Andes Family Adventure

“The other Mitad del Mundo” / Travel to a Colonial Hacienda / Cooking classes

After breakfast we head to visit the “Other Mitad del Mundo” located in Cayambe, this monument functions both as a large calendar and a solar clock, making her the best place in the world to understand the apparent motions of the Sun, how the stations work, the history of the calendar, agricultural calendar and different geographical aspects astronomical and education that make this site transcends the minds of our visitors. Then we continue traveling North, to have lunch in one of the beautiful colonial Haciendas of the area. After lunch we drive to Ibarra local market to buy exotic fruits and new flavors. Travel to one of our properties we offer exclusively where you will enjoy the benefits of having the house for yourself with the welcoming service provided by the hacienda staff.  Hands on cooking classes with local women experts on Ecuadorian cuisine and family traditional recipes. Overnight at Hacienda El Cerotal. (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner).

Cultural encounters

The Northern Ecuadorian Andes in the Imbabura region, is famous for the diversity of ancestral Indigenous cultures. Today we get to learn and participate on some of their wisdom by visiting a community project and putting our hands on their traditional activities like pottery that the locals still use for cooking or a hands-on embroider experience with a local zuletena renowned for their typical atiers. During lunch we will enjoy a delicious barbeque and in the afternoon we will visit a local healer that will share his wisdom about medicinal plants. Overnight at Hacienda El Cerotal. (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner).

Choose your adventure

Today you can choose your adventure (with anticipation) and experience the adventure that fits best for your taste and family. We have put together 4 different options from where to choose from:

• The Liberty Train: This touristic train goes from Ibarra city to Salinas, a place from where the spanish conquistadors use to get their salt supplies and is also home of the most important afro american community of Ecuador. This route is particularly famous for passing through several tunnels, carved out of the rocks that were part the mountains over 100 years ago by workmen using picks and shovels. At Salinas we will have the opportunity to enjoy several dances performed by the local cultures. The train needs to be booked in advance and it only operates on weekends (Friday, Saturday and Sunday).
• Kayak at San Pablo lake: San Pablo is a sacred lake. It is beautiful to kayak near the shore where you can see the daily life of the local people, washing their clothes, fishing or harvesting totora (an aquatic plant used for weaving). Also andean birds like gulls, coots and egrets can be seen from the water.
• Visit to Parque Condor: This is a sanctuary that rehabilitates birds of prey like Andean condors, eagles, owls, falcons and hawks. Follow your guide along a nature trail, and catch sight of some of these birds before heading to the amphitheater for a flight demonstration. Watch rangers work with hawks and falcons as the birds soar, plummet and find prey.
• Hike around Cuicocha lake: The word “Cuicocha” means lake of guinea pigs, because of the shape of the islands in the middle of the lake. The lake rests inside a 3 km wide caldera that resulted from a massive explosion that occurred approximately 3,100 years ago. The volcano has been dormant ever since, and you can safely hike around this impressive lake. The hike takes around 4 to 5 hours and has 9 miles long.

Return to El Cerotal for dinner and overnight stay. (Breakfast/Dinner).

Otavalo Market and travel to Cotopaxi Volcano area 

After breakfast, we will drive to Otavalo and if you agree we can visit the beautiful and sacred Peguche waterfall, which is 30 meters high, and it is surrounded by lush vegetation. There’s no cost to enter the place, but they accept a small voluntary contribution. At Inti Raymi celebrations, Peguche’s waterfall is the indigenous ceremonial center for the purification ritual. We will then drive to Plaza de los Ponchos, which is the famous artisan Otavalo market. This is a very colorful place and full of textures. Indigenous women have a long weaving history and Otavaleños (how local define themselves) pride in their weaving legacy. They are also fantastic merchants that travel throughout the World selling their creations. We will then enjoy lunch. After lunch, we will drive to Cotopaxi to Hacienda El Porvenir (3 hours drive) where a crackling fireplace will be waiting for us. Overnight at Hacienda El Porvenir. (Breakfast/Lunch).

