| HORSE RIDING TOURS, ECUADOR
SUMMARY
Ride Andes offers a variety of riding trips
of one or more days in several areas of the Ecuadorian Andes.
NEW ONE CENTRE based tour, two or more days, 1 person or more, click here.
The set date
departures (group rides) are for riders ‘‘able
to ride comfortably and in control at all paces a reasonably
trained horse in open ground’. Riders are met at Quito
International airport. (Please see below or request the
detailed itineraries.) contact
us
The private rides are
adapted in length and pace to suit the riders. (Please request
the 8 day itineraries and/or the SHORT TOURS document).
contact us
The luxury ‘five star hacienda’
is a very special tour between the most prestigious historic
haciendas, for private groups, adapted in length and content
to suit guests wishes. (Please request the sample itinerary)
contact
us
Other riding options:
lessons with a very competent instructor, rides on Peruvian
Paso horses, & alternative
activities: Spanish language lessons, salsa dancing
lessons. PLUS Galapagos Island cruises, Amazon rain forest
visit & lots more. (Please request the Quito hotels
and activities document and the EXTENSIONS document for
more details. contact
us
Two 8 day
itineraries (see below) are offered as set date departures
(and as private rides): Colonial
Haciendas and Cotopaxi
Adventure. The Cotopaxi Adventure tour involves
more challenging riding and with more basic accommodation
than the Colonial
Haciendas tour.
The rides are fully inclusive and details
of dates, tour content and availability can be found on
the appropriate pages or contact us – new dates are
often added.
Options for non riders
accompanying the group are available and the two 8 day tours
are excellent tours for private groups and families
(itineraries adapted for younger children).
Upon booking, Ride Andes
will provide guests with travel notes, including a packing
list and all possible assistance in preparing for their
trip.
COLONIAL HACIENDAS
RIDE
Set date departure
(intermediate level or above) or private ride
TOUR SUMMARY:
Varied paced riding – with plenty of opportunities
for long canters, on top quality horses in two stunning
yet very distinct areas of Ecuador
in the heart of the Andes. Each day we ride on to another
stunning location. We start the ride on grassy tracks between
the patchwork fields of the beautiful Andean valleys of
the northern highlands and end the ride with long canters
across the arid plains in the national park just below the
magnificent snow-capped Cotopaxi Volcano. The tour now includes
the wild Andean ‘‘paramo’ grasslands.
Guests stay at and visit a wonderful selection of different
historic haciendas –– some founded by the early
Spanish settlers in the 1600s and one incorporates Inca
walls –– also included is a stay at a working
farm. Other visits along the way include market visits and
visits to a rose plantation and a weaving centre. Meeting
point is in the capital of Ecuador
(Quito) -guests are met at Quito international airport.
Accommodation: very comfortable, character-filled
locations, private bathrooms.
COTOPAXI
ADVENTURE: A COMPLETE CIRCUIT OF THE HIGHEST ACTIVE VOLCANO
IN THE WORLD
Set date departure
(intermediate level or above) or private ride.
A ride for fit riders capable of riding in
a multitude of challenging terrain and spending long days
in the saddle.
A circuit of the perfectly conical, snow-capped
Cotopaxi volcano, through breathtaking, wild open country
including Cotopaxi
National Park and seldom - visited open plains high
in the Andes. A chance of seeing the Andean wildlife (the
mighty Andean condor among other raptors, high altitude
hummingbirds, foxes and deer) as we cross a variety of scenery
including rugged passes, barren, luna-like landscapes and
rolling, grassy hills. The pace is varied, including plenty
of chances for long canters across the wilderness sculpted
into intriguing landscapes by the glacial retreat, followed
by the volcanic activi. On some days we ride along old Inca
routes, on others we pass by adobe cottages and patchwork
fields farmed by the charming and very friendly local people.
Nights are spent in a wonderful mixture of haciendas and
farmhouses, built of adobe with thatched roofs, original
Inca stone and even a very comfortable lodge built of straw
bales covered with adobe.
Meeting point is in the capital of Ecuador
(Quito) -guests are met at Quito international airport.
