The Best Horseback Riding Outside of Quito, Ecuador
Hacienda El Porvenir
My first visit to El Porvenir (at least the first I really remember) was for my 11th birthday. We did the horseback ride with my parents, my sister, and a few school friends. We even broke a piñata in the main cobblestone courtyard by the entrance! I remember we had such a great time, and I love going back.
Image Copyright © Anna Nicole Arteaga 2025
The Experience
I really love the silence of the horseback ride at El Porvenir, just the sound of hooves on soft ground, the occasional neigh or huff. The wind. The condors flying above. My mind wandering to matters of the heart. The guide leading the way up the slopes of Rumiñahui, a dormant volcano. These are just a few reasons I believe it is the best horseback riding adventure outside of Quito.
Where is Hacienda El Porvenir?
Less than two hours from Quito (depending on traffic), you'll find Hacienda El Porvenir, a family-run farm in the highlands. It’s especially known for its annual rodeo, where chagras (Andean cowboys) round up hundreds of bulls over the course of four days. They count them, vaccinate them, and tag the calves. There’s music, meals, drinks, and a strong sense of tradition.
Staying at the Hacienda
What I love most after the horses are the cozy, rustic rooms. The decor is colorful, warm, and full of Andean patterns and details… and they've recently been renovated! I’ve stayed overnight three times and visited many more.
Their menu is varied, offering comforting international dishes alongside Ecuadorian classics. My favorites? The empanadas, the locro (a traditional potato soup topped with freshly made cheese and avocado), and the steak with berry sauce. Don’t miss the fresh fruit juices… they’re incredible.
As part of the welcome (or before a ride), you’ll be offered a cup of hot canelazo, a warm spiced drink made with naranjilla. On a recent visit, I had noted that it was my sister’s birthday during the reservation process. It wasn’t mentioned during our stay, so next time I’ll make sure to follow up in person. Either way, the welcome was as warm and cozy as ever, with thick, red walls, a crackling fireplace, and a ton of interesting books.
Cooking Classes
They also offer cooking lessons and I recently had the chance to film one. Learning to make empanadas de viento, which are filled with cheese, their delicious canelazo, and a traditional ají (kind of like a hot sauce you pair with different foods) recipe with one of their local staff members was a real highlight. It’s a hands-on, family-friendly activity that’s interactive and different!!
Image Copyright © Anna Nicole Arteaga 2025
Horseback Riding
Ítalo and Miguel are two of the wonderful guides who prepare the horses and gear. They’ll outfit you with a traditional poncho and zamarro (leather cowboy chaps). Helmets are required and provided. The hacienda has over 50 horses, all calm, sure-footed, and named with local spirit, “Tocte,” “Pelucón,” and many more.
There are several ride options. The most popular is a 2-hour ride that takes you from the hacienda up into the páramo, ending at a scenic viewpoint with Apu statues. On a clear day, you’ll have views of Cotopaxi Volcano.
It’s family-friendly and great for children. If you don’t have much riding experience, their beginner-friendly horses make it easy to enjoy. For experienced riders, they offer more spirited horses if you really like to trot or gallop.
I’ve also done the longer 4-hour ride to the Owl Cave, located on different flanks of Rumiñahui Volcano. It includes a boxed lunch and time to explore a beautiful cave, with even closer views of Cotopaxi. “A true páramo experience” as my boss’s father mentioned recently.
If you want to take this already top-notch experience to the next level, ask for José Jijón: one of their bilingual guides. His storytelling brings everything to life, from the history of the farm, the traditions of the chagras, and the fascinating details about the region’s animals, plants, and topography. He adds a whole new dimension to any experience at El Porvenir, whether it’s a horseback ride, a Cotopaxi National Park Tour, a tasty meal, a hike or a bike ride.
Riding with a Camera
Throughout the ride, I usually have my camera strapped around my neck, reins in my left hand and the shutter in my right. The horses are so well-trained and calm that I often feel safe enough to release the reins and shoot with both hands.
Near the end of one ride, a father of three from London turned to the guide and said, “This is the best horseback ride I’ve ever done.” He and his wife had already been to the Amazon and the Galápagos and were wrapping up their Peru + Ecuador trip with a few days near Quito.
At the top of the trail, by the Apu statues, we were offered sunfo tea which is an Andean herb with a soft, fresh scent. It’s used to help with altitude and definitely warms you up.
Thanks for Reading!
Whether you're visiting Ecuador for the first time or looking for a new adventure close to Quito, I can’t recommend this experience enough. It’s one of those authentic, culturally rich experiences that make you love the outdoors more than you ever thought you could.
P.S
Note: This post is not sponsored. Just sharing one of my favorite places in Ecuador based on my personal experience.
Image Copyright © Anna Nicole Arteaga 2025