Discover the Ecuadorian Andes on horseback

Do you dream of galloping through the Andes? Below, we are going to give you all the information you need to enjoy an unforgettable horse riding holiday in Ecuador.

This small South American country, despite its size, has a very interesting history and culture. Furthermore, Ecuador's landscape is very varied. It has Amazon rainforest, impressive mountain peaks and immense white sandy beaches.

You have probably considered doing a horseback route that allows you to enter the Amazon rainforest, following the same trails that were used hundreds of years ago by the adventurers who discovered America.

Imagine arriving at a beautiful beach in Ecuador on horseback! Galloping across the white sands and then swimming in the crystal clear waters.

The Pululahua Volcano

In the Andean highlands, some 15 km north of Quito, at latitude 0, is the Pululahua volcano, whose cycle of activity dates back some 4000 years.

Its soils today provide fertile land for agriculture

Thanks to its geographical position, its temperate climate, the beauty of its landscapes and its great biodiversity, it has for many years attracted both tourists and scientists from all over the world.

Considering that its crater is the largest on the continent and is one of only two inhabited craters in the world, you have to explore it on horseback without a doubt!

Green Horse Ranch

This horse ranch is located 40 kilometers north of Quito, in the center of the Pululahua volcanic crater.

It is one of the best in South America and specialises in trail rides and adventures through the western Andes.

Its German founder, Astrid Müller, has lived in Ecuador since 1990. She and the ranch's other guides and assistants have decades of experience in tourism and horse riding, ensuring you a pleasant, challenging and safe horseback ride.

Their horses for the routes

Green Horse Ranch and its team are breeders of the Andean Criollo horse, an animal perfectly adapted to this type of terrain which in parts becomes very steep and narrow. It is a strong breed, with a calm temperament, agile and sure-footed.

Some, very tame, are ideal for beginners and children. Others are very spirited. Some are ridden in a Western saddle, others in a jumping or English saddle. The height of their horses varies from 1.40 m to 1.70 m.

They will take care of selecting the horse that best suits your riding style, your experience and your expectations. This choice is important, as several challenges await you and your horse.

Their routes

Pululahua is the starting point for numerous horseback expeditions lasting from 1 to 8 days.

The routes will take you to the most remote and hidden places of the Pululahua volcano, passing through deep gorges, rivers of crystalline water, thermal springs, ancient lava flows, abandoned limestone mines, archaeological sites and forests full of native vegetation.

You can visit the Pichincha moors, the rainforests of the west, the nature reserves of Bellavista, Mindo and Maquipucuna, the pre-Inca ruins of Portalanza and Rumicucho, the majestic valley of Guayllabamba.

Due to the remoteness of the area, the accommodation is simple, but always special and welcoming, and it puts us in touch with the hidden side of Ecuador.

“Secrets of the Andes” Route (9 days)

A horseback route through the heart of the Western Andean Cordillera.

During the tour you will discover the immense variety of Andean landscapes. Green mountains, deep ravines, jungle and open spaces. Volcanoes, lagoons, traditional crops and abundant tropical vegetation.

Excellent physical condition is required for this route.

On the way you will sleep in different typical inns, real Ecuadorian ranches and cabins when availability allows.

You will visit the “Mitad del Mundo” monument, as well as the Intiñan Solar Museum, learning about the physical laws of the equinox and about the ancient cultures that lived in the “Center of the Earth” centuries ago.

It starts at the Pululahua Volcano, with its stunning landscapes.

A hidden trail will take you all the way around the Cerro Pondoña volcanic dome, showing you the traces of its past geological activities.

Unexpectedly you will cross the Reventazón, an ancient volcanic avalanche with its mineral water springs, wild grapes and purple orchids.

You will skirt deep ravines and enter the Río Blanco Valley, with its warm climate that encourages the growth of coffee, bananas, cherimoya, guava, yucca and sugar cane.

