Joining the tour
On booking, you will be
sent the following information: name and address of Quito hotel,
advice on how to get there, time of rendezvous with tour guide.
Itinerary details
Note: If circumstances
dictate, certain details, such as overnight stops, may vary from
those shown in the day-by-day itinerary below.
Day 1 Arrival in Quito
Welcome to Ecuador! You arrive in the bustling capital of Ecuador: Quito. The city of Quito is surrounded by snow-capped volcanoes and is located only 22 kilometers from the equator. In fact, you can see 14 active and non active volcanoes over 4,000 meters – not many countries in South America can boast such a dramatic location for their capital. Quito is one of the highest located capital cities in the world with an altitude of 2,850 m. Quito was also given the nick name “Monastry of America” because of its many churches and abbeys. At the airport our English-speaking guide will meet you, welcomes you and take you to your 3*** hotel where you will spend the next few nights. (-/-/-)
Day 2.
After breakfast, you enjoy a city tour through the colonial neighbourhood. Quito’s historic centre is a well-preserved colonial city built upon the ruins of an Inca settlement. This colonial “Centro Historico” is the heart of Quito and is full of churches, museums, plazas and additionally has tunning mountain views. In 1978 the historic centre of Quito was declared one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The city is considered to have one of the largest accumulations of art treasures in South America. You visit La Asamblea, Sagrario church, the President's Building, the Cathedral, Plaza de la Independencia, the unique Jesuit Church La Compañía de Jesús which is by far the most ornate and embellished site of Quito with its baroque façade carved entirely out of volcanic stone and its impressive interior decorated with over 50 kilograms of gold leaf. Those among us with a good head for heights have the opportunity to scale the tower of the gothic church La Basilica up ladders – a braveness rewarded with a legendary view over the entire city of Quito! After visiting a central market, where you can buy fresh fruit, you head to the Panecillo which is a 200 m high volcanic hill. Here you also have a breathtaking view over Quito and if the sky is clear you can even marvel at the volcanoes Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Cayambe and Antizana. The statue of the Virgen de Quito is 45 m high and dominates the old town from her perch on top of the Panecillo. Then you ride on to Mitad del Mundo, the equator monument a few kilometers north of Quito. There you also pay a visit to the Museo Intiñan. Then you return to Quito and stay at the same hotel as the night before. (B/-/-)
Day 3
Today you will head to the famous Indian market in Otavalo, probably the bst known and most colourful Indian market in South America. Along the way - the “Ruta de los Lagos” you will discover many interesting places. Right from the beginning, beautiful landscapes, crater lakes and volcanoes mark the scenery of your ride north. In Calderón you will see figures made from bread. You will pass the little village Guayllabamba which is located on teh river of the same name. The name of this village has its origin in the Quichua language and means “green valley”. Stroll through the famous colourful market of Otavalo - a bustling market run by the Otavaleno Indians. This is an excellent opportunity for you to peruse and even buy extraordinary weavings and other typical crafts. Besides exotic fruits, vegetables and delicious food, you can also buy ponchos, blankets, tapestry, table cloths and other artfully woven fabrics as well as traditional musical instruments or jewellery of the most varying kinds. After sufficient time for shopping, you will visit Cotacachi (Ecuador’s capital of leather goods). On the way back to Quito, you pass the little village Tabacundo. (B/-/-)
Day 4
Right after breakfast, you start your trip to the Cotopaxi National Park.
On your way driving on the Panamericana south you start to see some beautiful mountain landscapes. The famous volcano Cotopaxi (5.897 m) is one of the highest active volcanoes of the world, and it is a very popular peak to climb (ask us about that). After paying a visit to the National Park Museum, we drive into the park and see at close hand teh mountain, volcanic landsapes of this wilderness area. From the parking area at 4,500 m you walk up to the José Rivas Refuge at 4,800 m. Provided we are lucky and get good weather conditions, the views are unsurpassable. After a short side walk to the glacier and a packed lunch, you return to Quito. (B/BL/-)
Day 5
After breakfast you head to Papallacta which is renowned for its hot springs. Papallacta is located at an altitude between 3,330 and 3,500 m, in a region known for its stark, bizarre Páramo landscape. These hot springs are the most beautiful and cleanest of the entire country. The hot springs are fed by the volcanoes Cayambe and Antisana, creating a unique water composition. The pool area consists of several pools where the water temperature is between 30 ° C and 70 ° C. This sulfur-containing water is enriched with sodium, chloride, magnesium and calcium. Furthermore it is colorless, odorless and has a slightly salty taste. You can relax in the hot springs with a breathtaking view towards 5,705 m Antisana. After this relaxing dip we head on over the Andes (at an altitude of more than 4,000 m) and down into the steamy Amazon basin to Tena. From there continue to Puerto Barandilla where you take the boat to get to the jungle lodge. The following three nights of your jungle excursion will be spent here. (B/-/D)
