The Best of Ecuador

We’ve combined all the highlights of this wonderful little country into a comprehensive itinerary with some unique twists. You’ll visit colonial cities, experience the lush Amazon rainforest, and “ride the rails” of your Chiva Express down the Avenue of the Volcanoes.

2007 Departures:

• Wednesdays
• Minimum of 2 passengers

2007 Prices: 

• 3 star Quito hotel $2075
• 4 star Quito hotel $2135
• 5 star Quito hotel $2235

• Plus Local Airfares
• Rates are per person, based on double occupancy
• Single supplement available on request

Note: This tour is a suggested, customized itinerary that is very flexible. We can make changes in hotels, excursions and destinations to suit your travel dates, style and budget.

Itinerary

Day 1/Wed: Arrive Quito and transfer to your selected hotel.

Day 2/Thu:Quito city tour and the Center of the World. Depart from your hotel this morning, with your private guide for a 4 1/2 hour tour.Start with a visit to downtown Quito to relish in this urban jewel and its treasures of art and architecture. Quito’s colonial quarter, the largest and best preserved of South America, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The stroll starts at the Independence Plaza, flanked by the Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, the Municipal Building and the Archbishop’s Palace. Visit the temple of La Compañía de Jesús and its awesome gilded interior. Continue on to the Monastery of San Francisco, one the of great religious buildings of the New World; its impressive façade and atrium that lead to its Baroque interior influenced by Moorish style, with the winged Virgin of Quito at its main altar. Then continue to the Equatorial Monument, 25 Kms. (16 miles) North of Quito, which marks the exact Center of the World, latitude 0º, where you can stand with a foot on each hemisphere. Visit the Ethnographic Museum inside the monument, which shows the different Native American groups living in Ecuador. Beside the monument there is a colonial-style town, complete with main square, church, post office, bullring, cafeterias, restaurants and many gift shops with postcards and souvenirs. You will get a certificate for having crossed the Equator. Afternoon return to your hotel.

Dress in layers (T-shirt, blouse, sweater, coat). Take a sweater even if the day is warm and sunny. Rain protection advised in the afternoon. This tour includes walking at an altitude of 2800 meters (9200 feet) and climbing stairs. Sun protection (SPF 40). Good walking shoes. Entrance fees are included. (B)

Day 3/Fri: Amazon Rainforest. You’ll be picked up at your hotel, and transferred to the airport where you’ll check in for your flights to Coca, the gateway to the Ecuador’s Amazon basin. On arrival, you’ll be met by a representative of your lodge, who will transfer you to the dock in town, where you’ll board a comfortable, covered motor-boat for the two hour ride to your lodge. You will spend the next 4 days/3 nights at either Napo Wildlife Center, or the Sacha Jungle Lodge (Kapawi Jungle lodge can be used on request, additional transportation charges will apply). Lodging is in comfortable cabins with private baths, flush toilets and hot-water showers.

During your stay, you’ll enjoy guided excursions each morning and afternoon. Nocturnal outings are also possible. You’ll be able to visit parrot clay licks, canopy tower and/or walkways, canoe through lakes and creeks, hike forest trails, and experience some of the most spectacular bird-watching in all of Ecuador. Over 500 species of birds have been recorded in this region, which is more than 1/3 of all the Ecuador birds.  On each of your outings, your professional naturalist guide will point and explain the details of the reptiles, mammals, and flora that you encounter. All meals are included during your stay. (B, D)

Day 4 & 5—Sat & Sun: Days in the Amazon rainforest. (B, L, D)

Day 6/Mon: You’ll return to the Coca airport for your scheduled flights back to Quito. On arrival, you’ll be met and transferred to your select hotel, with the remainder of the day at leisure. Your flights are generally scheduled to arrive around 1:00 PM, but they can be delayed. If you have free time today, you may wish to visit the local botanical gardens. There is a permanent handicraft market near to your hotel, as well as interesting art galleries and specialty stores. (B)

Day 7/Tue: Chiva Express—Quito to Cuenca Adventure. The adventure starts in Quito with a bus ride to the station of Tambillo, where the "Chiva Express", a colorful one-coach train, like a bus on tracks, is ready to depart. A highlight of the trip is to 'ride the roof' with a panoramic view of the stunning Andean region of Ecuador.  You will leisurely enjoy the ever-changing scenery as the "Chiva Express" advances along the ancient tracks.  A snack is served at the Station of Machachi. and then 'ride the roof' up the slopes of  Cotopaxi volcano.  Continue by bus to visit an Indian market, lunch and overnight at Riobamba, located at the foot of imposing Chimborazo volcano. (B, L, D)

Day 8/Wed: After an early breakfast, transfer to the train station to board the "Chiva Express" for a scenic ride to Alausí.  Twist and turn over the Andes, along bridging ravines and river gorges.  Arrive to Alausí and prepare to go down the Devil’s Nose switchbacks, one of the most impressive feats of rail engineering in the world, and back to Alausí.  Continue south along the Andes by motorcar to Cuenca, visiting en route the Inca Ruins of Ingapirca, to arrive at dusk.  Accommodations and all meals at the hotel in Cuenca. (B, L, D)

Day 9/Thu: Today guests will enjoy a full day to discover, at a leisurely pace, the beauty and charm for which Cuenca has been recognized as a World Cultural Heritage Site.  Its red tiled roofs, cobblestone streets, flowery plazas and museums make it very special.  Lunch is served at a cozy restaurant. 

