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.
If you have more time on your hands, take a little trip: just 30 minutes from Quito you will find the equator line at La Mitad del Mundo (“the middle of the world”.) This is the site where, in 1736, Charles-Marie de la Condamine’s expedition made the measurements, which demonstrated that this was the equator. Here visitors have the rare opportunity to be in two hemispheres at the same time! A 30m monument was built to mark the site and visitors can take an elevator right to the top, as well as visiting the excellent ethnographical museum inside. Around the monument are buildings and restaurants designed to represent those of a typical colonial town.
Day 2
After breakfast you are leaving Quito to travel north to the beautiful Cuicocha Lagoon at the foot of the dormant Cotocachi Volcano in the Cordillera Occidental of the Andes. This stunning lake was formed when the volcano exploded so violently that the peak submerged completely. Today two small volcanoes are emerging in the middle of the lake and the ridge walk around the rim is a fantastic way to view this area from all sides.
Hiking around the lagoon offers wonderful views of volcanic landscapes, crater lakes, streams and high paramos and possibly the chance of glimpsing the impressive Condor, the ‘King of the Andes’. On clear days you can see the volcanoes of this area, snow-capped Cayambe and rocky Imbabura (4600m) towering over the patchwork fields of this agricultural area.
After the hike you are off to Ibarra, nicknamed The White City thanks to its colonial white washed houses that are built along pretty cobbled streets. It is a bustling market town popular with tourists, blessed with fine weather. (B)
Day 3
The Imbabura region (as well as the coastal province of Esmeraldas) is home to Ecuador’s Afro-Ecuadorian population who are descendents of black slaves brought by the Spanish during their conquest of the Incan Empire. In 1533, the first African slaves reached Ecuador in Quito when a slave ship heading to Peru was stranded off the Ecuadorian coast. The slaves escaped and established maroon settlements in Esmeraldas and the Chota Valley in Imbabura. Eventually, they started moving from their traditional homeland and were settling everywhere in Ecuador.Today they make up 20% of Ecuador's population and have influenced Ecuador in many ways, the best known cultural influence being a distinctive kind of marimba music. On a 3 hour hike you will trek through the stunning Chota Valley, passing Afro- Ecuadorian settlements and plantations on your way and getting a wonderful insight into life in this remote part of Ecuador.
Later on this afternoon it’s your chance to relax and soak in the Chachimbiro hotsprings. Then you head to your home for the next two nights, the charming country lodge Pantaví with its beautiful gardens and huge old trees - a truly peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. (B)
Day 4
After breakfast we set off on horseback and explore the highlands a little further (3 hours) – plantations of asparragus, maiz and sugar cane can be seen along the way and we can take in a beautiful view of the surroundings. The horses are well kept and your guides keen to show you the local flora and fauna, as well as bringing the local culture closer to you. If horseback riding is not for you, why not relax a little in the hosteria’s garden, go for a swim in the swimming pool or venture out into the hosteria’s surroundings.
After lunch you have the opportunity to head off on a half day hike through Andean Cloudforest in order to observe the exotic vegetation and colourful birds such as tanagers, trogons and vermilion flycatchers. (B)
Day 5
After breakfast you set off for Otavalo, a small busy town of around 50,000 inhabitants, located at 2,530m, at the foot of the volcanoes of Imbabura and Cotacachi, and near San Pedro Lake. Otavalo’s most well known feature is its market. Although there are market stalls selling crafts everyday in Plaza del Poncho in the centre of Otavalo, on Saturdays the market is also for livestock, is huge and creates quite an impression. It starts very early in the morning, from 5am, as people come from the many scattered villages around to buy and sell their animals. The food market a block from the main plaza is interesting, great for colourful photos of produce and to just watch people. From Otavalo you can clearly see the volcanic peaks of Imbabura (4,580m) and Cotacachi (4,944m). In the little town you will see many Otavaleños in their traditional clothing.
After a good few hours free time in Otavalo to soak up the Andes culture and traditions you continue your journey to the Bellavista Lodge which lies in lush cloud forest. Here you can relax and watching the many hummingbirds that come close to the lodge’s verandas. (B/D)
Day 6
Waking up to the sound of the cloud forest and its many birds is a lovely experience. Explore the cloud forest further as you set off on a hike after breakfast. 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 of 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.
After lunch you go back to Quito, where you stay the night, before setting off on part two of your trip to discover more southerly areas of Ecuador. (B/ L)
Day 7
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. It last erupted at the beginning of the 20th century, with over twenty eruptions between 1532 and 1904. The Cotopaxi National Park was formed in 1979 to protect the geological formations and the flora and fauna of the area, while allowing controlled access.
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 off at the upper car park, not far from the volcano’s climbing base camp, 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 the Andean condor, Andean raptors, gulls and deer. (B/ BL)
Day 8
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!
After all this action you head to the town of Latacunga in the afternoon. Although much of Latacunga was repeatedly destroyed in the past by volcanic eruptions of nearby Cotopaxi and eight other volcanoes that surround the city, Latacunga has retained its historic downtown, which was given the status of World Heritage Site in May 1982. It extends to about 30 squares and prominent buildings include the Saint Francis church (first church built in the city) and the Municipal Palace built with pumice stone in neo classical style. Take a stroll to the attractive the main square. On a clear day you can see all 9 cones of the nearby volcanoes from the city – unfortunately clear days don’t come very often! (B/ BL)
Day 9
From Latacunga it is only a stone’s throw to the Quilotoa lagoon. The rough road takes you through some of the area’s most spectacular scenery. You drive through small remote villages and colourful fields, all the time accompanied by majestic mountains – a bumpy but fantastic journey!
The lake of Quilotoa (3,800m) is a superb volcanic crater filled with a deep green lake. This area is also home to the Tigua artists who paint primitive brightly coloured paintings on sheep skin. After exploring the lagoon and its surrounding area you start your journey back to Quito. (B/ BL)
Day 10
One of Quito’s newest visitor attractions takes you a step closer to the top of Rucu Pichincha (4,627m). The “Teleférico” ride up is an attraction in itself as it gives a spectacular view of the city and its surroundings including more than 14 peaks of the Andean Volcano Avenue. It will take you to the summit of Cruz Loma (4,050) from where you will start your ascent of Rucu Pichincha. The hike will take roughly 4 hours, 2 up and 2 down and will offer you breathtaking views.
The rest of the day is yours to spend in Quito and maybe get some last minute souvenir shopping done at one of its Artensania (crafts) markets. (B/ BL)
Day 11
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 – time to enjoy Quito’s vibrant nightlife. (B/BL)
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, English speaking professional guide.
Extra expenses:
Main meals in towns and haciendas (all meals not indicated in the above itinerary), International departure tax (payable in Quito in cash – approx. $41), tips.
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