Fixed Tours: Multi-Day Activities
Two-Day Tour
(Day-1): Upon arrival at Cotopaxi National Park, we will visit the interpretation center where descriptions of the local flora and fauna as well as a history of the major eruptions from the worlds highest active volcano are provided. From the parking lot, we will begin climbing up to the refuge where we will rest and enjoy a snack. Back to the parking lot, a decision will be made as to whether we down quickly on mountain bikes to Limpiopungo Lake, or continue the visit in a 4x4 jeep. The exciting journey will continue, whether by bike or in a jeep, amidst streams and large rocks through El Pedregal valley where the remains of large mud and lava flows that came down from the volcano during ancient eruptions are still evident. We pass the Pucara de
Salitre, a strategic military fortress of the old Inca Empire, and the drive ends at the farmhouse in Volcano Land, where a delicious super will be ready for us.
(Day-2): A brief lecture will be given in the morning to teach us how to ride and get acquainted with the horses.
Wearing the typical "chagra" attire, we will begin a visit to the foothills of the
Rumiñahui volcano, riding side by side with herds of wild horses and brave bulls and, if luck is on our side, perhaps we will catch a glimpse of the majestic condor. We will reach the base of the dormant volcano peaks - a foreboding site - and while we enjoy a warm cup of
"zunfo" tea, we will learn about the meaning of the word
"Rumiñahui."
Returning by the lowermost route, we will pass the impressive Chusig cave and the valley known as Condor
Machai, or refuge of the condor. A delicious lunch consisting of local dishes will be waiting for us at the farmhouse. In the afternoon we will go down to Santa Rita "hacienda" on the foothills of Pasochoa volcano where we will walk along paths through the native Andean forest. After a two or three hour trek, we will reach the place where we will begin our return to Quito.
Volcano Ride
Day-1: Very early in the morning we will go to the Santa Rita farm at 3,300 meters (10,800-feet) above sea level. Following a lecture about how to handle the horses, and wearing the typical "Chagra" attire, we begin the ride through the majestic "paramos" of Pasochoa. Our route will begin through a trail along the native Andean forest and then to the open "paramos" of Pasochoa. We will ride through fields covered with high straw and will enjoy the magnificent view of the neighboring mountains covered with snow. We will take a rest and enjoy a snack in addition to a cup of "zunfo", the famous tea of the region that that will help us to recover our strength and continue with our journey. Reaching the summit at 4,200 meters (13,800-feet) above sea level will be easy and very beautiful experience. We return to El Porvenir farmhouse in our comfortable 4x4.
Day-2: Today our ride will go through Rumiñahui volcano along many trails where, in a mixture of legend and history, we can admire brave bulls, local birds, the wild fauna, and the marvelous landscape of the Ecuadorian highlands. We will be quite close to the peaks of Rumiñahui, and after visiting Chusig Machai and the Condor machai, we return to the farmhouse.
Day-3: We will begin our ride from El Povenir taking the lower route towards El Tambo and going by Pucara de Salitre, the old Inca fortress. We will be riding under the shade of majestic Cotopaxi - the imposing snow-capped highest active volcano in the world - and will reach Cajas lagoons wherefrom we will descend towards the Tamboyacu river, passing through "La Piedra Muchana" (a huge stone that the Incas used to kiss asking the gods for good weather on their way to the jungle), cross the Chigtapamba plains and reach the corrals and refuge at the farm. Our guests will enjoy an excellent barbecue and will sleep in a simple but very comfortable and cozy hut.
Day-4: Today our ride will go through the slopes of Quilindaña known as the Chervino of the Andes. First we will head to San Agustin where we will be quite close to the peak of Quilindaña volcano. The horse will go through the valley of Toruno heading to the panza, or paper tree bark forest, where we will rest for a while and then have a short walk in this enchanted forest. From this point, we will go back to the house.
Day-5: Today's extraordinary ride will head to "secas" or dry land, a perfect place to take breathtaking pictures of the valley. From this point, we take the
"incañan", or Inca road that led to the Amazonian jungles. Passing through El Predicador, we will get to Chalupas, a place considered almost impossible to reach but also well known as a paradise for fishing. Here we will set up our campsite.
Day-6: We will ride back from Chalupas to El Tambo, but this time through the incañan used to go to Latacunga valley. On the way to El Tambo we will have the chance to see the extraordinary Marro, or stone hill. Then we ride along the lower slopes of Quilindaña, and after visiting Yuragcocha and Verdecocha lagoon, we return to the farmhouse.
