Arrival to the lake region
Airport – Hotel: 1h 15 min – 75 km
You will land to Tababela international airport, in the Est-side of the capital. Your guide will be waiting to escort you to your hotel.
You will stay on the bank of San Pablo lake and will have a first glance at postal card landscapes with volcanos, lakes and valleys.
Walk in Otavalo market and Liberty Train
Drive: Otavalo – Ibarra: 35 min – 25 km
Ibarra – Salinas – Ibarra (train): 5h 15 min
You will start your day going to Otavalo market. This is one of the most important market of South America. This is a perfect place to buy souvenirs!
Then you will take the Liberty train (« de la Libertad » train) to enjoy an amazing view of Ibarra and Salinas.
You will stop in San Antonio de Ibarra to discover handmade wood sculptures.
Walk near the Cuicocha lake
Drive: Cotacachi – Cuicocha: 25 min – 14 km
Cuicocha – Mindo: 3h 30 min – 185 km
Hike: Cuicocha : 30 min – 2 km (easy)
In the morning, you will be free to do some activities on the lake (kayaking, swimming, jet skiing, sailing in bark)
You will admire artisans’ work from Cotacachi who are specialized in leather.
You will explore the Cuicocha lake and its two islands, located in the ecological reserve named Cotacachi-Cayapas.
Then, you will go to Mindo, a village located in a cloud forest. The fauna and flora of this ecosystem is really diversified.
Adrenaline a cloud forest
In the morning, you will discover the butterfly farm and will see a lot of hummingbird very close to you.
Then you will go down the river in Tubing and will cross the river thanks to a zip-line.
Discovery of Mindo waterfalls and la Mitad del Mundo
Ride: Mindo – Mitad del Mundo: 1h 30 min. – 70 km
Mitad del Mundo – Quito: 45 min – 30 km
In the morning, you will get on a cable car to go above the cloud forest and will hike to see various waterfalls.
You will contemplate the city from the Panecillo mirador which is 3 000m over the town center. Then you will go to the Mitad del Mundo and the solar Intiñan museum in the 0° 0’ 0’’ latitude.
Don’t forget to take a picture with one foot in each hemisphere!
Cable car and Quito historical center
You will get on a cable car to climb up the Rucu Pichincha volcano and enjoy fresh air. You will arrive to Cruz Loma at 4 000m and. If you want to, you will climb up the volcano summit to reach 4 794m.
In the afternoon, you will walk in the paved narrow streets of the historical center. This is the bigger and the best-preserved historical center of Latin America.
You will start with the Plaza de la Independencia square, surrounded by beautiful churches and convents. Among others, you will appreciate the golden inside of La Compañia de Jésus and the San Francisco square paved with volcanic stones.
You will contemplate the city from the Panecillo mirador which is 3 000m over the town center.
Swim in Papallacta thermals
In the morning, you go to Papallacta pass which is located at 4 100 meters and will enjoy the thermal with medicinal properties.
Ride: Quito – Papallacta: 1h 30 min – 85 km
Gateaway in Amazonia
Ride: Papallacta – Tena: 2h 30 min – 115 km
In the morning, you will notice the ecosystem changes between the Sierra and the Oriente. You will cross a luxuriant fog forest to reach Hakuna Matata.
You have free time during the afternoon to enjoy the hotel. You can also go for a hike, go horsing with a local guide or learn about the chocolate craft (see activities “not included”)
Birds observation and encounter with the community
In the early morning, you will get on a dugout on the Arajuno river. Then you will do a short hike to reach « El Saladero ». This is a place where parakeet and parrot feed themselves with salt and minerals from the clay.
In the afternoon, you will spend time with people from the Santa Barbara community. They will explain to you how they live and what are their tradition. You will have lunch with them and taste jungle dishes.
To end on a high note, you will watch wild monkeys in Misahualli village.
Rafting to go done the river
You will sail to and fro the river doing rafting. The choice of the river will be made regarding the age and the physic condition of the group members.
