Trekking at the foot of the Andes

This program is intended to be for those with little time but with a great desire to discover stunning sceneries while trekking.  The hikes will transport you from country areas with amazing views to animated towns and villages.  A real immersion into the heart of the Ecuadorean highlands at the foot of the volcanoes.

Highlights • Exploring the highlands and culture of the people. • Treks at 4000 ms to 5000ms.

Itinerary

D 1   Colonial Quito - Cuicocha lake

D 2   Cuicocha - Cotacachi - Peguche - La Esperanza

This morning 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 sorroundings.  The highest point you reach during the trek is 3486ms (11437ft).  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   Cubilche - La Esperanza

Rising early to start an awsome trek to Cubilche Volcano, just on one side of the magnificent Imbabura.  A trek charachterized for its surroundings, indian communities, farmed fields and paramo grasslands, as well as for the views when reaching the summit.  Return to La Esperanza  

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.  Night in Otavalo. 

D 5   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 6   Otavalo market - Quito

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 Quito.

D 7   Guagua Pichincha volcano - Lasso/Corazón

An early start to leave for Guagua Pichincha 4784m (15,695ft) volcano.  1 1/2 hours drive before you start the climbing from an altitude of 3750m (12,303ft).  This is one of the active volcanoes of the country with a crater of 1,5km of diameter, 700m (2296ft) of depth and releasing a permanent smoke. The walk is moderate with a very steep trail.  The summit offers you a spectacular view of other volcanoes and some sno-caped ones.  After a long day you are driven to Lasso. 

D 8   Iliniza refuge - Urbina

Rising early to climb North Iliniza 5116m (16,784ft),   You are driven to la virgen, 4020ms (13188ft), from where you  set off for  a coil between the two ilinizas and where the refuge, 4750m (15,584ft), is located.   A walk of 3 to 4 hours is all you have to this amazing area.  The walk is easy and the view superb.  You will be walking through a native forest of Polylepis trees (known as paper trees).  In the afternoon transfer to Urbina.

D 9   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 10   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 11   Quilotoa - Lasso

After breakfast you head off this time to Quilotoa lake 3900m (12795ft).  2 hours drive through stunning hills, paramo grasslands, farmed fields, indian communities, furrowed large canyons to get to this volcano.  Your will have a walk of  2 or 3 hours.  After that transfer to Lasso.

D 12   Cotopaxi refuge/Ascension - Quito

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 trek 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.  Return to Quito

PRICES

	2	3	4-5	6-7	8-10	11-15
Price per person (in US$)	1 900	1 600	1 390	1 210	1 128	1 025

 Price includes
— Private transport
— 4 stars hotels (economic hotels if you requiered).  Price based in double rooms with private bathrooms.
— meals
— Entrance fees to Cotopaxi, Ilinizas, Quilotoa, Chimborazo and Cuicocha.
— English speaking guide the whole trip

— four nights in a hotel, four nights in a hostal with shared bathrooms, two nights in hostals with private bathroom and two nights in a mountain refuge

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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