Ecuador Classic - Volcanoes & Rainforest

The Destination background

Quito with its new and old town was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1978 and is a showcase of the colonial period with marvelous squares and markets. It is also close to the Equatorial Line and you will able to visit the monument marking the exact point.

The road south of Quito travels through the 'valley of the volcanoes' , a stunning road flanked by two parallel mountain ranges containing some of the country's wildest scenery and nine of its 10 highest peaks including Cotopaxi, one of the highest active volcanoes in the world.

Otavalo, to the north of Quito has probably the best market in all of South America and where each community displays distinct styles of traditional dress.

Coca is the gateway to the Amazon Basin with huge areas of rainforest, tropical habitats, indigenous tribes, allowing for bird watching and jungle treks.

Full Itinerary

• Day 1. Quito

  Arrival in Quito, reception and transfer to your hotel, the Café Cultura. Accommodation in a twin room.

• Day 2. Quito (B)

  After breakfast, a half day visit of colonial Quito, declared by UNESCO as a world heritage site in 1978.

  A visit to the Old Town, including the Plaza de la Independencia; as the President still conducts business here, access to the inside may be limited. A visit to the Parque Alameda that houses the oldest astronomical observatory in South America, as well as an impressive monument of Simon Bolivar.

  The Plaza de San Francisco which was constructed by the Spanish in 1553 has a high altar made of gold and beautifully carved ceilings. You shall also visit La Compañia, the finest of all Jesuit churches, which although damaged through the years by fires and earthquakes, has since been restored and has a richly sculptured facade and interior.

  If time, we will visit some of the markets including the Indian market at Avenida de 24 de Mayo at the base of El Panecillo and the Ipiales market. These are best visited on Wednesdays and Saturdays, the main market days. A visit to the middle of the world monument concludes the day. Return to your hotel.

• Day 3. Quito – Cotopaxi (B & L)

  After breakfast, we head south in private transportation through the avenue of the volcanoes towards Cotopaxi National Park. During the drive, we shall see several dormant and active volcanoes, including Pasochoa, Ruminahui and Corazon volcanoes along this spectacular journey.

  Arrival to Lasso and lunch at the wonderful colonial Cienega Hacienda. After lunch, visit to the fabulous San Agustin de Callo Hacienda, at the very foot of Cotopaxi Volcano. The Hacienda was first written about by the Spanish chronicler, Cieza de Leon (1553) and is one of only two major Inca sites in Ecuador. This temple or palace was built around 1440 AD by one of the last Inca emperors, Huayna Cápac, and to this day the remaining rooms prevail as a magnificent sample of the unique style of Inca construction. Commence a small horse ride in the beautiful countryside in the foothills of Cotopaxi Volcano along old Inca paths and through a pine forest before returning to your hotel, the Cienega Hacienda for the night. Accommodation.

• Day 4. Cotopaxi (B, & L)

  After breakfast, embark on a day of trekking with your English speaking guide. You will have an opportunity to see unusual plants, Andean animals and of course the stunning views of Cotopaxi Volcano. A Picnic lunch will be provided. Return to the hacienda.

• Day 5. Cotopaxi – Quito (B)

  After breakfast, your 4x4 vehicle will take you up to the Cotopaxi refuge at 4800m (15,750 feet) to start for an extraordinary bike ride down to the base and return to the hacienda. Return to your hotel in Quito.

• Day 6. Quito – Otavalo - Quito (B & L)

  After breakfast, a visit to the colourful Indian market of Otavalo, some two hours drive from Quito. With its many impressive arts and crafts of the local people, the market dates back to pre-Inca times when jungle products from the east were traded with highland products. Traditional dress is observed throughout the market. Trip to Pinsaqui, one of the oldest Haciendas in Ecuador and dating back to 1790. Enjoy a superb lunch before visiting the Lago de San Pablo and the Lagunas de Mojando, Cuicocha, and Yahuarcocha. Return to Quito.

• Day 7. Quito – Coca – Amazon Rainforest (B, L & D)

  After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to Coca, a 25-minute flight that takes you over the Andes Mountains' majestic snow-covered peaks and down over 8500 feet (2600 meters) into the Amazon Region. The flight destination is the port town of Puerto Francisco de Orellana, locally known as Coca, where you will be met by a bilingual guide and taken to a private dock. Here we will pause for a snack and to use the rest rooms before boarding our covered motorized canoe for a 2-hour, 50-mile (80-kilometer) trip down the sediment-rich waters of the Napo, the largest river in Ecuadorian Amazonia.

  During the ride it is easy to spot handsome shore birds such as herons, kingfishers, spoonbills and ospreys between the scattered native huts as you travel steadily away from civilization. Upon arrival to the Lodge's 5000-acre (2000-hectare) private reserve, you will take your first walk along a raised boardwalk through dense flooded palm forest from where several species of monkey are often sighted. The path leads to Pilchicocha Lake, a blackwater paradise where you'd least expect to find any sign of people, but dugout canoes (and even paddlers) await to carry you even farther. As you cross the lake, the cries of tropical birds lead you to your final destination and home base for an exciting jungle experience.

• Day 8. Amazon Rainforest (B, L & D)

  Today, you will have a variety of tour options including river trips and further treks into the rainforest.

  After breakfast, a choice of activities including exploring several trails which lead through pristine terra firme forest, where 150 foot kapok trees tower above and roots form huge buttresses to give trees support.

  A favorite activity of our guests is to paddle dugout canoes along tannin-rich black-water creeks and lakes, where luxuriant lianas, orchids, bromeliads and palm trees thrive. And wherever an outing may lead the possibilities of spotting animals, from the tiny pygmy marmoset to the feared ocelot or puma are endless. During free time at the lodge, swimming and piranha fishing are also activities not to be missed.

  For adventurous souls, the day does not necessarily end with dinner. Night walks and canoe trips, with the aid of flashlights, often reveal creatures seldom seen during daylight such as caiman (of the alligator family) and giant insects.

• Day 9. Amazon Rainforest (B, L & D)

  Choose from a variety of tour options.

• Day 10. Amazon Rainforest (B)

  After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the return flight to Quito and your connecting flight home.

End of our services.

Tour Prices

• US$2975.00 per person based on 2 people sharing a twin room

Tour Price Includes:

• Accommodation in twin rooms at recommended hotels and a first class jungle lodge.
• All transfers, tours and excursions as per itinerary with English speaking guides.
• Rainforest excursions in small groups.
• All meals as per itinerary denoted by B, L D (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
• All entrance fees excluding the Rainforest fee ($25 per person)
• Quito - Coca - Quito airfare.

Tour Price Does Not Include:

• International air tickets and all airfare associated taxes (US$40 for international departures)
• Meals not specified on the itinerary.
• Personal expenses such as telephone bills, laundry expenses, beverages, porterage, etc.
• Insurance against theft, loss, illness and/or accident.
• Rainforest fee ($25 per person).

Hotels

Quito Hotels

Cafe Cultura. (Subject to availability.)

Cotoapaxi Hotels

Cienega Hacienda. (Subject to availability.)

Rainforest Lodge

Sacha Lodge. (Subject to availability.)