Riding Ecuador’s Avenue of Volcanoes

We ride a total of 326 km over seven cycling days. Starting with an acclimatisation ride in Quito, we then move south through the “Avenue of Volcanoes”, consistently cycling above 3,000 metres through the Andean highlands. Every day begins with a vehicle transfer between 30 minutes and 1.5 hours to keep the distances and gains manageable and focus on the most scenic routes. On a few days, we also have short post-ride transfers to avoid busy highways. Mountain biking in the Ecuadorian Andes is tough yet lets us experience the region’s scale, stillness, indigenous heritage, and agricultural ingenuity in a raw and unfiltered way.

Non-cycling highlights include a chocolate tasting in Quito, a visit to the crater lake of Quilotoa, the artisanal cooperatives in Salinas de Bolívar, standing near the base of Chimborazo Volcano (the closest point on the planet to the sun), and hiking to the Pailón del Diablo waterfall.

The trip is fully supported, and your guide’s expert knowledge of the area and terrain means that you always know what is coming up in terms of distance and difficulty. This makes a tremendous difference, as does the constant supply of water and refreshments along the way.

Suitability: The tour is suitable for cyclists possessing a good level of physical fitness. While the average distance is under 50 km, we are in the Andes and cycling on mixed surfaces routes so expect lots of climbs and descents, many of them on unpaved surfaces. We are at altitudes that can reach up to 4,000 metres, a factor which should not be underestimated. You should be comfortable on a mountain bike and have experience navigating on rocky roads for extended periods. There are no overly technical sections, but confidence and concentration are essential to enjoy the routes to the fullest. There are no rest days, though we have the afternoons free to relax and recharge and our last day is spent off the bikes in Baños before returning to Quito. A support vehicle follows the group throughout the journey, though please note it cannot always follow directly, instead meeting the riders at regular intervals.

Biking Conditions: The route is designed with an approximate 25/75 split between paved and unpaved surfaces. The condition of the unpaved sections varies widely, ranging from hard-packed and level to loose, bumpy terrain; meanwhile, paved roads are either tarmac or concrete and, though often smooth, can contain potholes and debris. Although much of the journey follows quiet countryside roads or dirt tracks with minimal traffic, we will occasionally share the space with cars, motorbikes and buses. There are a handful of unavoidable sections along provincial main roads, though these are few and far between. Rain is common in the Ecuadorian Andes year-round and the Avenue of Volcanoes, in particular, can be prone to fog, but heavy downpours are usually brief. We generally ride rain or shine, though at the guide’s discretion — or based on your own comfort level — modifications to the route can be made. Whether the roads are muddy from rain or dusty from the sun, it is all part of the Andean adventure!

Accommodation: In Quito (Days 1, 2, and 9), we stay in a boutique colonial-style manor nestled in the city’s art district. Days 3–5 take us into the heart of the mountains, staying in rustic, family-run lodges and guest houses. These are chosen for their warmth and proximity to the trails; expect log fires, home-cooked communal meals, and plenty of Andean character. Day 7 is a standout, as we overnight at a grand, historic hacienda at the foot of Chimborazo. On Day 8, we stay at a quirky boutique hotel in Baños. The Andes get cold at night and, depending on the hotel, methods for heating can vary. Expect a combination of wood-burning stoves, space heaters, or the classic Andean tradition of electric blankets and hot water bottles. Please be aware that some older properties, while charming, may show signs of wear and tear. Room sizes can vary, and beds may be firmer than you are used to. Don’t expect all hotel staff to speak English. For larger groups, we may need to use more than one property and, in case of limited availability, switch to an alternative from the one listed in the itinerary.

Bikes

Because some people can't imagine going on a trip without their own beloved bicycle, we do not provide them as part of this tour. However, you can hire bikes locally for the price listed in the tour pricing section. We provide Trek or similar mountain bikes, with the choice of full suspension or hardtail depending on your preference. We also have E-bikes available for hire, but they are limited in number and size — please email us to check on availability. If you bring your own bike, please make sure it is a mountain bike in good mechanical order. Please do not bring a gravel or a hybrid bike as they are not suited to the terrain.

