ECUADOR MTB ENDURO

Jungle trails, Volcanic freeriding, and the world’s longest downhills!

Welcome to Ecuador!

Upon arrival at Quito International Airport (UIO), you will be picked up by our 2Wheel team and taken to your hotel. Should time permit, build your bike or explore Quito. No other activities are planned for this day.

*To acclimatize to the altitude and have full energy for the days to come, we suggest you arrive at least a day early.

• Accommodation:  Hotel Ilalo
• Meals Included:  None

After an incredible breakfast and finishing our bike building, we kick off our amazing Ecuador MTB Enduro adventure. In the heart of Quito lies the Metropolitano trail system, where we ride for the first morning. These trails are great for acclimatizing to the altitude, and will help you familiarize yourself with Ecuadorian trail construction and the types of dirt that you will ride during this trip.

Following delicious lunch in the heart of Quito, we head over to the Lumbisi trails to enjoy Ecuador’s first purpose-built mountain bike specific trails.

• Distance:  14.4 km / 9 miles
• Max Elevation:  3,200m / 10,500 ft
• Ascent:  250 m / 800 ft
• Descent:  1,800 m / 5,000 ft
• Accommodation:  Hotel Ilalo
• Meals Included:  B, L, Snacks

Today we pack our bags and depart Quito and head to the CotoPaxi Bike Park. Situated at the foot of the majestic CotoPaxi Volcano, this Bike Park boasts a network of exciting singletrack trails that wind their way through the verdant forests that are indigenous to the Ecuadorian highlands. With soft, loamy dirt, jumps, natural features, and iconic volcano views, the CotoPaxi Bike Park is a dream come true for mountain bikers and what we all dream about when we think about the best mountain bike trails. 

Today we do multiple shuttle runs, each with 300-400 meters of descent, have some lunch, then head out for more good times. Choose to hit the jumps lines, take some laps on the pump track, or return to the trails and keep ripping! 

Tonight we chill at our guesthouse and rest up for tomorrow’s incredible freeride on the CotoPaxi Volcano!

• Distance:  14.4 km /  9 miles 
• Max Elevation:  4,100m/13,500 ft
• Ascent:  125 m / 350 ft 
• Descent:  1,060 m / 3,500 ft 
• Accommodation:  Hostal Rondador Cotopaxi
• Meals Included:  B, L, Snacks

Every country has its iconic sight that captivates and attracts travelers from all over the world. For Ecuador, that sight is the CotoPaxi Volcano, a majestic active stratovolcano that symbolizes the Andean region’s raw beauty and geologic wonder. 

Renowned for its snow-capped symmetrical cone, CotoPaxi’s height of 5,897 meters /19,347 feet, makes it one of the highest volcanoes in the world and the 2nd highest peak in Ecuador. Over millions of years, the gradual retreat of glaciers has given rise to a remarkable terrain of soft volcanic dirt, perfect for freeriding adventures!

Today, we shuttle three epic CotoPaxi freeride routes, with each lap starting at 4,600m /15,500 ft and descending about 1,000 m / 3,300 ft.

Experience the thrill of choosing your own line and unleashing your creative MTB style as you surf your way down CotoPaxi’s volcanic scree fields. Chart your own path through the breathtaking high-alpine tundra and grasslands, teeming with natural features, massive rock wallrides, and thrilling volcanic shoots. Embrace the excitement that this terrain offers on what will truly be unforgettable day – one that will leave you smiling from ear to ear!

• Distance:  28 km /  17 miles 
• Max Elevation:  4,600m  / 15,500 ft
• Ascent:  220 m / 700 ft 
• Descent:  1,800 m / 5,000 ft 
• Accommodation:  Hostal Rondador Cotopaxi
• Meals Included:  B, L, Snacks

Today we travel to the secret mountain biker paradise of the world — the province of Bolivar.

On our way, we pass through the Valley of Volcanoes, then stop in Ambato for a delicious tradition Andean lunch.

In the late afternoon, we arrive at our accommodation in Guaranda, where we spend two nights at the La Guilena, a beautiful family-run property with artfully-decorated cabanãs.

• Accommodation:  La Guilena
• Food included: B, L, Snacks

The Chimborazo Volcano is the tallest volcano in Ecuador, and remarkably, the closest point to the sun on Earth.

During the Hacienda System era, local ice harvesters would gather blocks of ice from Chimborazo’s glaciers, which were then transported to the coastal regions by mules so that city-goers had ice to chill their evening cocktails.

