Itinerary
- Day 1
Quito to Latacunga
Your driver picks you up from Quito early and heads toward Latacunga for La Mama Negra, one of Ecuador's most important festivals. This celebration brings together indigenous, African, and Spanish traditions in a colorful mix of parades, music, and dancing. You'll see locals handing out fruits and drinks while the iconic Mama Negra figure rides through blessing everyone gathered. After spending the day in the festivities, you'll transfer to La Cienega for the night.
- Start point
- José Tamayo, Quito - Pichincha, 1702, Ecuador (Ikala Hotel Quito, 07:30)
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hacienda La Ciénega)
Included Activities
- Attend La Mama Negra festival in Latacunga
- Experience traditional parade with music and dance
- Participate in festival celebrations and local interactions
Landmarks La Mama Negra Festival 
- Day 2
Latacunga
La Mama Negra continues with its final day of celebrations throughout Latacunga's main streets. Traditional dances and costumed troupes fill the area with energy and cultural significance. This is your last chance to see the festival's full expression of heritage and local tradition before things wind down.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hacienda La Ciénega)
Included Activities
- Experience traditional dances at La Mama Negra festival
- Watch vibrant cultural troupes in Latacunga streets
Landmarks Latacunga - Day 3
Latacunga to Quilotoa Lagoon to Hacienda El Porvenir
After breakfast, you'll head to Tigua, a region known for colorful artwork that draws from pre-colonial history. From there, the drive takes you to Quilotoa Lagoon, where the volcanic crater has filled with bright emerald-green water. If you want the hike, it's about 1 hour down the 3km crater trail and another hour back up. Kayaking on the lake is available if you're interested. You'll eat a packed lunch and then transfer to Hacienda El Porvenir for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Packed lunch), Dinner
- Accommodation
- Lodge (Hacienda El Porvenir)
Included Activities
- Visit Tigua art region and view traditional artwork
- Visit Quilotoa Lagoon
- Hike down into crater to lakeshore (3km trail, approximately 1 hour)
Optional Activities
- Kayak rental on Quilotoa Lagoon
Landmarks Tigua Quilotoa Lagoon - Day 4
Hacienda El Porvenir
You'll put on chaps and a poncho for a horseback ride heading toward the extinct Rumi\u00f1ahui volcano using private hacienda trails. The ride through Andean terrain gives you views of wild bulls and various birds, and on clear days you can spot around 12 volcanoes from the higher points. After lunch back at the Hacienda, you'll work with the local chagras to feed horses and learn about their traditional equipment like saddles, wool ponchos, and leather chaps. Riding takes about 3 hours total.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Lodge (Hacienda El Porvenir)
Included Activities
- Horseback ride toward Rumiñahui volcano slopes on Hacienda paths
- Learn chagra culture and traditional gear from local cowboys
- Help feed horses at the Hacienda
Landmarks Rumiñahui 
- Day 5
Hacienda El Porvenir to Hacienda El Tambo
This is a long riding day starting early from the Hacienda heading toward El Tambo on the eastern range. Cotopaxi volcano dominates the landscape as you cover roughly 43km over 6 to 7 hours through varied terrain including mountain streams and small lakes. You'll stop at Pucar\u00e1 del Salitre, an ancient Inca fortress, with a packed lunch during the ride. By evening you'll reach El Tambo where dinner and a warm fire await.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Packed lunch), Dinner (Traditional dinner)
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Hacienda El Tambo by Tierra del Volcan)
Included Activities
- Horseback ride to Hacienda El Tambo (approximately 6 to 7 hours, roughly 43 km)
- Visit Pucará del Salitre ancient Inca fortress
Landmarks Pucará del Salitre Cotopaxi - Day 6
Hacienda El Tambo
After eating breakfast, you ride over the foothills of Quilinda\u00f1a, a dormant volcano that reaches 4,878m/15,999 ft. The native forest of pantza and polylepis (paper trees) surrounds you with moss, lichen, and high-altitude bromeliads. You'll dismount and walk through the forest while learning local stories and traditions. A packed lunch happens during the day, then you head back to El Tambo for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Packed lunch), Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Hacienda El Tambo by Tierra del Volcan)
Included Activities
- Horseback ride over Quilindaña volcano foothills
- Walk through pristine native forest with moss, lichen, and bromeliads
- Learn local legends from guides
Landmarks Quilindaña 
- Day 7
Hacienda El Tambo
After breakfast, the chagras teach you lasso handling, cattle management, and knot tying techniques used in local work. You'll practice these skills and then participate in a small rodeo to put what you learned into action. Lunch happens at the Hacienda, and the afternoon shifts to trout fishing with the chagras who'll show you their traditional methods and how they prepare the catch. Dinner and another night at El Tambo follow.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Hacienda El Tambo by Tierra del Volcan)
Included Activities
- Chagra skill training program: lasso handling, cattle management, knot tying
- Participate in local rodeo (cattle drive)
- Trout fishing with local chagras
- Learn traditional trout preparation methods
- Day 8
Hacienda El Tambo to Quito
After breakfast, you ride back out heading toward lower elevations following the River Tambo toward Cotopaxi's base. The route goes high through Sincholagua Volcano slopes, using paths the locals know. A packed lunch happens on the trail, and then you follow a scenic panoramic route through Cotopaxi National Park back to Hacienda El Porvenir. From there, a vehicle takes you back to Quito to end your time in the Andes.
- End point
- José Tamayo, Quito - Pichincha, 1702, Ecuador (Ikala Hotel Quito, 18:00)
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Packed lunch)
Included Activities
- Horseback ride back toward civilization via River Tambo
- Ride through Sincholagua Volcano slopes on local routes
- Panoramic route through Cotopaxi National Park
Landmarks Sincholagua Cotopaxi National Park 