Accommodation: stunning locations, mainly
2 per room, (some 3 & 4 bed rooms -depending on size
of group; first to book get the smaller rooms), option private
bathrooms & single room on 4 nights (limited availability).
ADDITIONAL
ACTIVITIES
In this incredibly diverse country, a wide
range of trips to complement the ride are on offer: Galapagos
Islands, Amazon rain forest, Cuenca, hot springs/spa, cloud
forest. Contact
us for further details.
PRIVATE TOURS
Please let us know what interests you:
for how many people, riding abilities, and how many days
and we will send you some options to look at. There is a
sample ride on the Colonial
Haciendas page.
FAMILY TOURS
Horses suitable for all ages and abilities. Children on
a lead rein (‘ponying’) no problem, nannies
and babysitters. Contact
us!
CATTLE ROUNDUPS, SPECIAL TOURS
Exciting roundups in the steep hills and open plains of
the mountainous high Andes, not for the faint hearted –More
details on the Andean
Adventure page.
RIDING LESSONS & SPANISH
LESSONS
Professional riding lessons in an indoor riding school.
Very relaxed but a lot to offer riders of all levels.
Spanish lessons, one to one, in Quito – we work with
two very reputable schools.
‘I never expected to find such a high standard
of riding facilities and teaching in Ecuador.
Kira is extremely modest and omits to tell you that she
regularly competes in classes with Ecuador’s top riders.
She has the great skill of being able to put you at your
ease, whilst homing in on those irritating things you know
could be better. Encouraging on good points and fun to learn
with, I had a fantastic day.’ SH, Dec ’06
‘I would be astonished
if there was anything she didn’t know about horses
and riding. Anything! Her love of horses and the sport shines
through. She was a wonderful teacher, patient and very helpful.
She took a person who hardly knew one end of a horse from
another and after only one afternoon’s work felt confident
enough to go out on a hack.’ CH Sept ‘06
NON RIDING TOURS
We have a large selection of options to combine with your
riding tour –from a Galapagos Island Cruise to an
Amazon lodge stay. Relaxing or ‘sporty’: hidden
haciendas, natural hot springs, mountain biking & white
water rafting).
One centre based in stunning area next to Cotopaxi National Park. One or more guests, 2 or more days with maximum flexibility to cater for all riding abilities.
NOT JUST circuit rides leaving from the hosteria: we RIDE TO the hosteria on day 1 and on the final day ride out via a DIFFERENT trail giving the opportunity to ride at different paces in very varied terrain and scenery.
RIDE ANDES: providing riders of all levels with incredible riding experiences since 1996.
“ THANK YOU FOR A FABULOUS HOLIDAY ON THE HACIENDAS RIDING TOUR!!!. It gets an A+ rating - based on experiences with 16 other riding holidays on four continents over the past 17 years.” Luis, Ecuador, CH tour.
“The best of 16 rides I have taken. Truly a dream come true.” Jeff, CH tour, Ecuador.
ONE CENTRE BASED itineraries:
Guests ride out from our base in the Antisana foothills, between Pasachoa & Sincholagua volcanoes (less than 1 hour drive from Quito) to a hosteria surrounded by Andean peaks close to the northern edge of Cotopaxi National Park (CH11).
Please refer to the Colonial Haciendas 8 day tour second map to see the location of the hosteria (CH11).
“I have to say that it was the best week of my life …So thank you for such an amazing experience.” Mimi
“… thank you for the most wonderful holiday. An experience of a lifetime! You made it so interesting and Antares and Lambchop [horses] were perfect for me. I loved the country and the people…” Diana
ITINERARY: Two or more days riding. Ride from the farm where the horses are kept to overnight at a ‘Hosteria’ in the most amazing location (perfect for stunning views of snow-capped Cotopaxi Volcano and many other surrounding Andean peaks). The hosteria is a very comfortable thatched highland inn, close to Cotopaxi National Park.
The area is made for riding with varied terrain and many options for pace, route and length of riding hours per day. Option of private en suite rooms to dormitory accommodation. Delicious home cooked food.
