Premium and Private Tours

Mountain biking is a great source of fun and exercise for people of all ages and abilities, but like any activity, there are different levels of difficulty and fitness. These range from novice or inexperienced, tours that can be managed by anyone, to advanced or very experienced, reserved only for truly experienced riders.

1 Day Tours

Cotopaxi

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The tour that made us famous. Enjoy our unique biking routes made possible by our fully equipped 4×4. Even on a crowded day we will have the Northern side of the park to ourselves. No one else takes you where we take you.

Mindo

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Explore the best Bird Watching destination in the world by bike. Enjoy the beauty of the Ecuadorian Cloud-forest and spend the afternoon bathing in the river or tasting chocolate. The best ride we got!

Papallacta

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Bike from high up in the Andes to the Amazon gateway in one day. Relax in Ecuador’s most famous natural hot-springs, high up in the clouds. After the swim, bike in what has been declared Latin America’s best bike trail: El Chaquiñan

Antisana

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Want to see Condors? This is your best chance. The biking is awesome too.

Pichincha

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Only for experienced bikers and not for the faint hearted. This will be your adrenaline rush for the month.

Otavalo

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Be amazed by South America’s largest Indigenous Market. Bike through forests, lakes, and natural reserves.

COTOPAXI

One day bike tour

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What to bring:

  • warm clothes
  • rain/wind jacket

At 07:00 AM we leave Quito and after driving south for 1 and a half hours on the Pan-American highway we reach the park entrance of Cotopaxi National Park. We drive through pine forest and soon reach the Visitors’ center of the park. After visiting the Center we continue the ascent in our 4-wheel drive vehicle until we reach the highest point of the tour, 4.500 meters/15.000 feet. The view from this point is stunning and on a clear day we are able to see 8 volcanoes.

We then put on helmets, gloves and protective pads and the bike adventure on the world’s highest active volcano can begin. The first 8 km will take us down 700 m on dirt roads through volcanic ash and tundra landscape. At 3.800 m. you actually have to do some pedalling while we head down another 8 km between volcanic rocks and wild horses to our lunch spot by an Inca ruin at 3.700 m. With some luck we might see a condor or a caracara. We put the bikes back on the jeep and head for the lake of Limpiopungo at 3.800 m where we start the 16 km downhill biking on dirt and paved roads through pine forest. After this the bike adventure is over for now and around 16h00 we are back in Quito.

This is the standard itinerary that we always try to respect. Please keep in mind that due to the nature of this tour we sometimes have to be flexible because of weather conditions, or biking skills of other participants.

Included: Lunch, mountain bikes, all transportation, all safety gear (helmet, hand gloves) and veteran bilingual guides.

Not included: Entrance fees (e.g. Cotopaxi, currently free of charge), other drinks, personal expenses and tips)

MINDO

One day bike tour

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What to bring:

  • warm clothes
  • rain/wind jacket

This is an ideal 1-day trip, which starts on the slopes of Guagua Pichincha active volcano and descends towards the coast into the Cloud Forest of Mindo.

When the trip begins, passing a northern neighborhood of Quito, you’ll never dream what lies ahead!

We’ll drive for a while on the quaint old road from Quito towards the Pacific Ocean coast.  Drive until the highest point of the trip (3200 meters of altitude) where we switch to human power.  You’ll descend on bike 10 kilometers on a paved yet quiet road, surrounded by Andino flora until we reach the village of Nono, located at 2900 meters of altitude above sea level.  From this point the ride continues on a quaint dirt road until Tandayapa (located at 1800 m) for 26 kilometers.

The exuberant cloud forest is full of bromeliads, palm trees and orchids. At your right there is a mountain stream which soothing sound will accompany you. And very often small waterfalls will bedazzle you  Every once and then, you simply have to stop to take pictures of a flower, that you have never seen before!

We then drive  towards Bellavista Cloud forest reserve  where the picnic lunch will be served! Keep one eye on the road and the other peeled on the sky: there’s a good chance to see parrots, hummingbirds, toucans and caciques.

