Cotopaxi Volcano Ride

In the morning you will go to the Hacienda Santa Rita where you will get a short riding lesson and then you will start off to the Pasochoa Volcano where you will spend the first day. The next day the ride will take you to the Rumiñahui Volcano where you can see, with a little bit of luck, a condor. Then you will continue your trip to the slopes of the Quilindaña passing El Salitre. At the slopes you will visit a paper tree bark forest. On the last day you will enter a ravine where several volcanic layers from past eruptions are clearly visible.

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1: Pasochoa
Your ride begins at Hacienda Santa Rita ecological reserve at 3.300 m after a short lesson about how to handle the horses. The ride takes you through native Andean forest until you reach the majestic páramos of Pasochoa Volcano enjoying the magnificent view of the neighboring mountains, you rest and enjoy a snack and continue with your journey. At the base of the volcano, you hike a short distance to the summit at 4.200 m. This is a very beautiful hike. Afterwards you return to El Porvenir farmhouse in private transportation. -/L/D

Day 2: Rumiñahui
Today your ride takes you to Rumiñahui Volcano along many trails where you can see wild bulls, local birds, wild fauna, and the marvelous landscape of the Ecuadorian highlands. You will be quite close to the peak of Rumiñahui Volcano and, if you are lucky, you may get the chance to seethe majestic Condor. Then you ride along the lower slopes of Rumiñahui and, after visiting a natural refuge of wild hummingbirds you return to the farmhouse. B/L/D

Day 3: Cotopaxi National Park – El Tambo Quilindaña
You begin your ride from El Porvenir taking the lower route towards El Tambo Quilindaña and going by Pucará de Salitre, an Inca fortress. You will be riding in the shade of majestic Cotopaxi – widely considered to be the highest active volcano in the world. You reach the lagoons of Cajas, passing trough Piedra Muchana, a huge stone that the indigenous people would kiss asking the gods for good weather on their way to the jungle. After 7 hours riding you reach Hacienda El Tambo Quilindaña. You will enjoy an excellent barbecue and rest under the candle light. B/L/D

Day 4: Quilindaña
Today your ride follows the slopes of Quilindaña. First you head towards the peak of Quilindaña Volcano, reaching an altitude of 4.300 m. You will visit an enchanted paper tree bark forest, an excellent example of the pristine habitats of this region. Afterwards you will return to the farmhouse. B/L/D

Day 5: Hacienda El Tambo Quilindaña - Hacienda El Porvenir
Early in the morning you begin the ride along the Tambo riverbed towards Cotopaxi to take the higher route for your ride to Chirimachay, or cold refuge. You will ride along the foothills of an extinct volcano: Pailón. The horses go through Curipugyo (or site of gold) and then enter a ravine where several volcanic layers from past eruptions are clearly visible as years of flooding have cut through the rock. This path will take you back to El Porvenir, from where you return to Quito. B/L/-

B= Breakfast L= Lunch D= Dinner

Prices per person 2011

• USD 823 - with minimum 4 people
• USD 870 - with minimum 2 people
• USD 1,386 - with one person
• Single supplement USD 140

Included

• Lodging (based on double Machai room)
• Meals as mentioned in the program
• Described activities Guides (bilingual and local depending on the activity)
• Basic equipment for each activity (zamarro and poncho)
• Transportation from and back to Quito (on tour days)

Not included

• Cotopaxi National Park entrance fee (USD 10.- for foreigners)
• Bar and shop
• Tips