Colonial Haciendas
                       & Inca Trail
A ride into Ecuador's History

A journey back in time along ancient Inca and Spanish colonial routes, between the best preserved ‘haciendas’ (grand colonial farming estates) of South America, in two stunningly beautiful, yet very distinct areas of the Andean highlands. Crossing vast plains and riding through pastoral valleys, we follow the ‘Avenue of Volcanoes’, skirting the towering, snow- capped peaks of Cayambe & Cotopaxi and cantering through the meadows below. The days are packed with varied rides through forests, up into the mountains and along Inca roads with visits along the way to local indigenous markets and craft villages where the customs and rhythm of life have changed little over the centuries. Most nights are spent in 16th, 17th and 18th century haciendas – historic country houses where guests can relax in front of open fireplaces and enjoy the fine period detail, atmospheric courtyards and flowering gardens. The prestigious haciendas that open their doors to us are unique and hold an important place in the history of Ecuador; most are still the homes of the noblest of Ecuadorian families including past presidents. Hundreds of years after they were first built, the haciendas continue to welcome visitors to Ecuador as they once did to such famous guests as Simon Bolivar and many of the 16th-19th Century's greatest scientists and explorers.

IT-ECRT03
Rates include accommodations, meals (as indicated), English speaking guide, 6.5 riding days and transfers from Quito.
8 days/ 7 nights  $ 2,250  Single: +$350
2008 Dates:  
01/19-01/26    01/26-02/02    02/02-02/09
02/19-02/26    06/21-06/28    06/28-07/05
07/12-07/19    07/19-07/26    07/26-08/02
08/09-08/16    08/23-08/30    09/13-09/20
09/20-09/27    10/04-10/11    11/22-11/29
11/30-12/07   12/06-12/13     12/20-12/27*
12/27-01/03*
  see availability

* dates: add $150 for festivities and special dinners during the holidays
... rates based on a total of 4 riders, small group supplement applies for 2-3 riders $1000 - or we will keep the rate and change the itinerary slightly to compensate
¹⁾ = Round Up date

Included: 7 nights, 7B (cooked), 7 lunches (PL= picnic, but not just a sandwich), 6 dinners (not in Quito, help given in choosing from excellent variety and quality of restaurants).
Accommodation: every night at hacienda/hotel, in private rooms with en suite facilities, often fireplace in room.
Prices exclude all personal expenditure such as bar bills, laundry and telephone calls, national park entrance fees (Cotopaxi currently US10), international airport departure tax (currently US25) payable on departure
Airport:    Quito
Meeting:  Quito airport
Level:        Intermediate +
Tack:         McClellan, English
Horses:     Paso, Quarter,
                 Thoroughbred cross
Pace:         Moderate, trots and canters
Min/Max: 4-12 riders
Note:          Weight limit 185 lbs

Key: AB= cooked breakfast, L= lunch, PL= picnic lunch (different menus, never just a sandwich), T = tea, D=dinner.

