South America - pocket sized! Get to know the diversity of South America traveling through one single country: Amazon jungle, active volcanoes, Paramo highlands, Inca ruins, colonial towns and colorful Indian markets.
14-day round trip full of adventures in South America’s smallest but most diverse Andean country
This round trip leads you through many of South America’s diverse vegetation zones, from the snow-capped Andean peaks with its active volcanoes near Quito, through extensive evergreen rainforests around the headwaters of the Amazon near Tena, to the Paramo landscapes surrounding Cuenca. Ecuador, the smallest of the Andean states, within very short distances truly unites everything South America has to offer!
Extensive hikes through primary and secondary rain forests let you experience the Amazon basin’s fascinating and complex ecosystem. Around Mt. Cotopaxi, you enjoy genuine mountain villages with their friendly inhabitants and authentic Indian markets.
Without a doubt, one of the highlights is the ride along the “Avenue of the Volcanoes”. Imposing and mighty, the earth’s highest active volcano, Mt. Cotopaxi, towers in front of you with its 5,897 m above sea level. You will drive up to 4,500 m. Numerous other volcanoes await you on this ride. Including the inactive volcano Mt. Chimborazo, at 6,310 m high.
Likewise on your program is a train ride over the notorious “Devil’s Nose”, once one of the most difficult railway routes in the world. You will extensively explore the historic cities of Cuenca and Quito, both protected as UNESCO world heritage sites, and the country’s largest Inca ruins of Ingapirca. Marvelous Cajas National Park reveals its Paramo landscape and many lakes to you.
• Stroll through the famous colorful Market of the Otavalo Indians in Otavalo, including stopovers in Calderón, Guayllabamba, Guachala, Mira and Cotacachi
• Guided city tour through the colonial center of Quito (UNESCO World Heritage Site), among others, including visits to these sites: the Parliament of Ecuador, the Independence Square, Cathedral (16th century), Presidential Palace, the Baroque La Compañía de Jesus Church, the church of San Francisco (16th century), Panecillo Hill
• Excursion to Mitad del Mundo (“Center of the Earth”) including visit to Solar Museum (“Museo Intiñan”)
• Ride on the spectacular Andes Railway from Riobamba to Alausi (incl. the “Devil’s Nose”), still today the steepest train track in the world,
• Ride up Mt. Cotopaxi until 4,500 m above sea level, the world’s highest active volcano; hike to the Rivas refuge at almost 5,000 m and Lake Limpiopungo
• Hike through the marvelous Cajas National Park (Paramo landscape with many lakes)
• Three-day excursion with native guides through the dense Amazon Jungle near Tena
• Road of Waterfalls near Baños, incl. Agoyan, Puerta del Cielo, Manto de la Novia, La Merced, San Jorge, Pailón del Diablo
• Cuenca (UNESCO World Heritage Site) – guided and unguided walks (El Turi Hill, New Cathedral, Flower Market, Rotary Market (traditional handicrafts), factory of the famous Panama Hats, Tomebamba River, etc.)
• Walk through the historic Inca ruins of Ingapirca
• City tour Guayaquil
Day 1 (Thursday) – Arrival at Quito
In the afternoon arrival by plane at Ecuador’s bustling capital city. Transfer with your English-speaking tour guide from the airport to the three star hotel in Quito’s modern city center. After that, you may explore the surroundings on your own and stroll through the streets full of South American vitality. (-/-/-)
Day 2 – City Tour of Quito & Equator Monument
After breakfast, you undertake a city tour through the metropolis’ colonial neighborhoods. Quito’s historic center, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978, is considered the location with the largest accumulation of art treasures in South America. You visit the Plaza de la Independencia, view the unique Jesuit Church La Compañía de Jesús, and those among you unafraid of heights have the opportunity to climb ladders to scale the basilica’s tower – a braveness rewarded with a legendary view over the entire city of Quito! You meander through the colorful Mercado Central market, which provides you a chance to buy delicious tropical fruit. You ride on to Mitad del Mundo, a monument denoting the location of the equator a few kilometers north of Quito. There you will also pay a visit to the near-by Museo Intiñan and then return to Quito. (B/-/-)
Day 3 – Indian Market in Otavalo
Early in the morning, along the “Ruta de los Lagos” you head to Otavalo, probably the gaudiest Indian market in South America. Right from the beginning, archaic landscapes, crater lakes and volcanoes mark the exciting scenery of your ride north. Otavalo catches us with its bustling market atmosphere of native Indians and there is surely an opportunity for us to buy extraordinary weavings and other typical crafts.
