Adventure in Ecuador

Reception at the airport and transfer to the selected Hotel.

You start your adventure biking a smooth uphill incline to 3,300 meters above sea level on the road behind Guagua Pichincha - the volcano which looms over Quito. Next comes a thrilling descent into montane cloud forest. This area is one of the most bio-diverse places on the planet, as species from the Amazon, Choco Rainforest, and Andes all converge here. Bird-watchers from around the world are particularly attracted to the area around the Mindo Cloud forest Reserve, where you will be spending the next two evenings. You bike all the way to our delightful lodge near the Mindo Cloud forest Reserve and spend a relaxing evening here enjoying the tranquil atmosphere of the forest night.

Overnight at selected hotel.

Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Your second day is dedicated to exploring one of the world’s most bio-diverse regions: the cloud forests of Mindo. Here, you’ll hike to beautiful waterfalls set in stunning primary cloud forest full of dozens of orchids and butterflies, and may be able to spot some of the area’s 520 species of birds, including the renowned Andean Cock of the Rock, quetzals, tanagers, toucanets, and motmots. You set out again at dusk to experience the waking of the forest’s nocturnal life. you will be introduced to a frog conservation project by a pond, where frogs serenade us with their nightly concert. You will then take a short walk to meet the amphibian performers and their nocturnal friends up close. Afterwards, you return to our forest cabins for another relaxing evening.

Overnight at selected hotel.

Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day three kicks off on the Blanco River, called “the White River” because of its relentless flow of white rapids. This is one of the best rafting runs of Ecuador’s western Andes. After a safety briefing, we navigate 30 km of Class III - III+ rapids and waves, admiring the breathtaking rainforest, abundant birdlife, and hopefully river otters. Some of the birds commonly sighted include cormorants, herons, and kingfishers. You return to Quito in the late afternoon.

Overnight at selected hotel.

Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

You will travel southward from Quito, by motorcar on the Pan-American Highway to the south, to visit the Cotopaxi National Park, an ecological sanctuary of 88,920 acres, around the magnificent Cotopaxi Volcano, which rises 5897 meters (19,347 feet) above sea level. The evergreen landscape of the Ecuadorian highlands is one of the main attractions, along valleys and mountains covered by multicolored fields.

After an hour and a half, the entrance to the park is reached and then it’s up a dirt road for approximately one hour. Upon arrival to the park there is an introductory briefing about the habitat of the Andean paramo or moorlands, its flora and fauna in the small Interpretation Center. You will continue on to Limpiopungo Lagoon to observe a variety of birds and occasionally wild horses. On clear days, the Cotopaxi Volcano is the backdrop. A short walk around the lagoon allows the observation of the Andean flora.

Lunch at Tambopaxi, up high in the Cotopaxi. In the afternoon, drive down to the valley on to cozy Hacienda La Cienega for leisure time, a stroll in the beautiful gardens, enjoy the facilities.

Overnight at selected hacienda.

Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

After breakfast at La Cienega, visit one of the colorful Indian Markets of the area (depending on the day of the week). Here the native dresses of men and women, the fresh produce piled in neat rows, the bluest of skies and the brightly colored designs of hand-woven woolen sweaters make these markets not only beautiful, but also uniquely colorful. Renowned since pre-Columbian times, Indian markets have changed very little over 500 years. Each plaza has its distinctive products: livestock, esteras (straw mats) and sugar cane cakes, food and toys, weavings of wool and hemp fiber, clay-pot pans and herbs, fruits, grains and cereals. Vendors sit under pieces of cloth extended over fragile wooden structures. There are also abundant vendors of ribbons, medicines, prepared food and of course, fortune tellers. The barter system at the markets continues on into the third millennium.

Overnight at selected hacienda.

Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Guests can choose the excursion that best suits their interest – upon coordination with their local guide, options available are:

- Morning visit the tiny village of La Victoria famous for its colorful potteries and time to explore the countryside and small towns and flower plantations surrounding the Hacienda.

- Baños full day This is a scenery packed trip, early breakfast and departure due south down the Avenue of the Volcanoes to Ambato and then east to descend to Baños. Pass the village of the Salasaca Indians, famous for the weaving of figurative wall hangings.

- Quilotoa Crater Full day The area of the Quilotoa Volcano, with its crater-lake is increasingly popular.

Return back to Quito in the afternoon.

Overnight at selected hotel.

Included: Breakfast, lunch.

This morning you get your choice of excursions, such as mountain biking or a ropes course challenge. In the afternoon, travel to Sangolqui, a village with a traditional market. Browse the market stalls with traditional arts and crafts and sample some of the local produce, particularly the fruits.

Overnight in Tababela.

Included: Breakfast.

Transfer from the hotel to the airport to take your international flight.