South America Horse Riding Tours

Good kit is vital for every trip.

Book with Andean Trails and get 15% off Páramo's fantastic ethical and high performance outdoor gear.

 

Overview

Guests are kindly requested on all rides/treks to take a minimum of personal belongings with them. Vehicles bring on guests’ belongings to each nights’ lodgings. Luggage storage can be organised in Quito during the ride/trek.

Please note some trips involve overnights at high altitudes where temperatures sometimes fall below freezing. Please do bring clothing for COLD weather (riding and for evenings).

Contact lenses and glasses

The rides can be dusty at times and the air is very dry therefore contact lenses can irritate. Guests have experienced problems with contact lenses. We suggest bringing a pair of glasses to replace lenses if necessary.

Guests are strongly advised to bring and use their own riding helmets.

Give plenty of thought to kit selection, and try to keep weight down.

Below is a more detailed kit list.

 

Equipment provided for the riding tours:

• Saddlebags


• Rain ponchos


• Half chaps (a few pairs are available on prior request.)


• Water bottles


• Bed linen & towels


• All bed linen and towels will be provided at the haciendas/hotels tours.

 

Clothing, equipment & personal effects:

Riding in the highlands:

Multiple thin layers of clothing are recommended for the changes in temperature.  The Ecuadorian Highlands are famous for ‘all four seasons in one day!’

 

• Insect repellent.


• Towel & wash-kit.


• Wet Wipes/antiseptic hand-wash cream.


• Toilet paper (1)


• Sunscreen (factor 30+) and lip salve.


• Head-lamp (plus spare bulb and batteries).


• Penknife.


• Travel alarm clock.


• Binoculars.


• Swimming costume


• Plastic bags - 'Zip-loc' & tough bin liners.


• Camera and film / memory cards (take at least twice the amount you think you will need!).


• Camera and phone chargers.


• Book, e-book, mp3 player/ipod or other for free time.


• Spanish/English phrasebook.


• Extra snacks i.e. cereal bars or favourite chocolate bars.


• High quality sunglasses with protective lenses – NOT fashion glasses


• Travel adaptor

 

Riding:

Multiple thin layers of clothing are recommended for the changes in temperature.

• Stretch trousers/jodhpurs (we advise against denim jeans/baggy trousers. Lightweight jodhpurs).


• Riding chaps – full or half length.


• Thin ‘long johns’/stockings/stretch lycra-style cycling shorts are useful under trousers/jodhpurs.


• Thermal underwear (if you feel the cold).


• Woollen & cotton scarf.


• Fleece jacket & wool jumper.


• Warm waterproof jacket (suitable for cold evening temperatures & occasional rain/high winds when riding).


• Long sleeved cotton shirts and T-shirt.


• Solo neck jumpers (cotton and/or wool).


• Strong boots (hiking boots/riding boots with rubber soles – you may have to walk on rough terrain).


• Trainers/canvas shoes/deck shoes (for evenings & market visits - comfortable, low/no heels).


• Riding gloves.


• Wide brimmed hat (‘Stetson’ / Panama/ safari style). Panama hats can be purchased in Ecuador.


• Day pack.


• Evening wear (trousers, shirt and sweater for the hotels, no formal wear necessary, except for special occasions).

 

Miscellaneous others

• Money belt.


• Passport (original) + a good quality photocopy.


• U.S. dollars cash, mixed-denomination notes, undamaged and unmarked.


• ATM cash/credit card.


• Any inoculation certificates.


• Personal & medical insurance certificates.


• Presents e.g. Postcards from home.


• Comfortable clothes for travel, smart clothes for night life.

Good kit is vital for every trip.

Book with Andean Trails and get 15% off Páramo's fantastic ethical and high performance outdoor gear.

 

Overview

Clothes and equipment should be comfortable for riding all day, layering helps cope with temperature changes.

Your bags will be transferred from accommodation to accommodation by car, no by packhorse.

Guests are strongly advised to bring and use their own riding helmets.

Give plenty of thought to kit selection, and try to keep weight down.

Below is a more detailed kit list.

 

Equipment provided for the riding tours:

• Saddlebags


• Rain ponchos


• Half chaps (a few pairs are available on prior request.)


• Water bottles


• Bed linen & towels


• All bed linen and towels will be provided at the haciendas/hotels tours.

 

Clothing, equipment & personal effects:

• Insect repellent.


• Towel & wash-kit.


• Wet Wipes/antiseptic hand-wash cream.


• Toilet paper (1)


• Sunscreen (factor 30+) and lip salve.


• Head-lamp (plus spare bulb and batteries).


• Penknife.


• Travel alarm clock.


• Binoculars.


• Swimming costume


• Plastic bags - 'Zip-loc' & tough bin liners.


• Camera and film / memory cards (take at least twice the amount you think you will need!).


• Camera and phone chargers.


• Book, e-book, mp3 player/ipod or other to help pass the time.


• Spanish/English phrasebook.


• Extra snacks i.e. cereal bars or favourite chocolate bars.


• High quality sunglasses with protective lenses – NOT fashion glasses


• Travel adaptor

 

Riding:

Multiple thin layers of clothing are recommended for the changes in temperature.

• Stretch trousers/jodhpurs (we advise against denim jeans/baggy trousers. Lightweight jodhpurs).


• Riding chaps – full or half length.


• Thin ‘long johns’/stockings/stretch lycra-style cycling shorts are useful under trousers/jodhpurs.


• Thermal underwear (if you feel the cold).


• Woollen & cotton scarf.


• Fleece jacket & wool jumper.


• Warm waterproof jacket (suitable for cold evening temperatures & occasional rain/high winds when riding).


• Long sleeved cotton shirts and T-shirt.


• Solo neck jumpers (cotton and/or wool).


• Strong boots (hiking boots/riding boots with rubber soles – you may have to walk on rough terrain).


• Trainers/canvas shoes/deck shoes (for evenings & market visits - comfortable, low/no heels).


• Riding gloves.


• Wide brimmed hat (‘Stetson’ / panama/ safari style).


• Day pack.


• Evening wear (trousers, shirt and sweater for the hotels, no formal wear necessary, except for special occasions).

 

Miscellaneous others

• Money belt.


• Passport (original) + a good quality photocopy.


• U.S. dollars cash, mixed-denomination notes, undamaged and unmarked.


• ATM cash/credit card.


• Any inoculation certificates.


• Personal & medical insurance certificates.


• Presents e.g. Postcards from home.


• Comfortable clothes for travel, smart clothes for night life.

Ecuador is the second smallest South American country, and one of the most varied.

It comprises three main geographical areas: the coast, highlands and Amazon plus is home to the Galapagos Islands.

Because of its relatively compact size, it makes a great holiday destination as you can move from highlight to highlight fairly easily and rapidly.

Uruguay is one of South America’s undiscovered gems, a welcoming and charming country with dramatic coast lines and hidden treasures.

Nestled between Brasil, Argentina and its rugged Atlantic Ocean coast, Uruguay features a large number of sandy beaches, rolling hills and vast, wide open spaces in the countryside.

Its warm, friendly population of only 3 million -  who you'll see supping yerba maté tea as the sun goes down - live peacefully in an area the size of England and Wales.

Uruguay's capital, Montevideo, is vibrant and home to some scorching tango nights as well as many art-deco buildings.

The coast has lovely beaches and warms seas, which the locals flock to, to relax, swim and sunbathe.

Journey inland and into the countryside you can stay at estancias to taste the rural life, and perhaps some horse riding.