This high altitude, Andean vegetation is known as paramo and many wild flowers carpet the rolling hills. Crossing the gently undulating highlands we then descend into the Cayambe Valley dominated by the snow-capped Cayambe Volcano, which straddles the Equator Line and ride on to the stables. We spend the night at the stables, in comfortable guest cottages. Crossing the rocky crest and lava slopes of the Ruminahui peak by following trails marked out by wild horses we reach the national park. The ground is covered with tiny pumice stones and lichen.
Guests head to a nearby converted farmhouse for the night.
Part of the ride follows the main Inca highway which linked Quito with Cusco, Peru. Close by there is a route running eastwards, along which the Incas went to the Amazon rain forest. The wide sandy tracks are ideal for some more fast pace riding and we pass the locals, the ladies wearing full, brightly coloured, pleated skirts. The children are often marching along behind their llamas, donkeys or pigs, taking them to the open pastureland. We leave the horses in the valley following farewell lunch and head back to Quito in time for some shopping.