After a tasty lunch, we will continue the 20 Kilometers bike ride towards Mindo, world famous for its  diversity.

Visit the Butterfly farm, relax or have a juice in town.

At the end of the afternoon we head then towards Quito.  Or you can stay in Mindo on your own.

Included: Lunch, mountain bikes, all transportation, all safety gear (helmet, hand gloves) and veteran bilingual guides.

Not included: Entrance fees (e.g. Cotopaxi, currently free of charge), other drinks, personal expenses and tips)

PAPALLACTA

One day bike tour

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What to bring:

  • warm clothes
  • rain/wind jacket

This is an excellent way to see a cross section of Ecuador’s ecosystems in just one day. As we travel, we are dwarfed by the striking Andes Mountains that surround us. If we are lucky and have a clear day, we can see all the snow capped volcanoes of the Eastern Cordillera (Cayambe, Cotopaxi, Antisana, Chimborazo). You will pedal across the paramo – the Ecuadorian equivalent of the arctic tundra – and down through stunning cloud forest, traversing steep Andean slopes as you descend down into the Amazon basin.

The terrain for this leg of the journey is a combination of dirt and paved roads of scenic rolling hills.

Drive to the high pass “Paso de la Virgen” at 4200 meters (13300 ft) . From here the descent begins by mountain bike all the way to Cuyuja, the Gateway to the Amazonian rainforest.

On the way, stop for a nutritious lunch. We will then drive you back to 3300 meters.  Stop to have a swim in the best hot springs of Ecuador.

Papallacta has crystal clear water at ten different temperatures. If the day is clear, views of Antisana Volcano will bedazzle you!

After a relaxing dip, we drive to the Ave Maria Pass (4200m). From here we bike back towards Quito along the Chiche river basin. This is a great ride.  The last 18 kilometers will be on the famous railroad line going through five tunnels, one of which is 322 meters long. The spectacular ride takes us speeding through wide stretches of paramo, cloud forest and the canyon of the river with the Andean sun illuminating the way. Some days can be chilled by occasional fog, so don’t forget your mittens and fleece. In Tumbaco we pile the bikes on the jeep’s roof and head back to Quito.

Return by jeep to Quito around 5 p.m. (L)

Departure time: 07h00 in the morning.

Each day we ride approximately 60 kilometers by bike (4 hours) Clients can choose to do more biking, if desired!

Included: Lunch, mountain bikes, all transportation, all safety gear (helmet, hand gloves) and veteran bilingual guides.

Not included: Entrance fees (e.g. Cotopaxi, currently free of charge), other drinks, personal expenses and tips)

ANTISANA

One day bike tour

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What to bring:

  • warm clothes
  • rain/wind jacket

Antisana (5705 m) is the fourth highest and one of the most beautiful snow capped volcanoes in Ecuador.  It has huge extensions of paramo which has endemic plants and endangered animals, such as the Condor which is the national emblem of Ecuador.

The tour starts early with a departure from Quito at 7am, where we head east for 45 minutes  by jeep, until we reach the town of Pintag. Once in the Protected area, we continue for approximately one hour along the plains of this outstanding volcano, up to an altitude of 4.000 meters towards La Mica Lake to enjoy beautiful surroundings and sights.

In La Mica we start biking back to Pintag for about 30 kilometers.  The first 7 kilometers is mainly plain and the last 2 kilometers before reaching the highest point of the pass will be uphill.

When we reach the pass there will be an awesome downhill through different landscapes until we reach the Entrance, where the bike tour ends.

We’ll serve a hearty box lunch en route.

There will be some up hills but it will be mainly down hills or plain stretches and always accompanied by a 4-wheel-drive.

The bike ride is approximately  30 km.

Jeep ride back to Quito.

Included: Lunch, mountain bikes, all transportation, all safety gear (helmet, hand gloves) and veteran bilingual guides.

