CLOUDFOREST AND ANDEAN HIGHLIGHTS

The route and its duration can be adapted to the
participants´ wishes. Once back at the Hacienda, we
will have a filling typical highland lunch, and a real
´chagra´ will meet us and talk about his traditions
and customs; including the famous chagra festivals
held in Machachi.
After lunch, we will have some time to rest before
our next activity, a Treasure Hunt in the Hacienda
grounds. During this activity, parents can relax by the
fireplace or take the bikes of the hacienda for a spin.
The day ends with dinner by the chimney, while we
hear some of the legends of Cotopaxi, and other
volcanoes considered gods among the local cultures.
Included: Private transortation, bilingual guide, horsebackride
& biking.
Accommodation: Hacienda El Porvenir
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
DAY 6
We will enjoy a delicious breakfast at the Hacienda
before our first visit of the day, Cotopaxi National
Park. As we enter the park, our drive brings us out
onto the plain of Laguna de Limpiopungo, a lake fed
by water from the volcano Rumiñahui which towers
over it. It is thought that the Inca Rumiñahui hid his
gold up on the mountain and many search parties
have set out to find it, some never to be seen again.
At the water’s edge the park wildlife comes to drink;
ducks, swallows, frogs and toads, and you may spot
an eagle or maybe the great Andean Condor. From
Lake Limpiopungo we will walk for about one hour
(or have a short drive with our transport, depending
on the weather) over fairly flat terrain to the Incan
ruins of Pucará, a lookout fortress used to control
the communication route from the highlands into the
Amazon Jungle. If the sky is clear we can catch
beautiful views of Cotopaxi and the surrounding
volcanoes; Rumiñahui, Sincholagua, Pasachoa and
with luck, the shy Antisana. As we walk across the
páramo, we might see hawks, foxes, llamas and
maybe deer.