Day-7: Early in the morning, we will begin the ride following the Tambo riverbed towards Cotopaxi to take the higher route for our ride to Chirimachay, or "cold refuge." We will be riding along the foothills of Yanachiza or Loma Negra where another volcano is hidden: Pailon. The horses will go through Curipugyo (or site of gold) and then enter a ravine where several volcanic layers from past eruptions and the river course cut in stone by floods are clearly evident. We will reach Chirimachai, where several pure and crytstalline water springs issue from the rugged rock. This path will take us back to El Porvenir.
Day-8: After a delicious breakfast we return to Quito.
Volcano Trekking
Day-1: The group will have a couple of hours to wake up, have breakfast, and get ready to be picked up at 8:30 AM. Then, transfer to Amaguaña to start the hike to El Povenir Lodge. The hike from 3,000 to 3,500 meters (9,800- to 11,500-feet) will take about 6-hours. The hike will go through a road with native forest and you have a great view of the valley and some mountains like Antisana, Pasochoa, Viudita, etc. This night there will be a briefing about the history, landscapes, flora and fauna of the region.
Day-2: After breakfast, we will go to a place called "El Pucara del Salitre", a strategic military fortress from the old Inca Empire. This "fort" was used to monitor the "incanes" or roads that led to the Amazon rainforest and to the Latacunga valley. Following the "incanan" we will have the chance to see these picturesque animals and learn a little bit about them. This hike takes 6- to 7-hours, and it's relatively flat.
Day-3: This day our hiking goes from Huasillama to El Tambo, a pre-colonial Inca refuge and stockyard on the road to the jungle. Many volcanoes surround this magical place, mainly Quilindaña that presides over it, and other mountains like Yanahurco, or black hill, legendary predicator or majestic Antisana. The hike will take 6.5-hours and is relatively flat. El Tambo is at 3,700 meters (12,100-feet) above sea level.
Day-4: The group will loop around Hacienda El Tambo going to Chirimachay's base camp through the Cotopaxi's paramos. The scenery of this area is unique because it is one of the courses that the lava went through in Cotopaxi's last eruption. Here we can observe how the Lava Rivers flooded this area. The hike takes about 5-hours because of the bulls some chagras will ride with the group this day. At night, one of the chagras will talk about his life at the paramos and some legends of the region. Chirimachay is 4,000 meters (13,100-feet) above sea level.
Day-5: We will start our hike in the morning going through the water channel road to the Limpiopunga Lagoon, the place for our campsite. This is the perfect place to take breathtaking pictures of the Cotopaxi, Rumiñahui, and Sincholagua volcanoes. The hike will take 6- to 7-hours. This night we'll have musicians to play music to the group.
Day-6: Today we will hike to the hut refuge of Cotopaxi at 4,800 meters (15,700-feet) above sea level. The hike takes 4- to 5-hours up to reach the refuge and 2.5-hours down to the campsite. Here our vehicles will pick us up to take us to El Porvenir Lodge.
Day-7: After breakfast, we will return to Quito.
Volcano Extreme Adventure
Day-1: After a brief lecture to get acquainted with the horses and wearing the typical "chagra" attire, we will begin our ride from El Porvenir taking the lower route towards El Tambo and going by Pucara de Salitre, the old Inca fortress. We will be riding under the shade of majestic Cotopaxi - the imposing snow-capped highest active volcano in the world - and will reach Cajas lagoons wherefrom we will descend towards the Tamboyacu River, cross the Chigtapamba plains, and reach the corrals and refuge at the farm. Our guests will enjoy an excellent barbeque and will sleep in a simple but very comfortable and cozy hut.
Day-2: The group will loop around Hacienda El Tambo going to Chirimachay's through Cotopaxi's paramos. The scenery of this area is unique because it is one of the courses that lava went through in Cotopaxi's last eruption. This takes about 5-hours. At Chirimachay, we will start a beautiful down hill on mountain bikes. In addition to admiring the resplendent landscape, adrenaline-laden experiences will be felt while descending towards El Porvenir.
Day-3: The group can chose between climbing Pasochoa (4,200 meters, or 13,800-feet, a.s.l.) or Rumiñahui (4,712 meters, or 15,455-feet,
a.s.l.) Rumiñahui: Very early in the morning, we begin to climb the volcano, crossing vast "paramos" covered by the cold breath of the Andes and will be amazed by the majesty and beauty of the landscape that conjugates valleys, mountains, and neighboring volcanoes in one single image. We will reach the peaks of Rumiñahui where it is possible to observe the impressive valley of Lasso and Latacunga. On a cloudless day, we will even have the
opportunitiy to admire in the distance the Ilinizas and Chimborazo, the highest snow-capped mountain of Ecuador.
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