Not included: Entrance fees (e.g. Cotopaxi, currently free of charge), other drinks, personal expenses and tips)

Pichincha

One day bike tour

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What to bring:

  • warm clothes
  • rain/wind jacket
  • Courage

We start our biking journey near the top of the still very active Guagua Pichincha Volcano. The views are spectacular: look east on a clear day and you’ll see the sprawling metropolis of Quito back-dropped by numerous snow-capped volcanoes. Look towards each of the other three compass points and you will be awed by great expanses of paramo (tundra like vegetation).  We will trek to the edge of the crater to peer over its rim and into the throbbing heart of this rumbling, belching sulfuric being. Then we mount our bikes and race downwards to Lloa on an abandoned dirt road. At Lloa we head west into the cloud forest, where the flourishing forest awaits you.

Packed lunch en-route.  By early afternoon we return to Quito by jeep.

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Included: Lunch, mountain bikes, all transportation, all safety gear (helmet, hand gloves) and veteran bilingual guides.

Not included: Entrance fees (e.g. Cotopaxi, currently free of charge), other drinks, personal expenses and tips)

OTAVALO

One day bike tour

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What to bring:

  • warm clothes
  • rain/wind jacket

Dirt and paved roads will lead you on your bike through striking landscape in the area of volcanoes Imbabura and Cotacachi.

The scenery en route is striking with views of the Cayambe Volcano and the mountainous villages located north of Quito.

As we approach Otavalo, you will notice an area rich of culture. Indigenous people in their traditional clothing come from all over the country to sell their handmade artefacts. Once we have had time to fill our bags with artisanal goods we drive to Cuicocha Lake and through quaint villages back to the Pan-American Highway.  Return to Quito by jeep.

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Included: Lunch, mountain bikes, all transportation, all safety gear (helmet, hand gloves) and veteran bilingual guides.

Not included: Entrance fees (e.g. Cotopaxi, currently free of charge), other drinks, personal expenses and tips)

2 Day Tours

Cotopaxi-Quilotoa

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Experience our Cotopaxi 1 day and then be amazed in the second day by the incredible cultural diversity of the Andean Quechua indigenous community of Quilotoa. Turquoise colored lakes, massive canyons, incredible biking. This trip will enamor you!

Cotopaxi-Chimborazo

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Enjoy our Cotopaxi 1 day and then travel to the closest place on Earth to the sun! Experience the most beautiful stretch of the Ecuadorian Andes, and the highest! The biking on the second day will take you through a fantastic canyon which follows the Ambato River. Literally breathtaking!

Mindo-Mashpi

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On the first day bike from the high altitude Andes to the amazing Ecuadorian Low Altitude Cloudforest. On your way try to keep count of the amount of birds you see, we promise you cant! This is a fantastic ride for nature and animal lovers. Also, there is chocolate, river-bathing, and other amazing adventures.

COTOPAXI-QUILOTOA

Two day bike tour

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What to bring:

  • warm clothes
  • rain/wind jacket

Day 1)

At 07:00 AM we leave Quito and after driving south for 1,5 hours on the Pan-American highway we reach the park entrance of Cotopaxi National Park. We drive through pine forest and soon we arrive to the Visitors Center of the park. After visiting the Center, we continue the ascent in our 4-wheel drive vehicle until we reach the highest point of the tour, 4.500 meters/15.000 feet. The view from this point is stunning and on a clear day we are able to see 8 volcanoes.

We then put on helmets, gloves and protection pads and the bike adventure on the world’s highest active volcano can begin. The first 8 km will take us down 700 m. on dirt roads through volcanic ash and páramo landscape. At 3.800 m. you actually have to do some pedaling while we head down another 8 km between volcanic rocks and wild horses to our lunch spot by an Inca ruin at 3.700 m. With some luck we might see a condor or a caracara. We put the bikes back on the jeep and head for the lake of Limpiopungo at 3.800 m. where we start the 16 km downhill biking on dirt roads and the bike adventure is over for this time.  

