The foothills surrounding Cotopaxi National Park provide a thrilling ride for experienced and advanced bikers. Stay at classic haciendas each night and spend your days pedaling. Visit Santa Rita Ecological Reserve and hike to the Condor Machai waterfall. Take the El Tambo trail past Inca ruins and Andean Lakes. Round out your trip with a thrilling downhill track on the slopes of Cotopaxi itself.
Highlights
Ride the eleven mile El Tambo bike trail past Inca sites and Andean lakes
Ride to Santa Rita Ecological Reserve and hike the Condor Machai waterfall
Spend each night in a classic hacienda on the slopes of Cotopaxi
Requires high-intensity physical efforts that push the limits of one's fitness. May include tours with multiple days in a row of strenuous physical activity or single requiring more than 7 hours of activity. Recommended for travelers maintaining a demanding fitness level.
Leave Quito around 7:30 AM and transfer to Hacienda El Porvenir. Leave your luggage at the hacienda and get your bike! The first 2.5 miles take place on gravel and dirt roads all the way to the north entrance of Cotopaxi National Park, and from there, a beautiful downhill ride takes you to Santa Rita. Enjoy the mountain biking trails which take you to the heart of the Reserve for lunch. In the afternoon, hike to the Condor Machai waterfall. Transfer by vehicle or bike back to Hacienda El Porvenir just in time for dinner, and settle in to your room to rest up after your first day of biking adventure. Riding Time: approximately 4.5 hours full loop.
In the morning, enjoy breakfast before crossing the eastern road of Cotopaxi National Park. Visit several sites along the way, such as Inca ruins, fresh water springs, and Andean lakes. Arrive at El Tambo, an eleven (11) mile trail which is open exclusively to bikers. This trail offers some of the best views of the area. Enjoy a boxed lunch and continue to explore the area before arriving at El Tambo Hacienda House. Enjoy a drink while sitting next to a crackling fireplace, then attend a delicious BBQ dinner.
Enjoy breakfast before leaving El Tambo and transfer out for the day's ride. The first 12.5 miles of your ride feature a slight incline and several short climbing portions. Reach El Encanonado, where there is a downhill section. Enjoy a boxed lunch, then journey to the higher road of El Canal, which is a flat road following a water canal. Pass by Limpiopungo Lake and bike to Hacienda El Porvenir. Catch some drinks at El Porvenir before enjoying dinner at the hacienda. Riding time: Approximately 7 hours
Day 4: Cotopaxi Downhill / Quito
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch
Enjoy breakfast at the hacienda before leaving by vehicle for Cotopaxi National Park. Reach the parking lot on Cotopaxi Volcano and begin your descent down the volcano into the valley. The route depends on the technical level of the riders: You can bike downhill several different times through different routes, or you can stay on the same trail. Enjoy a packed lunch at Limpiopungo Gate and, in the afternoon, return by bike or take a vehicle back to Hacienda El Porvenir. Return your bicycle, and transfer back to Quito.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$960
Notes
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Based on a Traditional Hacienda Room.
*A minimum of two travelers is required for this trip.
Initial deposit is $400, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days (10 weeks) prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
We are so glad that we chose Adventure Life. The service is top-notch. Everything is well taken care of and we just have to print the documents and go. Franny even gave us timely updates on possible airport strike.
KC Chan
TrustScore 4.8 | 175 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 175 reviews on
1 day ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
3 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
4 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.