The ninth competition of Raid Gauloises took place in Ecuador in 1998. We participated in carrying out the operation in Cotopaxi National Park and other places. Due to the natural beauty of the cloud forest and the well-marked paths one of our most spectacular biking routes were chosen for this event.

Most biking tours are off-road and are run on unpaved paths of the Ecuadorian geogrephy. You will cycle in a natural setting and there is plenty of time to take pictures and to enjoy the wonderful views. We offer Biking routes for cyclists of every ability although some acclimatisation and a good shape are recommended. Each Mountainbiking Tour is carefully designed to encourage our customer. Furthermore the varying skills and interests of the riders are also taken into consideration. A 4-wheel drive jeep and a bilingual skilled cycle-guide support all trips. The bikes are of high quality standard.

Day 01: Quito - Cotopaxi National Park

We leave Quito in the morning and drive through the Pan-American south to Cotopaxi National Park. Via Machachi - Pedregal. We start our biking tour at 3.200m and we bike 3 hours (mostly uphill) in to the National park, picnic lunch on route. In the afternoon we will reach the base of the Cotopaxi where we will set up our campsite at 3.800 m. Overnight in tents. At good weather we will have spectacular views of the Cotopaxi, Pasochoa, Sincholagua and Rumiñahui Volcanoes. -/L/D

Day 02: Limpiopungo Lake - El Boliche - Albergue Cuello de Luna

From the campsite we drive to the parking lot of Cotopaxi at 4.600 m and we bike downhill towards Limpiopungo Lake at 3800 m. We continue biking to El Boliche in the northwest of the park, passing by pine tree plantations and Andean Páramo vegetation where Llamas and deers live. Birds like Falcons, Seagull and hummingbirds can also be seen here. Picnic lunch on route. From here we drive 20 minutes to a Mountain refuge Cuello de Luna where we stay for dinner and the night. B/L/D

Day 03: Saquisili - Sumbagua - Quilotoa Crater - Sigchos

After breakfast we drive up to the Páramo again to 3.900m. In a very quiet and spectacular landscape (The valleys of the silence) in direction to the coast via Saquisili- Sumbagua a small Indian village where we start our biking tour. we bike for about 1 hour to the Quilotoa crater lake picnic lunch and continue down hill passing Chugchilan until to Sigchos where the day adventure ends, we will spend the night in tents. B/L/D

Day 04: Sigchos - Toachi River Canyon

After breakfast, we pack everything and continue our Mountain Bike tour in direction to the coast behind the Illinizas through the Toachi river canyon, carpeted by verdant tropical rain forest, the vegetation is changing at every step and also the climate will be getting warmer. We descend very quickly starting at the Páramo vegetation in the high land passing by the cloud forest, to the sub-tropical and tropical pacific coast climate. Picnic lunch on route and in the afternoon we accommodate in a Hotel. B/L/D

Day 05: Valle Hermoso - Los Bancos

Today our Ecuador Bike adventure, take us from the Union del Toachi aprox. 50 km in 6 hours to Valle Hermoso. We will be passing in our Mountain Bikes by Alluriquin and Santo Domingo de los Colorados. Lunch on route and finally we drive to Los Bancos where we will spend the night in a Hotel. B/L/D

Day 06: Los Bancos - Guagua Pichincha - Quito

After breakfast our Mountain bike Tour leave los Bancos in direction towards Quito, via Tandayapa, Nono, Calacali and a secondary road. Most of the ride is up hill and the distance is about 50 km. Behind the Guagua Pichincha we start biking for about 6-7 hours. Please do not worry if this is to hard for you because all the time we will have transportation which will assist us whenever we need help with our equipment, lunch, beverages etc. In the afternoon we will finally arrive by Jeep in Quito. B/L/-

Included in price