The Green Horse Ranch

In the Andean highlands about ten miles north of Quito, the 4000-year old dormant volcano of Pululahua sits squarely on the landscape. Its geographical position, mild climate, the beauty of the surrounding countryside and wide biological diversity make this a great destination for a one to two day trip for general visitors and natural history buffs alike.

One of the best ways to discover this dramatic landscape is on horseback. A day of riding will take you into the furthest corners of the crater, passing by deep gorges, rushing mountain streams, warm volcanic springs, eroded lava fields blooming with orchids, and tropical mountain forests.

Pululahua is also the starting point for many interesting rides in the surrounding area: head towards the tree line and into the arctic-like Paramo or into the lush rain forest, or to the world famous indigenous handicraft market of Otavalo.

Robust mountain horses are perfectly suited to this Andean terrain which gets very steep and overgrown in places. Our stables provide a variety of horses with differing temperaments. Some are quite spunky, others are more laid back, but all of our horses are amiable and easy going, all are sure-footed, and have plenty of Andean stamina.

Whether you opt for an hour's ride, a day trip or a long trek, we warmly invite you to take part in a Green Horse Ranch journey. All tours are lead by an experienced guide who speaks four language.

Transportation from Quito to Pululahua crater, snacks, a guided 3-hour horseback ride around the central volcanic core, Cerro Pondoña, via lava fields and through cloud forests, lunch, return ride to the Green Horse Ranch, a short coffee break with snacks and then transport back to Quito. Sections of this route into and out of the crater can be completed on foot, by taking short-cuts through the stunning landscape.

Participants: A group of 2 to 6 people, with or without riding experience.

Day 1.  Transport to the equatorial monument, Mitad del Mundo; visit the anthropological museum, the archaeological Inca ruins at Rumicucho, and the Moraspungo geobotanical nature reserve. Enjoy a traditional Ecuadorian lunch. Transportation to Pululahua crater followed by your choice of hiking, riding, bird watching or simply relaxing in the afternoon. Flower taxonomies are available for research purposes. Tonight you choose your accommodation: tent, hostel or rustic country cottage.

Day 2.  Guided seven-hour horseback ride around Cerro Podoña, and through eroding lava fields to the entrance of the Chaupisacha reserve. Continue through bio-rich cloud forests, passing by deep gorges and into the narrow valley of the Rio Blanco, stopping for a picnic on the riverbank. Ride back among fields of sugar cane via San Jose de Niebla to Pululahua crater and the Green Horse Ranch. Coffee break with snacks before returning to Quito.

This route traverses a wondrous variety of landscapes and passes through three distinct vegetation zones, parts of which are quite demanding for both horse and rider (one 30-minute area must be covered on foot). Beginning riders may prefer a shorter variation of this route which allows time for a dip in warm volcanic springs.

Participants: A group of 2 to 6 people, with at least some riding experience and a reasonable level of fitness. Grooming and saddling the horses is optional.

The Casitagua Trail

Day 1. Transport from Quito to the Green Horse Ranch. Passing by deep gorges, we ride through cloud forest, climbing gently but continually. We come across a few small farmhouses along the way, where the highland farmers scratch a meager income from the steep, infertile land beside the virgin forest. Tonight's accommodation is a period-style farm near the thermal springs of Calacali. Upon arrival a hot country meal await us.

Day 2.  Riding through green, hilly pastures passing several haciendas, we draw closer to the Pinchincha Volcano, which towers above us at almost 4800 meters. Travel along the north-west side to the tiny, picturesque village of Nono, where we camp at a farmhouse.

Day 3.  Head up to the wind-tossed paramo grasslands of Pinchincha; get ready for amazing views and for "Chiguiragua", the flower of the Andean mountaineer. Camp at El Tablón.

Day 4.  Ride back from Cerro Casitagua (Lonely Tree Mountain) to the equatorial monument Mitad del Mundo. From here, transport back to Quito.

It is possible to extend the tour by one day, if you choose to include the Rio Blanco loop, as described in Tours I and II.

The Hummingbird Trail

Day 1. Transport to the Green Horse Ranch. Passing by deep gorges, we ride through mountain cloud forest, climbing gently but continually. We only come across a few small farmhouses along the way, where the highland farmers scratch a meagre income from the steep, infertile land beside the virgin forest. Accomodation in a romantic farm hostal and a hot evening meal await us, near the thermal springs of Calacali.

Day 2. Riding through green, hilly pastures, passing several stately farms, we draw closer to the Pinchincha volcano, which towers above us at almost 4800m. We begin our trek along the north-west side to the tiny, picturesque village of Nono, where we camp at a farm.

Day 3. Outing to the windy Paramo grasslands of Pinchincha keeping our eyes open for the amazing views and for "Chiguiragua", the flower of the mountaineer. Camp at Alambi/ La Sierra.

Day 4. Today we leave La Sierra and head down into a lush green region of virgin forests studded with waterfalls toward Tandayapa. From here, there's a 2-hour trek uphill to the Bellavista nature reserve. We'll be welcomed into a comfortable lodge with hot showers and delicious, wholesome food. From the balcony of our shared room, we can enjoy a breath-taking view far over the cloud forest and listen to the sounds of exotic birds.

Day 5. After a hearty breafast, a tour of Bellavista reserve is open to whoever wishes. We have plenty of time to enjoy our surroundings as the ride to Nanegalito only takes about 3 and a half hours. Our accompanying vehicle will be wating there at the market place to bring us back to Quito.

It is possible to shorten this tour (by excluding the Paramo section on Day 3) or extend it by one day (if you choose to include the Rio Blanco loop, as described in Tours I. and II.) as required. The tour could also be done in 7 or 8 days with the ride to and return from Bellavista on horseback.