After ice machines and freezers made the ancient ice harvesting trade obsolete, this ice ‘mule trail’ was deemed useless and forgotten – until it’s rediscovery about 20 years ago. 

Now, thanks to the work of local Ecuadorian mountain bikers, 20 km of this trail has rejuvenated and transformed into one of Ecuador’s most incredible MTB rides!

Today, we shuttle up to 4,500 m / 15,550 ft to start this epic 5,000 ft MTB decent down this ancient route through volcanic scree, high alpine tundra and grasslands. 

This trail is one of our favorites and is truly and 2Wheel Epic!

• Distance:  28 km /  17 miles 
• Max Elevation:  4,600m  / 15,500 ft
• Ascent:  220 m / 700 ft 
• Descent:  1,800 m / 5,000 ft 
• Lodging:  La Guilena
• Meals Included:  B, L, Snacks   

Mama Rumi is one of the world’s best mountain bike trails. Just thinking of this cloud forest trail gives our whole team goose bumps!

This 1,000 year-old trail in the lush subtropical forests of Bolivar was once used as an agricultural pipeline to bring crops to and from the tropical coasts (citrus, cocoa, bananas) to the high mountain areas (potatoes, quinoa, maize).  However, it was soon forgotten with the advent of trucks and roads. It wasn’t until the era of prohibition that the trail resurfaced, sought after by bootleggers in need of a covert route for transporting their goods, evading local authorities’ detection.

As with Chimborazo, though this trail was completely forgotten about until one fateful evening. While chatting with some locals, a group of mountain bikers learned from a community elder about the existence of undiscovered singletrack — a trail that descended over 2,100 m in just 11 km. Moreover, that this trail had not been used for over 75 years!

The rest is history. Think cloud forests, jungle canopies, loamy jungle dirt, and two hours of pure descent!                

• Distance: 13 km / 8 miles 
• Max Elevation:  3,200m  / 10,500 ft
• Ascent:  50 m / 150 ft 
• Descent:  2,200 m / 7,200 ft 
• Accommodation:  Hacienda in Balsapamba
• Meals Included:  B, L, Snacks

Today we explore the lush jungles of the Ecuadorian coast and have the opportunity to spend a day discovering this incredible lush and magical land. We will visit a waterfall to swim in crystal clear pools and then take a short, yet extensive, visit to a cocoa plantation.

• Accommodation:  Hacienda in Balsapamba or similar
• Food included:  B, L, Snacks 

This mountain bike trail’s name says it all — Devino singletrack trail is Divine.

A huge ridge trail that descends down the jungle that will definitely be the one of the highlights of your Ecuador mountain bike vacations. This trail is full of tight switchbacks, epic views and ends in a banana plantation. 

This trail was the first mountain bike trail that our good friend Rene Arevalo Coloma discovered when he set out to discover the most incredible trails of his home province, Bolivar.

To end the day, we ride directly to our accommodations and enjoy a delicious Ecuadorian meal of Seco de Pollo and then bathe in the waterfalls below our beautiful accommodation. 

• Distance: 14.4 km / 9 miles 
• Max Elevation:  3,200m  / 10,500 ft
• Ascent:  250 m / 800 ft 
• Descent:  1800 m / 5,900 ft 
• Accommodation:  Hacienda Balsapamba
• Meals Included: B, L, Snacks

Today, we start to the day later, and then have the opportunity to ride either MTB trail that you have already ridden or new MTB trail. As you will be situated at the base of what we consider to be the Cloud Forest Mountain Bike Paradise, and it may be hard to decide which epic trail you want to ride that day!

This afternoon, we will ride ride the sunset ride, Chanquil. This sunset ride is on a ridge that floats above the cloud forest, and when the sun sets the clouds become an empty canvas that is then painted with every color of the sunset.

• Distance: 14.4 km /  9 miles 
• Max Elevation:  3,200m  / 10,500 ft
• Ascent:  250 m / 800 ft 
• Descent:  1,850 m / 6,069 ft 
• Accommodation: Hacienda Balsapamba

Today head back to Quito to pack bikes and get ready to depart for home.

Accommodation:  Hotel Ilalo or similar
Food Included: B, L

Today, we say goodbye to Ecuador and all the new friends we have made during this incredible trip.

Following breakfast, your guide will take you to the airport for departure.

• Meals:  B