Ecuador | Independent travels | Suggested itineraries | Active and adventure | Horse riding and life on the farm
Ecuador riding holiday:
Horse riding and life on the farm
A great way to enjoy the highlands is on horseback. Riding is offered at several haciendas, and longer riding trips can be put together—just ask us.
These examples focus on the picturesque landscape around Cuenca: highlands and valleys scattered with small farms.
One of these, a private working hacienda in the Totorillas valley 45min from Cuenca offers a true slice of Andean rural life. The main attraction is horse-riding, but you can also join in the farm’s everyday activities: collect the eggs, milk the cows, feed the guinea pigs, and even plough with oxen or help with harvesting.
The riding horses are much loved. They are a mix of Criollo/Paso Peruano and Criollo/Arab blood. Criollo blood ensures they cope well with the altitude and are sure-footed on steep slopes. Their diet includes vitamins and mineral salts and they are wormed every 3 months. Each has 2 or 3 blankets beneath a comfortable western saddle with good quality tack. Riding helmets and rubber boots for riding are supplied.
A day on the farm
1 day
No previous riding experience required.
You are picked up from your hotel in Cuenca and driven to Hacienda Totorillas. From here you can ride in the local mountains as long as you wish, returning to the hacienda for lunch.
Join in farm activities in the afternoon, before you are transferred back to Cuenca.
Farm stay with daily rides
3 days / 2 nights
No previous riding experience required.
As above, but staying overnight at the farm for two nights. You choose the amount of time you spend riding, relaxing or joining in the life of the farm each day. There are 3 extremely spacious guest bedrooms which share 2 bathrooms.
Ride to the Valley of Eternal Youth
8 days / 7 nights
For experienced riders only.
Follow an Incan Royal Trail and trading route from Cuenca to Vilcabamba, between small forgotten villages and indigenous communities. Typically 5 hours riding per day, mostly camping with packhorses for kit.
Participants need an adventurous spirit and must help saddle and feed the horses and pitch camp. A support vehicle brings fresh supplies every 2 days. The best months for this trip are November and December, with July to September being the coldest and April to June the wettest. Call us for a detailed itinerary.
Prices
A day on the farm
Guide price £ call
Starts and ends in Cuenca. 1 day
Includes: Return transfers from Cuenca, horse ride with hard riding hat and rubber boots supplied, services of experienced English speaking riding guide, lunch.
Farm stay with daily rides
Guide price £ call
Starts and ends in Cuenca. 3 days / 2 nights
Includes: Return transfers from Cuenca, at least 2 x horse rides each of up anything to 5 hours duration, with hard riding hat and rubber boots supplied, all meals while at Hacienda Totrillas, services of experienced English speaking riding guide.
Ride to the Valley of Eternal Youth
Guide price £ call
Starts and ends in Cuenca. 8 days / 7 nights
Includes: Horse, with hard riding hat and rubber boots supplied, services of experienced English speaking riding guide throughout, all meals, 7 nights mostly camping in tents, pack horses to carry equipment.
Not Included: onwards transport from Vilcabamba
NOTE Horse riding is considered a 'high risk' activity. Neither Geodyssey or our local contractor is responsible for any injury or damage that occurs during this part of the tour. Make sure your travel insurance covers this activity.
