HIGHLANDS – THE NORTHERN TRAILS
QUITO AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS
Artistic Quito
Highlights: Quito workshop school of art, Osvaldo Viteri’s home, workshop, and private art collection, Mindalae folklore museum.
Duration: 8 hours, daily except Saturdays and Sundays, 1L
Quito & Rumipamba Archaeological Site (NEW)
Highlights: Recently discovered Quitu ruins that belong to the integration period from 500 ac to 1500 ac, Quito colonial area.
Duration: 5 hours, daily except Monday, 1L
Rumipamba Archaeological Site & Cable Car (NEW)
Highlights: Recently discovered Quitu ruins that belong to the integration period from 500 ac to 1500 ac, Cable Car located at 13.530 ft to have a fantastic views of Quito and the volcanoes.
Duration: 5 hours, daily except Monday, 1L
Cooking Classes & Visit to a Local Food and Vegetable Market
Highlights: Gourmet Ecuadorean gastronomy, food and vegetable market, private home.
Duration: 6 hours, daily, 1L
Wine Tasting with Sommelier & Gourmet Ecuadorean Dinner
Highlights: Gourmet Ecuadorean gastronomy, International sommelier, excellent selection of wines in one f the best restaurants of Quito
Duration: 6 hours, daily, 1 L
Eco – Trail & Pululahua Geobothanical Reserve
Highlights: Geology, Andean Cloud Forest, flora and bird watching, Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve.
Duration: 8 hours, daily, 1PL
Pita Waterfall
Highlights: Soft hike at the Canyon of the Pita River, Pita Waterfall, fantastic paramo vegetation.
Duration: 6 hours, daily, 1PL
Bird Watching at Mindo-Tandayapa Cloud Forest (NEW)
Highlights: Diverse flora from the Andes down to the cloud forest, hummingbirds, Anpitas, Trogons,Tony’s house, etc, great for botany.
Duration: 8 hours, daily, 1L
Bird Watching at Sacha Tamia Reserve Cloud Forest (NEW)
Highlights: Bird Watching at Sacha Tamia Reserve Cloud Forest
Diverse flora from the Andes down to the cloud forest, hummingbirds, Anpitas, Trogons,Tony’s house, etc, great for botany.
Duration: 2 days/1 night, 1B, 2L, 1D
SHORT HIKING TOURS
Yanasacha Reserve & Hummingbird Watching with lunch
Highlights: 1 hr from Quito, Pichincha volcano, 4x4 road, Andean eye brow mountain vegetation (cold jungle), hummingbird watching and botany.
Duration: 8 hours, 1PL
Pasochoa Protected Forest with lunch 1 Day
Highlights: 1 ½ hr from Quito, Avenue of the volcanoes, hike in the caldera of Pasochoa volcano, this trip can be combined with one of the food markets of the area.
Duration: 8 hours, 1PL
Antisana Volcano & Reserve hosted by a Volcanologist
Highlights: Fantastic opportunity to learn about Volcanology and Geology briefed by an expert volcanologist, great to observe Paramo birds and beautiful landscapes.
Duration: 7 hours, 1 PL
OTAVALO AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS
Lakes and Private Haciendas
Highlights: Hacienda Zuleta, San Marcos lagoon, rose farm, hacienda la Compañía, horse riding and hiking.
Duration: 4days/3nights, 3B, 4L, 3D
Relaix Chateaux & Andes Honeymoon
Highlights: Dinner at San Pablo Lake, La Mirage Relais & Chateaux SPA, Otavalo Market.
Duration: 3 days/2 nights, 2B,3L,2D
Family Adventure
Highlights: Water activities in San Pablo lake, horse riding lessons, hacienda activities, hacienda Zuleta, Otavalo market.
Duration: 3 days/2 nights, 2B, 3L, 2D
HORSE RIDING – THE SPIRIT OF THE ANDES
The best way to Experience the beauty of the Ecuadorean Andes it is on a horse. Each morning brings new experiences and a chance to admire the beauty of the mountains and valleys. Friendly Chagras (Andean cowhand) usually pause from their work to greet you, to exchange news, or even to offer a drink and wish you luck on your journey.
Our rides include amazing journeys from 3 to 9 days depending on the riders skills and itineraries, we offer rides in the northern Andes and also in the
Central Andes where we find the most striking landscapes and also an interesting anthropological experiences.
We also offer shorter ridings & cattle roundups considered the most authentic in South America, please inquiry for more details and specific dates.
Otavalo & surrounding areas (NEW)
Highlights: San Pablo Lake, Angla, La Merced, and Zuleta valleys, Cayambe Volcano, Indian villages, Otavalo Market, old colonial farms from 17th to 18th century, cheese factory, Condor Project.
Duration: 5 days/4 nights
Location: Imbabura Province-Otavalo and Zuleta indian territory
Meals: 5L or PL, 4D, 4B
Drinks included: Soft drinks
Accommodation: Old Colonial farms SGL or DBL rooms w/private bathroom
Extras included: Snacks, soft drinks, water
Altitude & Weather Conditions: Between 2800 mts to 3300 mts - Jan to Jun: am sunny/late afternoon rain - Jul to Dec: am/afternoon sunny/Night possible rains. Temperatures varies from 5C to 20C
Topography Conditions: Most of the time easy and flat, there are some slops not considered steep, very pleasant and relaxed rides
Riding Ability: Experience: intermediate to above, able to canter in open spaces, average riding time 4hrs a day, fit riders.
Guides and Grooms: Experienced bilingual guide and local grooms with technical knowledge of the country side and horses
Horses:Zuleteno (3/4 Andalucian, Thoroughbred, Quarter horse), adapted to high altitudes and mountain terrain, sure footed.
Tack: Western saddles. Horses used to neck reining or English style (2 hands)
Additional Equipment: Rain Ponchos, rain chaps, rain hats, helmets, saddlebags for each rider, half chaps.
Comments: The itinerary can be modified according to clients needs and riding skills. First day to acclimatize and have a briefing about the journey will be necessary. Detailed dossier about the trip will be provided once the trip is confirmed. As this trips are tailor made, please inquire with us about rates.
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