Welcome to Ecuador!

You’ll fly to Quito, the capital founded in the 16th century on the ruins of an Inca city and one of the best well-preserved historic downtowns, it stands at an altitude of 2,850 m. This city has the best-preserved, least-altered historic center in Latin America. You’ll be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel via private car.

Machachi is known for its vibrant cultural traditions and is considered the capital of the Chagra culture, we will explore this town visiting its markets and some stores that are frequently visited by authentic Chagras.

In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to connect with horses in a way you have never experienced before with our horse encounter experience. Activities such as horseback riding take on a new level when we approach it with a focus on encounters heard on horseback. This approach familiarizes you with the importance of the connection between you and your horse and between you and your herd or members of your journey. It is a very sensitive approach where you have the opportunity to get to know your horse and create a bond. It is also a very powerful tool when we understand the importance of auditioning with horses, this new knowledge will be incorporated into the relationship with yourself.

Once we have used coaching techniques with the horses, we are introduced by the native cowboys, the Chagras, to the Chagras trail. Learning to handle the horses, saddle and ride according to the ancestral ways.

Rise and shine! After a delicious and traditional breakfast from the Hacienda, we will meet a local Chagra who will be our local guide for today’s adventure. We will start riding toward the slopes of the extinct Rumiñahui volcano following exclusive Hacienda paths. As we travel across majestic Andean panoramas, we will see herds of wild bulls, birds, and other wildlife. We will eventually arrive near the rocky peaks of Rumiñahui where one can see 12 more volcanoes on a clear day. Return to the Hacienda. After Lunch, you will join the Chagra in the fields to gather your horses and bring them to the hacienda corrals. Back at the hacienda, you will learn how to saddle your horse and get acquainted with the gear provided.

The kickoff is early today. After breakfast, we set off from Hacienda El Porvenir towards Hacienda El Tambo on the eastern mountain range. The ride takes 6 to 7 hours and covers roughly 43 km. With the colossal Cotopaxi looming over our trails, we will eventually visit the Pucará del Salitre, an ancient Inca fortress. We will have a packed lunch in the middle of the day. The ride takes us through a wide variety of landscapes such as mountain rivers and small lakes. When we finally reach the farmhouse of El Tambo, we will be rewarded with a traditional dinner and a warm fire.

After breakfast, we will ride over the foothills of Quilindaña, an old volcano that has been dormant for millions of years! The trek crosses the plains and slopes of this beautiful peak of 4,878m. (15,999 ft). There are still pristine woods of native trees, such as the pantza or polylepis (paper tree). We will get off our horses for a while and wander through gorgeous woods full of moss, lichen, and high-altitude bromeliads. Packed lunch is included during the trip. After strolling in the woods and hearing some local legends, we ride back to the farmhouse at Hacienda El Tambo, where a delicious dinner awaits us.

Ready to ride out early in the morning and head back to civilization?

We will follow the course of the River Tambo towards the base of Cotopaxi, we take the high route used by the locals and ride through the slopes of Sincholagua volcano. Packed lunch included. On the way back to Hacienda El Porvenir, we cross Cotopaxi National Park again, taking a spectacular, panoramic route. We will then reach Hacienda El Porvenir, where we will spend the night, we can soak our muscles and relax at the spa.

This ancient ritual has been held for centuries at Hacienda El Porvenir and Hacienda El Tambo. El Rodeo is an epic experience for any horseback rider, and one of the most intense and beautiful rides one can be involved in. You can be part of this tradition where cattle and dozens of Chagras (Andean Cowboys) will gather around the hacienda, to “round” cattle and bring them to the corrals.

After breakfast, we start our Chagra skill training program. We will learn to handle the lasso, how to handle the cattle, how to tie knots, and the overall skills needed for a small “rodeo” (the local given name to a cattle drive comes from the verb “rodear” which means surround). It’s the moment of truth! After a morning of learning from the Chagras, we will put our fresh knowledge into practice with a small cattle drive. 

Looking for inspiration for a future trip? We’ve partnered with travel experts from around the world to design and recommend unique itineraries that guarantee you an unforgettable trip.

Our recommended itineraries have been selected by our team of storytellers from around the world who have curated their favorite trips after decades of world travel.

Are you up for one of the itineraries we love?

Get in touch with us and make the magic happen