ULTIMATE ECUADOR MOUNTAIN BIKING

There are no activities planned for your first day for you to be able to explore the beautiful city of Quito on your own terms.  Please keep in mind that there is a meeting at 18:00 in the hotel’s lobby the first day to meet your guide and the rest of the group as well as learn about what’s in store for the days of your expedition!

Today we will drive up to the Pichincha volcano at 15.000 feet, along the way we will have beautiful views of Andean farms near Lloa village, once at the basecamp of this reserve we will walk our bikes to the summit of this Active Volcano, on clear days is possible to see the crater, after a safety talk we will start riding one of the most epic single tracks of this region, the first part will be on sand and then down the grassland of the Andean paramo, later we continue connecting the DH trails of the Slopes of Teleferico trails into the forest and then ending in the City of Quito.

From bed to bike our ride starts in the morning from our hotel near the Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve. Pululahua is one of the few calderas in the world where people reside. The area is generally cloudy as this is where the hot current from the pacific reaches the cold altitude of the sierra creating a hugely biodiverse ecosystem. We pedal alongside the breeze leisurely downwards on single track and into a rich green forest. Ending with a beautiful view of the river valley, we will continue down a dirt road to meet up with our transport to the lodge.

Fueling up with a healthy breakfast, we will drive north on the Pan-American Highway passing Ibarra and the stunning Imbabura volcano. Our days’ adventure begins near Laguna Yahuarcocha on the El Chota trail through rocky terrain, narrow passes, and dry forest. The valley where the ride will take place is generally breezy and dry as the mountain ranges that line its sides act as a shield for oncoming storms. After hours of twists, turns, bumps, and loads of adrenaline we will head back to the hacienda by car to unwind. For those interested in shopping for souvenirs to take home, our driver is readily available to take guests to the Otavalo Market.

Today is to relax and recover, after an scenic drive over the estern range of the Andes we will arrive to Papallacta, at the hots prings you can take a refreshing dip into varying pools of hot a cold volcanic waters, and reinvigorate your body, mind, and soul. If you so choose there are also optional services offered at the facility such as massages and facials. Within the Cayambe Coca Ecological Reserve, where the springs reside, there are also many winding trails to explore for those of you who prefer to be more active. Along the trails it is possible to see orchids, hummingbirds and other varying types of flora and fauna. In the afternoon we will head towards Cotopaxi province to spend the night.

In the morning we will have a short drive, once we check in at the entrance of the reserve we continue by car to the Parqueadero at 14.000 feet, there we get ready for our fist ride down the Owls canyon trail, a mix of sandy and rocky single tracks with a great view of the northern side of the Cotopaxi Volcano, at the end of these trail our driver will pick us up to take us back to the Parqueadero, our second trail will be the Holy Ridge with an steep start on a sandy trail, we continue with a grassy section with some small fun jumps and end into a narrow ravine. Our driver will take us one more time to the top and we will ride The Flight of the Condor trail, a very fast trail next to an impressive canyon, this trail ends with a single track next to the rocky volcanic material from Cotopaxi last eruption. After a picnic and some drinks, we will drive south to Chimborazo province.

To the heights we go southbound to the Chimborazo Wildlife Reserve. Chimborazo is the tallest volcano in the country as well as the closet point to the sun if measured from the center of the earth! Warming up with a trek, we ascend up from the first basecamp at 16.000 ft (4.800m), to the second basecamp at almost 17,000 feet (5.000m). After getting our hearts pumping, we will then go back down to start our day of biking. Named after the dying tradition of collecting ice from the glaciers of Chimborazo, the Hieleros trail makes its way through sandy and rocky terrain and into the Polylepis forest ending near the city of Guaranda. The snowy peaks, multi-colored paths of volcanic sediment, and endless sea of blue Ecuadorian sky on this ride make it a real treat for those seeking to be left breathless.

They say to save the best for last and our last ride of this expedition surely checks that box! Mama Rumi Trail is considered one of the top trails for mountain biking in South America and is home turf to the world-renowned Mami Rumi Downhill Race— a heart-pumping, wild ride filled with switchbacks from the high and breezy Andes mountains down to the humid banana plantations of the coast. This trail follows a centuries old Incan footpath used to transport goods and even the local hooch to avoid taxation. Spend the day riding the expanse of the trail ending in between the banana trees on our final day of this adventure.

As you depart we thank you and wish you safe travels to wherever your final destination may be!