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Quito – Otavalo – Cuicocha lagoon – Cotopaxi National Park – Quilotoa lagoon – Cuyabeno jungle – Cloud forest

Highlights & Activities: Homestay with indigenous family in the highlands, Otavalo market, Hiking around at the Cuicocha and Quilotoa lagoon, Cotopaxi volcano Bike & Hike, 4 days in the jungle (Cuyabeno), biking, zip lining and hiking in the cloudforest, rafting on the Toachi/Blanco rivers (class III+)

Itinerary:

Day 1: Quito
Day 2: Quito – Mitad del Mundo
Day 3: Otavalo – Peguche - Cotacachi
Day 4: Cuicocha lagoon – Cotacachi – Cotopaxi National Park
Day 5: Cotopaxi National Park
Day 6: Saquisilí/Pujilí – Quilotoa - Quito
Day 7: Quito – Lago Agrio - Cuyabeno
Day 8: Cuyabeno
Day 9: Cuyabeno
Day 10: Cuyabeno - Quito
Day 11: Quito - Cloud forest near Mindo
Day 12: Cloud forest near Mindo
Day 13: Cloud forest – Santo Domingo de los Colorados - Quito
Day 14: Quito

Included:

- Accomodation: 5 nights in medium-class hotel in Quito, 1 night in rural lodge, 4 nights in jungle lodge, 2 nights in traditional hacienda, 2 nights in cloudforrest lodge (all with private bathroom)
- Transport: Private transport during the whole trip, flight Quito – Lago Agrio – Quito - Meals as indicated in the itinerary: 13 x breakfast, 11 x lunch (box lunch during activities), 8 x dinner - bilingual certified English/Spanish or German/Spanish guide (depending on your needs)
- tours and activities as indicated in itinerary
- all adventure gear, professional and experienced guides for all adventure activities

Not included:

International airfare, airport fees and taxes (USD 40,80 for international flights departing from Quito, USD 2 for domestic flights), transport from/to airport on day 1 and day 14, meals not indicated in the itinerary, optional activities, entrance Cotopaxi National Park, Cuyabeno Reserve, Cuicocha Lake (USD 2 each), extra drinks, tips.

Upgrade:

Airport arrival transfer: USD 15 p. p. Single room during the tour: USD 30 p. p. per night Extra night accommodation in Quito before or after your trip: USD 78 single room per night, USD 90 double room per night

Map:

View Ecuador Adventure 14 days in a larger map

Gallery:

Detailed itinerary:

Day 1: Quito Arrival day. Night in Quito.

Day 2: Quito – Mitad del Mundo
We start our Ecuador Adventure tour with a city tour of Quito: get to know Quito’s beautiful old town, visit the President’s palace and enjoy the beautiful view of Quito from the Panecillo hill. In the afternoon, we’ll visit the equatorial line at „Mitad del Mundo“, where you can stand simultaneously in both the Southern and Northern hemispheres. In the fascinating Inti Nan Museum, we'll be able to prove we are in the Middle of the World by the actual experiments such as balancing the egg and the water swirl test! Night in Quito. (includes breakfast and lunch)

Day 3: Otavalo – Peguche - Cotacachi
Pick up from hotel in Quito in the morning. On our way to Otavalo we’ll stop at the beautiful lake of San Pablo located at the bottom of the largest volcano in the northern region. In Otavalo you can enjoy strolling through the narrow streets where Ecuador’s most famous market takes place. Close to Otavalo, we will visit the sacred Peguche waterfall, which is a spiritual place for the natives. In the afternoon we will head to a community in the Cotacachi region for our homestay with indigenous families. We will reside in rural lodges next to the indigenous families‘ homes. You have the unique opportunity to share the traditions of your hosts and participate in their daily activities, like preparing dinner together or working in the garden. (includes breakfast and dinner)

Day 4: Cuicocha lagoon – Cotacachi – Cotopaxi National Park
After breakfast we say goodbye to our host families and drive to the close by Cuicocha lagoon, where we will start a 4-hour hike around the crater lagoon. You will get the chance to see the wide variety of Andean flora surrounding the beautiful and unique landscape of this sacred lake. The hike begins at 3100 m and reaches a viewpoint at 3500 m; from this point on we will descend to the base of the lake at 3050 m. We have lunch in Cotacachi, a town famous for its leather products. We drive to Cotpaxi national park, where we spend the night in a traditional hacienda. (includes breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Day 5: Cotopaxi National Park
Cotopaxi National Park tour is an exciting day that begins with spectacular views of the unique Andean landscape in the “Avenue of the Volcanoes”. Inside the national park we hike up to the refuge which is situated at 4800m` on the Cotopaxi snowline and we take a short hike to the nearby glacier. Lunch is served with spectacular views to the valley below and surrounding volcanoes; followed by a safety briefing to commence our downhill descent on mountain bikes! The journey finishes at the beautiful lagoon at the base of Cotopaxi. We will have dinner and spend the night at a traditional hacienda. (includes breakfast and lunch and dinner)

