The Andes Horseback Riding (LFHB-07)

	Duration: 7 days Departing: Daily
	Itinerary Day 1 Horse back ride in the Pasochoa paramo Day 2 Ride in the Rumiñahui Volcano Day 3 Ride adventure in the Cotopaxi National Park Day 4 Ride in the Quilindaña Mountain Day 5 Ride in the “Incañan” The an Inca roads Day 6 Ride in the Yaragcocha and Verdecocha lagoons Day 7 Ride near the Pailon Volcano
	Package Descriptions

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1 – Horseback ride in the Pasochoa paramo

Our ride begins at Hacienda Santa Rita Private Reserve at 3,300 meters after a short lesson about how to handle the horses. The ride will take us along the native Andean forest until we reach the majestic “páramos” of Pasochoa, enjoying the magnificent view of the neighboring mountains covered with snow. We will take a rest and enjoy a snack to recover our strength and continue with our journey. Reaching the base of the rock we can take a short hike to the summit at 4,200 m. (13,776 ft.). This is will be an easy and very beautiful experience. We return to El Porvenir hacienda on our comfortable 4X4 vehicle. (B – L - D)

Day 2 – Ride in the Rumiñahui Volcano

Today our ride will go through The Rumiñahui volcano along many trails, where in a mixture of legend and history, we will admire brave bulls, local birds, the wild fauna, and the marvelous landscape of the Ecuadorian highlands. We will be quite close to the peaks of Rumiñahui volcano and, if we are lucky, we may get the chance to admire the majestic condor. Then we ride along the lower slopes of Rumiñahui, and after visiting Chusigmachai and the Condormachai, we return to the hacienda. (B – L - D)

Day 3 - Ride adventure in the Cotopaxi National Park

We will begin our ride from El Porvenir taking the lower route towards El Tambo and going by Pucará de Salitre, the old Inca fortress. We will be riding under the shade of majestic Cotopaxi, the imposing snow-capped highest active volcano in the world. We will reach Cajas lagoons wherefrom we will descend towards Tamboyacu river, passing trough “La Piedra Muchana”, a huge stone that the Incas would kiss; asking the gods for good weather on their way to the jungle. We will then cross the Chigtapamba plains and reach the corrals and refuge at the hacienda. You will enjoy an excellent barbecue and will sleep in a simple but very comfortable and cozy hut. (B – L - D)

Day 4 - Ride in the Quilindaña Mountain

Today our ride will go trough the slopes of Quilindaña. First we will head to San Agustin where we will be quite close to the peak of Quilindaña volcano. The horses will go through the valley of Toruno heading to the “Panza” forest, or paper tree bark forest, where we will rest for a while and then take a small walk in the area. From this point we will go back to the house. (B – L - D)

Day 5 - Ride in the “Incañan” The an Inca roads

Today’s extraordinary ride will head to “secas” or dry land, a perfect place to take breathtaking pictures of the valley. Continuing our ride to “incañan”, or Inca roads that led to the Amazon jungle. Passing through El “predicador” stone we will arrive in Chalupas, a place almost treacherous to reach, but considered a paradise on Earth. (B – L - D)

Day 6 - Ride in the Yaragcocha and Verdecocha lagoons

We will ride back from Chalupas to el Tambo, but this time trough the incañan (Inca trail) used to go to the Latacunga valley. On the way to el Tambo we will have the chance top see the extraordinary Morro or stone hill. Then we ride along the lower slopes of Quilindaña and after visiting the Yuragcocha and Verdecocha lagoons, we then return to the farmhouse. (B – L - D)

Day 7 – Ride near the Pailon Volcano

Early in the morning we will begin the ride following the Tambo riverbed towards the Cotopaxi to take the higher route for our ride to Chirimachay, or cold refuge. We will be riding along the foothills of Yanachiza or Loma Negra where another volcano is hidden, The Pailón. The horses will go through Curipugyo (or site of gold) and then enter a ravine where several volcanic layers from past eruptions and the river course cut in stone by floods are clearly evident. We will reach Chirimachai, where pure, crystalline water flows from ground water systems and through the rugged rock. This path will take us back to El Porvenir from where we return to Quito. (B – L)