One Hour on Horseback
The standard experience focuses on a relaxed one-hour ride. It is enough time to enjoy the landscape and the feeling of exploring the countryside on horseback without committing your entire day.
Private Local Experience · Quito, Ecuador
Horseback Riding Near Quito — A Relaxed 1-Hour Ride by the Middle of the World
Enjoy a scenic horseback ride through the Andean countryside near Pululahua and the Middle of the World — just outside Quito.
Make horseback riding part of your day — not your whole day.
The main experience is approximately one hour on horseback, making it easy to combine with the Middle of the World, Pululahua viewpoints and other activities around northern Quito. Longer rides can also be arranged if you would like more time.
Approx. 1 hour
Relaxed walking pace
Near Quito
Near Pululahua
Private coordination
A Different Way to Experience Quito
You Don't Need a Full Day to Ride a Horse in the Andes
Many horseback riding tours from Quito are designed as long excursions. This experience is different: the main ride lasts about one hour, giving you a taste of the Andean countryside while leaving plenty of time for the rest of your day.
Close to the Middle of the World
The riding area is conveniently located near Pululahua and the Middle of the World, making horseback riding an easy addition to a day of sightseeing north of Quito.
Scenic, Not Extreme
This is recreational horseback riding at a relaxed walking pace. The goal is to enjoy the scenery, rural surroundings and experience of being on horseback — not trotting or galloping.
What the Ride Is Like
A Gentle Ride Through the Andean Countryside
The route follows rural roads and countryside in the area near Pululahua. Along the way, the landscape opens toward mountains, local communities and views across the San Antonio de Pichincha area around the Middle of the World.
The ride follows a leisurely pace and normally returns to the starting area using a different section of the route, creating a simple scenic circuit rather than riding the same road in both directions.
- Approximately one hour on horseback
- Relaxed recreational riding
- Andean countryside and mountain scenery
- Local rural roads and communities
- Longer rides available on request
- Easy to combine with other nearby attractions
The Difference
Horseback Riding Without Giving Up Your Whole Day
You may want to ride a horse in Ecuador without turning it into an all-day equestrian excursion. That is exactly where this experience fits.
Spend about an hour enjoying the countryside on horseback, then continue exploring the Middle of the World, Pululahua, Quito or another activity in your itinerary.
One experience. One hour. Plenty of day left to explore.
Make It Part of Your Day
Easy to Combine with the Middle of the World
Because the ride is close to northern Quito, Pululahua and the Middle of the World, it works especially well as an additional experience rather than a separate full-day excursion.
Middle of the World + Horseback Riding
Visit one of Ecuador's best-known landmarks and add a one-hour countryside ride nearby. This is an excellent combination for travelers looking for more than the traditional sightseeing experience.
Pululahua Area + Horseback Riding
Discover the scenery around Pululahua and complement the visit with a relaxing ride through the nearby countryside. The horseback route is near Pululahua but does not take place inside the volcanic crater.
A Real Local Experience
See What the Ride Actually Looks Like
These are real photographs from the horseback riding experience in the countryside near Pululahua and the Middle of the World.
With a Local Guide
Coordinated Personally by Marco Herrera
I am a local private tour guide based in the Middle of the World area of Quito, close to Pululahua. I personally know this part of the city and coordinate the horseback riding experience with local people who work with the horses.
This means the ride can be incorporated naturally into a private day around northern Quito rather than treated as a separate, rigid excursion.
If you already have plans for the Middle of the World or Pululahua, tell me what your day looks like and I can help you determine whether the horseback ride fits your itinerary.
Before You Ride
This is a traditional recreational horseback ride. The horses used for these rides are accustomed to people, vehicles and the surrounding rural environment.
The standard experience is intended for relaxed sightseeing at a walking pace. Trotting and galloping are not part of the ride.
Specialized equestrian protective equipment, including riding helmets, is not provided. Please consider this before deciding whether the experience is appropriate for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Horseback Riding Near Quito FAQ
How long is the horseback riding experience?
The main experience is approximately one hour on horseback. Longer rides can also be arranged depending on your interests, timing and availability.
Is this horseback riding inside Pululahua Crater?
No. The horseback ride takes place through countryside and rural roads near Pululahua rather than inside the volcanic crater.
Do the horses trot or gallop?
No. This experience is designed as a relaxed recreational ride at a walking pace. Trotting and galloping are not part of the standard experience.
Can I combine horseback riding with the Middle of the World?
Yes. This is one of the main advantages of the experience. Because the riding area is close to the Middle of the World and Pululahua, the one-hour ride can fit naturally into a day that includes other attractions in northern Quito.
Can I ride for more than one hour?
Yes. One hour is the standard experience, but longer rides can be arranged depending on availability and what you would like to do.
Are riding helmets provided?
No. Specialized equestrian protective equipment such as riding helmets is not provided for this traditional recreational horseback ride.
How far is the experience from Quito?
The activity takes place north of central Quito in the countryside near Pululahua and the Middle of the World. Exact timing depends on your pickup location and traffic.
Can Marco include the ride in a private Quito tour?
Yes. Depending on timing and availability, I can coordinate the horseback ride as part of a private itinerary that includes attractions such as the Middle of the World and the Pululahua area.
Check Availability
Want to Add One Hour of Horseback Riding to Your Day?
Send me your date, number of travelers and what else you are planning to visit. I can tell you whether the horseback riding experience is available and how it can fit into your itinerary.
Check Horseback Riding Availability