The Ecuadorian rodeo is a traditional roundup of cattle and wild horses from the highlands, bringing them down through spectacularly scenic country to a ranch or hacienda. There are two held each year, one in July and the other in November. Both are superb opportunities for visitors with riding skill to participate in the roundup and ride along with a chagra as guide, teacher and caretaker.
The verb rodear means to surround, which describes what the roundup will do.
The rodeo involves riding from a gathering spot up the páramo, high plateau, to the high ridges surrounding the local mountains, climbing from 3600 to 4000 m. or over miles of open grassland, to round up the huge herds of pure and mixed Ganado Bravo, fighting cattle.
Chagras are the skilled Andean cowboys. See Nuestra Cultura Chagra. Dressed in llama or goat-skin chaps, astride a well-trained, responsive mount and using trditional saddle with intricate leather-work and saddle horn, these horsemen are prepared and able to deal with any situation. Mounted on their Andean Criole, Pinto and Paso Andalusian, or Quartercross horses, and wearing a poncho and hat low over their eyes, the chagras can entertain you with tales of horsemanship and rodeo-ing.
Bravos are the wild bulls who are bred for fighting. Also called the Fighting Bull, the breed is selected primarily for aggressiveness, strength and vigor, all necessary attributes in the bull ring. For more about this breed and Latin American cattle ranching, read Studies in Medieval Spanish Frontier History. To understand the Ecuadorian passion for bullfighting, read about the corridas de toros, or bullfights during La Feria de Quito, Jesus del Gran Poder.
Check flights from your area to Quito and go to Machachi, south of Quito along spectacular Avenue of the Volcanos and in the midst of the numerous and famed Haciendas that offer hospitality and a glimpse of a way of life dating back hundreds of years. See this interactive map from Expedia.
Machachi bills itself as the home of the chagra, and the annual rodeo pays homage to the traditional vlaues, capabilities and customs of the chagras. The rodeo here doesn't include a roundup.
Once the herds are brought down to the haciendas, they are separated into corrals and pens for vaccination, branding, and counting.
There are many options for the visitor, from a day or two visit to the two week ride along on the rodeo. Some tours involve staying at various haciendas, side trips to see the local scenic attrations, and some camping. You can also fish, do nature walks,
These rodeo tours are a marvelous way of seeing Ecuador's highlands in a way many Ecuadorians don't. It gives visitors a chance to learn more about a traditional culture, get days of riding, visits to historic haciendas and working with the chagras as they work in the corrals, on the hillsides and with vast amounts of cattle and wild horses.
You can also explore Parque Nacional Cotopaxi, the 33,390 hectares park whose crowning glory is cone-formed, snow crested volcano Cotopaxi. At 19,000ft (5,911m), Cotopaxi attracts climbers and trekkers.
General Information:
Most visitors fly into Quito, and spend a few days seeing the sights there and in the general area. This allows time to acclimatize to the altitude. If they have the time, they visit the Galapagos and Ecuador's El Orietne for rainforest, wildlife and adventure.
If you have questions or comments about the rdoeo, or Ecuador in general, post them on the South America for Visitors Forum.
Buen viaje!
