Each has its own magic, ecosystem and distinctive climate. All three are located in the area known ancestrally as as the “Four Corners” due to the presence of the four volcanoes that surround us: Rumiñahui at 4,712 ms, Pasochoa at 4,200 ms, Sincholagua at 4,893 ms and Quilindaña at 4,878 ms..

‘Hacienda el Porvenir’ is the Tierra del Volcán operacional base. A broad range of activities are available here: horseback riding, mountain biking, trekking, hiking, mountain climbing, rappelling, bird watching, camping, and cultural experiences.  In the main house, you will enjoy comfortable and cozy facilities with the spirit and essence of Andean buildings: large buildings constructed with local materials such as straw, eucalyptus wood, adobe and sun-dried brick.

Hacienda El Tambo- Quilindaña, whose name reflects its pre-hispanic existence as an Inca refuge, offers a comfortable house in one of the most pristine regions of the Andes: the slopes of the Quilindaña volcano.

Hacienda Santa Rita, an ecological reserve on the slopes of the Pasochoa volcano, is well known for its forests, rivers and spectacular waterfalls. Here, just one and a half hours from Quito you will uncover the secrets of the high Andean forest and enjoy the first Canopy tour in Ecuador.

Our guides will give after breakfast, a brief about horseback riding before we ride the horses. Using the local riding gear (poncho and chaps) our native guides or Chagras (Andean cowboys) will led us through the slopes of this beautiful Volcano, while they share with us their culture and knowledge about the area, medicinal plants and legends. The ride will take us about 3H30 aprox.

During the way will be able to watch beautiful landscapes, herds of wild horses and cattle, Andean birdlife. We will reach the 4200 mts on our horses and loop down towards the farmhouse where a great lunch of Ecuadorian cuisine will be waiting for us. During the afternoon we can hike to Manto Blanco waterfall, participate in different agricultural activities or relax by the fire. Dinner and overnight at Hacienda El Porvenir

(Price info below)

Breakfast at Hacienda El Porvenir. Transfer to Santa Rita, an Ecological Reserve located 12 km away from the hacienda. Santa Rita is a very innovative model of private conservation on the slopes of Pasochoa Volcano. It preserves High Andean Forest and Paramo ecosystems. Here we will visit the Visitor Centre, where interesting explanations of local flora, fauna and ecological processes are given by the local guides. This is a unique region to admire petrified lava flows form ancient eruptions of Cotopaxi and neighbouring volcanoes.

At the reserve we will be able to see orchids, bromeliads and many epiphytic plants. It is a great place to bird watch as well. Today’s main activity at Santa Rita will be Canyon del Salto Canopy Tour, a zip line system based on harnesses and pulleys attached to an inclined cable, taking advantage of gravity. El Cañón del Salto Canopy Tour is a safe way to admire High Mountain forest form a different perspective. This is an environmentally friendly adventure; it gives people with few or no climbing techniques knowledge, the chance to live an exciting experience.

El Cañón del Salto Canopy Tour has 7 cables between 180 and 420 meters long. These system can hold up to two tons of weight suspended. One ton grounded anchorages hold  the cables strengthened. A climbing via-Ferrata is also available. 

We provide our visitors top of the line equipment and pulleys specially designed for cable use; fitness is not a factor with the canopy tour since gravity does all the work. Almost anyone can experience this, from children aged 7+.

Our specialized guides make our high mountain canopy flights very safe and at the same time they will share their knowledge of this unique ecosystem.

ASK US ABOUT OUR OTHER PROGRAMS:

3 DAYS - Riding in the Andes

3 DAYS - Ancient Routes Trek