high pastures and humid forests where you will be riding during the following days. This mountain is ideal for acclimatizing to the Ecuadorian highlands. We return to Hacienda La Alegria where dinner will be served in a cozy dinning room with a roaring log fire. You can also enjoy a drink a chat at the bar and explore the history of the region through our collection of old books and maps.
Day Two - La Alegria to Laguna Santo Domingo
Riding difficulty: Easy. Riding time 8 hours, 35 km
The big adventure starts early!. We ride east from Hacienda La Alegria, skirting the rocky peak of Ruminahui and gradually climbing until we reach the high plain which is spread out at the base of Cotopaxi. The landscape is stark and beautiful and you will have plenty of opportunities to give your horse free rein as we ride through the gently undulating plateau-land. We camp on the desolate shores of a small moraine lake at the base of the mountain.
Day Three - Laguna Santo Domingo to Chictapamba or Tambo
Riding difficulty: Moderate. Riding time 4 hours, 15 km
Today's ride will take us over the paramos to the east of Cotopaxi and into fighting bull country. Chictapamba and Tambo are bull breeding haciendas, and depending on the time of year it may be possible to join the local chagras and participate in a cattle muster or "rodeo" during our stay. The isolation of these traditional farms is extreme, and you will see a side of Andean life which is preserved in very few places in South America these days.
Day Four - Chictapamba or Tambo to Laguna Verdecocha
Riding difficulty: Moderate. Riding time 4 hours, 15 km
Today we ride towards Quilindaņa, the Eiger of the Andes, whose sheer rock wall is renowned among mountaineers. It is a short ride over gentle paramos and past a number of high altitude lakes. Our destination is an idyllic lake at the very foot of Quilindaņa's famous cliffs. The setting of our camp could not be more picturesque on a bluff overlooking the shore of the lake. This area is rich in wildlife. During our last visit a condor circled above our heads as we descended to the camp and Silvery Greebs were observed nesting on the lake.
Day Five - Laguna Verdecocha to Laguna Salayambo
Riding difficulty: Moderate. Riding time 8 hours, 28 km
Leaving the lakes of Quilindaņa behind us we ride southwest over the paramos which border the infamous Llanganatis region. Crossing the dirt road to Chalupas, we follow the course of a small aquaduct which ultimately supplies water to the city of Ambato far to the west. Our target is a remote reservoir and to reach it we ride down a ridge affording spectacular views of the surrounding peaks on a clear day. The terrain is not especially difficult, but the weather can close in at a moment's notice and you will feel how remote this region is.
Day Six - Laguna Salayambo to Communa Sacha
Riding difficulty: Moderate. Riding time 8 hours, 25 km
Today we ride out of the paramo and back into the lower-lying farming communities. Heading west and south from Salayambo, we follow an old chagra trail to avoid the marshes of the Lagunas de Anteojos. Gradually the paramo grass gives way to the patchwork of cultivation as we descend. We will camp on the outskirts of one of the communities surrounding Pillaro. The local predominantly indigenous people are extremely friendly. Oxen are still used to plough the fields and this whole area has a timeless and magical feel.
Day Seven - Communa Sacha to Huagrahuasi
Riding difficulty: Easy. Riding time 5 hours, 20 km
Today's ride will be along country lanes and farm tracks. We will pass through many small rural communities. After fording a major river by way of an animal track, we will climb back up to the cheerful village of San Jose de Poalo, gateway to the Llanganatis and a well known centre of chagra culture. We stay tonight close to Huagrahuasi, famous for its "bravo" fighting bulls, where you can enjoy the luxury of a bed and a roaring fire.
Day Eight - Huagrahuasi to Paramo camp
Riding difficulty: Extreme (Moderate alternative route). Riding time 10 hours, 25 km
The next two days will be the toughest part of the ride by a considerable margin. Only confident, experienced riders should attempt this section. An alternative route along the roads at the edge of the paramo via the town of Sucre can be arranged.