Day 6: Saquisilí/Pujilí – Quilotoa - Quito
The tour begins in the morning with a visit to a local indigenous market, Saquisili (Thursdays only) or Pujili (Sundays only). The drive to Laguna Quilotoa – an amazing emerald lagoon inside a volcano crater at the height of 3,800 m - displays beautiful views of the Andean mountains, passing the ancient canyon of Zumbahua and many indigenous towns and farmlands. Before lunch we will visit a local aboriginal home where you have the opportunity to interact with the inhabitants. The tour includes a steep hike down to the lagoons shore. Back to Quito. Night in Quito. (includes breakfast and lunch).

Day 7: Quito – Lago Agrio - Cuyabeno
Flight to Lago Agrio in the morning. Pick up at the airport, from where we will drive to the entrance of Cuyabeno, where we will have a box lunch. At this point the visitors have to register in the Reserve’s office and pay the entrance fee. Here our naturalist guide will give information about the Reserve, important recommendations and other tips to begin the two hours navigation on the jungle lodge. During the canoe ride you will get a first look at the jungle and will be able to observe different kind of birds like Caciques, Oropendolas and the prehistoric bird Hoatzin. You may also be able to see a variety of monkeys and other jungle animals, depending on the time and weather conditions. We will arrive at Jamu Lodge at around 4:30pm. At that time you will be shown to your rooms and you can relax a little. After a siesta we will leave the camp for a swim in the lagoon and to watch a beautiful sunset in the middle of the Laguna Grande. You will then return to the camp for dinner, and can finish your first day in the jungle, relaxing in a hammock or having a drink at the bar. (includes breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Day 8: Cuyabeno
After breakfast we will take a trek in the primary forest for 3 to 4 hours, where your guide will explain how the complex tropical ecosystem works. You will be able to learn about medicinal plants and might be able to see some exotic birds or monkeys. We will then return to the camp for lunch and a siesta. In the afternoon, we will go piranha fishing, have a swim in the lagoon and watch the sunset. With a little luck you can observe the pink river dolphins or an anaconda sunbathing in a tree. You will return to the camp for dinner, and take a canoe night ride to look for caimans. (includes breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Day 9: Cuyabeno
After breakfast, we depart to head to the Siona Community of Puerto Bolivar, the largest ethnic group in the Reserve. During this tour you will learn their customs, traditions and way of life. You will be part of the elaboration of the Casabe; local dish made of yucca (carbohydrates are the principal food of the community). The trip takes 2 hours navigation downstream to get there, in the route will be possible to admire the existing fauna along the Rio Cuyabeno such as: birds, monkeys, snakes, pink dolphins, tortoises and many others. A visit to the Shaman, is also included. This is a full day excursion with Lunch in the Community. After that we return to the lodge to go for a short nocturnal hike through the primary forest in search of insects, spiders, geckos or scorpions, and listen to the night sounds of the jungle. (includes breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Day 10: Cuyabeno - Quito
Early in the morning before breakfast a bird-watching excursion is optional. Back at the lodge we have breakfast and then transfer to Lago Agrio to take the flight back to Quito. Night in Quito. (includes breakfast and lunch)

Day 11: Quito - Cloud forest
near Mindo In the morning we leave early towards the cloudforest. Here we will start our mountain biking tour via Nono towards Tandayapa. You will enjoy a beautiful tour, where you can see the quick change of the vegetation from the highlands to the cloud forest. Most of the trip is a continuous downhill on the old road that connects Quito with the cloud forest. Part of the ride is paved, but most of it is sand and small rocks. Night in cloud forest lodge. (includes breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Day 12: Cloud forest
near Mindo Today you can relax in the cloud forest and enjoy the beautiful surrounding. We will do a cloud forest hike with an expert of the area and visit the Pachijal Natural Reserve. In the afternoon you can enjoy Ecuador’s longest zip line route, a system of cables that run trough the tree tops (canopy). You will have the chance to meet up close with the biodiversity of Andean cloud forests from a different perspective. Night in cloud forest lodge. (includes breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Day 13: Cloud forest – Santo Domingo de los Colorados - Quito
We leave the lodge in the morning and head towards Santo Domingo de los Colorados, where we will start our next adventure: Rafting on the rivers Toachi/Blanco (class III+)! The difficulty of the trip fits perfect either to experienced rafters or beginners. The incredible scenery along the way is a plus to make a memorable day full of adrenaline you will never forget! After lunch at the shore of the river we head back to Quito. Night in Quito. (includes breakfast and lunch)

Day 14: Quito Leaving Quito (includes breakfast)