Bike Repairs

Basic spares and tools are carried by the guide and on the support vehicle, though we cannot guarantee having spares for every conceivable problem. Carrying a basic tool kit, a spare tube and a pump while riding is recommended.

Safety

Wearing a helmet is required on all our biking adventures and is non negotiable. If you do not wear a helmet you will not be allowed to cycle. Your tour leader is trained in first aid and emergency rescue, but to a large degree you must be responsible for your own safety while riding. It is therefore compulsory that you take out travel insurance that will cover you for a mountain biking tour.

Guides

You will be led by a local English-speaking guide and if the group is 9 people or more we will add another guide to the tour. All our guides are well informed in the history, culture and religions of the area where you are biking and are skilled at passing that knowledge on to you. Your guide is also medically trained and an experienced cyclist, able to handle most minor repairs en route.

If this is the tour for you here's what you need to do to confirm your place:

FLEXIBLE BOOKING CONDITIONS

CONFIRMING YOUR BOOKING

Just complete our online booking form or send your booking details offline (email or post), and we will confirm your participation. No deposit is needed to confirm your place on a SpiceRoads tour.

You are advised to read our Booking Conditions in full before you make your payment and should you require further clarifications of any of the conditions below, please email us or call our office.

TRIP STATUS

There is a minimum number of participants (usually 2) required to enable the trip to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to Depart'. Once a trip is guaranteed to depart you are free to book your flights and make other travel arrangements. If the trip status is ‘Limited’ will mean we have only a small number of spaces available for booking. If you are unsure about the trip status, please email us or call our office.

BOOKING ONLINE

From the tour page, click the 'Book Now' link. All departures for this tour will appear, just select the date you'd like to travel. For the next steps, you'll need to know the names of the people travelling. If you wish you can also provide extra details such as passport numbers, height (for bike hire), or you can add that later by logging into Manage My Trip (we'll set up an account for you automatically if you don't already have one). Our system will contact you from time to time to fill in the missing information, as it will be required before departure. However, if the trip that you are booking offers a child discount, you will have to fill out the date of birth of each rider (so we can calculate the appropriate discount).

If you are having any problems please send us an email, or give us a call (+66 026 3295) and one of our travel specialists will assist you with your booking.

BOOKING OFFLINE

Just call us or send an email indicating which trip you want to join and we will happily send you a list of questions and process your booking for you.

DEPOSITS AND PAYMENTS

We do not require a deposit or full payment to book a place for you on a tour.

The balance of the tour’s cost (final invoice) will need to be paid 60 days before the departure date with fees for any bicycle rental(s), single supplement(s) and extra hotel nights.

In the case where a booking is made when there are less than 60 days until the tour departure date, the tour’s cost should be paid in full within 72 hours of receiving an invoice from SpiceRoads. Payment can be made by credit card using our online payment gateway or by bank transfer. When making payment online you will need to confirm that you have read these booking conditions during the "checkout" process, which equates to agreeing to the terms of services and stipulations as indicated in this document.

In all cases, tour fees need to be paid “in full” before participation in a tour. No person(s) will be allowed to join a tour without fully settling their invoice and receiving a confirmation number from SpiceRoads.

The exception can be made for last-minute miscellaneous fees that can be paid locally (visas, additional local hotel bookings, etc.) can be settled on the day of arrival.

FULL FLEXIBILITY FOR TOUR CANCELATIONS

If the tour is cancelled or postponed by SpiceRoads because we didn't make the trip numbers and the tour can’t run, we will make a full cash refund (by bank transfer or on your credit card).

If the tour is cancelled for any other reason, including due to Covid related travel restrictions, we will give you a full credit (with no deductions for admin or any other small-print item) to use on any SpiceRoads tour with no time limit. (Exceptions being flights, special permits and other non-refundable items and these will be advised when booking the trip).

Before paying for your tour, you can cancel your booking with no charge and up until 40 days before departure, you can change your booking to another travel date or move your booking onto another SpiceRoads tour with no charges.

If you need to cancel after you have made full payment, please see our cancellation policy.

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