Day 1: Drive out of Quito, south-east direction (1hr). We meet the horses (start point depends on length of ride – 3-7hrs – riders can decide prior to the start date) and head south towards Cotopaxi Volcano, the highest active volcano in the world. We cross stretches of farmland as we head towards the imposing Volcano. The terrain is very varied as we make our way across highland streams, down rocky gullies and small gorges and along narrow paths in the woodlands. We traverse the lower slopes of the foothills of Sincholagua and follow the River Pita before fording it. En route we often see the large Andean raptors - eagles, caracaras, hawks and smaller kites soaring overhead in search of prey.
We spend the night at a charming ‘hosteria’ recently built in a traditional style of local materials edge of the Cotopaxi National Park with magnificent views of the surrounding peaks including the snow-capped Cotopaxi. PL, D.
Day 2: After a hearty breakfast, we ride out for a long ride high into the wild open ‘paramo’ (5-7hrs) (less experienced riders can opt for an easier/shorter route). We once again cross the Pita river and ride up close to the rocky outcrops of Sincholagua Volcano. As we cross the expanses of open grassland and admire the endless views across the rolling hills there is a good chance of seeing the Andean fox, deer and the mighty Andean Condor. Riding through the grassy foothills of Sincholagua we have an excellent view of the peculiar geological features produced by ice age activity and then eruptions of the mighty Cotopaxi volcano as well as views out across the valleys below. The skyline dominated by the magnificent Andean peaks. Arriving back down where the road and ‘civilisation’ begins riders say farewell to our horses and the local horsemen and are driven back to Quito. AB, PL.
ADDITIONAL DAYS RIDING are possible, with many route options leading out from the hosteria including a full day riding in Cotopaxi National Park – the vast grasslands allow for some long canters often alongside the WILD HORSES that live in the Cotopaxi area. Each night riders return to the cosy hosteria for a delicious dinner and overnight. On the last day of the trip, we will ride back to the farm (see day 2 of tour above for final day ride itinerary).
It is usually possible to arrange riding lessons to ‘derust’ or improve skills with a very professional European instructor at her riding school prior to the tour. Very good rates for ‘one to one’ or group instruction.
Our short tours are available almost all year round and suitable for riders of all levels of ability and experience. The ride can easily be adapted to suit less experienced riders and the itineraries can include days with no riding – where guest go on visits/do other activities (hikes, mountain biking, bird watching…)
We are able to organise airport transfers, Quito hotels, Galapagos Cruises and Amazon visits… please ask for details.
NOTES CONCERNING RIDE ANDES, TOURS OFFERED AND OUR HORSES.
The British owner of Ride Andes, with the help of the skilled local horsemen (known as chagras) has been leading tours in Ecuador since 1996.
Tours have been featured in many major magazines & newspapers & are highly recommended in all major guide books and travel websites.
Private rides suitable for families (young children accepted) and groups of friends, we can cater for groups of mixed ability and/or a mix of riders-non riders (offering alternative activities for non-riders/’part-time’ riders.
We have a selection of horses to suit riders of all abilities (it is vital that guests give us accurate riding details), and provide saddlebags and ponchos, picnics or lunches at haciendas, snacks and bottles of water for each rider.
Guests continue to comment on the excellent quality and health of our horses.
Ponchos are provided for each guest and (upon prior request) we can often lend guests chaps or half chaps.
For longer rides, set date (group) departure rides and any special requests please request details.
ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND SAFETY
Guests can request INSTRUCTION if they wish and for private groups can have a riding lesson at the farm on day 1 prior to the riding out or have more formal lessons prior to day 1 (prior notice needed).
Ride Andes pays special attention to the safety of our guests and the health of our horses.
We make every possible effort to provide guests with ideal horses for the terrain for each rider’s level of experience and we always try to offer guests a choice of horses.
The guide carries a mobile telephone and first aid kits and we use two-way radios. A back-up vehicle is available.
The equipment includes ‘half’ western style saddles – no pommel/horn (guests can ride either English or western style on this saddles), saddlebags and ponchos for each guest. |