We then ascend by jeep in a Southwest direction into the western Cordillera arriving at Quilotoa to spend the night. The night’s retreat is a simple but clean inn located in Quilotoa run by an indigenous family.

DAY 2) Quilotoa

The next day, we start with an early hike down to the deep jade colored Quilotoa Crater Lake. The hike downhill to the Laguna takes about 30 minutes and about twice as long to climb back up. But, you can hire a mule or donkey for 10 dollars, to carry you back to the top, where your breakfast will be awaiting you to charge your batteries for this day’s adventure!

After breakfast we descend on mountain bikes to Zumbahua. Many years ago, an earthquake destroyed this area. The land has transformed into a rugged formation resembling what you might imagine as terrain from another planet. Lunch is a picnic at a location where we have the opportunity to intermingle with the Quechua Indians or test your artistic skills with the locals painting landscapes of the area.

After lunch, we enjoy a 30-minute drive until we reach 4,200 m (13.400 ft.) We switch then to human power and the downhill bike ride begins down a long and winding road all the way back to Latacunga located at 2400 m. (7,600 ft.) where the cycle trip ends. We then return by jeep to Quito.

Included: Lunch, mountain bikes, all transportation, all safety gear (helmet, hand gloves) and veteran bilingual guides.

Not included: Entrance fees (e.g. Cotopaxi, currently free of charge), other drinks, personal expenses and tips)

COTOPAXI-CHIMBORAZO

Two day bike tour

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What to bring:

  • warm clothes
  • rain/wind jacket

DAY 1) Cotopaxi National Park

We leave Quito early in the morning. After a one and a half hour drive on the Pan-American Highway we reach the park entrance of Cotopaxi National Park. We drive through pine forest and soon reach the Visitors’ center of the park. We visit the Center before continuing  the ascent in our 4-wheel drive vehicle. We soon reach the highest point of the tour, 4.500 meters/15.000 feet. The view from this point is stunning as on a clear day we are able to see 8 volcanoes.

Afterwards we put on helmets, gloves and protection pads and the bike adventure on the world’s highest active volcano can begin. The first 8 kilometers will take us down 700 meters on dirt roads through volcanic ash and páramo landscape. At 3.800 meters you actually have to do some pedaling heading down another 8 kilometers between volcanic rocks and wild horses to our lunch spot by an Inca ruin at 3.700 m. With some luck we might see a condor or a caracara. We put the bikes back on the jeep and head for the lake of Limpiopungo at 3.800 meters where we start the 16 kilometers downhill through pine forest biking on dirt roads. After two extra kilometers on a beautiful single track the bike adventure is over for this time.

We trade mountain bikes for our support vehicle and travel down south along the “Avenue of the Volcanoes” to our night’s retreat.

DAY 2) Chimborazo

Drive for just over an hour to Mount Chimborazo (6310m), the highest and most impressive of Ecuador’s volcanoes.  We park at the lower refuge (4800 m) and continue on foot to the Edgar Whymper Refuge. Located at 5000 meters this is the highest refuge in the world!  From here, it’s all downhill- first on foot and then by bike we descend all the way to Ambato(2800m).

This is an amazing bike ride through the highlands, with vicuñas being the sole inhabitants of these wild stretches.   On this tour, cyclists enjoy a breathtaking 70 km ride through varying landscapes in just one day. This trip is by far a favorite ride of previous customers. Seldom does one have the chance to ride from the snow line of a volcano, through rural Andean patchwork fields, picnic with vicuñas and at the end of the ride arrive in a modern city.  In Ambato, we load up the bikes and return to Quito by jeep.

Departure time: 07h00 in the morning.

Each day we ride approximately 4 hours on bike.  Clients can choose to do more biking, if desired!

Included: Lunch, mountain bikes, all transportation, all safety gear (helmet, hand gloves) and veteran bilingual guides.