Itinerary

DAY 1: ARRIVAL QUITO
--   INTRODUCTORY RIDE
Guests are met at the Quito Sanata Barbara hotel (we advise arriving the day before, we can meet you at the airport and arrange hotels) by a bilingual guide and driven into the northern area of Ecuador.
Visit to the famous Otavalo market on this the busiest day of the week. As well as the bustling craft market and stalls with exotic fruit, there is a food section where the locals - dressed in their very distinctive traditional costume - come down from their tiny farms in the mountains to sell their farm produce and buy their weekly supplies.
Then a short drive to a hacienda frequented by the great South American liberator, Simon Bolivar.
Members of the charming family (horse fanatics themselves!) that have owned the hacienda for several centuries greet us warmly. With its courtyards, ornate fountains, terraces and gardens graced with citrus, palm and monkey puzzle trees it is an ideal location to leisurely drift into the relaxing Andean surroundings.
Introductory ride (2-3hrs) along the tracks and through the tiny fields on the slopes of the Imbabura Volcano. We often see the very friendly but dignified locals in their immaculate traditional dress working in the fields using hand tools or cattle to work the land. These tiny fields are surrounded by stone walls and earth banks topped with sisal plants and an array of wild flowers.
Guests first try their horses in an enclosed area before we ride out and the guides and grooms are always at had to help.
After a welcome drink in the cozy bar accompanied by the music of an excellent Andean band and a delicious, traditional dinner (a la carte) overnight at the hacienda (Hacienda Pinsaqui), fireplaces in most rooms.   PL, D.
DAY 2:
SACRED IMBABURA
& SAN PABLO LAKE
We leave this historic hacienda - once a very important weaving centre, on horseback and ride on to another colonial hacienda built in 1602 (5 hours). We ride past tiny hamlets of adobe huts, through woodlands, cross rocky gorges and wind our way around the patchwork fields of quinoa, potatoes, maize and tree tomato orchards. Magnificent views of the San Pablo lake and the jagged Mojanda summit as we ride across the slopes of the sacred Imbabura Volcano (extinct) - the focus of many Inca legends. As well as seeing a great variety of exotic Andean fruits and other crops, we meet the locals in vibrant traditional dress going about their daily tasks, the children shepherding the unruly pigs and sheep - trying to keep them off the crops. On the way through small villages with thriving cottage industries, we visit a family of local weavers. This family still produces exceptionally fine, unique rugs using the ancient pre-Inca backstrap loom that most weavers have abandoned in favour of more modern looms. The wool is still dyed using plants and then hand spun as the family sticks rigidly to the traditional weaving processes.
Late PM: wander through the beautiful flowering gardens admiring the avocado trees, bromeliads, orchids and kitchen garden with passion fruit, tree tomato and a host of other interesting plants.
Overnight at this early 17th Century (1602) hacienda (Hacienda Cusin) adorned with local crafts and antiques. Fireplaces in most rooms.  AB, PL, D.
DAY 3:
PASTORAL ZULETA VALLEY
A stunning ride into the beautiful pastoral Zuleta Valley (6hrs). Along country lanes then through eucalyptus forests, we rise out of San Pablo Valley enjoying wonderful views across the lake and also of Imbabura volcano, riding onto the plains beyond for some fast-pace riding. Views of Zuleta valley, the verdant gorges and the ‘paramo’ (the unique Andean habitat of high grasslands) as we pass dewponds and hedges of aloe vera and spikey agave (sisal) atop mud walls. Following sandy tracks, we then descend into the Zuleta valley with dramatic views across to the hanging valleys and rocky ridges above. With views of the ancient tumili and earth pyramids erected by the pre-Inca population we ride on to a working farm in the middle of this tranquil valley seldom visited by tourists. A chance of seeing the mighty Andean Condor as well as other species such as hummingbirds and bright scarlet flycatchers. Andalusian horses, fighting bulls and a dairy herd are among the farm inhabitants.
PM: Guests can walk into the tiny village and see examples of the hand embroidery that has made the valley famous and also enjoy exploring and observing the activities on the working farm. Overnight at Hacienda La Merced. Fireplaces in most rooms.  AB, PL, T, D.
DAY 4:
THE SNOWS OF CAYAMBE
& THE EQUATOR LINE
A chance to get to know about the Andalusian breed, the farm owners will chat with you about their champion horses. We then ride out of the hacienda along tree-lined trails between the fields then passing the traditional adobe and thatch cottages we climb into the open grasslands (3-4 hrs). Taking to the steep paths following the gorges and climbing high onto a ridge we enjoy spectacular views of the distant peaks and the valleys below, including some pre-Inca earthworks. Usually we see the llamas and also the fighting bulls, admiring the powerful animals with sleek black coats. We ride through forests and onto the Pesillo plains. Arriving in the Cayambe Valley dominated by the snow-capped Cayambe Volcano, which straddles the Equator Line we leave the horses at a typical village square. We then cross the Equator Line, and travel (2hrs), bypassing Quito, to a comfortable hacienda complete with a steaming Jacuzzi waiting and the possibility of massages. Guests can relax in the swimming pool, Jacuzzi or sauna then enjoy the delicious dinner in this delightful hacienda.
Overnight at Hacienda La Carriona, fireplaces in most rooms. AB, PL, D.
DAY 5:
THE AVENUE OF VOLCANOES
& ILINIZA TWIN PEAKS
The day starts with a short drive south through the ‘Avenue of Volcanoes’. The views are magnificent, with the verdant horseshoe shaped crater of Pasachoa, the twin Iliniza peaks sprinkled with snow and a host of other summits lining the central valley. Riders meet fresh horses and we ride south out of the Machachi valley and into the foothills of the Iliniza peaks – very different scenery to the previous days’ rides. Our destination, on the Lasso plains, is a very ornate hacienda steeped in history (6hrs).
The wide sandy tracks and grassy paths are ideal for some more fast-pace riding as we ride the length of a valley scraped out by glaciers at the end of the ice age. In places we ride over layers of pumice stone – deposited by the volcanoes, and during the ride the horses expertly negotiate two steep gorges. We often pass the local ladies wearing brightly colored, pleated skirts and their traditional hats chasing errant donkeys. The original houses in this area are built of dried grass laid over a wooden frame and, from the back, look like haystacks rather than dwellings, nevertheless happy children come piling out to chase their llamas, pigs and sheep off to open pastureland.
Arriving by way of a very impressive avenue of eucalyptus trees, we dismount at the portico of a magnificent hacienda that holds a very special place in history:

