Andes, Pacific Coast and Amazonia

All the landscapes and facets of Ecuador together: Indigenous people and its culture, cities, volcanic Andes, lakes, Amazonia, Pacific coast, La Plata Island as well as the colourful Indian markets.

Highlights • Andes, Pacific Coast and Amazon jungle. • Diverse cultures and local life

Itinerary

D 1   Quito - Colonial Quito - Otavalo

Quito lies in a long narrow plateau of Pichincha Volcano.  A city rich in colonial art and architecture.  A UNESCO world cultural heritage site is a delightful place to explore.  You visit today the main plaza, the cathedral, La Compañia church, San Francisco Plaza and Panecillo hill (a viewpoint).  You will enjoy a tour of the rich colonial heart before heading out to Otavalo 2 hours drive from Quito.

D 2   Cuicocha - Cotacachi - Peguche - Otavalo

This morning you will hike by a flooded volcanic crater of Cuicocha.  The trail offer you a variety of Orchids, flora and birds, you might also meet some lizards on the walk.  Most indian communities of the area are dedicated to some form of craft work.  The afternoon is the opportunity for you to explore Cotacachi, popular for its  leather works and Peguche for its excellent weavers.

D 3   Mojanda (Fuya Fuya) - Lechero - Otavalo

An early rise to head up to Mojanda Mountain.  You trek up for 2 hours (approximately) to one of the peaks known as Fuya Fuya 4263m (13986ft), the summit offers you a spectacular view of Cayambe volcano, the lakes of Mojanda crater and other hills.  In the afternoon a mild hike to Lechero (a very meaningful tree for indian people) where there is a 360º view around. Return to Otavalo

D 4    Zuleta - San Pablo - Otavalo

A wonderful day to walk through indian rural communities.  You leave Otavalo and drive for 30 minutes to Zuleta, a traditional village popular for its embroidery.  Your hike begins here. and along the way you can enjoy the landscape of cultivated fields as well as the magnificence of mountains such as Cayambe, Imbabura and Cusin.  Return to Otavalo.

D 5   Otavalo market - Lasso

Today you spend the morning browsing the busy Otavalo market.  Throughout the hiistory of the region there has been trade between regions, but the market now sells almost as many handicrafts as they produce.  Although the market is on everyday the big day is saturday and you find crafts from all over the country. In the afternoon you rejoin the bus to go to Lasso,

D 6   Cotopaxi - Chugchilan

Today you drive to Cotopaxi national Park where you can enjoy vegetation of different altitudinal ranges from 3200m (10499ft) to 4800m (15748ft), bird wildlife, wild horses, lava flows and the cotopaxi itself.  After driving through the park you reach the car park at 4600m (15092ft) from where you start a hike to the refuge and also to the glaciar.  Depending on the time of the year you might have snow at this level.  The day finish with a visit to Limpiopungo lagoon at the foot of Rumiñahui Volcano.  Time to head off to Chugchilan, 3 hours drive from Cotopaxi.

D 7   Quilotoa - Quevedo

An early rise to go to Quilotoa lake 3900m (12795ft).  A drive through stunning hills, farmed fields, indian communities, furrowed large canyons to get to this volcano. You can walk down to the bottom of the crater and by the water.  In the afternoon you hit off the road again to drive down the coast to Quevedo.

D8   Quevedo - Puerto Lopez

Today is a long journey day of around six to seven hours so, an early rise to head to Puerto Lopez located amidst dry tropical forests and by the Pacific Ocean.  A very interesting drive since you go through tipycal coast towns and meet people very different to the ones in the highlands.  If time allows, you can visit the Virgin beach of Los Frailes (15 minutes drive) and just enjoy of this stunning place.

D 9   Isla de la plata - Puerto Lopez

In the morning you board a motor boat in the direction of Isla de la Plata, known in Ecuador as Galapagos for the poor people, ideal for those who can not afford to go to Galapagos.  Two hours of sailing to arrive at Drake´s place.  A hike in the island will allow you to see blue and red footed boobies, masked boobiees, pelikans, sea lions, frigates and albatroses.  While sailing and if it is time of them to be in Ecuador to breed, you might meet the humpback whales and their babies(June - August).  in the late afternoon return to Puerto Lopez

D 10   Puerto Lopez - Guayaquil

Rise early to head to Guayaquil driving along the coast and the pacific ocean, see villages with its own particularities and activities.  After arriving and checking in, you have the afternoon to explore Guayaquil with its distinctive climate and atmosphere.  Although a modern and bustling city there are still several points of interest, in particular the recently restored river front malecon is worth seeing and there are resident iguanas in the park in front of the city´s neo-gothic cathedral, climb el Carmen hill with its 444 steps to have a magnificent view of Guayaquil and the bridges over Daule and Babahoyo river that together make the Guayas river (bigest contributor to the pacific ocean) and walk along Las Peñas street, the oldest in town.