The products there range from ponchos, tapestries, table cloths and other artfully woven fabrics to traditional musical instruments and a wide variety of jewelry. After shopping for a sufficient time, you will visit Cotacachi (Ecuador’s capital of leather goods). Then, in a house in Peguche the indigenous peoples marvel us with their enchanting crafts. Finally, you head back to Quito. (B/-/-)
Day 4 – Hike in the Cotopaxi National Park
Right after breakfast, you cross the fascinating landscape that leads us to the Cotopaxi National Park, which awaits us with an overwhelming view of imposing mountain scenery. After paying a visit to the National Park Museum, you will pass Lake Limpiopungo and ride up the active volcano. From the parking space at 4,500 m above sea level you walk up to the José Rivas Refuge at 4,800 m, where, weather premitting, you enjoy a truly unique view. After a short side trip to the volcano glacier and a packed lunch, you ride back to Quito, at 2,800 m and spend the night in your hotel. (B/PL/-)
Day 5 – Ride to Tena in the Amazon Basin
Awaiting you today is an exciting trip (in private vehicle). You will cross the High Andes (at an altitude of more than 4,000 m) and ride down into the steaming Amazon basin to Tena. From there you continue by private vehicle to Puerto Barandilla where you take the boat to get to the three star jungle lodge. The following adventurous nights of your jungle excursion will be spent here. (B/-/D)
Days 6 & 7 – Amazon Jungle
Let the jungle adventure begin! Guided hikes immerse you in the alien and fascinating world of the earth’s largest natural reserve. You undertake jungle excursions (in primary and secondary rainforests), watch birds and insects, and have an indigenous expert explain medicinal plants and the unique vegetation to us. Also, you visit an Indigenous family that lets you have a glance at its way of living and culture. You undertake exciting trips in a dugout, spying out monkeys and other animals. You live in perfect harmony with nature and at nights will be intrigued by the mysterious sounds of the jungle. You spend the night in jungle lodge. (B/L/D)
Day 8 – Amazon Jungle & Ride on to Baños
After breakfast, you leave behind the jungle, deeply impressed. Once again, you take a boat ride back to Puerto Barandilla and from there continue (in private vehicle) via Tena to picturesque Baños, situated at the foothill of smoking volcano Mt. Tungurahua. You will spend the night at the three star hostel. (B/-/-)
Day 9 – Baños and Road of Waterfalls
Today’s program includes an impressive bike tour along the road of waterfalls. Certainly, the "Pailón del Diablo" will catch your special attention, as masses of water from the Rio Verde plunge to the depths, you may even climb behind the waterfall. Your ride back to Baños is then rather relaxed, onboard a vehicle. The rest of day is free time to get some souvenirs or take a hot thermal bath. Again, you spend the night at the hostel. (B/-/-)
Day 10 – Relaxation and Ride to Riobamba
Today it is your choice to decide how to spend your time during the morning. The options include locally booking the following activities: rafting, canyoning, canopy, bridge swinging, horseback riding, hiking, thermal springs, SPA , etc.. In the afternoon, you continue your trip by public bus to Riobamba, the capital city of the Chimborazo Province. You will spend the night in a cozy three star hosteria. (B/-/-)
Day 11 – Train Ride to Nariz del Diablo, Ingapirca Ruins and Cuenca
You leave the hosteria early in the morning (around 6:00 a.m.) for the railway station. From there, you undertake a thrilling ride with an old steam engine or a diesel railcar crossing the spectacular landscape between the Sierra highlands and the coastal region, passing the legendary "Devil’s Nose". There, at Nariz del Diablo, an adventurous zigzag will take us down to the valley! You will enjoy a truly unique panorama during your ride on this last train route preserved in Ecuador. You continue (in private vehicle) to Cuenca, one of the most beautiful colonial cities of Ecuador. En route, you visit the country’s only well-preserved Inca ruins of Ingapirca, situated on the Ecuadorian part of the Inca trail. Cuenca is Ecuador’s third-largest city (a World Heritage Site) and the “metropolis of Panama hats”, which originally actually came from Ecuador. You spend the night in a three star hostel in Cuenca. (B/-/-)
Day 12 – Cuenca
After breakfast, you discover the historic colonial center of Cuenca. During your city tour, you will learn interesting details about the history of this important trading town and visit some of its imposing buildings, for example its Cathedral in Calderon Park. After that, you visit a Panama hat factory, where you will have the opportunity to get yourself a fancy hat. You will spend the night in Cuenca again. (B/-/-)
Day 13 – Cuenca, Cajas National Park and Ride to Guayaquil
In the morning, you board a private vehicle for a trip to the near-by Cajas National Park. This tundra-like highland reserve is mostly situated above the timberline and includes a topographically very irregular area of 29,000 hectares and around 240 mysterious dark lakes. The Cajas’s highest elevation is Mt. Arquitectos, topping 4,450 m above sea level, while its lowest point is Lake Llaviuco with an altitude of 3,150 m. You hike the marvelous highland Paramo reaching a lagoon, admiring and enjoying the endemic flora and fauna. Your hike through the Cajas National Park will last approx. three hours. You then ride on to Guayaquil (in private vehicle). Depending on your time of arrival at Guayaquil, you may possibly still undertake a little walk to Malecón 2000, a unique former pier that has in the meantime become a riverside promenade. Today it is a gigantic ensemble of restaurants, museums, galleries, shopping malls, movie theaters and, last but not least, offers a romantic river view. (B/BL/-)
Day 14 - Departure from Guayaquil
The time has come to say good-bye to an exciting and diverse country. In the case that your plane departs in the morning, your guide accompanies you to the airport. In the case that it leaves in the afternoon, there is still some time left to get to know Guayaquil on your own, e.g. to visit Parque de las Iguanas, Barrio Las Peñas, etc. Your guide certainly has some valuable sightseeing hints and ideas. In that latter case, your taxi transfer to the airport has been organized, and your guide will not accompany you to the airport. (B/-/-)
Services Included
• English-speaking guides from Quito to Guayaquil
• All rides (partially in public busses), and transfers, excursions, etc.
• Accommodation in good 2-3 star hotels & hostels typical for the country, in Quito (4x), Baños (2x), Riobamba (1x), Cuenca (2x) and Guayaquil (1x), as well as a jungle lodge (3x) in Tena
• Natural guides in rain forest expeditions
• Meals as stated in tour description
Not Included
• Meals not listed and all drinks
• National park fees and other entrance fees (approx. 30 USD) as well as international exit and airport tax (approx. 45 USD)
• Personal expenses and optional activities
Please note
• Participants must have a valid international health insurance.
• We reserve the right to change the tour program due to force majeure, weather or organizational reasons.
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Ecuador - Peru - Venezuela - 2014