Ecuador aventura – volcanoes and rain forest
This trip is a variation of the Ecuador andino trip. You will also experience the highlights of the Ecuadorian highlands here, but you will not visit the ruins of Ingapirca and the city of Cuenca. Instead, you spend several days in a lodge in the rainforest. The journey does not end in Guayaquil, but back in Quito. Afterwards you can of course take a tour to the Galapagos Islands.
An Ecuador adventure is guaranteed on this trip! A visit to the Cotopaxi volcano, a descent into the crater of Quilotoa and a hike on the slopes of Chimborazo will bring you closer to the dramatic mountains of Ecuador. Bird watching, easy rafting and short hikes in the rainforest offer an unforgettable Amazon experience! Possible extensions for the particularly adventurous: a visit to Yasuni National Park or the Cuyabeno Nature Reserve.
Participants: 2 to 12
Dates: 6.11.-20.11.2024
| 8-12 pax | 1890 € |
| 6-7 pax | 2160 € |
| 4-5 pax | 2360 € |
| 3 pax | 2460€ |
| 2 pax | 2890€ |
single room supplement: 430 €
Prices valid for trips before January 1st, 2025
Program Ecuador aventura:
Day 1: Arrival in Quito and transfer to the hotel.
Day 2: In the morning we will do a guided tour through the old town. The historic old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and enchants with its fascinating buildings. In the afternoon we drive to the equator, the “mitad del mundo”. Here you can also visit the Inti Nan Museum.
Day 3: We leave Quito after breakfast and drive to the Cotopaxi National Park. From the parking lot at 4600 m we hike to the refuge Refugio José Rivas at 4800 m altitude. Here you can enjoy the view and optionally continue until the beginning of the glacier at almost 5000 m above sea level. On the way back we stop briefly at the Laguna Limpiopunga. Then we drive to Isinlivi, a small village on the Quilotoa Loop.
Day 4: Day at leisure in Isinlivi. You can make one of the possible walks around Isinlivi or participate in the activities offered in the village. The Pension Llullu Llama is also ideal for relaxation.
Day 5: Hike from Isinlivi to Chugchilan. The heavy bags drive with the vehicle. If you do not feel like a longer hike, you can also ride the vehicle. In the afternoon you can optionally visit a cheese factory outside Chugchilan.
Day 6: Drive from Chugchilan to Quilotoa Crater. There we have time, which you can use to descend to the crater lake. Or you can hike along the crater rim to the nearest lookouts. Then drive to Tigua and visit of the galleries. Finally drive to Riobamba.
Day 7: We visit the Chimborazo National Park and make a hike through the polylepsis forest. On a clear day, the volcanoes Chimborazo, Altar and Sangay are visible. You see vicuña herds and possibly hummingbirds. The polylepsis trees grow at an altitude of 4000 meters. That’s why it’s one of the highest forests in the world. If you do not want to hike, you can relax on the hacienda and perhaps make a short hike from there.
Day 8: After breakfast we drive to Guamote, where we first do a community tour. There we will visit a kindergarten, a primary school and the house of a traditional weaver who will show you how they make their typical ponchos from sheep and alpace wool. We also visit an indigenous family and see their authentic housing (choza). In the afternoon, back in Guamote we can watch the preparations for the next day’s market.
Day 9: After breakfast, we’ll have time to explore the traditional market of Guamote. Then we’ll
depart towards Baños where we have lunch. In the afternoon you have free time to explore Baños or just relax.
Day 10: In the morning we drive from Baños along the Pastaza River where we will see several waterfalls. Finally we reach the Pailon del Diablo after a short hike (20 to 30 minutes). It is perhaps the most spectacular waterfall in Ecuador. In the afternoon we drive to the city of Tena in the Amazon region and from there to a wonderful rainforest lodge. On a short guided hike you will make your first contact with the rainforest around the lodge. Afterwards we enjoy a delicious dinner at the lodge and finally we go on a short night hike.
Day 11: Today’s program includes rafting on the Jatunyacu River with class III rapids. The tour is also suitable for those without previous rafting experience, each rapid ends in a calm pool. Halfway we stop for lunch at a beach near a Kichwa village where we can also interact with the local people.
Day 12: In the morning we’ll take some time for birdwatching around the lodge. In the afternoon we take a guided hike to Ushpayacu Waterfall. A cultural evening marks the end of the day.
Day 13: In the morning we visit a Kichwa village. You also have the opportunity to plant a tree along the Hollin River as part of a reforestation project. In the afternoon we drive to the thermal baths of Papallacta. You can enjoy the afternoon and evening in the hot springs in the midst of a wonderful mountain landscape.
Day 14: We’ll depart Papallacta after an early breakfast and travel to the town of Otavalo, about 2 hours to the
north. We’ll visit the largest indigenous market in Ecuador at the Plaza de Ponchos, then have a chance to
visit an artisan workshop to see how some of these crafts are made. After lunch we’ll visit the town of
Cotacachi known for leather goods, and then we’ll travel to the impressive crater lake of Laguna Cuicocha
to enjoy the view. Return to Quito in the late afternoon.
Day 15: You can either return home or enjoy other highlights of Ecuador. A multi-day trip to the Galapagos Islands or a beach holiday in Puerto Lopez are available.