EN 
ES 
DE Hiking, mountaineering, horse riding, cycling, rafting, canyoning, jungle tours.
On this new, 18-day individual trip, you will get to know the colonial old town of Quito, known as the most beautiful capital of the Americas, go on a hike through the volcanic crater of Pululahua, and then travel to the “Province of the Lakes”, Imbabura, where you will gain a deep insight into the culture and cosmovision of the Andean people with indigenous host families from the tourism project Quichua Tours. You will go on a hike around the magnificent “guinea pig lagoon”, climb Mount Fuya Fuya near the enchanting lagoons of Mojanda and take a breathtaking bike ride back to Otavalo. Afterwards, you will hike through Cayambe Coca National Park to the beautiful hot springs of Papallacta. Continue to the Cotopaxi National Park, where you will go on a horseback ride before hiking in the western highlands around the beautiful mountain lake Quilotoa. After visiting the country’s highest mountain, Chimborazo (6268 m), where you can reach the snow line at 5100 m, you will travel to the spa town of Baños. Here you will undertake another bike tour to the waterfalls of the Pastaza Valley, a breathtaking canyoning tour and take part in an exciting rafting tour. In the last part of the trip, you will visit the Amazon region, where you will explore the flora and fauna of the tropical rainforest and get to know the local culture of the indigenous peoples before heading back to the Andes – Quito.
Chronological highlights of the trip
- Colonial old town in Quito
- Hike to the Pululahua volcanic crater
- Hike to the Cuicocha “guinea pig lagoon“
- Climb to Fuya Fuya mountain and cycle tour of the Mojanda lagoons
- Trekking in Cayambe Coca National Park
- Horse riding excursion in Cotopaxi National Park
- Hike to Quilotoa mountain lake
- Chimborazo National Park
- Canyoning tour in Baños
- Cycle tour to the Pastaza waterfalls
- Rafting tour in Baños
- Amazon Jungle Lodge – Itamandi
Detailed program:
Day 1: Arrival in Quito
Flight to Quito, arrival in the afternoon. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel in the middle of the new town in approx. 1 hour. The rest of the evening is at your leisure. The hotel’s excellent restaurant serves Ecuadorian specialties and international dishes.
Overnight at Ikala Hotel.
Day 2: Sightseeing tour of old town Quito
Your private guide will pick you up at the hotel at 9:00 am and take you on an interesting city tour, during which you will get to know the most important historical sights of the old city center, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among other things, you will visit the Jesuit church “La Compañía“, the “San Francisco“ monastery and the Cathedral neo-Gothic “Basilica“. The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure for further exploration
Overnight at Ikala Hotel. Included: breakfast and lunch.
Day 3: Middle of the world and Pululahua volcanic crater
After breakfast, your private driver-guide will take you to the Pululahua geobotanical reserve. You will hike to the interior of the volcanic crater inhabited by farmers and climb the “El Chivo“ viewing hill. On the way, you can see many orchids, bromeliads and tree ferns. After the ascent, you will drive to the “middle of the world”, the Equator Monument, where you will visit the ethnographic museum. Then, you will continue to the “Province of the Lakes”, Imbabura, where your Indigenous host family awaits you for dinner in rural Cotacachi.
Overnight at Cabañas Purinquichus. Included: breakfast, box lunch, dinner.
Day 4: Hike around the guinea pig lagoon
Today you drive to the “guinea pig lagoon” Cuicocha in the Cotacachi Cayapas nature reserve at over 3000 m above sea level. Together with your local, English-speaking guide, you will go on a 4 – 5 hour hike around the enchanting lake at the foot of the mostly snow-covered summit of the Cotacachi volcano. On the way, with a bit of luck, you may see hummingbirds, vulture falcons and condors, and in good weather you can see as far as Colombia. On the way back, you will visit the small town of Cotacachi, which is well known for its many leather goods.
Overnight at Cabañas Purinquichus. Included: breakfast, box lunch and dinner.