You will enjoy a picnic by the river.
Walk in Baños and waterfalls road
Ride: Tena – Puyo: 1h 20 min – 80 km
Puyo – Pailón del Diablo: 55 min – 45 km
Pailón del Diablo – Riobamba: 1h 35 min – 80 km
Hike: Pailón del Diablo: 1h – 1,5 km (easy)
You will stop in Puyo to visit a balsa wood workshop and a distillery before going to Banos at the bottom of Tungurahua where you will taste sweets made with cane sugar.
You will go to «ruta de las cascadas» to reach «El Pailón del Diablo» and get on a basket to cross the Río Pastaza and watch the « Manto de la Novia » waterfall.
You will stay in Riobamba, near the famous Chimborazo, the highest point of the earth.
Chimborazo reserve excursion
You will discover the faunistic reserve of Chimborazo where there is the highest volcano of Ecuador. The Chimborzo summit is 6 268m high.
You will have to hire a local guide at the park entry (reference price: 40 USD).
During this walk you will appreciate the landscapes, see vicunas and hopefully various birds of prey as condor or falcon.
Ride: Riobamba – Chimborazo reserve: 50 min – 40 km
Hike Chimborazo: 1h – 1,5 km (intermediary level)
Hack and Ingapirca ruins discovery
Ride: Riobamba – Ingapirca: 3h 25 min – 190 km
Ingapirca – Cuenca: 1h 30 min – 75 km
In the morning, you will do a hack near the hacienda.
In the afternoon, you will discover the Ingapirca archeologic complex which show the Inca presence in Equator. You will walk until the « Cara del Inca », a human face naturally drawn in cliff, near the temple ruins.
Explore the colonial town Cuenca
You will discover the most beautiful town of the country: Cuenca
You will be amazed by churches, parks, squares and the flower market. You will go to the San Francisco square where fabric made in the North of the country are sold. You will enjoy an amazing view from Turi hill mirador.
You will appreciate the artisans’ meticulous work who create Panama hates, registered in the immaterial cultural heritage.
In the afternoon, you will learn more about the pre-Columbian culture thank to the Museum of Aboriginal Cultures in an old restored house.
Walk Manglares Churute reserve
Drive: Cuenca – Manglares Churute: 2h 40 min – 145 km
Manglares Churute – Guayaquil: 1h 20 min – 65 km
You will discover the National Park El Cajas to reach the coast with banana, rice, cacao and coffee plantation.
You will walk around to discover the Manglares Churute ecological reserve and its mangrove. You will see howler monkey, lovely crabs and colorful birds.
You will reach Guayaquil, the biggest city of the country, named the “Pacific Pearl”.
Arrival to the Pacific coast
Drive: Guayaquil – Salango: 3h – 170 km
Salango – Puerto Lopez: 5 min – 6 km
Before reaching Puerto Lopez village, you will do a short stop in Salango, a pre-Columbian village located in Manabi province, in Machalilla National Park.
You will visit the archeological museum where 250 inherited work are exhibited. Some of them date back to the Spanish conquest of 4500.
Chilling day in Frailes et Agua Blanca
You will have the opportunity to swim, go for a walk or chill out on the Los Frailes beach. This is one of the most beautiful beach of the country thanks to the nature, the transparent water and amazing landscapes.
You will join Agua Blanca community and discover 6 cultures: Valdivia, Machalilla, Chorrera, Bahía, Guangala et Manteña. You will be able to swim into sulfureted water.
Sailing Plata island
You will reach Isla de la Plata with a huge diversity of animals as in Galapagos archipelago. From June to September you could see whales on your way to the island.
Free time to visit Guayaquil
Ride: Hôtel – Airport : 15 min – 7 km
You will have free time to enjoy the city, go shopping and taste delicious seafood dishes.
Your will be escorted to Guayaquil airport 3 hours before you flight.