see Slide Show

Hacienda Cusin

Otavalo Indiginous Market

the scene of several independence battles and used as a base by many explorers and scientists such as Condamine and Humboldt during their expeditions to the ‘new world’.   Overnight at Hacienda La Cienaga.  AB, PL, D.
DAY 6: SAQUISILI MARKET & AN INCA TAMBO
A morning visit by vehicle to the nearby rural Saquisili Indian market. Having visited the animal market and purchased alfalfa (Lucerne) and oats for the horses, guests can amble through the squares and streets buying local crafts or a traditional poncho or simply watching the locals trading on this, the most important market day. Men sit behind old sewing machines putting the collars on new ponchos or behind stone wheels grinding knives for people, ladies pass through the market selling a multitude of wares. There is also a fascinating local food and fruit section. We then drive on to a rose plantation for a visit, the mass of metre (over 3 feet) long stemmed roses growing in huge greenhouses are quite a sight. A little further along the road guests enjoy a very tasty, traditional lunch at an old hacienda before meeting the horses.
There is again, if desired, a chance of some faster pace riding as we ride towards the perfectly conical shape of Cotopaxi Volcano (3-4hrs). Passing adobe huts with grass-thatch roofs, we ride up into the gently undulating grasslands, across the Cotopaxi foothills and into the pine and eucalyptus forests.
Chimborazo (Ecuador’s highest peak) and the presently active Tunguragua Volcano are often among the volcanoes visible as we enjoy incredible views of the plains and surrounding peaks.
We join the main Inca highway and ride to a hacienda built around a very important Inca structure. Complete Inca walls, incorporated skillfully into the hacienda built by the Augustinians, still stand and guests can marvel at the Inca workmanship as they walk around the second most important Inca site in Ecuador. We leave the horses at the national park entrance and head back for a second night at Hacienda La Cienaga, with its ornate facade and fountains, beautifully carved chapel doors and manicured gardens.  AB, PL, D.
DAY 7: COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK:
             WILD HORSES & INCA HIGHWAYS
A spectacular ride (6-7hrs). We rejoin the horses and ride up into the National Park to canter across the wide, barren plain at the base of the Cotopaxi Volcano (the highest active volcano in the world). Several herds of wild horses inhabit the park and to ride along side these long-maned horses galloping freely across the rugged terrain is an exhilarating experience. The curiosity of the young stallions often overcomes their fear, and they leave their herds to take a closer look.
Part of this ride follows the main Inca highway which linked Quito with Cusco, Peru. Close by, there is a route running eastwards, along which the Incas went to the Amazon rain forest, in the distance we can see remnants of the Inca hilltop fortress that guarded this route. The ground is covered with tiny pumice stones and lichen on this arid plain created by lava and ash from the mighty Cotopaxi volcano. Passing a shallow lake on the high plains we continue onto a small restaurant with a stunning view of Cotopaxi for a delicious lunch. We then ride across a very surprising ‘luna landscape’ – huge boulders and hard baked ocre-colored mud and onto rolling grassy hills. Arriving at a hacienda just outside the national park for ‘empanadas’ and canelazo’ - two local delicacies, we leave the horses and descend into the Machachi Valley by vehicle and drive back to Quito for a night in a very comfortable hotel.  AB, L, T.
DAY 8: DEPARTURE"
Following breakfast, guests are accompanied to the airport in time for their outward flights, or are picked up at their hotel to continue on extensions. BB.