Day 5: Ascent to Fuya Fuya mountain and bike tour
Early in the morning, you drive into the mountains again. Today you take the old smugglers’ road to the lagoons of Mojanda. Here you will go on a guided hike and climb to the summit of the Fuya Fuya mountain (4265 m) in around 2 hours. After a long rest with a fantastic view, the 1.5-hour descent back to the large lagoon begins. Here you will mount your mountain bikes and ride downhill for approx. 12 km on a dirt track through beautiful countryside back to Otavalo, from where you will be taken to your accommodation
Overnight at Cabañas Purinquichus. Included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 6: Trekking in Cayambe Coca National Park
After breakfast, you drive to the eastern highlands in the Cayambe Coca National Park. Together with your English-speaking guide, you will hike along the “Path of the Spectacled Bear”, past numerous mountain lakes, mostly downhill through the grassy highlands to the hot springs of Papallacta. On the way, you may see white-tailed deer, the Andean fox and, with luck, a spectacled bear. You will reach your accommodation in the afternoon, where your large luggage will have arrived before you. Relax in the hot springs and make use of the additional spa area with sauna and massage facilities.
Overnight at Termas de Papallacta Hotel. Included: breakfast, box lunch.
Day 7: From Papallacta to Cotopaxi
Relax in the beautiful hot springs early in the morning before being picked up by your private driver guide. You will first go on a 1-hour hike through the endemic forest by the river, and then drive south on the “Volcanoes Route” to the Cotopaxi National Park. Here you will take a short hike on flat terrain around “Limpiopungo“ lake and, if the weather permitting, you can climb up to the refuge (4868 m) before driving to your accommodation in the middle of the national park.
Overnight in Tambopaxi Farm. Included: breakfast and dinner.
Day 8: Horse riding excursion in Cotopaxi National Park
After breakfast, you will go on a 3-hour horseback excursion through the beautiful scenery of the national park. You will visit the remains of ancient Inca ruins and ride to the Pita River gorge. In the afternoon, you will leave Cotopaxi and drive through Latacunga and Zumbahua into the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes, where you will arrive late in the afternoon at one of the most beautiful mountain lakes in the Andes, the volcanic crater of Quilotoa. Here you will be able to descend to the shore and, optionally, take a kayak ride.
Overnight at Samay Quirutoa Hotel. Included: breakfast and dinner.
Day 9: Hike around the mountain lake Quilotoa
Today you hike approx. 11 km along the crater rim around the enchanted Quilotoa lagoon. First you walk downhill to the Shalala viewpoint, and then steadily uphill to the highest point of the hike, Cerro Juyende (3930 m). In addition to lupines and orchids, many chuquirawas, the flower of the Andinistas, also grow here. You return to the village in the early afternoon and then continue south to your accommodation, the beautiful Hacienda Abraspungo, in the province of Chimborazo.
Overnight at Hacienda Abraspungo. Included: breakfast.
Day 10: Chimborazo Wildlife Reserve
Early in the morning you drive to the highest mountain in Ecuador, the Chimborazo (6268 m). In the Wildlife Reserve of the same name, you will see many of the vicuñas that have been released into the wild here. From the first refuge, you hike slowly and steadily uphill to the Laguna del Condor at over 5100 m, where there is often already snow. In the afternoon, you leave the Chimborazo and drive to the spa town of Baños, where you say goodbye to your private driver guide.
Overnight at La Floresta Hotel. Included: Breakfast.
Day 11: Canyoning tour and cycling to the Devil's Cauldron
You will be picked up from your hotel by your local English-speaking guide and driven to the Río Blanco. After you have tried on the necessary equipment and received the technical instructions, the roped descent begins over five different waterfalls, the largest of which is 35 meters high. In the afternoon, you will take a bike tour, almost exclusively downhill, to the waterfalls of the Pastaza Valley. You can swim at the Ulba waterfall, take short hikes over adventurous suspension bridges at the “Bridal Veil” and “Devil’s Cauldron ” waterfalls, and take a cable car ride.
Overnight at La Floresta Hotel. Included: breakfast and box lunch.
Day 12: Rafting tour in the Pastaza Valley
Today you will head east again, from Baños to the Pastaza River. Depending on the water level, your English-speaking guide will decide where to start your tour for the day. Here you will put on wetsuits and helmets before starting an impressive whitewater rafting excursion (level 3+ / 4). After this adrenaline-filled adventure, you will return to Baños, where you will have the afternoon at leisure. In the evening, relax in the hot springs by the “La Vírgen“ waterfall.
