Ecuadorian Andes on Horseback: Machachi Valley to Quilotoa & Back - 9 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Quito, Transfer to the Hacienda

¡Bienvenidos a Ecuador! Touch down in Quito, the country's capital, before heading south to a hacienda (ranch) in the Machachi Valley, on the borders of the Pichincha and Cotopaxi provinces. This hacienda will be your home base for several days as you get to know the Ecuadorian highlands on horseback. Today, your guides will keep things low-key with a short introduction to the ranch, tips on riding, and a chance to pick the horse you'll ride for the remainder of the trip.

Day 2: Acclimate to Altitude on Horseback

Today is all about making you comfortable, both with your chosen horse and the altitude of the highlands. Since many of your rides over the next few days will take you to elevations as high as 13,123 feet (4,000 m), you need time to adjust before taking on bigger adventures. Luckily, the Machachi Valley is a lush, beautiful place, and your short ride today allows you to admire stunning views of the peaks you'll cover in the near future.

After the ride, head back to the hacienda to relax and learn more about chagras, Ecuadorian cowboys. Visit the hacienda's resident cattle, learn about the milking and cheese-making process, and then warm up in the Jacuzzi or by the fireplace.

Day 3: Ride Through the Cloud Forest

Day 4: Ride to the Hacienda, Visit a Botanical Garden

Today, you'll ride back toward your home base in the Machachi Valley, stopping to visit a botanical garden along the way. Here, you'll learn more about the orchids and cloud forest plants you saw on your ride yesterday; as you continue your journey, you can see the landscape with fresh eyes. Arrive at the hacienda for lunch, and spend the rest of the day relaxing however you'd like. 

Day 5: Ride to Isinliví

This morning, a private transfer will bring you (and your horse!) about an hour south to meet up with today's horseback riding trail. You'll follow dirt paths, some that trace back to the ancient Inca Trail, toward Isinliví, a small village in the Southern Andes. Along the way, you'll take in a different kind of landscape, the parámo, the high mountain ecosystem of the Andes.

Day 6: Visit Quilotoa Volcano

Today, your destination is Quilotoa, a 2-mile-wide (3 km) crater lake filled with 820 feet (250 m) of mineral-rich green water. Follow your guides through agricultural fields to reach the foot of Quilotoa volcano, the westernmost volcano in the Ecuadorian Andes. Climb to an altitude of about 11,483 feet (3,500 m) to reach the stunning lake, and follow the paths that circumnavigate the shores or wind up the three lava domes surrounding it. Spend the night in the area.

Day 7: Ride to Sigchos

This morning, embark on the journey between Quilotoa and Sigchos, a village to the north. Along the way, you're sure to run into other hikers and riders—the route connecting Quilotoa, Sigchos, and Isinliví makes up part of the Quilotoa Route, a famous hiking trail leading visitors across the highlands to the crater lake. Once in Sigchos, visit a dairy farm and sample their traditional cheeses before retiring to a nearby hacienda.

Day 8: Return to the Hacienda

Make your way back to the hacienda you started your adventure at today, crossing ravines, narrow trails, and mountain passes as you work your way north. The journey northeast should take about six hours. Along the way, take plenty of photos to remember your time in the páramo and Ecuadorian highlands; this is your last ride!

Day 9: Say Goodbye to Your Horse & Depart

It's a bittersweet last day at the hacienda. Take some time to say goodbye to your horse, your guides, and the new friends you made throughout the week before taking a private transfer to the airport. Safe travels!