Get Active in Ecuador
Day 1
You will be met on arrival at the airport and transferred to your hotel. The day is yours to explore Quito and to adapt to the altitude (2,800m). Make sure you visit the beautiful Old Town with it’s many squares and churches – head to Independence Square, where the Presidential Palace, the Cathedral and El Sagrario Church are located. Later on maybe visit the Church of La Compañía (1605), with its amazing gilt altars (considered the finest example of baroque art in America), or see the Monastery of San Francisco (1535) - the oldest Ecuadorian church and the main altar inside is a spectacular example of baroque carving. For a spectacular view of Quito take a taxi ride to the highest viewpoint of the city, “ El Panecillo” where you can see the only winged virgin in South America.
Day 2
We leave Quito and drive north (approx 2 hours) to the Bellavista Lodge which lies in lush cloud forest and invites you to relax – watching the hummingbirds that come close to the lodge’s verandas. Before we relax, however, we set off on a hike on one of the many trails through the forest.
Cloud forests are unique ecosystems that occur only in specific tropical mountain areas. The distinctive weather conditions make them suitable for thousands of plants and animals that can be found nowhere else on earth. Clouds hang in the canopy and the humid climate that is so typical for rainforest prevails. Your guide will explain the flora and fauna of this special region to you while you walk on narrow jungle trails through the forest.
Overnight at Bellavista Lodge.
(B/L/D)
Day 3
We have another morning to explore this area further. If you are very energetic you can start your day at dawn to see a multitude of rare birds that are more active at this time of the day. After lunch you will be on your way back to Quito, but not without stopping off at “Mitad del Mundo”, the middle of the Earth where you can hop from North to South along the Equator line.
Overnight in Quito. (B/L)
Day 4
After breakfast you leave Quito and head south along the Andes until you reach the Cotopaxi National Park, named after Ecuador’s famous volcano which forms the centre piece of the park. Cotopaxi, a perfect, glaciated cone in shape, is one of the highest active volcanoes in the world at 5,897m.
Time to get active again and today we mount our bikes. One of the most thrilling rides in South America is the “up hill by jeep, down hill by bike” Cotopaxi descent, which is on our programme today. We are dropped of at the upper car park, not far from the volcano’s climbing base, where we begin our downhill mountain bike adventure. The track takes you through volcanic scoria and across ancient lava flows in a huge valley of rocks left over from past eruptions. Tussock grass, lichens, moss, eucalyptus and pine trees flourish along the trail and you might get the chance to spot some wildlife such as Andean gulls and deer.
We spend the night at Hacienda El Pedregal. (B/L)
Day 5
Discover the forest’s canopy in a truly adventurous way – by canoping! What used to be a scientific tool to study forest canopies has turned into one of South America´s popular tourist attractions. With well trained staff and specially crafted safety equipment including a harness similar to a rock climbers, you are clipped onto a zip line and whizz down from one platform to the next. All platforms are scattered amongst the trees and each tree and platform are slightly lower down the mountain, allowing gravity to be the main power source of your zipline canopy tour experience - what a fun way to see the forest!
And for those who prefer to see the country side from high up on horseback we have the option of a half day horse ride through beautiful highlands. A wonderfully tranquil way of experiencing the Andes!
Overnight in Quito (B/L)
Day 6
Say farewell to Ecuador in adventurous style – by rafting the mighty rivers Blanco and Toachi which run between Mindo and Santo Domingo. The combination of Rio Blanco and Rio Toachi is one of Ecuador’s most popular rafting trips. You start your three hour rafting adventure in grade III to IV waters of the Toachi River and later join the Blanco Rivers where big waves make for a fun finish. Between rapids you have plenty of time to catch your breath and enjoy the views of subtropical forests around you.
After a day of excitement you return to Quito for your final night.
(B/ L)
Day 7
Day 12
Transfer to the airport for your departing flight. (B)
Our price includes:
All transfers, all accommodation/activities as described, all meals as described (B = b'fast, L= lunch, D = dinner), English speaking professional guide.
Extra expenses:
All meals not indicated in the above itinerary, tips.
If you are interested in a longer trip, please ask us for our extended Multi Activity trips!
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