Horseback riding and Cooking in the clouds

In the morning we have a delicious, nutritious farm breakfast, followed by a brief riding lesson from our guides before we set out on our horses. We can learn from our Chagra Guide the local cowboy skills including horse handling and care instructions. Feel free to feed the horses whenever you want! Wearing the typical dress of the chagra (Ecuadorian cowboys), we ride out across the slopes of the dormant volcano, Rumiñahui. A respected chagra from the area will come with us and share some of his deep knowledge of the country life. The ride lasts for approximately 2 hours. Back in the farmhouse, a tasty local lunch will be ready on our arrival. In the afternoon we will learn how to milk a cow by hand and later on you will participate in our Cooking in the clouds lessons, which are perfect for you to experience the regional culture, the highland family traditions and the use of antique cooking instruments in an informal and friendly environment. The class starts with cooking lessons or our famous cheese empanadas, followed by the elaboration of aji, which is a very important sauce part of the Ecuadorian cuisine. The recipe varies from home to home. Here at Hacienda El Porvenir you will learn how to make it the traditional way, on a stone mortar and seasoned with various herbs and spices. At last we will learn how to prepare the delicious canelazo, a traditional hot drink that is served on celebrations on the Highlands of Ecuador. After the class the participants will enjoy their preparations next to a crackling fireplace. Overnight stay. (Breakfast/Lunch).

Mountain biking or Native forest hike and High Ropes Course

Today we offer two options (they have to be reserved with anticipation) for families so that they can get what’s best for their interests and skills. This activities have to be chosen in advance for logistic reasons.

• Mountain Biking inside the páramo trails: After a wholesome country breakfast, we provide each guest with a mountain bike (29 ners for adults and good quality mountain bikes for kids). The Hacienda has several biking circuits so that you can enjoy a morning of highland trails explorations at your own pace. This bike trip can last approx. 2h30 hours, through patches of Native forest, farmland and highland trails. Return to the farm house for a delicious lunch. 
• Native Forest hike: After a wholesome country breakfast, we will drive to Santa Rita Ecological Reserve, a private conservation area in the Cotopaxi Area with fantastic remains of native forest, petrified lava streams, glacial rivers and waterfalls. We will hike through native forest trails, learning about the ecology of the place. During the afternoon, we return to Hacienda El Porvenir to enjoy lunch.

During this afternoon we can participate on the High Ropes Course, this is a high adventure activity with low environmental impact, letting people with little or no knowledge of climbing techniques have a unique experience in a safe environment. Guests traverse ladders, nets, tightropes, swinging logs, wobbly bridges, and more fun surprises at 20 ft from the ground (6m). Overnight stay at Hacienda El Porvenir. (Breakfast/Lunch).

Cotopaxi National Park Visit

Have you ever think about how it is possible to have glaciers on the Equatorial line? Have you ever wonder how it is to climb an active volcano? Would you like to discover why ancient explorers pointed out Cotopaxi as one of the most beautiful mountains in the World? This is your opportunity to immerse yourself on a fantastic day trip of exploration to the Iconic Cotopaxi National Park. Home of the biggest flying bird in the world: the Andean Condor. Home of herds of wild- truly wild- horses. Where migratory birds stop by to get some rest on their way South.
The location is the perfect place to learn about Andean Geology.  On our visit we reach the car park below the Cotopaxi Refuge, where we begin our short hike up to the climbing hut (Refugio José Ribas) at 4,800m. (15,744 ft).  It is hard not to be overwhelmed by the sheer immensity of the Volcano on this short hike. Once back in the vehicle, we continue on our way driving down to Limpiopungo Lake, where a wholesome box lunch will be served. A vast territory with ancient Inca military fortresses, plains full of volcanic  rocks from past eruptions where we will learn how to recognize the oldest stones. Great chances of learning and connecting with nature during this final day of our Highland Family Adventure. At the end of the afternoon we return to Quito to the airport. (Breakfast/Packed lunch).