Day 1. HACIENDA LA CARRIONA
Transfer from airport to Sangolqui valley in the southern outskirts of Quito. Your stop is in the first highland hacienda of the circuit: La Carriona.Your suite, decorated comfortably to savor a family environment of the haciendas in the highlands also offers a modern bathroom. You are perfectly situated to begin your ride in the central highlands. You may choose to spend the rest of the day relaxing by the heated pool, sauna, or simply enjoying the beauty of the hacienda.

Day 2. HACIENDA LA ALEGRIA
Difficulty level 2 Riding time 4-hrs
adaptation to horses and altitude: You will be picked up from La Carriona and driven along the spectacular "Avenue of the Volcanoes" to Hacienda La Alegria. Your host, Gabriel Espinosa, is passionate about horses and riding, and you will soon see why his operation is famed for the quality of his horses. You will be given the chance to get use to your horse in the safety of our "round" and paddock. A 4 hour ride to the Viudita mountain is scheduled. From its top you will be able to enjoy a stunning sunset view. This mountain is a perfect fit for a first day ride on Ecuador’s highlands. You may later enjoy our bar and listen to the old farm tales.

Day 3. CLOUDY RAIN FOREST
Difficulty level 2 Riding time 5-hrs
Breakfast will be served at 8:00 am. You will take a five-minute ride to make sure you feel comfortable with your assigned horse and riding equipment. Then we start our ride to “Monte Obscuro” Dark Hill on the west side of the hacienda. Here you will witness a different environment in this Reserve while observing exciting changes of vegetation in short distances. After 2 ½ hours of riding up to 3.500 m a.s.l, we will start to descend towards the coast and experience an incredible sub-tropical vegetation typical of the western mountain chain. We will shortly come to a first stop to eat an Ecuadorian meal at a farm located in the cloud forest. Ride back to Hacienda La Alegria.

Day 4. RUMINAHUI AND COTOPAXI
Difficulty Level 3 riding time-7hrs
Early breakfast and departure from Hacienda La Alegria towards the town of Machachi, known as the capital of the Ecuadorian cowboys “Chagras”. We will ride upward to 4,200m near the peak of the rocky Ruminahui Mountain and continue to Limpiopungo Lake in the Cotopaxi National Park. Our destination will be a cozy lodge awaiting us for your day’s rest. An overnight stay in this comfortable lodge and a hot shower will undoubtedly renew your body. Enjoy dinner and share our pleasant experiences close to an inviting fireplace. If the weather permits it, admire a star sparkled moonlight sky.
The following morning, get up early to appreciate the most incredible scenery right in front of your eyes.....the snow capped Cotopaxi volcano.

Day 5. Cotopaxi, Sto Domingo Lake & Hacienda Yanahurco. Difficulty Level 3 riding time-6hrs
This day will be your opportunity to canter in some parts of the ride: crossing terrain that resembles the lunar surface, pass the Santo Domingo Lake; descend to the Vicious Valley, a canyon formed by the Cotopaxi lava flow route; and spot along the ride herds of wild horses, fox, deer and birds of the area. After Lunch, we receive the chagras that will work in the farm cattle round- up, explore the surroundings of Yanahurco by foot. At night, enjoy a briefing of Yanahurco`s attractions and activities such as its annual cattle rodeo and its wild horse rodeo by a sparkling fireplace.

Day 6. Jatuncocha Lake Ride
Difficulty level 3 Riding time: 4- hrs
Today you will be given the chance to ride with real chagras, mustering wild fighting bulls in the most incredible mountain environment. The day starts with a hearty breakfast, you will have earned after a short time! Everyone saddles up to ride and gathers by horseback in a semi-circle in front of the “patron” (owner of the hacienda) and head of the chagras to be given the riding instructions for the day. You will be assigned a chagra who takes care of you for the day and makes sure you will be safe at all moments. We ride up the “páramo” to the high ridges surrounding the local mountains, climbing from 3600 to 4000 m.
After a long ride east towards the gateway to the jungle, passing rain forests and land of wild cattle, at mid-day you reach the spectacular Jatuncocha Lake (800 m long and 600 m wide). A rustic campsite stands next to this solitary and untouched site. Overnight accommodations are waiting for you and your team of riders and horses. Enjoy preparing trout you have fished during the evening next to a warm campfire and eat a delightful dinner which the chagras will serve.

Day 7. Rodeo
After breakfast, we ride back to hacienda Yanahurco pushing along the 800 heads of cattle rounded –up in this area of the hacienda. We have our lunch along the trail and arrive to the hacienda late afternoon after a long beautiful journey working along with the chagras to keep the herd together. It is now time to relax and enjoy a delicious meal at the farm.

Day 8.
The day starts with a hearty breakfast at 7am! We saddle up and gather in a semi-circle again to listen to the “chagras´” new riding instructions for this day. Right after this, we bid these hospitable cowboys farewell, to continue our ride on another route further north towards the spectacular snowy cone of Antisana across the truly awe-inspiring land which lies between Quilindana, Cotopaxi, and the Sincholagua mountains. We arrive at lunch time to the Hacienda Antisana. Here we say goodbye to our horses and after a short optional activity in the Mica Lake, we head back to Hacienda La Carriona for our last overnight.

Day 9.
Transfer to airport from La Carriona