Not included: Entrance fees (e.g. Cotopaxi, currently free of charge), other drinks, personal expenses and tips)

MINDO-MASHPI

Two day bike tour

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What to bring:

  • warm clothes
  • rain/wind jacket

Day 1:

This is an ideal 2-day trip, which starts at 3200 and descends towards the coast into the Cloud Forest.

When the trip begins, passing a northern neighborhood of Quito, you’ll never dream what lies ahead!

We’ll drive for a while on the old road Quito-Nono, before riding our bike on a road void of traffic.

You’ll ascend on the jeep with Cayambe and Guagua Pichincha Volcanoes in clear view. We drive 20 Km until the highest point of the trip (3200 m of altitude). Then we switch to human power. You’ll descent on bike, surrounded by Andino flora experiencing the sudden changes to exotic, verdant tropical forest.

The exuberant cloud forest is full of bromeliads, palm trees and orchids. At your right there is a mountain stream which soothing sound mingles with the birds’ singing.

We’ll pass Nono (located at 2900 m) and ride all the way down to Tandayapa (located at 1800 m) where the picnic lunch will be served!

After lunch we continue to Mindo, a town Meca for all nature lovers!  Keep one eye on the road and the other peeled on the sky: there’s a good chance to see parrots, hummingbirds, toucans and caciques.  After one first tough uphill we ride down to Mindo cloudforest were we will spend the night.

Day 2:

We spend the night in a cozy little hostel in Mindo. The next morning we wake up early and hop on the truck to the beautiful Waterfalls of Mindo, we hike down for approximately 45 minutes, and then we stay in the waterfalls, swimming, relaxing and having lunch. After that we hike up, get our bikes and descend to the other side of the mountain. The road is beautiful and you can expect to see many hummingbirds, variation of flora and beautiful birds. We finish at about midday and then you have a free afternoon in Mindo, which is one of the best town in Ecuador for all types of adventure sports. You can go do canopy, canyioning, tubing, ATV and motorcycle ride. This is all optional but highly recommended. It is not included in the price of the trip though, so if you also just wish to walk around Mindo and do some relaxing that is fine as well. At 4  pm we meet again and we drive back to Quito!

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Included: Lunch, mountain bikes, all transportation, all safety gear (helmet, hand gloves) and veteran bilingual guides.

Not included: Entrance fees (e.g. Cotopaxi, currently free of charge), other drinks, personal expenses and tips)

3 Day Tour

4 Day Tour

5 Day Tour

Cotopaxi-Quilotoa-Chimborazo

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This trip will show you the most important highlights of the Ecuadorian Andes with the expertise of the Dutchman. You will remember the astonishing beauty of our mountains for the rest of your life. This trip is the best the company offers.

Cotopaxi-Chimborazo-Baños-Puyo

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This tour will showcase Ecuador’s incredible diversity. Go to the highest point in Ecuador and the closest point on Earth to the sun and descend to the Amazonian Basin where you will see an ocean of green inhabited by a vast array of mammals and insects. Spend one day in Ecuador’s premier adventure town and enjoy what only the Ecuadorian Amazon can offer. Mountains and Jungle in one trip. How cool is that?

Cotopaxi-Chimborazo-Baños-Puyo-Tena

Departures with 2 people:
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Bike in the Andes, hike in the Amazon, relax somewhere in between. This is our most comprehensive adventure. We cover all of TripAdvisor’s must-sees with the experience and touch of the Dutchman. Warning: You might not want to leave Ecuador after this.

COTOPAXI-QUILOTOA-CHIMBORAZO

Three day bike and hike tour

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What to bring:

  • warm clothes
  • rain/wind jacket
  • Extra Clothes

DAY 1: QUITO – COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK   

At 07:00 AM we leave Quito and after driving south for 1,5 hours on the Pan-American highway we reach the park entrance of Cotopaxi National Park. We drive through pine forest and soon we arrive at the Visitors Center of the park. After visiting the Center, we continue the ascent in our 4-wheel drive vehicle until we reach the highest point of the tour, 4.500 meters/15.000 feet. The view from this point is stunning and on a clear day, we are able to see 8 volcanoes.

