Ecuador in family

Ecuador is a perfect country to visit as a family and above all when it is your first contact with Latin American countries.  It is indeed a small country with so much variety in it.  You can be delighted to see lakes, active volcanoes, high mountains, indian communities still keeping their traditional costumes and life, colourful markets and sceneries, exotic fruit and vegetable andalso  have an adventure in an exuberant amazonic rainforest.

Highlights • Discovering everything of this Andean and indian country. • A good variety of visits and transports: boat, canoe, horse and railbus, "autoferro". • The railbus journey. • Riding a horse at the foot of Cotopaxi Volcano. • Condor Park.

Itinerary

D 1   Colonial Quito - Los Chillos valley

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 Los Chillos valley at 30 minutes drive from the city.

D 2   Pita River Waterfall - La Merced - Otavalo

There is no better way to start the day than getting up early to have breakfast and depart towards Condor Machay waterfall.  30 minutes drive and then, the adventure begins with a walk along Pita River, crossing 19 bridges of all kind.  Nature is the main attraction here.  Opportunity to see birds on the way and relax by the waterfall.  If the weather allows, you could go into the water to take the energy of the waterfall, though it is a bit cold.  This walk takes approximately 5 hours. Return to the car to go to La Merced thermal springs by Ilalo Volcano, time to relax there.  Soon after, you continue your journey heading north and this time to Otavalo town (2 hours drive). 

D 3   Cuicocha - Condor Park - Otavalo

Today you will hike by a flooded volcanic crater of Cuicocha.  The trail offers you a variety of Orchids, flora and birds, you might also meet some lizards on the walk.  You have magnificent sights of the Imbabura Volcano, Otavalo and surroundings.  The highest point you reach during the trek is 3486ms (11437ft).  You can decide on the way the length of the walk.  Back down you will be going to take the motorized canoe to go to the middle of the lake and see the gas of this volcano coming to the surface as bubbles.  After this visit, you are taken to Parque Condor to visit the place and have a demonstration of the fly of some predator birds.  Return to Otavalo.

D 4   San Pablo - Zuleta market - Otavalo

A wonderful day to walk through indian rural communities.  You leave Otavalo and drive for 20 minutes to San Pablo by the lake of the same name.  Your hike begins here along beautiful escenery of cultivated fields as well as the magnificence of mountains such as Cayambe, Imbabura and Cusin.  You get to Zuleta, an indian community popular by their handmade embroidery crafts.  After enjoying of the local market, return to Otavalo.

D 5    Autoferro - Lechero - Peguche - Otavalo

Early rise to go to Ibarra city to take the railbus to Lita.  This used to be, some years ago, a very traditional way of travelling.  The autoferro climbs steep slopes of the andes in Ecuador.  Going down to Salinas you will be stunning by the valley of the Rio Chota and feel the seemengly boundless spirit of Ecuador.  You will be struck dumb by the inviting mountainous backdrop and endless fields of sugar cane and tropical vegetation.  On arrival at the friendly Afro-Ecuadorian community of Salinas you are offered an insightful window into a reality of very little material wealth but which is bursting to the seams with energy and life. After this extraordinary experience you are transferred near otavalo to have a mild hike to Lechero (a very meaningful tree for indian people) where there is a 360º view around. After that you will visit Peguche and share with a local family to see the way they live and the things they do. Return to Otavalo

D 6   Otavalo market - Lasso

Today you spend the morning browsing the busy Otavalo market.  Throughout the hiistory of the area 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.  A good chance to do your souvenirs shopping.  In the afternoon you will be transferred to Lasso (south of Quito)

D 7 - Cotopaxi (Horse riding) - Chugchilan

Today you will be horseriding in Cotopaxi national Park where you can see vegetation of different altitudinal ranges from 3200m (10499ft) to 4800m (15748ft), bird wildlife, wild horses, lava flows and the cotopaxi itself.   It is a superb and magic experience because you are on a horse at the foot of one of the highest active volcanos in the world.  In the afternoon you are transferred to Chugchilan (about 3 hours drive).

D 8 - Quilotoa (mule) - Baños

After a recomforting breakfast  you go to Quilotoa lake 3900m (12795ft).  A drive through stunning hills, farmed fields, indian communities and furrowed large canyons to get to this volcano.  A walk down to the bottom of the crater and by the water to have the feeling of this magnificent flooded crater.  You have the option to climb back to the rim on a mule back or on foot.  In the afternoon drive to Baños (approximately 3 hours)

D 9 - Baños (market & hotsprings)

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 can enjoy having trek of 3 to 4 hours on one of the slopes of the fascinating mountains sorrounding 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,  Since there is no better way to know more about people and their way of life, you will also visit the local market, very interesting indeed. 

D 10 - Waterfall route - 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 drive to get to the lodge in the jungle.  The Amazonia is 47% of the Ecuadorean land.  You will enjoy the sounds of the night and the magic of the jungle.

D 11 - 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. 

D12 - Amazon Lodge - Quito

You set off 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

	2	3	4-5	6-7	8-10	11-15
Price per person (in US$)	1 900	1 700	1 460	1 300	1 180	1 075

Price includes
— English-speaking guide throughout the tour.
— Private transport
— Price based in double rooms with private bathrooms.
— 8 nights in hotels, 2 nights in very comfortable Inns in Lasso and Chugchilan and, 2 nights in the jungle.
— Allt the meals excet Lunch of Day 2 and Dinner of Day 13.

— Entrance fees to Cuicocha ecological reserve, Parque Condor, Cotopaxi National Park and Quilotoa lake

— Tickets of the boat in Cuicocha lake, railbus journey, horseride in Cotopaxi and hotsprings in La merced

     and Baños 
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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