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Ecuador Travel - Round Trips

From the Andes to the Amazon Rainforest - 13 Day Tour

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• Departure Day: Upon Request
• Price for 13 days:USD 2,920.-
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Detailed Itinerary:

Day 01: Arrival – City tour
Arrival in the morning in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, which is situated on 2.850 m height. We pick you up from the airport and bring you to the hotel Mercure Alameda, which is in a central and nice location. After a short break you visit the colonial old part of Quito, which was declared by the UNESCO as a world heritage site in 1978. You will get to experience the new section of the city in the North with its many parks and tall modern buildings and the Avenida Rio Amazonas as well as the Plazas Santo Domingo, Independencia and San Francisco which are in the colonial section in the South of the city. Due to its many historical architectural monuments the UNESCO declared the old part of town a world heritage site in 1978. From the Panecillo hill in the South of the old part of town, where the 43m high monument of the Virgen of Quito stands, you have an impressing prospect. From here you have wonderful views over the red clay tile roves of the old part of town, the skyline of Quito in the North, as well as the surrounding Andean cordilleras range with its outstanding snow-covered mountain giants. Overnight at the hotel Mercure Alameda. -/L/-

Day 02: Cotopaxi National Park
In the morning you will go to the Cotopaxi National Park towards the south on the Pan-American Highway through the famous avenue of the volcanoes until the entrance of the national park where you will drive to the lagoon Limpiopungo as well as the Inca ruins ‘El Salitre’ located in the highlands of the park. Here you have a spectacular view of the gigantic volcanic cone of Cotopaxi. In the afternoon the journey goes over the Pan-American to the 300 year old Hacienda La Cienega, which is surrounded with age-old trees and has a beautiful flower garden. In this nostalgic atmosphere you will eat dinner and have overnight. B/L/D

Day 03: Rain forest excursion
The trip to La Casa de Suizo will depart early in the morning. The first leg of your journey brings you to Papallacta, a small mountain village famous for its natural hot springs. You will arrive here about 2 hours later, and take some time to visit these springs for a soothing swim in their thermal waters before lunch at the Hotel Termas de Papallacta. Shortly after noon, you will continue the journey along a scenic stretch of road which takes you out of the majestic Andes highlands and down into the “Oriente”, or Amazon region. Along the way there will be several opportunities to stop for photographs, overlooking lush green valleys and beautiful sparkling waterfalls. The road ends at Punta Ahuano, a tiny port town on the north bank of the Napo River, where canoes await for a late-afternoon 15-minute ride downstream to the Casa de Suizo. Upon arrival you have time to relax and enjoy sunset from the swimming pool with a refreshing welcome cocktail. B/L/D

Day 04: Rain forest excursion
After breakfast you will board a canoe, and navigate 20 minutes down the waters of the scenic Napo River. The destination is Pangayacu, where during an approximately three-hour walk through primary rainforest you will have the opportunity to see actual hunting traps which were traditionally used by the local natives in the past. The guides will demonstrate how they work and explain which type of animals was caught in each one. And of course, at all times you will be on the lookout for tropical birds, and point out important aspects of the surrounding vegetation. The trail leads to the home of a Quichua Indian family, whose garden contains many medicinal plants still commonly used today. Your guide will explain how they are prepared, and afterwards serve lunch (which will be sent from the hotel) near the edge of the Napo. Later, you will continue on to the village of Ahuano, where you may learn about several aspects of traditional Quichua culture. A local host will show you how to make chicha, a typical beverage (which of course all may taste). Finally, all may participate in a blowgun target-shooting contest – but don’t expect to beat the natives! B/L/D

Day 05: Rain forest excursion
This visit consists of a walk through primary and secondary forest trails, where it is possible to observe distinct species of birds and insects as well as a great variety of trees and medicinal plants. The guides will explain how such plants are used not only in medicine, but also in construction and other important local activities. Along the trails you may enjoy several opportunities for adventure, such as hanging bridges, and vines for swinging from tree to tree. The duration of this visit is around 4 hours. For the more physically limited guests, who do not wish or are not able to participate in all of the activities listed above, there are alternatives such as “The Island”: A one-hour walk along a totally flat river island, where one may observe a great variety of plants and insects. It is also possible to visit an artisan in the village of Ahuano, who will demonstrate how the traditional Quichua ceramics are created, painted, and hardened. B/L/D