We then put on helmets, gloves and protective pads and the bike adventure on the world’s highest active volcano can begin. The first 8 km will take us down 700 m. on dirt roads through volcanic ash and páramo landscape. At 3.800 m. you actually have to do some pedaling while we head down another 8 km between volcanic rocks and wild horses to our lunch spot by an Inca ruin at 3.700 m. With some luck, we might see a condor or a caracara. We put the bikes back on the jeep and head for the lake of Limpiopungo at 3.800 m. where we start the 16 km downhill biking on dirt roads and the bike adventure is over at this time.  

We then ascend by jeep in a northwest direction into the western Cordillera arriving at Quilotoa to spend the night. The night’s retreat is a simple but clean inn located in Quilotoa run by an indigenous family.

DAY 2: QUILOTOA

The next day, we start with an early hike down to the deep, jade-colored Quilotoa Crater Lake. The hike downhill to the lake takes about 30 minutes, and about twice as long to climb back up. But, you can hire a mule or donkey for about US $8 to carry you back to the top, where breakfast will be awaiting you to charge your batteries for the day’s adventure! After breakfast, we descend on mountain bikes to Zumbahua. Many years ago, an earthquake destroyed this area. The land has transformed into a rugged formation resembling the terrain from another planet. Lunch is a picnic at a location where we have the opportunity to intermingle with the Quechua Indians or test your artistic skills with the locals painting landscapes of the area.

After lunch, we enjoy a 30-minute drive until we reach 4,200 m (13.400 ft). We switch then to human power and the downhill bike ride begins down a long and winding road all the way back to Latacunga, located at 2400 m. (7,600 ft.).

DAY 3: CHIMBORAZO

We drive for just over an hour to Mount Chimborazo (6310m), the highest and most impressive of Ecuador’s volcanoes.  We park at the lower refuge (4800 m) and continue on foot to the Edgar Whymper Refuge. Located at 5000 meters this is the highest refuge in the world!  From here, it’s all downhill-first on foot and then by bike we descend all the way to Ambato (2800m). This is an amazing bike ride through the highlands, with vicuñas being the sole inhabitants of these wild stretches.   On this tour, cyclists enjoy a breathtaking 70 km ride through varying landscapes in just one day. This trip is by far a customer favorite. Seldom does one have the chance to ride from the snow line of a volcano, through rural Andean patchwork fields, picnic with vicuñas and at the end of the ride arrive in a modern city.  In Ambato, we load up the bikes and return to Quito by jeep.

[/fusion_table]

Included: Lunch, mountain bikes, all transportation, all safety gear (helmet, hand gloves) and veteran bilingual guides.

Not included: Entrance fees (e.g. Cotopaxi, currently free of charge), other drinks, personal expenses and tips)

COTOPAXI-CHIMBORAZO-BAÑOS-PUYO

Four day bike and hike tour

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What to bring:

  • warm clothes
  • rain/wind jacket
  • Extra Clothes

DAY 1: QUITO – COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK   

At 07:00 AM we leave Quito and after driving south for 1,5 hours on the Pan-American highway we reach the park entrance of Cotopaxi National Park. We drive through pine forest and soon we arrive to the Visitors Center of the park. After visiting the Center, we continue the ascent in our 4-wheel drive vehicle until we reach the highest point of the tour, 4.500 meters/15.000 feet. The view from this point is stunning and on a clear day we are able to see 8 volcanoes.

We then put on helmets, gloves and protection pads and the bike adventure on the world’s highest active volcano can begin. The first 8 km will take us down 700 m. on dirt roads through volcanic ash and páramo landscape. At 3.800 m. you actually have to do some pedaling while we head down another 8 km between volcanic rocks and wild horses to our lunch spot by an Inca ruin at 3.700 m. With some luck we might see a condor or a caracara. We put the bikes back on the jeep and head for the lake of Limpiopungo at 3.800 m. where we start the 16 km downhill biking on dirt roads and tthe bike adventure is over for this time.  