Riding out of Huagrahuasi to the south, we pass through the highest farm in the valley, Quimbana, and then climb up to the paramo. From here our route follows the westernmost ridge of the Llanganatis mountains. The terrain is steep and marshy, but keeping to the highest point of the ridge the way is feasible for horses without having to dismount too frequently. These mountains are well known for their bad weather and it is likely that we will be navigating with limited visibility. When we reconnoitred this route we were dead-reckoning with map, compass and GPS for two days in conditions of zero visibility. The average altitude is around 4,200 meters, so both horses and riders must be well prepared for the cold and wet. The reward for this hardship is the adventure of travelling through seriously remote country which very few Ecuadorians have visited, and fewer believe it to be ridable. If we are lucky enough to experience clear skies the views of nearby Cerro Hermosa (supposed hiding place of legendary Inca treasure) will be incredible. We will descend from the ridge to the lower paramo to camp at 3500m to spare the horses low temperatures at night.
Day Nine - Paramo camp to Montaņitas
Riding difficulty: Extreme. Riding time 10 hours, 25 km
The route continues to the southeast, following the ridge to the southeast. At around midday we will descend into the cloud forest on the eastern slopes towards the heart of the Llanganatis. It will be necessary to locate the old trail which links the paramo to the community of El Triunfo, in the forest far below. When we reconnoitred the route this section was extremely overgrown and the trail was no more than a tunnel trough the undergrowth. It will be necessary for your guide to clear the trail with a machete, but this is all part of the adventure. As we descend through the cloud forest, the temperature rises noticeably and the pant and tree species become more luxuriant, with bamboo, tree ferns and palms, as well as bromilliads and orchids. Eventually we emerge from the forest at a tiny indigenous community. From her we take the road to the Montaņitas valley to the south of Triunfo. We camp at an idyllic spot with panoramic views of Volcan Tungurahua, with its distinctive plume of steam rising from its crater.
Day Ten - Montaņitas - Baņos
Riding difficulty: Difficult. Riding time 4 hours, 12 km
The road down to Baņos represents only about 2 hours' ride from here, but for a truly spectacular entry to the spa town we will climb back up to the higher forest and descend to town directly from the north. Following magical trails through the cloud forest, we begin to descend to the heat of the valley, though small plantations of fruit and citrus clinging to the steep mountainside. When we finally reach the river, after some 2,500m of descent in two days, we cross via the new bridge high above the cascades pouring from the cliff banks for which Baņos is famous. Your first beer in Baņos will taste very good indeed!
Meals:
All meals are tailored for hungry riders and combine delicious Ecuadorian and international cuisine. Our visitors book contains many compliments to the chef at La Alegria! Vegetarian / other special dietary options on request.
Breakfast: coffee, tea, cocoa, oatmeal, eggs and/or French toast, natural fruit juice and fruit of the season.
Lunch: Trail days: high energy pack lunch (sandwiches, fruit, candy). Hacienda days: similar to dinner.
Dinner: typical Ecuadorian soup, chicken, beef, pork or pasta, vegetables, rice or potatoes, dessert. Vegetarian / other special dietary options on request.
Drinks: water, juices, soft drinks.
What to bring:
A warm sleeping bag is essential. Long underwear or pantyhose (to prevent chaffing), vests / T-shirts, sweatshirts / long-sleeve shirts, fleece jacket, wind stopper / rain jacket, riding boots or lightweight hiking boots, gloves, scarf, high factor sunscreen, sunglasses. We provide riding helmets, half-length chaps, waterproof full-length chaps and ponchos for wet weather.
Horses and tack:
At Hacienda La Alegria our horses are very important to us. Most have been bred here on the farm from mixed Criollo (native South American), English Thoroughbred and Arabian stock, resulting in a near perfect combination of toughness, agility, calm temperament and "mountain sense". Beginners and experienced riders alike have found them easy to ride, willing and good mannered. If you have previous riding experience you will be given plenty of opportunity to canter.
We have a range of tack including North American style, English style, Mclellan calvary, Chillean and traditional Ecuadorian "Chagra" style with its intricate leather-work and saddle horn.
Member discount:
10% discount for InfoHub customer. Request a free gift certificate.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Included:
10 full days riding, 9 nights accommodation - mostly camping (tents and sleeping mats are provided), all transfers to/from Quito, meals, horses, tack and bilingual guide, support vehicle, city tour, accident insurance, and park tickets.
Not included:
Airfares, airport tax, alcoholic drinks.
Also see tour packages in:
South America
Ecuador
Horse Riding
Farm Stay & Ranching
Email it to a friend:
Click here to email this vacation to a friend
|
