AVENUE OF VOLCANOES TRAIL - ECUADOR

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Experience the beauty and grandeur of the Ecuadorean Andes on horseback. Each morning brings new experiences and a chance to contemplate the beauty of the mountains and valleys. Friendly chagras, ecuadorean cowboys (horsemen of the Andes), usually pause from their work to greet you, to exchange news, or even to offer a drink as they wish you luck on your travels. This trail incorporates visits to the Corazon, Ruminahui, Quilindaña, and Chalupas volcanoes. And of course, you will see the majestic Cotopaxi volcano from many different angles throughout our journey. 
You start in the verdant valley of Machachi, to the south of Quito. Surrounded by eleven volcanoes, this region is often referred to as "The Volcano Avenue". The only form of transportation during your nine-day trek will be your horse. Our ride includes visits to many different of haciendas and one night will be spent in the refuge on Cotopaxi Volcano.

*Special offer price on the 29th Feb date*

Trip length 11 days/ 10 nights/ 9 riding days Ride price detailed prices price promise 2012: double pp £1,669/€2,025/$2,449 29 Feb Special Offer: double pp £1,505/€1,819/$2,205 Departure dates 2012: 3, 29 Feb; 2; 30 May; 19 Sep; 17 Oct; 12 Dec Approximate riding time per day 4-7 hours Riding ability required Intermediate riders able to walk, trot and canter in varied terrain Group size 2-8 Meeting point (getting there) Quito Airport (UIO) Transfer Return transfers from Quito are included. Transfer time approx 1 hour. Flight guide London - Quito return from £600 Single supplement detailed prices No single rooms available (on some or all nights). Riders must be prepared to share.

SAMPLE ITINERARY - AVENUE OF VOLCANOES TRAIL

Day 1
Transfer from hotel or airport for dinner and overnight.

Day 2
Ride in the arena to try horses and get acquainted with the horse and tack that we will be using the next days. Lunch in the Hacienda house and later we ride around the neighboring Haciendas and the Viudita Mountain. Our acclimatization and first contact with the heights starts this first day.
Hours of Riding: 4 hours

Day 3
In the morning we enjoy a demonstration of the Chagras’ skills (the Ecuador Andes’ cowboys). After having lunch we ride on what used to be the road to the coast. We ascend by the sides of Corazon to 3,500 meters and descend to the cloud forest. At the cloud forest we can observe a great biodiversity of plants and flowers, including giant gunneras, orchids, and birds such as the pava de monte (guan). In the late afternoon we arrive at our Hacienda for the night which is at 3,000 m (13,000 ft), and relax by the fireplace enjoying the sunset and watching the lights of the villages near the coast.
Option camping in Monte Oscuro, (Depends on the weather, min 4 pax)
Hours of riding: 4 hours

Day 4
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. Late afternoon we arrive for a delicious lunch at the Hacienda house.
Hours of riding: 6 hours


Day 5
We ride toward the west mountain range and through the valley toward Machachi. We stop at the Machachi market (on Sundays only), continue toward the Ruminahui skirts and stop at a beautiful Hacienda for lunch. We continue riding until we arrive to the Pedregal valley and stay overnight in a Hacienda at 3,500 meters.
Hours of riding: 4 hours

Day 6
We 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). We continue ascending 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.
Hours of ridings: 5+ hours

Day 7
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 Hacienda Chalupas, have lunch and later fish trout for dinner.
Hours of riding: 5 hours
*Note: Some times of the year these facilities may not have hot water

Day 8
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. Tonight we overnight at a hacienda or camp. Hours of riding: 7 hours
*Note: The campsite facilities may not have hot water

Day 9
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 that had descended to the valley and is now static; then we arrive to the only structure that is our very comfortable and warm mountain refuge.
Hours of riding 5+ hours

Day 10
Ride in the Lipiopungo plains (Cotopaxi base), feels like if you were riding on the moon’s surface. Here we do the highest gallop in the world. Pass to the highest point of our ride (4,200 meters) on the edges of the rocks of the Ruminahui Volcano. We continue our ride toward the green Machachi valley as always guarded by the volcanoes avenue. We cross the Machachi plaza where the horsemen are always welcomed; we pass the town of Aloag and arrive back to our starting point for a pleasant dinner and rest time.
Hours of riding 7+ hours

Day 11
Transfer to airport

NOTES - AVENUE OF VOLCANOES TRAIL

The first three days are devoted to acclimatization (Quito is at 2800m) and the itinerary incorporates trips through working haciendas dedicated to the production of dairy products, potatoes, broccoli, and flowers. 
You will come to appreciate the traditions and customs of the chagras’ skills too in this time.  In their goat-skin chaps and woollen ponchos, they welcome tourists to demonstrate their centuries-old tradition of herding cattle. The chagras’ skills on horseback and knowledge of the Andean paramo are legendary. They are the inspiration for our trek.

We also visit the colourful animal and produce market of Machachi and later we will ride through the narrow cloud forest paths, surrounded by literally thousands of plant and animal species. One can’t help but be amazed by the sheer biodiversity of this area.

As we delve further into the mountains we head towards the mighty Cotopaxi. It is the tallest active volcano in the world (5,987 m), Cotopaxi’s impressively symmetric cone will guide us through its surrounding hills. We will ride past the massive rocks of Rumiñahui into the plains near Cotopaxi and then onto the Inca ruins of Salitre and their Pucara fortresses. 

We then ride towards Quilindaña (4,300 m) and the extensive haciendas that surround it. In some haciendas, cattle roam free and are only rounded up and counted once a year during a massive rodeo. These same grasslands are home to Andean deer, spectacled bears, Andean fox and pumas, as well as a variety of birds and the majestic condor. In warmer ravines, you’ll also see colourful hummingbirds sipping nectar from a multitude of flowers. As we ride through the paramos, you will see the great alpaca and llama herds that roam at this altitude. Seeing these herds gallop together with Cotopaxi in the background is truly an amazing experience.

Some salient points:
100% horseback trip (Once you start the ride you are not transfer by car on any day of the trip)
Pace: Moderate, trots and canters
High quality, easy to ride, trained horses full of stamina 
High-quality, well-maintained equipment (tack, camping equipment, 4-wheel drive SUV) 
See 10 of the highest Ecuadorian mountains (weather permitting) 
Close relationships with and supports two local, rural schools
Preservation of the local culture and educate visitors about the "chagras" (local cowboys). 
Many haciendas are environment-friendly (producing organically, conserving energy and water, and compost)

The weight limit for this ride is 15 st/209 lb/95 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.

FURTHER DETAILS
As we are specialists in our field we have extensive knowledge of all our products from details of accommodation and meals to number/size/type of horses to pace of riding ... and much more.
Should you wish to receive further details of this ride please click here.

WHAT IS INCLUDED
Transfer from/to Quito, horse back riding, equipment (including wool ponchos, rain ponchos and chaps, saddlebag, helmets)
accommodation *, National park fee, Spanish/English speaking guide, support vehicle, except day 7 & 8, all meals woth international and Ecuadorian foods and wines, Lunch boxes for days 5,6,7,8 & 9, a choice of Argentinean, Chilean, Western, Calvary, and McClellan saddles.
* One night may be at mountain campsite

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
International flights to Quito, items of a personal nature, gratuities

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