This program is for 2 to 12 riders. Due to the inherently dangerous nature of equestrian sports we require guests to sign a liability waiver.

This trip will give you an authentic taste of "Chagra" (Andean cowboy) life. Each day we ride through the spectacular landscape of the high Andes. The scenery changes day by day as we pass through diverse ecosystems including paramo (high grassland), volcanic Andean environments and the unique cloud forest of Ecuador. Each night we stay in traditional countryside accommodation; old haciendas and "tambos" which have been used by riders and other travelers since colonial times. We guarantee you the experience of a lifetime.

Morning: transfer from Quito airport or hotel followed by a tour of the old city. Transfer to Hacienda La Alegria (one hour south of Quito) in time for lunch. All meals are tailored for hungry riders and combine delicious Ecuadorian and international cuisine. Our visitors book contains many compliments to the chef at La Alegria! After lunch you will be matched with a horse suitable for your level of riding ability and experience. You will be given the chance to get used to your horse in the safety of our "round" and paddock. We will then make the four hour ride up La Viudita ("The Widow", 3760m), our "local" mountain. From the top, weather permitting, you will be able to enjoy the spectacular equatorial sunset. Eight of Ecuador's volcano giants are visible from the summit. The spectacular view encompasses Quito city and its surrounding valleys as well as the mountains, high pastures and humid forests where you will be riding during the following days. This mountain is ideal for acclimatizing to the Ecuadorian highlands. We return to Hacienda La Alegria where dinner will be served in a cozy dinning room with a roaring log fire. You can also enjoy a drink a chat at the bar and explore the history of the region through our collection of old books and maps.

We will rise early, and after a hot shower and a filling breakfast we will saddle up and prepare for the first full day of riding. The extinct volcano of Volcan Pasochoa (4250m) is visible from the garden of the hacienda. The 6 hour ride takes us across the valley to the other side of the "Avenue of the Volcanoes", through luxuriant forests of wax palm, bamboo, eucalyptus, podocarpus and aliso. The route takes us through Pasochoa Natural Park and up onto the high pastures of the upper slopes of the mountain. After stopping to enjoy a pack lunch on the trail we will head back to Hacienda La Alegria for dinner and a well earned rest.

Today's ride will take us to the west, where you will witness a completely different landscape. After riding for 2 ½ hours over the Sierra Occidental up to an elevation of 3,500m, we will start to descend towards the coast. As we lose altitude the scenery changes dramatically as thick sub-tropical jungle replaces the Andean vegetation. Riding through unspoiled primary forest you will see a great variety of exotic orchids, giant guneras (marsh plants), natural ferns (the oldest species in the world) and bromeliads covering the trees and high altitude bamboo. This is the famed cloud forest of Ecuador, where luxuriant vegetation thrives in the high humidity of the rising air from the coast.

We will stop for a traditional Ecuadorian lunch at a farm located on the "Inca baths trail". The owner, who has lived in the forest for 25 years is fascinating and will be happy to tell you about his life in this remote location. After lunch we will ride to the pretty high altitude pastures of Monte Oscuro where we have two options. We can drive back to La Alegria in the car and resume our ride from Monte Oscuro in the morning. Alternatively we can camp at Monte Oscuro. A hearty meal, comfortable modern tents and warm bedding will ensure a pleasant night. From here there is a panoramic along the mountain chain and on clear evenings we can see the lights of coastal villages.

After an early breakfast, our morning ride will take us up through high altitude forest and onto the high paramo of Volcan Corazon ("The Heart", 4788m), a majestic volcanic peak overlooking the beautiful valley of Aloag. We take the horses up to 4,500m, at the base of the rocky summit cone where we stop for lunch and to enjoy the panoramic view of the Avenue of the Volcanoes. Occasionally Condors have been sighted here, and we are actively involved in trying to reintroduce them to the area. Keeping the snow covered twin peaks of Illiniza on our right, we descend towards the Chaupi Valley and San Jose Hacienda for a hot shower, dinner and a comfortable bed.

