Ecuador Adventure

Enjoy the thrills of adventure activities while exploring cloud forest, rainforest and the peaks of the famous Andes mountain rage. This trip works particularly well for families & friends that share a sense of adventure and discovery.

Start with a hike around the famous Cotopaxi Volcano—the world’s highest active volcano, and continue to the cloud forests near Patate and Banos for a fun mountain bike ride on unspoiled roads. Then descend into the Amazon rainforest for 2 days of spectacular river rafting. Finish with a soak in the Papallacata Hot Springs—a perfect ending to a perfect trip!

2009 Departures:

• Any day/June to December
• Minimum of 4 passengers

2009 Prices:  $1875 per person

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

Note: Note: This is a fully escorted tour private tour. Trip extensions can be arranged on request.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival to Quito. You will be met as you exit the airport, and transferred to your hotel.

Day 2: Quito 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 (B)

Day 3: Pintag 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. (B, L, D)

Day 4: 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. (B, L, D)

Day 5: Sincholagua – Pita River. 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 a very nice and sheltered place. Camp (12,210ft). (B, L, D)

Day 6:   Manantial-Limpiopungo-Patate After breakfast, this morning we will continue our trek for another 4 hours that will take us to the Manantial, 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. Continuing our trek we will 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 spend the night at a nice hacienda. (B, L, D)

Day 7: Bike tour to – Baños . Today in the morning we will bike downhill to Baños, a small town nestled 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. Enjoy lunch in Baños, and time to stroll around the town. Afternoon return to hacienda for overnight (B, L, D)

Day 8: 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. Overnight at jungle lodge. (B, L, D)

Day 9: 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. Afternoon return to lodge for a jungle walk . (B, L, D)

Day 10: Cotococha – Quito. After breakfast, we begin our return to Quito. On our way we stop at the Papallacta Hot Springs 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. Overnight Quito (B, L)

Day 11: Departure. Transfer to the airport for your departure flight. (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.
• Trip price is based on 3 star hotel accommodations in Quito stay at the Sierra Madre. Upgraded hotels can be requested and will be charged the corresponding rate.
• Latin American Escapes offers excellent discounted international airfares from most US cities, local airpasses, and complete land packages through-out Latin America.
• What to bring for the trek: 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.
• This trip combines easily with a Galapagos cruise, Amazon adventure, or add a few extra days in Quito to explore the city, local markets, 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.