D 11   Guayaquil - Cuenca

A short drive from Guayaquil to Cuenca brings you to go through banana, cacao, rice, coffee plantations before you start the steep road to El Cajas National Park.  You will have the opportunity to see some of the 250 lakes of the 29,000 hectares  park.  There are excellent chances of seeing some of the 125 bird species that are resident in the park including the magnificent Condor.  Arrival in Cuenca in the afternoon

D 12   Cuenca

Cuenca is the third largest city in Ecuador, at 2550m (8330ft) offers you a glorious architecture.  It is considered to be the birthplace of all kind of artists.  It has jewellery, panama hats, embroidery, ceramics, leather and much more.  The viewpoint of El Turi offers you a spectacular view of the city.  Cuenca is the home of the Panama hat (toquilla hat) and while exploring you will see the various processes involved in making the finished article.  

D 13   Ingapirca - Riobamba

There is not a better way to start the day than rising early and heading off towards Ingapirca Inca site at 3230m (10597ft), the largest in Ecuador.  This complex is a fortress which boasts a solar observatory and typically fine Inca stonework.  After the visit you join the transport again to ascend through intensively farmed countryside,and barren valleys before reaching Riobamba.  Today the  journey is characterized by staggering sceneries.

D 14   Chimborazo Refuge - Baños

After an early rise you head to Mount Chimborazo 6310m (20702ft), the highest mountain in Ecuador, which sits over the entire Valley.  The aim today is to trek on the mountain's upper slopes near the refuges.  Amidst the lava fields you may see wild flowers, vicuñas, a variety of birdlife and a variety of volcanic rocks.  You will have magnificent views of the perpetually ice-crowned peak glistening in the sun, and fine panoramas of the distant peak of Tungurahua, Altar and Sangay.  Finally you continue on to Baños

D 15 - Baños

Baños is a pleasant spa town that attracts not only foreigners but ecuadoreans, who are drawn by its balmy climate and curative waters. There is no better way to start your day than rising early for an invigorating soak (optional).  The baths are fed by thermal springs at the base of Tungurahua active volcano, and the brown water (a result of mineral content) is reputedly good for one´s health.  After breakffast you have a morning trek of 3 to 4 hours on one of the slopes of the fascinating mountains surrounding Baños.  A walk through sugar cane plantations, tangerines tries and blackberries.  In the afternoon you can explore downtown with its cathedral’s miraculous Virgin which supposedly protects the inhabitants from the active volcano of Tungurahua 5023m (16,479ft) which overlooks it and shops of tagua (vegetable ivory) traditonal in the place,  If you like having a drink there plenty of places open in the evening and some with live music. 

D 16   Baños - Amazonia

It is time to head off. A long, downhill grind through the incredibly beautiful and waterfalldraped canyon of Pastaza river brings you to the steamy Puyo and from here some more hours to the lodge in the jungle

D 17   Amazon Lodge

You spend the morning exploring part of the vast Amazonian basin on foot.  Your indigenous guide will explain the extraordinarily biodiversity of the rainforest by pointing the important plants.  With luck you may see some of the jungle bird species (kingfisher, parrots, oropendolas, hoatzin. etc,) though larger mamal are mostly dificult to see.  The activities of the afternoon will be according to the interests of the group, you can either visit the Amazoonico Rehabilitation Centre to see some of the region`s threatened wildlife species including coatimundi, tapir, capybara and several monkey species; visit an indian community, walk to a waterfall or just bathe in the river.

D 18 - Amazon Lodge - Quito

You set off in the early morning and climbed to the highlands.  A long steep ascend brings you to Baeza and then, Papallacta Pass 4064m (1333ft),  On one of your stops you can bathe in the thermal springs of Papallacta.  After crossing Papallacta Pass you have another steep descent that brings you to Quito. 

PRICES

	3	4-5	6-7	8-10	11-15
Price per person (In US$)	2 620	2265	2010	1 810	1 630

Price includes
— Private transport
— 4 stars hotels (economic hotels if you requiered).  Price based in double rooms with private bathrooms.
— meals
— Entrance fees to Ingapirca, Cotopaxi, Quilotoa, Chimborazo and Machalilla
— English speaking guide the whole trip
Price does not include:
— International flight to Quito
— Airport exit tax $40,70 per person
— Any travel insurance
— Tips for guides and drivers
— Anything not mentioned in the tour

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