Ecuador Villa Eco-Lodge

Horse Riding and other activities at our Ecolodge Resort in Ecuador

Ecolodge means that our Retreat practices ecological conservation and permaculture.

Ecuador eco-lodge, environmental conservation and permaculture in Ecuador. Ecological responsibility
             	  at budget Ecuador Rental prices.  Rustic Ecuadorian luxury.
Mountain eco-lodge, environmental conservation and permaculture in Ecuador. We provide 
         	  ecological responsibility at budget eco lodge prices.  And rustic ecuadorian luxury to boot!
Mountain eco-lodge, environmental conservation and permaculture in Ecuador. We provide 
         	  ecological responsibility at budget eco lodge prices.  And rustic ecuadorian luxury to boot!

Activities

Stuff To Do at Black Sheep Inn


In addition to day hikes, we offer horseback trips through the mountains.  If you are a bit of an athlete, the area is great for mountain bikes.   There is bike rental available in Chugchilan or you are welcome to bring your own bike.

To relax, you can enjoy the yoga room whether it's for practicing yoga, reading on the sun deck, or napping in a hammock.  A firewood-fueled sauna and hot tub are available as well.

Black Sheep Inn is proud to provide the world's highest frisbee golf course, designed by pro competitor Robin White.  We also provide a horseshoes court and a volleyball court, as well as plenty of boardgames in the lodge.  To get your heart racing, you can try our zipline and waterslide.   And you can spend some time getting to know the animals on the property (llamas, sheep, pigs, chickens and rabbits).

Black Sheep Inn provides FREE internet access but only in and around the main lodge, if you just can't kick the facebook habit while you're here.

Horseback Riding

Riding horses with a local native guide is a great way to take in the landscape.  You can walk or gallop across the high paramó, descend steeply into the canyon, or take a relaxing ride out onto the plateau.  All riders are welcome, from novices to experts.  The guides have many years of experience, and so do the horses. 

more horseback riding photos

Horseback rides cost $25 per person for about 4 to 5 hours.  If you are traveling up to the cloud forest the guide will also tether the horses at the edge of the forest and lead you on a hike into the jungle.

Mountain Bikes

We have been encouraging our local Community to start a Mountain Biking business, similar to how we gave a no interest loan to help start-up Horseback Riding Trips.  At this point you CAN rent mountain bikes in Chugchilan or bring your own bike with you.   Biking at altitude 3200 meters (10,500 feet), in thin air, with the landscape's dramatic contours, is a challenge for most riders.  Yet we recommend a few downhill bike rides.

1. Chugchilán to Sigchos, 24 km, mostly downhill, newly paved.  You can take the daily bus from Sigchos back to Chugchilán with the bikes on the roof.  Great views as the road winds along the canyon edge and visit a waterfall 6 km away.

2. Laguna Quilotoa to Chugchilán, now only 16 km with the new paved road, is a steep fast downhill ride.  Catch a bus up to the volcanic crater of Quilotoa, spend some time hiking around the rim or hike down to the water's edge.  When you've seen enough of the lake, get on your bike and race back to Chugchilán.   You can detour and take a section of the old dirt road back too.

more mountain biking photos

3. For uphill rides at this altitude you should be in good physical shape.  One fantastic uphill ride is to take the dirt roads up to Chinalo-Alto and the Cheese Factory, riding across the Paramó.  On this ride, you can easily include a visit to the Incan ruins and Cloud Forest.  Another challenging ride is to bike from Black Sheep Inn down into the canyon and up to Guantualo (there is a large bridge now). Also there are old dirts roads you can follow through the Sihui Canyon and up to Quilotoa at over 3800 meters.

Local Markets

Andean tradition thrives in this area and local markets provide many opportunities to observe how people have been trading for thousands of years.  You may be bargaining for a poncho, fresh fruit and produce, fried bread, or a rope to tie your brand new llama or Black Sheep!

more market photos

Local markets only happen on specific days of the week.  Below you can see which markets might coincide with your visit to the area.  The Saquisilí Market on Thursday is best seen while traveling in to the Black Sheep Inn, or on the day of your departure.

day town notes distance from Black Sheep Inn
Monday Guantualo A very small, non-touristy, rural community market. No direct road, but a lovely 3 hour hike each way.
TuesdayLatacunga A large market spreading across two plazas in the center of town. Very colorful. Gross views in the slaughter house and meat market. 2 hours by car
WednesdayPujilí Small -- the Sunday market is bigger. 2 hours by car
Thursday

*Best Market*
Saquisilí Economically one of the most important markets in Cotopaxi Province.  The entire community comes alive with vendors on every street corner selling everything imaginable throughout the village. 2 hours by car
FridayNo Market Vendors preparing for Saturday Market fill the plazas in Latacunga.  
Saturday

*Best Market*
Zumbahua A morning market surrounded by rocky peaks. Very indigenous and colorful.  Lots of llamas.  Market ends by 1-2 pm. 1 hour by car
SaturdayLatacunga Much bigger than Tuesday's market. 2 hours by car
SundayChugchilán, Sigchos & Pujilí Local markets add life to the otherwise sleepy villages of Chugchilán, Sigchos & Pujilí 5 minute walk to Chugchilán,
45 minutes to Sigchos.

 

Sauna and Hot Tub

The new improved Sauna/Hot Soaking Pool is NOW OPEN as of June 2016.  

Black Sheep Inn sauna is an eclectic combination of a traditional Finnish Sauna and a Native American Indian Sweat Lodge.  Some people say that the Finnish sauna is for cleaning the body, and the Native American sweat dome for ritualistic purification.  At Black Sheep Inn both ways feel fantastic!  It costs US$15 to light the Sauna and Hot Tub, this cost is shared by the people who use it that day and goes towards purchasing firewood.

more sauna photos

The hot tub is first solar heated and then kept piping hot with the same woodstove that heats the sauna through a thermal siphon, this means there are no pumps or electricity used, just natural hot water.

Zipline

On a steel cable slung between two of our biggest eucalyptus trees, the zipline flies you out over the hillside.  It starts in our treehouse and travels 100 meters out over the steep hillside driveway, and above the greenhouse.  You come to an end at a recycled tire platform down by the woodshed.


Water Slide

We feature the world's highest solar-powered waterslide.  It's a terrific thrill, and it's also bitterly cold.  Often, guests like to combine a ride down the Waterslide of Death™ with some re-heating time in our sauna and hot tub.

PLEASE NOTE:  The Waterslide is only avaialbe when Andres is onsite.


Yoga

In 2008 we completed our yoga studio -- a bright, open space with hardwood floors and plenty of windows for natural light.  The room is stocked with yoga mats, books, and instructional yoga posters.  However, it's also equipped with a sink, coffee and tea facilities, sofas, and hammocks.  Even if you're not a yogi, it's a lovely place to hang out.

more yoga photos

When possible, we try to have yoga instructors at the inn.  Otherwise, the yoga is self-serve.  Guests are given a key to the yoga studio, so they can use the space any time day or night.

Relaxing Massage

Black Sheep Inn offers a great way to relax after a long day hiking.   After hosting several massage therapists from Russia, Sweden and the USA we have trained and certified 2 local women in relaxing body massage.   The adobe massage room features a professional massage table, wood burning stove, relaxing music and incense.  Try a full body massage to take away all your stress. Massages range from $30 to $40.



Frisbee Golf

Black Sheep Inn is proud to boast the world's highest frisbee golf course.  We have lots of frisbees as well, and they're free to use so long as you don't throw them into the canyon.  Seriously.  The hills are steep, and go on more or less forever.  Completely losing your disc is a possibility.  But that's what makes the course FUN.

more frisbee golf photos

The course was designed by Andres (the owner) and Robin White, a professional disc golf competitor.  With the altitude and the steep course greens, its one of the few disc golf courses that provides aerobic exercise.

Friendly Animals

The 10 acre farm is growing.  We have a dog, a cat, pigs, chickens, llamas, and of course a flock of Black Sheep!  All the animals are friendly and love attention.  The llamas trim the grass and are in training for Andean Llama Treks. 

more animal photos

And the Black Sheep... We started with a pair, and learned that two black sheep will produce adorable black lambs.  They are the most majestic looking mascots imaginable.

more animal photos