Day 6 and 7
Let the jungle adventure begin! Guided hikes immerse you in the alien and fascinating world of the earth’s largest natural reserve, teh Amazon. You undertake walking excursions in primary and secondary rainforests, to watch birds and insects and hopefully some larger mammals. An indigenous expert explains the uses of medicinal plants and the unique vegetation to us. Also, you visit an Indigenous familyto gain an insight into the way of living and local culture. You will also head out on the many waterways in a dugout canoe, looking for monkeys and other animals. You live in perfect harmony with nature and at night will enjoy the many mysterious sounds of the jungle. (B/L/D)
Day 8
After breakfast, you leave the jungle. Once again, you take a boat ride back to Puerto Barandilla and from there continue via Tena to picturesque Baños, situated at the foot of the smoking volcano Mt. Tungurahua. You will spend the night at a three star hotel. (B/-/-)
Day 9
Today’s programme includes a tour by private vehicle along the road of many waterfalls. Certainly, the "Pailón del Diablo" is impressive, as masses of water from the Rio Verde plunge to the depths and you may even climb behind the waterfall. The rest of the day is free time to relax, buy some souvenirs, hike up the hillside or take athermal bath. You can, if you fancy getting into the music, take optional Salsa classes for example. The options are many and varied. Tonight Banos hotel. (B/-/-)
Day 10
Today it is your choice to decide how to spend your morning time. Yu may locally book the following activities: rafting, canyoning, canopy, bridge swinging, horseback riding, hiking, thermal springs, SPA and so on. In the afternoon, we continue your trip by private vehicle to Riobamba, the capital city of the Chimborazo Province. (B/-/-)
Day 11
You leave the hosteria early in the morning (around 6:00 a.m.) for the railway station. From there, you undertake a thrilling ride with an old steam engine or a diesel railcar travelling the spectacular landscape between the Sierra highlands and the coastal region, passing the legendary "Devil’s Nose". There, at Nariz del Diablo, the train has to make many a zigzag to take you down to the valley bottom! You will enjoy a truly unique panorama during your ride on this last train route preserved in Ecuador.
You continue (in private vehicle) to Cuenca, one of the most beautiful colonial cities of Ecuador. En route, you visit the country’s only well-preserved Inca ruins of Inga-pirca, situated on the Ecuadorian part of the original Inca Trail. Cuenca is Ecuador’s third-largest city (a World Heritage Site) and the home of the Panama hats, which originally actually came from Ecuador. 3*** hotel in Cuenca (B/-/-)
Day 12
After breakfast, you discover the historic colonial center of Cuen-ca. The third largest city in Ecuador will fascinate you with its narrow cobblestone alleyways, impressive colonial architecture and compelling sights. An interesting mixture of historic sites with many churches, plazas and museums as well as hip cafés, nice restaurants and numerous bars awaits you. Its historical area was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999. Parque Abdón Calderón is Cuenca's large central plaza, which is home to both the Old and New Cathedrals of Cuenca. The plaza is also a nice place to people-watch in between exploring the churches. Here, you can relax on one of the many benches and take in the fresh air and surrounding architectural beauty. During your city tour, you will learn interesting details about the history of this important trading town and visit some of its imposing buildings. Furthermore you visit a Panama hat factory, where you will have the opportunity to get yourself such a hat. Hotel in Cuenca. (B/-/-)
Day 13
Early in the morning, you board a private vehicle for a trip to the near-by Cajas National Park. This tundra-like highland reserve is mostly situated above the timberline and includes a topographically very irregular area of 29,000 hectares and around 240 mysterious dark lakes. The Cajas’s highest elevation is Mt. Arquitectos, at 4,450 m while its lowest point is Lake Llaviuco is at an altitude of 3,150 m. We hike the marvelous highland Paramo reaching a lagoon, admiring and enjoying the endemic flora and fauna. Our hike through the Cajas National Park will be of approx. three hours.
Then we ride on to Guayaquil (in our private vehicle). After your arrival in Guayaquil, you can explore the Malecón 2000, a unique former pier that has become a pupular riverside promenade.
Today it is an eclectic ensemble of restaurants, museums, galleries, shopping malls, movie theaters and offers a romantic river view. (B/BL/-)
Day 14
Today our tour ends. After breakfast you are taken to the airport in Guayaquil, where your tour guide will help you to check-in. (B/-/-)
Do you have more time to discover South America? Then you could extend your stay: How about a cruise or an island hopping to explore the famous Galápagos Islands? Just let us know and we can give you some options.
Our price includes: All
transfers in Ecuador, accommodation in three star hotels, English speaking guides,
breakfasts throughout, all meals at jungle lodge.
Not included in the prices are: International flights, drinks, meals
not included above, international airport tax (USD
41) personal expenses, tips, optional tours, entry fees (USD 30), travel insurance.
Check our Books and Maps section where you will find a range of literature to help you get the most out of your South American adventure.
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