Eco-Travel - Adventure Guide to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands - page 68

however, are easily accessible and can be experienced with one of the
country's few quality outfitters.
Although there are rafting opportunities in the Sierras along the
western slopes with outfitters based out of Quito, water quality is of-
ten poor as a result of proximity to urban centers. Your best bet is to
head out toward the Oriente. Be particularly leery of rafting outfit-
ters based in the resort town of Baños. Some of them have no right to
be on the water. The upper Amazon region around Tena offers the
best commercially accessible whitewater (see page 359, Central &
Southern Oriente , for more information).
Horseback Riding
Experiencing Ecuador on horseback is a great way to view
the country, especially in the Sierras. The habitats you
can visit are as varied as the hiking and biking trails. Out-
fitters are plentiful inmany areas, and are often simply lo-
cals with horses. Prices can be very reasonable, but many
Ecuadorians do not maintain the same standards with their animals
as we do. You will pay according to the quality you receive. When hir-
ing a local, feel free to mention something that could be improved in
order to attract more tourists, but be considerate. Often people can-
not afford to care for their animals the waywe expect them to be cared
for at home. Many guest haciendas, too, have horseback-riding facili-
ties; these are listed throughout this topic.
Mountain Biking
Bicycling in Ecuador is just starting to become popular
among both locals and tourists. In the Ecuadorian Andes,
there are epic mountain biking opportunities that haven't
even begun to be tapped into. There are a few good tour op-
erators and bike shops in Quito that provide information and guiding
services. Baños, the gateway between the mountains and the jungle,
has been a popular center of bike rentals for over a decade now. Many
of these bicycles, however, are of questionable quality, and there are
great opportunities throughout the rest of the country. Many hotels
in the main tourist towns also rent bicycles.