Ecuador Bikepacking (4 days)

Overview

Experience a pedaling expedition like no other! Explore most beautiful Andes Ecuadorian region, from the turquoise waters of the Quilotoa Crater Lake to the most majestic Cotopaxi snowcapped volcano, ride exclusive single track and dirt roads while having amazing views of the Andean farms and learn about the culture of the indigenous people.

Accommodation is provided at charming eco-lodges and colonial Haciendas.

Highlights

Bike the rim of Quilotoa Crater lake
Bike across Cotopaxi National Park
Explore local Markets
Bike single tracks
Learn about the Culture of the Andes
Share time with the local indigenous people
View wild horses and alpacas
Stay at unique places in every location
Be led by top Activexpedition experienced guides at every step you take
Support sustainable travel to preserve culture and nature

Activities

Biking
Culture
Wildlife

Activity level

Moderate to Challenging

Skill Ratings

Skill Level 5 – Intermediate

Skill Ratings Information

KILL LEVEL 1 – NEWBIE

You’ve never ridden a mountain bike before.

SKILL LEVEL 2 – BEGINNER

You have limited experience with off-road trail riding.

SKILL LEVEL 3 – NOVICE

You’re hooked on riding off-road and wide dirt trails (atv trails or doubletrack), but still lack the skills and confidence to consistently ride terrain with roots, rocks, tight corners, tight trees and steeps. Singletrack – what is singletrack?

SKILL LEVEL 4 – STRONG NOVICE

Your dedication to mountain biking has led you to your first handful of rides on real singletrack. You enjoy smooth mellow singletrack, although often the trees feel too tight, the climbs come too quick to shift and have you walking, and the obstacles have you a bit surprised as you did not even know people ride right over logs!

SKILL LEVEL 5 – INTERMEDIATE

At a controlled speed and on mellow singletrack terrain, you are comfortable riding a variety of singletrack which may include tight trees, mud, loose rocks and sand. You are comfortable and confident rolling over small obstacles (a couple inches high) like roots, rocks and small rollable drops (a couple inches high). On rare occasions you take your wheels off the ground intentionally. You are now becoming comfortable in anticipating terrain and shift gears accordingly and you are comfortable using both front and rear brakes when required.

SKILL LEVEL 6 – STRONG INTERMEDIATE

You are comfortable riding a variety of singletrack which may include tight trees, mud, loose rocks and sand and are comfortable doing so on more challenging terrain. You are comfortable and confident with a front wheel lift and rear wheel lift to get up and over larger obstacles (up to 6 inches) such as roots and rocks that are not rollable. When climbing you shift your bodyweight forward in efforts to keep traction on your front wheel. Climbing is typically successful, unless technical roots, rocks or corners have you walking a short section. You are comfortable with speed and letting go of your brakes as long as you can see the

exit or end of the descent. You are also now grasping effective cornering techniques although still need to work on your timing and coordination.

SKILL LEVEL 7 – ADVANCED

You are comfortable riding a variety of singletrack which may include tight trees, mud, loose rocks and sand and are comfortable doing so on aggressive terrain with little braking. You can hop over obstacles such as small roots and rocks that less advanced riders may wheel lift over. You use the brakes sparingly, and are open to taking some air off little rocks and roots. Your timing and coordination on all types of berms is solid. You are comfortable leaning your bike through the corner and exit with acceleration.

SKILL LEVEL 8 – EXPERT

You are comfortable riding a variety of singletrack which may include tight trees, mud, loose rocks and sand and are comfortable doing so on aggressive terrain with little braking. You rarely, if ever, walk. Small drops are no issue for you and you are comfortable with having both wheels leave the ground. Climbing technical roots, rocks and switchbacks are no issue for you. You use the brakes sparingly and air off of every rock, root and drop you can find. Your timing and coordination on all types of berms, switchbacks and corners is solid. You are comfortable leaning your bike through fast corners and exit with acceleration.

SKILL LEVEL 9 – PRO

You are a mountain bike god/goddess. You can handle the most technical terrain imaginable, eat up steeps for breakfast and can hit all the gaps, drops and jumps any trail throws at you.

Fitness Rating

Fitness Level 7

Fitness Ratings Information

FITNESS LEVEL 1

You are a couch potato.

You cannot ride for more than half an hour on flat terrain at a time, and the thought of climbing on a bike is daunting.

You exercise less than 1 hour per week.

