TRAIL RIDE
4 days | 3 nights

ALL YEAR ROUND

ALL INCLUSIVE

NOT SUITABLE FOR BEGINNERS

Overview

Make your way through ancient paths, nearly forgotten nowadays, traced and used by over 1000 year old cultures, some of who's many different testimonies you shall encounter and admire on your ride. Prehistorical fortresses, ceremonial places, grave hillocks, terraces and stone carvings in midst a pleasant climate and lush vegetation, are an eXperience to enjoy in three interesting riding days.

This trip addresses to rather experienced riders, as it is a great combination of steep adventurous climbs through dense vegetation, and gallop stretches on mountain ridges with wide open views. On top of it all, you'll come across the oldest Arrayan forest of South America, mystical mossy trees where elves and fairies have their home.

As a "warm-up" ride to this outstanding eXperience you will ride in the beautiful Pululahua crater. While circling the central lava cone, you witness volcanic history and nature, interesting geological formations, mineral avalanches blooming with wild orchids and traditional Andean agriculture. Lunch with panoramic view over valleys and cloud-forest covered mountains.

A first day with overnight in Pululahua, which will make this eXperience truly magical! Stay in picturesque local farms in the most remote incredible places you can possible imagine.

Itinerary

Day 1
Transport from Quito to the farm, inside the National Reserve Pululahua, about 30km North from Quito. Already the jeep ride is a true eXperience that offers outstanding picture stops.
From the ranch, robust and amiable mountain horses will take you through the stunning landscape of this ancient volcanic crater, the biggest one on the whole American continent and one of only two inhabited craters in the world, with its constantly changing sceneries and huge biodiversity.
While circling the central lava cone, we witness volcanic history and nature, interesting geological formations, mineral avalanches blooming with wild orchids and traditional Andean agriculture. Lunch with panoramic view over valleys and cloud-forest covered mountains. Return to your first night accommodation where a traditional meal will be served to you. Rest to start your adventure.

Day 2
Along cloud-forest covered mountain slopes, you'll be passing by deep gorges, carved by lava streams thousands of years ago. Through the narrow passage of the Rio Blanco canyon, you finally reach the valley of the Rio Guayllabamba, a sacred valley for pre-hispanic cultures, with its warm and tropical climate, where you shall find coffee trees, fields of sugar cane and a lot of tropical fruits. Legendary historical sites can be observed along the way. When the afternoon light breaks through the clouds over the pre-Inca-fortress Portalanza, this mountain-valley looks most certainly like taken from a fairy tale. "Aguacatal" is the name of the very remote (no electricity!) and beautiful farm that offers you beds for tonight in cozy wooden cabañas (alternatively ancient Jesuit Hacienda Niebli de la Compañia, depending on availability). Welcome drink and great homemade hot meal.

Day 3
Having found this unique place at the end of the world, you will explore the stunning surroundings refilling our energies with Doña Hildas Austrian Kaiserschmarrn in the middle of nowhere. In the morning we invite you for a 3 hours ride, to take a look at mysterious 1300 years old stone-carvings from the Yumbo-culture. The visit of a nearby Hacienda that was ruled by the Jesuit community during colonial time and shows interesting historical evidences, is another option. Those, who'd like to change activity for a while, can go for a walk, collecting tropical fruit, head for a shower under a natural waterfall or just hang out for a day, enjoying the enchanted and unique scenery of your rest place. Homemade lunch at Doña Hildas place, overnight at the same place.

Day 4
Another day for the adventurous and nature lovers! Following the course of the furious and turbulent river Guayllabamba upstream for several hours, you shall enjoy some really breathtaking views. From the back of your horses, you're overlooking the steep and winding gorges, a comprised version of the Grand Canyon. This valley has been settled long before the arrival of the Incas, by cultures who were farming the steep difficult land, building temples for their gods and knowing the exact position of the equator line.
Today’s 6-8 hours ride along the river and up Pululahua´s outer crater walls, combines steep adventurous climbs through dense vegetation with gallop stretches on mountain ridges with wide open views. Towards the end of the day, you’ll be crossing an old Arrayan forest, winding downhill amongst mystical mossy trees, back into the crater valley. Hiking parts necessary. Arrival at the Green Horse Ranch and transport back to Quito. Arrival between 6-7 pm.

Additional information

Transfers included | Airport Gateway UIO | Quito

​ Additional beverages not included

​ Local Tours included

​ We recommend to arrive Ecuador the day before you start your journey. To help you with that we can book a first extra night in Quito for only 180 Euro

Bookable with a single person. Contact us for more information 

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Sacred Valley

QUANTITY