Overnight at La Floresta Hotel. Included: breakfast and box lunch.
Day 13: Trip to the Amazon region
Today, the scenic route takes you down into the Amazon region to the Arajuno bridge, where you will travel 20 minutes upstream by motorized canoe through the tropical forest to Itamandi Lodge. After lunch, you can enjoy a refreshing dip in the pool. In the evening, a night walk awaits you, during which you can hear many nocturnal animal sounds and see luminous insects and toads.
Overnight at Itamandi Lodge. Included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 14: Jungle excursion
After breakfast, you will hike through the jungle with your expert guide. In the overwhelming diversity of the tropical rainforest, you will see giant trees, lianas, board and stilt roots, several medicinal plants and, with a bit of luck, some animals. In the afternoon, you will get to know a Kichwa community and learn interesting facts about their way of life and how they deal with the jungle. We will take part in the preparation of the “Chicha” drink and taste some of the traditional dishes.
Overnight at Itamandi Lodge. Included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 15: Anaconda Island
Anaconda Island, the trip takes about 40 minutes, and you will travel over the largest river in Ecuador. The Napo River. Here you can observe various species of monkeys, toucans and the prehistoric stinkbird “Hoatzin“. Afterwards, you will visit a family and learn about traditional hunting traps and can practise shooting with a blowpipe. In the afternoon, you will visit the Amazoonico Animal Rescue Station before returning to your lodge.
Overnight at Itamandi Lodge. Included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 16: Parrot salt lick and drive to Quito
In the early morning, we take a 15-minute canoe ride upstream to visit the Saladero de Parrots. Hundreds of parrots and parakeets approach the treetops and then descend onto the clay wall to feed on the mineral-rich soil, which helps them to digest. Finally, you return to the Arajuno Bridge by canoe, from where you are picked up and take a scenic route through three national parks back to the Andes, where you arrive at your hotel in Quito in the afternoon.
Overnight at Ikala Hotel. Included: breakfast.
Day 17: Return flight or Galápagos extension
Depending on when your flight departs, this morning is at your leisure. If you have booked a Galápagos extension, you will be taken to the airport early in the morning. Otherwise, visit the museum of the famous artist Guayasamín in the Bellavista district or the city museum in the center. You will then be taken to the airport for your return flight to Europe.
Included services:
- Private transfer Quito Airport – Hotel
- Overnight stay in a double room in the hotels mentioned (or equivalent), incl. breakfast
- The meals indicated in the program.
- City tour Quito with English-speaking guide (approx. 4 – 5 hours), incl. entrance fees “La Compañía” Church, Básilica Cathedral, San Francisco Monastery.
- English -speaking driver guide on day 3, incl. entrance to Mitad del Mundo, box lunch.
- English-speaking guide on day 4, 5, 6, 11, 12.
- English-speaking driver guide from day 7 to 10.
- Transportation on day 4, 5, 6.
- Bike tours (mountain bike incl. helmet) on day 5 and 11.
- Horse riding excursion (approx. 3 hours) in the Cotopaxi National Park on day 8.
- Rafting tour Pastaza with English-speaking guide incl. equipment on day 12.
- Canyoning tour Río Blanco with English-speaking guide incl. equipment on day 11.
- Entrance fees to: Pululahua Geobotanical reserve, Cotacachi Cayapas Nature Reserve, Cayambe Coca National Park, Cotopaxi National Park, Quilotoa Lagoon, Chimborazo Wildlife Reserve, Ulba Waterfall, Manto de la Novia Waterfall, Baños Cable Car Ride, Devil’s Cauldron
- 4 days / 3 nights jungle tour with English-speaking guide, incl. transportation, full board, rubber boots at Itamandi Lodge, day 13 to 16.
- Private transfer Baños – Itamandi Lodge – Hotel in Quito.
- Private transfer out hotel in Quito – airport.
- On-site customer service.
Services not included
- Flights
- Meals and drinks not specified
- Community entrace fee in Itamandi Lodge 10,- USD
Tips
Price per person in USD:
Single room supplement in USD:
