| ECUADOR: TOURS SUMMARY 2012
www.rideandes.com offers a variety of riding trips
of one or more days, for all levels of riding abilities
in several areas of the Ecuadorian Andes.
Riders do not need to take care of their horse and
will be accompanied by an expert bilingual guide &
local horseman. We can arrange every aspect of
your stay in Ecuador – starting with meeting you at
the airport.
The scheduled departures (8 & 11 day tours) are
open to experienced riders only -‘able to ride
comfortably and in control at all paces a
reasonably trained horse in open ground’. Riders
are met in Quito (Please see below and also
request the detailed itineraries.)
The private rides of any length, for any riding ability are adapted in length and pace to suit
the riders. (Please request the 8 day itineraries and/or the SHORT TOURS document).
INCLUDE the one centre based ride and tours journeying on between the highland haciendas.
The luxury ‘five star hacienda’ tour 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 details).
Riding instruction: can be given
Additional activities: Quito hotels & city tours, Spanish language lessons, salsa dancing lessons. PLUS
Galapagos Island cruises, Amazon rain forest visits,
bird watching. (Please request the QUITO hotels and
activities document and the EXTENSIONS document for
more details.)
SCHEDULED DEPARTURES
Two 8 day itineraries (see below) are offered as set date
departures (and as private rides): Colonial Haciendas and Cotopaxi Adventure. The second tour involves
more challenging riding and with more basic
accommodation than the first tour. The new 11 day
itinerary Volcanoes & Vistas is a combination of parts
of both tours plus takes in the Antisana foothills.
The ride cost is fully inclusive and details of dates, tour
content and availability can be found on the website
(www.rideandes.com) or by request
(rideandes@rideandes.com).
Tel: +593 99 738 221 • E-mail: rideandes@rideandes.com
2
Options for non riders accompanying the group are available & we have some
excellent tour options for families with children of all ages.
Journey between the COLONIAL HACIENDAS (CH), set date/private.
Set date departure (intermediate level or
above) or private ride. 7 days riding.
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.
Price per person: USD2845. Option of single room.
COTOPAXI ADVENTURE: A COMPLETE CIRCUIT OF THE HIGHEST
ACTIVE VOLCANO IN THE WORLD.
Set date departure (intermediate level or above) or private ride. 7 days riding.
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 activity. 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, 2 per room, option private bathrooms (most nights)
& single room (limited availability).
Price per person: USD1995. Option of single room.
SHORTER VERSIONS of both the above tours are possible – riding on between the
Colonial Haciendas ad/or local inns/lodges. Please request details.
VOLCANOES & VISTAS: A JOURNEY THROUGH THE ECUADORIAN ANDES. – an 11 day tour, combining guests’ favourite routes & lodgings.
Set date departure (intermediate level or above) or private ride. 10 days riding.
A challenging route journeying on through incredibly varied terrain including fast paced
riding across the arid plains alongside the wild horses of Cotopaxi national park.
Suitable for fit, experienced riders. No camping necessary, overnights include charming
‘haciendas’ in out-of-the-way locations.
11 day itinerary, 10 days riding. Meeting point: Quito.
Price per person: USD2835. Option of single room.
As well as the above three rides being available for private groups (7 & 11 days riding),
we have the following short options for private groups:
Ride to an idyllically located inn on the edge of Cotopaxi national
park: ONE CENTRE rides, 2 or more days.
Suitable for all riding abilities (we vary the route depending on riding
ability). Possible to arrange a ride all year round. Riding instruction
possible. Departure from Quito.
Day 1: Ride to an idyllically located mountain inn/hacienda. Then
various options for more days riding. Varied paced & terrain. 2 or
more days, available all year. Can include circuit ride on the plains
of Cotopaxi national park -seeing the wild horses. Please request
details.
ONE DAY RIDES, in the Antisana foothills, close to Quito.
Departure from Quito. Suitable for all riding
abilities (we vary the route depending on riding
ability). Possible to arrange a ride all year
round. Riding instruction possible. Please
request details.
Upon booking, Ride Andes will provide guests
with travel notes, including a packing list and all possible assistance in preparing for
their trip.
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…
PLEASE REQUEST more details concerning options available. |