FITNESS LEVEL 2

You live a fairly inactive life with little physical activity other than walking.

You can handle a 1-hour bike ride on flat terrain at a relaxed pace.

Small, short hills are challenging to climb, but are sometimes manageable.

You exercise on average 1 hour per week (including riding a mountain bike).

FITNESS LEVEL 3

You are capable of 2 hours of pedal time in a day at a relaxed pace, as long as there are several breaks.

You can handle one or two easy climbs of up to 330 vertical feet (150 m) total.

You exercise on average 2 hours per week (including riding a mountain bike).

FITNESS LEVEL 4

You are capable of climbing up to 650 vertical feet (200 m) in a day.

You exercise on average 3 hours per week.

Your exercise regime includes a combination of endurance training like riding a bike and strength training.

FITNESS LEVEL 5

You are capable of riding at a moderate pace for an average of 2-3 hours of pedal time each day.

You are confident climbing up to a total of 1,000 vertical feet (300 m) in a day.

You exercise on average 4 hours per week.

Your exercise regime includes a combination of endurance training like riding a bike and strength training.

FITNESS LEVEL 6

You are capable of riding at a moderate pace for an average of 3-4 hours of pedal time each day.

You can handle moderately steep climbs of up to a total of 1,650 vertical feet (500 m) in a day.

You exercise on average 5 hours per week.

Your exercise regime includes a combination of endurance training like riding a bike and strength training.

FITNESS LEVEL 7

You are capable of riding at a moderate pace for an average of 3-4 hours of pedal time each day.

You can handle moderate climbs up to 2,450 vertical feet (750 m) total in a day.

You exercise on average 6 hours per week.

Your exercise regime includes a combination of endurance training like riding a bike and strength training.

FITNESS LEVEL 8

You are capable of riding at a moderate pace for an average of 3-4 hours of pedal time each day.

You have little trouble climbing 3,280 vertical feet (1,000 m) in a day on moderate to steep terrain..

You exercise on average 6-10 hours per week.

Your exercise regime includes a combination of endurance training like riding a bike and strength training.

FITNESS LEVEL 9

You are capable of riding at a moderate pace for an average of 3-4 hours of pedal time each day.

You can handle steep, sustained climbs of up to 4,920 vertical feet (1,500 m) in a day.

You exercise over 10-hours per week.

Your exercise regime includes a combination of endurance training like riding a bike and strength training.

Distance & elevation

Day 1.- Quilotoa - Isinlivi

Day 2.- Isinlivi - Lasso

Day 3.- Lasso - Cotopaxi

Day 4.- Cotopaxi - Sangolqui

Season

Year around

Minimum age

12 years old

Full Itinerary

Day 1

Bikepacking from Quilotoa to Isinlivi

Today we will pick you up at your hotel in Quito city, and then travel for 3 hours by car to the entrance of the Illinizas Ecological Reserve, here we will have some coca tea and then prepare all the equipment for today´s ride, we will start taking the trails of the rim of Quilotoa, from there we will have amazing views of the turquoise water of the crater, we wil be riding single tracks and in some parts we will have to push our bikes as it is very steep to bike, later we will start the decline down to San Pedro town, here we will have a short break and have some food, later we continue down an impressive canyon, there we will start climbing for a couple of hours till we reach Isinlivi village where we will spend the overnight.

Overnight: Standard / High End: Llullullama lodge or similar.
Meals included: Box lunch and dinner.

Day 2

Bikepacking Isinlivi to Lasso

Today after a very healthy breakfast we will start climbing for about 3 hours to the top of the mountain where we have a huge rock known as Guingopana, from there we will have amazing views of the valleys on both sides, later we continue biking down to the village of Toacaso, later we continue biking to the Hacienda where we will spend the overnight.

Overnight: Cuello de Luna or similar.
Meals included: Breakfast and Box lunch.

Day 3

Bikepacking into the Cotopaxi National Park

In the morning we will bike on some dirt roads to reach the entrance of the Cotopaxi reserve, on the way we will stop at San Agustin de Callo Hacienda to have some nice coffee and learn about the history of the Incas, later we continue into the park on a paved road surrounded by pine and eucalyptus trees, in the afternoon we will reach 13000 feet where we will camp and enjoy a bonfire in front of the Cotopaxi Volcano.

Overnight: Standard / High End: Cotopaxi Campsite.
Meals included: Breakfast, Box lunch and dinner.