Day 06: Hot springs Baños - Riobamba
Today after breakfast you will drive through Puyo, which is at the border to the jungle and then west towards Baños. On dusty roads it goes through the valley of the Rio Pastaza, which has many waterfalls where you will visit the biggest one, the Pailon del Diablo. Once arrived in Baños you can relax in the hot springs of the Tungurahua volcano. In the late afternoon you continue to Riobamba, where you will stay overnight in the Hostería Abraspungo. B/L/-

Day 07: Train ride and Inca Ruins
After a good breakfast you go to the train station for the breathtaking journey through the mountains. The line was completed in 1902 and is the steepest railroad in the world, a true technical masterpiece! The train weaves down the track and down the stretch known as ‘Nariz del Diablo’ (the Devil’s Nose) 100 m high at a walking pace. From Alausi you continue in private transportation to the beautiful city of Cuenca. On the way you stop at Ingapirca (Quechua for “wall rocks of the Inca”) the most important and well preserved Inca ruins in Ecuador where you can wander around the beautiful site and visit the museum. The last stage to Cuenca takes 2 hours and leads you to the Hotel El Dorado. B/L/-

NB Please note that the train runs only on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. In case the train does not operate e.g. due to technical reasons or strike etc. you will go all the way in private transportation without visiting the Devils Nose.

Day 08: Culture city Cuenca
This morning you will explore the colonial part of the city where you will find churches, many art and craft shops and a flower market. All this is located amongst beautiful old houses in an area that was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1999. Cuenca is considered as the cultural metropolis and the arts and crafts centre of Ecuador. The city itself and the surrounding countryside is a fantastic place to buy ceramics, embroidery, leather goods and baskets. At midday you will eat in a typical restaurant in Cuenca. The rest of the day is at your own disposal. Overnight at the Hotel El Dorado. B/L/-

Day 09: Cajas National Park – Quito
From Cuenca you will drive to the Cajas National Park which is located in the west. In the park are about 200 lagoons, which are the remains of the last ice age. Small rivers, whose crystal-clear waters flow into the Pacific, connect the lakes. After a short hike through the highland of the country we return to Cuenca in the afternoon. From there you fly over the Avenida de los Volcanoes to Quito. If the weather is clear you can see the enormous snow-covered volcanoes, which stand out from the green paramo vegetation. Transfer to the Hotel Mercure Alameda. B/L/-

Day 10: Cayambe – Otavalo – Hacienda Pinsaqui
Your travel leads you onto the Pan-American Highway further north and you will visit the small village Calderon with its fantastic baked goods. Now it goes through the Guayllabamba valley to the small town Cayambe at the foot of the majestic volcano Cayambe (5,790 m). Further on your journey you go to the pictorial Hacienda Pinsaqui, where you become more familiar with the environment by doing a short hike. In the hacienda you will eat in the evening and stay overnight. B/L/D

Day 11: Indio market in Otavalo
Today you take a trip to the Indio market of Otavalo, which is famous for its collection of richly coloured textiles. After exploring the colourful market quarters for arts and crafts and all kinds of souvenirs you eat in a typical restaurant in Otavalo at midday. Additionally you make a short stop at a beautiful sea-district, which is the homeland of the Otavaleños. You visit the Cuicocha Lake, which is in an extinct volcano that rise high above the town of Cotacachi, famous for its leatherwork. You will spend the night at the Hosteria Pinsaqui, where you will also have dinner. B/L/D

NB On Saturdays the market is the largest.

Day 12: El Angel Nature Reserve - Quito
You continue your journey on the Pan-American by the valley‘Valle del Chota, before you arrive at the protected area Reserva Ecologica El Angel. There are many lagoons and the landscape of the wet forest is the homeland of the meter-high, endemic giant plants Frailejones Gigantes, which covers large surfaces of the area. After a short hike through this unique landscape you will turn back to Quito in the afternoon. Overnight accommodation in the Mercure Alameda. B/L/D

Day 13: Quito – Transfer out
According to your flight time you will be taken to the international airport for your international flight. B/-/-

B= breakfast; L= Lunch; D= Dinner

Single Supplement: 420,- USD per person

In the price included:
All transfers in private transportation, excursions and overland tours as mentioned above, accommodation based on double rooms at first class hotels and haciendas in the country site, flight Cuenca-Quito, meals according to the itinerary description, National Park entrance fees, English speaking guide.

Not included in the price:
International flight, beverages, extra charge for single rooms, airport tax from Quito (USD 44.-), personal items, tips, travel insurance and luggage.

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