We then ascend by jeep in a northwest direction into the western Cordillera arriving at Quilotoa to spend the night. The night’s retreat is a simple but clean inn located in Quilotoa run by an indigenous family.

DAY 2: QUILOTOA

The next day, we start with an early hike down to the deep jade colored Quilotoa Crater Lake. The hike downhill to the Laguna takes about 30 minutes and about twice as long to climb back up. But, you can hire a mule or donkey for about US$10 to carry you back to the top, where your breakfast will be awaiting you to charge your batteries for this day’s adventure! After breakfast we descend on mountain b

ikes to Zumbahua. Many years ago, an earthquake destroyed this area. The land has transformed into a rugged formation resembling what you might imagine as terrain from another planet. Lunch is a picnic at a location where we have the opportunity to intermingle with the Quechua Indians or test your artistic skills with the locals painting landscapes of the area. After lunch, we enjoy a 30-minute drive until we reach 4,200 m (13.400 ft.) We switch then to human power and the downhill bike ride begins down a long and winding road all the way back to Latacunga located at 2400 m. (7,600 ft.).

DAY 3) CHIMBORAZO

Drive for just over an hour to Mount Chimborazo (6310m), the highest and most impressive of Ecuador’s volcanoes.  We park at the lower refuge (4800 m) and continue on foot to the Edgar Whymper Refuge. Located at 5000 meters this is the highest refuge in the world!  From here, it’s all downhill- first on foot and then by bike we descend all the way to Ambato(2800m).

This is an amazing bike ride through the highlands, with vicuñas being the sole inhabitants of these wild stretches.   On this tour, cyclists enjoy a breathtaking 70 km ride through varying landscapes in just one day. This trip is by far a favorite ride of previous customers. Seldom does one have the chance to ride from the snow line of a volcano, through rural Andean patchwork fields, picnic with vicuñas and at the end of the ride arrive in a modern city.  In Ambato, we load up the bikes on the jeep roof and drive to Baños, a small town famous for its hot springs, and spend the night there.

DAY 4) BAÑOS-PUYO and the Avenue of the Orchids-QUITO

We take a pre-breakfast dip in the thermal baths of Baños before pedaling east toward Puyo. You’ll notice the dramatic temperature and vegetation changes as we descend into the steamy Amazon basin. Bike along the famous Avenue of the Orchids to the Amazonian frontier town of Río Verde. Here we have lunch.

Return by jeep to Quito .

Included: Lunch, mountain bikes, all transportation, all safety gear (helmet, hand gloves) and veteran bilingual guides.

Not included: Entrance fees (e.g. Cotopaxi, currently free of charge), other drinks, personal expenses and tips)

COTOPAXI-CHIMBORAZO-BAÑOS-PUYO-TENA

Five day bike adventure

What to bring:

  • warm clothes
  • rain/wind jacket
  • Extra Clothes

DAY 1) Cotopaxi National Park

We leave Quito early in the morning. After a one and a half hour drive on the Pan-American Highway we reach the park entrance of Cotopaxi National Park. We drive through pine forest and soon reach the Visitors’ center of the park. We visit the Center before continuing  the ascent in our 4-wheel drive vehicle. We soon reach the highest point of the tour, 4.500 meters/15.000 feet. The view from this point is stunning as on a clear day we are able to see 8 volcanoes.

Afterwards we put on helmets, gloves and protection pads and the bike adventure on the world’s highest active volcano can begin. The first 8 kilometers will take us down 700 meters on dirt roads through volcanic ash and páramo landscape. At 3.800 meters you actually have to do some pedaling heading down another 8 kilometers between volcanic rocks and wild horses to our lunch spot by an Inca ruin at 3.700 m. With some luck we might see a condor or a caracara. We put the bikes back on the jeep and head for the lake of Limpiopungo at 3.800 meters where we start the 16 kilometers downhill through pine forest biking on dirt roads. After two extra kilometers on a beautiful single track the bike adventure is over for this time.

