In the morning a transportation will take us from Quito to Hacienda El Porvenir, where we will receive a brief riding lesson from our guides before we set out on our horses. Wearing the typical dress of the chagra, we ride out across the slopes of the dormant volcano, Rumiñahui. A legendary chagra from the area will come with us and share some of his deep knowledge of country life. The ride lasts approximately 3.5 hours. Back in the farmhouse, a tasty local lunch will be ready on our arrival. In the afternoon we'll have our Cooking in the Clouds lessons. The class starts with cooking lessons or our famous cheese empanadas, followed by the elaboration of aji. Aji or chili sauce is a very important part of Ecuadorian cuisine. The recipe varies from home to home. Here at Hacienda El Porvenir, you will learn how to make it the traditional way, on a stone mortar and seasoned with various herbs and spices. At last, we will learn how to prepare the delicious canelazo, a traditional hot drink that is served on celebrations in the Highlands of Ecuador. After the class the participants will enjoy their preparations next to a crackling fireplace. overnight stay at Hacienda El Porvenir. (Lunch/Dinner).

After the hacienda breakfast we will drive to Cotopaxi National Park (CNP). This is a very interesting drive through ancient lava flows from Cotopaxi’s past eruptions. The location is the perfect place to learn about Andean Geology. On our visit, we will reach the car park below the Cotopaxi’s Refuge, where we begin our short hike up to the climbing hut (Refugio José Ribas) at 4,800m. (15,744 ft). It is hard not to be overwhelmed by the sheer immensity of the Volcano on this short hike. Once back in the vehicle, we continue on our way driving down to Limpiopungo Lake, where a box lunch will be served. If there is time, we will visit the Park Visitors Centre, which has interesting descriptions of the local flora and fauna as well as details of the various eruptions of Cotopaxi. We will then continue, crossing rocky valleys, until we reach the Pucará del Salitre, an ancient Inca fortress on the way to the Amazon basin. Near this spot, there are some natural springs that rise with the icy water from underground rivers that come from the glaciers of Cotopaxi. Return to Quito. (Breakfast/Packed Lunch).