Dress in layers (T-shirt, blouse, sweater, coat). Bring your bathing suit. Binoculars are a must! Rain ponchos and rubber boots are provided. This tour includes walking at altitudes between 2,700 to 1,400 meters, (8,800 to 4,600 feet). Sun protection (SPF 40). Hat or cap. Good walking shoes and extra pairs of socks. Rain occurs throughout the year, although the climate is driest from May to September. Temperature: Day, average 15° to 28° C / 59° to 82° F.Night, average 10° to 15° C / 50° to 59° F (B, L, D)

Day 10/Fri: Depending on weather conditions, the full day visit today can be either to El Cajas National Park or Gualaceo Valley.  At El Cajas the wind and drizzle can make it very cold, but the scenery surrounding the glacial lakes is splendid.  Great for those who enjoy walking and hiking, observing flora, fauna and bird life.

The ride to Gualaceo Valley starts along the Santa Ana valley and then high in the mountains, through very scenic landscapes, which change at every curb.  Stops are made at the small towns that produce a variety of handcrafts.  Visit Chordeleg, famous for the gold work.  After lunch, follow the road along the banks of the Santa Barbara river, lined with weeping willows to the village of Gualaceo. Return to Cuenca in the afternoon and transfer to the airport for the return flight. On arrival to Quito, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Check-in for a two night stay. (B, L)

Day 11/Sat: Otavalo Indian Market. Full day group tour to visit Otavalo--South America's most famous Indian fair. Here Otavaleños barter in silence, in marked contrast to the raucous noise of other markets. Early departure from Quito through dramatic mountain scenery. You will have ample time to visit the famous market and stroll along the narrow cobblestone streets filled with Otavalo Indians wearing blue ponchos, white trousers and long braided hair. Lunch is at one of the charming country inns or haciendas. (B, L)

Dress in layers (T-shirt, blouse, sweater, coat). Take a sweater even if the day is warm and sunny and rain protection from February to May. This tour includes walking at an altitude of 2800 meters (9200 feet) . Sun protection (SPF 40). Good walking shoes. Great Photo ops.

Day 12/Sun: Transfer to the airport, or continue with more sightseeing. (B)

B=Breakfast; L=Lunch; D=Dinner

Trip notes:

• This trip begins and ends in Quito, Ecuador, which can be reach by daily flights on a wide variety of airlines.
• Prices for a 3 star hotel in Quito stay at the Hostal La Rabida, 4 star hotel is the Mercure Alameda; and 5 star is the Hilton Colon. Other hotels can be substituted and will be charged the corresponding rate.
• Domestic flights Quito-Coca-Quito and Cuenca-Quito are required for this itinerary. These tickets will be confirmed by our local office along with your tours. Current cost is $205 round-trip, subject to change.
• Weight Limit for the commercial flights in Ecuador
  Passengers on flights Quito – Coca and Cuenca-Quito are allowed to check in a maximum of 20 Kg per person (44 lbs) plus a carry on – hand luggage with reading material, camera, binoculars and personal documents. Additional or excess baggage is charged directly by the airline by pound.
• For your travels to the Amazon, and Cuenca via the Chiva Express, we request you plan to leave behind all un-needed items in luggage storage at your hotel
• Latin American Escapes offers excellent discounted international airfares from most US cities, local airpasses, and complete land packages through-out Latin America.
• Combine this trip with a Galapagos cruise, Amazon adventure, or add a few extra days in Quito to explore the city, or visit the museums and art galleries.

To confirm reservations:

A deposit of $300 per person is required to confirm reservations. In addition, the following payment procedures apply:

Payment for airline tickets is due at the time tickets are issued, but no later than time of final payment.

Last Minute Bookings: Last minute reservations (less than 30 days before departure) will be accepted, subject to availability, if payment has been received, and documents can be delivered. Any special communication costs and delivery charges will be at the client's expense.

Revision Fee: Revision fees will apply once the initial deposit has been received. Charges will vary based on itinerary, and extent of changes, with a minimum charge of $50. Changes requested after documents have been issued (generally with-in 30 days) will incur a minimum $100 change fee, plus additional services requested.

International bookings: We gladly accept bookings from passengers outside the US. However, an additional surcharge of $50 per booking is applied to cover additional shipping charges.

CANCELLATIONS & REFUNDS--At the time we receive written notification that you must cancel your trip, money will be returned less the following cancellation fees:

Trip Documents: Trip documents will be forwarded approximately 3 weeks prior to travel, and once all payments and completed application forms have been received.

Risk and Responsibility

In arranging these trips, Latin American Escapes, Inc. acts only as the agents for the owners, contractors and suppliers actually providing tour services for these trips with whom Latin American Escapes, Inc. has no legal connection or joint ownership. These local tour operators attempt to conduct these trips as described in the preceding itineraries. However, it is possible that due to transportation schedule changes, weather, delays and unforeseeable acts of God, humans or nature, itineraries may vary from what is described. Participants are responsible for extra costs due to travel delay or itinerary changes for reasons beyond our control and assume all risks, whether identified in advance or unforeseen, as described under Limitation of Liability, and Trip Member Responsibility, located in our Terms and Conditions, which all travelers agree to sign. Traveler's insurance is not included, but is offered, and is strongly recommended. CST # 2023695-40.