We trade mountain bikes for our support vehicle and travel down south along the “Avenue of the Volcanoes” to our night’s retreat.  Overnight in Riobamba.

Day 2  Chimborazo to Baños

Drive for just over an hour to Mount Chimborazo (6310m), the highest and most impressive of Ecuador’s volcanoes.  We park at the lower refuge (4800 m) and continue on foot to the Edgar Whymper Refuge. Located at 5000 meters this is the highest refuge in the world!  From here, it’s all downhill- first on foot and then by bike we descend all the way to Ambato(2800m).

This is an amazing bike ride through the highlands, with vicuñas being the sole inhabitants of these wild stretches.   On this tour, cyclists enjoy a breathtaking 70 km ride through varying landscapes in just one day. This trip is by far a favorite ride of previous customers. It is seldom for one to have the chance to ride from the snow line of a volcano, through rural Andean patchwork fields, picnic with vicuñas and at the end of the ride arrive in a modern city.  In Ambato, we load up the bikes on the jeep roof and drive to Baños, a small town famous for its hot springs, and spend the night there.

Day 3  Puyo and the Avenue of the Orchids…

We take a pre-breakfast dip in the thermal baths of Baños before pedaling east toward Puyo. You’ll notice the dramatic temperature and vegetation changes as we descend into the steamy Amazon basin. Bike along the Avenue of the Orchids to the Amazonian frontier town of Puyo. Lunch. Drive through quichua villages and tropical rainforest to Tena town in the Amazon basin. Overnight in a jungle lodge at the river bank

Day 4  Amazon Basin…

Today our travel is by foot as we explore pristine Amazon rainforest.  On this hike, we will walk through a botanical reserve, called Jatun Sacha, where you can see exotic flora and sometimes fauna.  We stand a good chance of spotting flocks of Amazon parrots, macaws and toucans, monkeys and other jungle wildlife.

It is also possible for you to do a MORE EXPENSIVE, yet very interesting jungle trip, with a canoe to a Community.  You can decide the day before.

Day 5  Amazon Basin BACK TO THE ANDES PAPALLACTA

We begin by driving by jeep up into the Andes (Guaguamayos Pass). We cycle to the town of Baeza at the base of the Andes. We enjoy a picnic lunch, and then drive up to the Papallacta thermal baths for a well-earned soak in the toasty hot springs.   From the Ave Maria Pass (4200m), we then bike back towards Quito along the Chiche river basin. This is one of the longest downhill rides in the world, about 45 km. The last 12 kilometers will be on the famous railroad line going through five tunnels, one of which is 322 meters long.  The spectacular ride takes us speeding through wide stretches of paramo and cloud forest, with the Andean sun illuminating the way. Some days can be chilled by occasional fog, so don’t forget your mittens and fleece. In Tumbaco we pile the bikes on the jeep’s roof and head back to Quito.

Trek Xcaliber
  • Shimano Racing Standard Hydraulic Disc Brakes
  • 29cm wheels
  • Professional RockShox shock absorbers with 110mm travels and regulators
  • 18 gears (Racing standard)
  • Ultralight Aluminum Alloy Frame
  • Professional Cross Country Bicycle

Included: Lunch, mountain bikes, all transportation, all safety gear (helmet, hand gloves) and veteran bilingual guides.

Not included: Entrance fees (e.g. Cotopaxi, currently free of charge), other drinks, personal expenses and tips)

NOTE ABOUT GUIDES:

  • Our guides must be expert cyclers in all types of terrain with a particular focus on mountain biking.
  • They must be fluent in English and Spanish
  • As a minimum, every guide must be a nationally accredited guide with the corresponding license. We give priority to guides that have not only national accreditation but international certificates as well.
  • Guides must be effective communicators.
  • They must have people skill and be highly sociable.
  • They must be aware of all operational details before, during, and after the tours.