Ecuador Adventure

(11 Days / 10 Nights)

Day 1: (THU) Quito

Arrival in Quito and transfer to your hotel (meals on your own)

Day 2: (FRI) City Tour

Enjoy a leisurely tour through Colonial Quito taking in the most important and famous sights. You will visit the Plaza de Independencia overlooked by the Parliament Building, scene of many revolutions in Ecuador’s brief but dramatic history.  Included in the itinerary is a visit to the Compañia and San Francisco churches with their impressive façades and gilt interiors that have changed little since the days of the Spanish occupation.  The tour is completed with a drive up to  the Panecillo hill where you can enjoy a spectacular panoramic view of Quito and the surrounding mountains. Overnight at hotel (meals on your own)

Day 3: (SAT) Pintag – Ubillus
In the early hours of the morning, you will leave Quito on a one and a half hour drive to the rural area  of “Pintag” from where you will start your trek at 8,600ft. You will enjoy a moderate uphill walk through Haciendas and past typical Andean houses. The trek continues until you reach the Ubillus rural area where you will set up camp by a natural spring at 9,100ft. (all meals included)

Day 4: (SUN)  Sincholagua Mountain
Today you will start walk through typical Andean vegetation on a beautiful scenic cobblestone road for about 2 hours, and continue walking through farmlands for about one hour. After your picnic lunch you will start a 3 hour uphill trek to a small valley and enjoy the beautiful sight of the Paramo landscape. You will continue uphill until reaching the slopes of the Sincholagua Mountain where camp will be set up at 12,450ft. (all meals included)

Day 5: (MON) Sincholagua - Manantial
After an early breakfast, we start our trek uphill towards the highest pass (14,430ft) on our trek and from here we start our descent passing through a native forest and highland Paramo vegetation with extraordinary views or the Cotopaxi (on clear days) as we continue our descent we will be able to see the Sinig Lagoon to our left, to then follow-on and across the Pita river in order to reach our camp at a great location surrounded by a few small hills and a small river that comes straight out of the bottom of one of this hills. Camp at the Manantial (12,360ft). (all meals included)

Day 6: (TUE)  Manantial-Limpiopungo-Patate
After breakfast, we continue our trek for another 4 hours and reach the archeological site called Incahuasi, a beautiful plain lying between Sincholagua and Cotopaxi, before walking on to Rumiñahui (4,712m/15,455ft) and the Limpiopungo lake in the valley of Cotopaxi.  After lunch, a 2-hour drive, passing along the picturesque "Avenue of the Volcanoes" takes you to Patate where you will have overnight at a nice hacienda. (all meals included)

Day 7: (WED)  Bike tour Leito – Baños     
Today in the morning we will bike downhill to Baños, a small town nestling in the shadows of the Tungurahua volcano high above the Amazon Basin.  The area is rich in vegetation and orchids and is famous for its nearby hot springs that provide hot running water to the local baths. Lunch in Baños, and visit of the town. Afternoon return to hacienda for overnight (all meals included)

Day 8: (THU)  Baños-Puyo -Cotococha
We wake early the next morning and head east to the Amazon rainforest. The first thing that hits us when we arrive is the air. It's so heavy with oxygen and humidity it envelops and surrounds you with a rich stillness. (all meals included)

Day 9: (FRI) Cotococha - Jatunyacu Rafting
The adventure begins where the road ends, at the highest accessible point of the Rio Napo, in a remote spot in the jungle. Here we begin our raft of the upper Rio Napo, known locally as the Rio Jatunyacu, “big water” in native Quechua dialect. In the afternoon we return to our lodge for a jungle walk. (all meals included).

Day 10: (SAT)  Cotococha – Quito
After breakfast return to Quito, on our way we stop in Papallacta for a soothing dip in the clear healing waters of the thermal pools surrounded by lush vegetation. We dip into the many warm springs and cool off in the fresh mountain air, refreshed after our jungle excursion. We will have lunch on this place  (Dinner on your own). Overnight Quito

Day 11: (SUN)  Transfer out
Transfers to the airport for international flight. (breakfast)

EQUIPMENT FOR TREKKERS

Water proof windbreaker and hiking boots, sleeping bag, daypack, woolen gloves, woolen cap covering entire head and ears, warm trousers, good sunglasses, hat, sunblock (at  least 15 spf), canteen, flashlight, pocket knife, camera, binoculars, and wash kit.

WHAT TO BRING FOR THE RAFTING

A T-shirt, bathing suit and sneakers (which will get wet) or Teva sandals, towel, set of dry clothing and shoes for after the river running, water proof windbreaker, insect repellent, sunblock, hat and sunglasses with a safety strap.  We provide water-proof bags for your camera and binoculars.