Day 4

Bikepacking back to Quito

Today we start biking on flat terrain across the park, our first stop will be at the Limpiopungo volcano where we will have some nice views of the Rumiñahui volcano, named after a very important Inca warrior, also today with some luck we might view the majestic Andean condor, we will continue on dirt roads and single track next to the Cotopaxi, along the ride we will see a lot of volcanic material from the last eruptions of this volcano. We will stop at the Inca ruins known as Tambo and later we continue biking down back to Quito, where our driver will be ready to take you to your hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast and Box lunch

Let's design your adventure

Included

Experienced Certified English-Speaking Guide
Private Transport on day one and four
Accommodation
Meals as listed in the Itinerary
Water and snacks available whenever
Biking gear: Trek quality bikes with front suspension, certified helmets and gloves.
All fees to reserves and museums

Not Included

International or domestic flights
Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
Upgraded biking gear (Trek quality bikes with full suspension, 200usd for the whole trip)
Tips for guides and drivers
Travel insurance (mandatory)
Airport transfers

Important Information

Itinerary Disclaimer: Even though we have a detailed itinerary, changes can be made by your guides, due to weather or safety reasons. Please also note that none of the wildlife sightings mentioned on the itinerary are guaranteed.
Visas and Passports: Make sure you check your visa and passport validity and requirements per country. It is important your passport is valid for at least 6 months before your travel.
Accommodation: We strive to use small and charming places that are unique and provide stellar service.
Single Supplement Costs: Generally this fee is not incurred as we match you with another person of the same gender in a twin room, but if you prefer not to share and have your own room, then there will be an associated fee
Transportation: Driving time can take more than expected in Ecuador, as it is a small country with roads meandering through the Andes mountains. We assure your comfort during transit no matter the size of the group.
Gear: At Activexpediton we always make sure our guests have top of the line gear from well-known and reputable international brands as we understand that the best gear gives extra confidence to our riders. For biking, we use Trek X-caliber and Marlin, Trek Fuel EX5, and for protection we use Bontrager and Oneal.
Level of Activity: This trip is considered as 4 out of 5, meaning you need to have a bit of experience, however your guides will teach you every day how to ride on the varying terrain. The whole trip involves a mix of trails and roads, some on dirt, grass and gravel. Every ride is about 30 miles, and the elevation gain can be 3000 feet a day, if people want to do more elevation gain, our guides will be happy to do longer rides.
Weather and Elevation: In Ecuador the weather can be very variable depending on which side of the Andes you are traveling to, so it is highly recommended to come ready for all kinds of weather. When they say “Ecuador, All in One Place” they mean it! The altitude determines the temperature and the higher you go the colder it gets. Don’t let the geographic location of the country fool you. Even at a mere 15,000 feet the temperatures can feel like those of a winter in the northern United States. The coastal lowlands in the western part of Ecuador are typically warm with temperatures in the region of 25 °C (77 °F). Coastal areas are affected by ocean currents and between January and April are hot and rainy. The weather in Quito is consistent with that of a subtropical highland climate. The average temperature during the day is 70 °F (21 °C), which generally falls to an average of 50 °F (10 °C) at night. The average temperature annually is 64 °F (17.8 °C). There are only really two seasons in the city: dry and wet. The dry season runs from June to September and the wet season is from October to May.
Sustainability: We do our best to not produce any trash; we believe that recycling is not enough so we try to avoid using any plastic or materials that pollute our environment. Every day we work towards being a zero waste tour operator and our staff is well trained to leave the least impact possible in our service areas. We also work with local indigenous communities in the different regions. By doing so, we are able to teach our guests about the rich culture Ecuador, all the while helping the people preserve their traditions and lands. By working directly with local peoples we are able to create a sustainable touristic income for the community.
Guides: All our guides have a professional background from the Tourism University, this means they have a degree in guiding, so their knowledge and skills when leading a group are top-notch. Each guide has many years of experience and they all have taken additional courses for other outdoor activities as well as have International First-Aid certifications. On top of all of this they are all extremely personable and strive to deliver travel experiences of a lifetime.
Heath Advisory: No vaccinations needed for this trip; However for this Pandemic time, to enter Ecuador you need your Covid19 vaccine certificate or a PCR negative test.

Packing list

We do recommend travelling super light for this expedition. A backpack of 20 litters should be sufficient, if possible to bring a saddlebag for extra items.