Where mountains are as beautiful as the cowboys

What is the best way to celebrate the harvest while in Ecuador? Head north three hours from Quito to Ibarra and join in the festivities with those crazy Ibarrians. You can first expect to see cowboys riding their horses, or rather slidding, down a muddy mountain side and finishing off with a good 3meter (yes i'm out of the states) drop off- where the horses are forced to slide on their butts to the finish line- which happens to be marked by a drunken Ecua mob- cheering on their jokey heroes.

Next, head down to the stadium and see Zorro on a horse get chased by the zorro wannabees trying to take their claim to Ibarrian fame.

If all that horse mud slide and zorro watching wasn't enough for you, no worries, you can festival it up until four am dancing and farrear (party) the night away with the rest of Ibarra and a good mix of the rest of Ecuador too.

Lodging won't be a problem, you'll find a comfortable and affordable hostel across from the local supermaxi and strip mall complex, aka local night pregame hot spot. It will be sufficiently creepy as the doors automatically lock from the inside and out every time it closes. "What if i need to leave the hostal? what if there is a fire?" No worries. There is a buzzer conveniently located in your room to buzz so an old man can be woken up and slowly walk to your door you can be let out to freedom.

Ibarra. Come back soon now, ya hear?