Circuito Ancestral

Location:
Near Popayán, Popayán, Colombia

Horseback Riding

By Lorraine Caputo

The Circuito Ancestral is another tour of small villages, this East of Popayán. The route was used in olden times by Mosquera to travel from his plantation to the big city. On horseback or on foot, your can enjoy the ecological paths, the headwaters of the Río Molino and the reserva indígena (indigenous reservation) in Poblazón. Your journey begins in La Unión, also known as La Cabrera, where you can rent horses. The historic trail then cuts three kilometers (two miles) crosscountry to Santa Helena. From there continue to Poblazón (five kilometers/three miles) and Santa Barbara (3 kilometers/two miles). From Santa Helena, you can take a two-kilometer (1.5-mile) detour to the birthplace of the Molino River. The complete the 15-kilometer circuit takes about four hours. Try the goodies made from locally grown blackberries. The Popayán tourism office can give you more details on the Circuito Ancestral.

Getting There
A bus from Popayán to La Unión takes only 15 minutes.

Relative price: Budget

Travel Skills: None

You Need to Bring: Snacks, water.