After breakfast at 8 we set off towards Volcan Cotopaxi, at 5897m the world's highest active volcano. The photogenic backdrop of Cotopaxi's classic glacier-capped cone will ensure that your camera sees a lot of use today! We will follow the track of the old narrow-gauge railway across the valley to Boliche, and then start climbing through the Sulfana mountains towards the impressive collapsed crater wall of Volcan Ruminahui (4712m). We will stop for lunch in the sandy-panzas forest and then ride on to Lago Limpiopungo, a small highland lake situated at 3,800m on a wide open plain between ancient lava flows. We will spend the night in a cozy lodge close to the lake where hot showers and dinner await. From the lodge Cotopaxi dominates the horizon. It has erupted numerous times in recorded history but these days the most activity you are likely to see is steam clouds forming around the crater. Early risers should be able to appreciate an unforgettable sunrise.

After breakfast at the lodge, we will ride to a tambo close to some Inca ruins. After a short excursion on foot to the ruins, we will ride west towards the green valley of Machachi. We will stop here for lunch and photos. The views are consistently spectacular, with the Ilinizas and Corazon dominating the view ahead and Pasochoa on our right. We will ride for a further 3 hours back to Hacienda La Alegria, arriving at 4pm. After a shower and a cup of tea we depart for Quito, where those on the 6 day ride will transfer to the airport or their hotel. Those on the 9 day ride will be handed over to the care of Astrid Muller, who will be your hostess for the next stage of your adventure. After a short drive north of Quito, you will be made welcome at Green Horse Ranch, located inside the ancient volcanic crater of Pululahua (3356m). This fascinating region is an extremely biodiverse ecological reserve, close to the equatorial line and start of the Trefoil Trail.

We will spend the next two days enjoying the unique environment of the crater area with its constantly changing scenery and astonishing biodiversity. Along the way we will ride through landscapes formed by ancient volcanic avalanches, deep gorges, volcanic springs and clear mountain streams, which will prove all too inviting for a noon dip! We will encounter cloud forest blooming with wild orchids, highland pasture and areas of traditional Andean corn-crop cultivation, banana plantations and sugar-cane fields. We will visit Portalanza, ancient fortress of the pre-Inca Quito-Cara tribe, lost in the remoteness of the Andes. We will spend the night at a cozy country cottage in the mystical surroundings of the crater walls. Some guests may be asked to sleep in tents depending on numbers.

Breakfast will be a visual treat, taken on the terrace with a panoramic view of the crater. A five hour ride back to Green Horse Ranch will leave you with a longing to return to the beauty and tranquility of the Ecuadorian Andes. Late afternoon return to Quito, transfer to hotel or airport.

21 Jan	to	29 Jan
11 Mar	to	19 Mar
29 Apr	to	07 May
17 Jun	to	25 Jun
26 Aug	to	03 Aug
21 Oct	to	29 Oct
16 Dec	to	24 Dec

9 days riding, 8 nights accommodation, all transfers, meals, horses, tack and guide, support vehicle, city tour, accident insurance, and park tickets.

All meals are tailored for hungry riders and combine delicious Ecuadorian and international cuisine. Our visitors book contains many compliments to the chef at La Alegria! Vegetarian / other special dietary options on request.

Breakfast: coffee, tea, cocoa, oatmeal, eggs and/or French toast, natural fruit juice and fruit of the season.

Lunch: Trail days: high energy pack lunch (sandwiches, fruit, candy). Hacienda days: similar to dinner.

Dinner: typical Ecuadorian soup, chicken, beef, pork or pasta, vegetables, rice or potatoes, dessert. Vegetarian / other special dietary options on request.

Drinks: water, juices, soft drinks.

Airfares, airport tax, alcoholic drinks.

Long underwear or pantyhose (to prevent chaffing), vests / T-shirts, sweatshirts / long-sleeve shirts, fleece jacket, wind stopper / rain jacket, riding boots or lightweight hiking boots, gloves, scarf, high factor sunscreen, sunglasses. We provide riding helmets, half-length chaps, waterproof full-length chaps and ponchos for wet weather.

At Hacienda La Alegria our horses are very important to us. Most have been bred here on the farm from mixed Criollo (native South American), English Thoroughbred and Arabian stock, resulting in a near perfect combination of toughness, agility, calm temperament and "mountain sense". Beginners and experienced riders alike have found them easy to ride, willing and good mannered. If you have previous riding experience you will be given plenty of opportunity to canter.

We have a range of tack including North American style, English style, Mclellan calvary, Chillean and traditional Ecuadorian "Chagra" style with its intricate leather-work and saddle horn.