Following the course of the turbulent Guayllabamba River, upstream you will come across amazing landscapes of ravines and mountains and begin a difficult ascent along trails to the heights of Lulumbamba.

You will travel around the outside of the Pululahua crater. Here the route combines steep ascents and descents along narrow paths through dense vegetation with wide paths along immense ridges with spectacular views and good ground for galloping.

Then you will cross one of the oldest Arrayanes forests in Latin America, which seems magical, beginning the descent back to the crater from where you started the route.

The last few days you will ride in a tropical climate, among sugar cane and banana trees. You will gradually climb through rainforests and bamboo groves, interrupted by a few farms and isolated huts, where farmers struggle to cultivate these steep lands.

And finally, you have the chance to ride through green meadows, between hills and valleys with colonial haciendas, where flowers are now grown and bulls are bred.

Find more information about this equestrian provider on their website: http://greenhorseranch.zohosites.com

Tierra del Volcán

Specializing since 1999 in Eco Tourism and Adventure Travel, they are located in the Cotopaxi area, in the central Andes of Ecuador.

With them, you can experience the Andes at their most intense. Discover the charisma of its people, the diversity of its natural environments and the adrenaline of living a fascinating adventure with experts who have been in the area for more than five generations.

Ride through movie-like landscapes, while getting to know and experiencing the culture of the Chagra, the cowboy of the Ecuadorian highlands.

They offer a personalized service in a welcoming environment, while helping to conserve nature and promote sustainable development in local communities.

They have two haciendas in the area around the Cotopaxi volcano: El Porvenir and El Tambo.

Hacienda el Porvenir

Located on the slopes of the Rumiñahui volcano, it is the ideal place from which to explore the Cotopaxi volcano and its surroundings. You will be able to get to know the Andean way of life first hand and have exciting adventures on horseback.

El Porvenir is only an hour and a half's drive from Quito and is located 4 km from the northern entrance to Cotopaxi National Park.

The farm is located at an altitude of 3,600 meters above sea level. It is surrounded by four volcanoes, one of which is the famous Cotopaxi volcano.

El Porvenir is a ranch dedicated to sustainable agriculture and livestock farming, conservation and ecotourism. They produce milk and cheese and also grow some of the vegetables that are offered in their restaurant.

The history of this ranch goes back to colonial times. This territory, which was then known as “Pedregal”, was administered by the Jesuits. In this vast area, the Jesuits raised sheep and later ventured into wild cattle breeding.

Hacienda El Tambo

It is immersed in a virgin and remote area of the Cóndor Biological Reserve, an important conservation program that serves as a corridor for endangered Andean species.

Settled on the slopes of the Quilindaña volcano, it offers the perfect place for longer horseback expeditions.

It was destroyed during the Spanish conquest, but was rebuilt with the same stone that the Inca hands carved more than 500 years ago.

A curious detail is that all the rooms are Machai style. These rooms resemble the huts built by the highland Indians, with their thatched roofs, mats as walls and mat curtains as doors. They are very warm and cozy rooms.

Now what you are interested in knowing, let's talk about your horseback riding routes.

“Chagras Way” program

You will be able to experience a complete cultural vision of the Chagra or Andean Cowboy lifestyle. You will enjoy some of the most impressive landscapes of the central Andes of Ecuador on horseback while riding accompanied by authentic Chagras who will share their skills and experience in horse riding.

Route characteristics:

Duration: 5 days and 4 nights.
Level of riding required: moderate - advanced.
Weight: Riders must not exceed 110 kg in weight.
Accommodation: based on double occupancy Machai, cabin or tent with meals included.
Guides: certified English-speaking guide and native Chagra guide.
Riding equipment: riding helmets, wool ponchos, waterproof ponchos, saddlebags and chaps.
Transportation: to and from Quito and within the days. Safety backup vehicle.
Notes of interest: The itinerary is subject to change due to weather conditions.

Brief summary of the itinerary: