Itinerary - Extensions - Horses and required riding level
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VOLCANOES AVENUE RIDE

Day 1
Welcome at the airport and transfer from airport to the accommodation. Gabriel, the hacienda's "patron" will acquaint visitors with his hacienda in the country side, at 2800 meters! The hacienda will offer to you a new living room area with chimney and rooms with private bathroom and great view on the wonderful Pasochoa’s mountain…

Day 2
This morning, you will go to the arena to try out the horses and make sure each rider feels comfortable on his saddle and horse. A 4 hour ride to the Viudita mountain is scheduled in the morning or in the afternoon, depending on the weather. Lunch time at the Gabriel's Hacienda. From its top you will be able to enjoy a spectacular sunset view of the volcano avenue, your riding area for the following days. Native moorland vegetation enriched with the humidity that rises from the coast provides the most unbelievable landscape and view of Quito and its surrounding valleys of Machachi, Pifo, and Puembo. This mountain is a perfect fit for a first day ride on Ecuador's highlands. In the evening, riders will return to the hacienda for dinner served in a cozy environment with a warm fireplace. You may later enjoy our bar and listen to the old farm tales.

Day 3
Riding time : above 4 - 5 hours
This morning, we have a special emotion discovering the local cow-boys demonstration and lasso practice : the Chagras! After the lunch at the Hacienda, we leave for a ride to Bomboli cloud forest, located on the skirts of Corazon, near 3500 mts. We could estimate the important biological variety. Then, we will arrive at the Hacienda located at 3000 mts, and will have time for a short walk, and appreciate beautiful orchids, fern trees and guneras before dinner. Dinner and night in a hacienda.

Day 4
Riding time : above 5 hours.
After breakfast, we leave behind the cloud forest, and ascend to the Corazon Volcano up to 4,000 meters. From there, we can appreciate the green and fertile Machachi Valley and we can also see the routes we will take the next day. Crossing extensive pastures and eucalyptus forests, we initiate the descent toward the valley. Snack and continue to the valley. Delicious dinner at the Gabriel’s hacienda.

Day 5
Riding time : above 4 hours.
We ride toward the west mountain range and through the valley toward Machachi. If we are on Sunday, we could have a stop at the Machachi market in order to discover this typical place. Then, we continue toward the Ruminahui skirts and have a stop at a beautiful hacienda for lunch. We follow the horse riding until we arrive to the Pedregal valley, where we stay overnight in a hacienda at 3,500 meters.

Day 6
Riding time : above 5+ hours.
We start our ride from the hacienda and get closer to the Cotopaxi Volcano. We enter the Cotopaxi National Park and visit the Inca ruins from Pucara of Salitre (Inca fortress built in the mountains). Then, we ascend to the east side of the Cotopaxi. After lunch, we continue until we arrive at the skirts of Quilindana. We ride in close proximity to berber breed wild horse herds that live in the park, and are descendants of the horses brought by the Spanish in the 16th century. At the hacienda, we learn how the chagras live and we may hear some traditional songs specific to the people of the mountains.

Day 7
Riding time : above 5 hours.
Today, we prepare our gear to transport it in our pack horses since we will be with no support vehicle for two days. We ride toward the south, and ascend to Morro Mountain 4,200 meters. At this point, we have covered ¾ around the Cotopaxi Volcano. From there, we can enjoy the view of the Latacunga valley with its roses and pines. It is possible to see a condor guarding its paramo. We speed up and arrive to the Hacienda, have lunch and later fish trout for dinner.

Day 8
Riding time : above 7 hours.
This day is the most remote and far away from civilization. We ride through the Guagui Valley and Secas until we arrive to the Vicious Valley. We will possibly meet some chagras that are taking care of the cattle, and we might see some deer, wild pigs (they run faster than a horse), and spectacle bears. Today, we have completed a circle around the Quillindana Volcano.

Day 9
Riding time : above 5+ hours.
We start riding toward the west, pass the Muchana rock (kissing rock), and Mudadero, where we can see hundreds of alpacas grazing. We pass the innumerable Cajas, Sto. Domingo lakes and get closer to the Cotopaxi Volcano. We pass the lava rocks, which had descended to the valley and are now static. Then, we arrive to the only structure that is our very comfortable and warm mountain refuge.

Day 10
Riding time : above 7+ hours.
Early wake up today ! Take a nutritious breakfast in order to get ready for our 7+ hour journey to the Lipiopungo plains (Cotopaxi base). It feels like if we were riding on the moon’s surface. Here, we do the highest gallop in the world! We continue on the edges of the rocks of the Ruminahui Volcano, where we pass to the highest point of our ride : 4200 mts. We follow our ride toward the green Machachi Valley, as always guarded by the Volcanoes Avenue. Then, we cross the Machachi plaza, where the horsemen are always welcomed! We pass the town of Aloag and arrive to the Gabriel’s Hacienda for a pleasant dinner and rest time.

Day 11
Transfert to the airport after breakfast.

Horses: Horses are well-trained thoroughbreds of English and criollo stock. Some paso fino and arabian mixes. Saddles: Argentinian and local saddles, very well padded with sheep skins. Western and English saddles available. Recommended riding level The pace varies according to the ground, it is very fast in the steppes, and slower in the steep passages. Each day you can canter several times, so it is necessary to feel at ease at the 3 paces and to have a good endurance because of the altitude and the pace of the ride. Useful inforamtion Riders have to be aged 16 and more, or 12 if children they are with their parents. The guide is responsible for your safety, therefore he can ask you not to ride if your riding level is not sufficient for this ride. We can't accept riders who weigh more than 90 kg on this itinerary. Non riders can come with you.

The ride is supervised by an experienced local guide who speaks perfect English, at least a local assistant for 3-4 people, and a logistic team.

Accomodation you stay in charming haciendas. 4 nights are planed in chalets (dormitory) with the facilities to freshen up. For "Around Cotopaxi volcano trail "and "meeting with Chagras", there is camp under tent for one night (bring your sleeping bag) meaning no toilets facilities. Even if single room is possible just some days, the single room supplement is applies if you travel alone and we do not find another rider to share your room. If you are willing to share and we find another rider to share with you, we will refund this supplement.

Food

For lunches we plan picnic but it's hot meals made with farm produces for dinners with traditional soup.

Possibility to organize departures on request with a minimum of 2 riders.

Volcaneos Avenue Ride 2012
February 03 to 13	1890 €	confirmed
February 29 to March 10 - 1 rider already booked	1890 € 1700 €	available
May 02 to 12	1890 €	available
May 30 to June 09	1890 €	available
July 17 to 30 - Meeting Chagras depature	2390 €	available
August 17 to 26 - Around Cotopaxi depature	2300 €	available
September 19 to 29	1890 €	available
October 17 to 27	1890 €	available
November 18 to 27 - Round up depature	2230 €	available
December 12 to 22	1890 €	available

- the riding trail as described on full board and double room basis except in Quito (breakfast only),
- transfers from and to airport in Quito

- entrance fees for Cotopaxi National Park
- the financial guarantee of the deposits you send to Randocheval

- flights to Quito adn airport taxes, please contact us if you need flights

- exit fees (41 USD to be paid direclty)
- any other services
- drinks
- meals in Quito
- tips
- personal expenses
- insurance (cancellation, luggage, repatriation). You can subscribe to these insurances only if you are an european resident. If you live outside European Union, please check with your local insurance company.

The climate in the Ecuadorian highlands allows us to ride all year long. During the day, the temperatures can rise to 18C although in the morning the temperatures reach 6-10C and in the night the temperature can drop to 2C.

At night around the crater lakes, the temperature can drop to freezing. This temperature change is most marked from June to November. From December to May the days remain cooler (25C) and the nights not quite as cold.

During the wet season (October to May in most areas) it doesn't rain daily. Late afternoon showers occur but by then the day's ride is usually over.