Countries visited:
Ecuador

Tour Highlights:
Quito
Otavalo
Amazon
La Punta Ahuano
Cotopaxi National Park

 

 

Day 1 Quito, Ecuador
Arrive at Quito Airport and have a transfer to your hotel. Accommodation and evening at leisure.

Day 2 Quito - Otavalo
In the morning have an orientation tour of Quito, starting with the Congress Building and the old town of Quito and learn about the Ecuador's history. See the Independence Plaza, the Cathedral, Presidential Palace, and the Archbishop's Palace. Visit La Compañia Church or the Church of San Francisco. Finish with the Middle of the World Monument, located at a latitude of 0º, and stand with one foot in the Northern and one in the Southern Hemisphere. This afternoon, transfer by bus to Otavalo for overnight.

Day 3 Otavalo - Papallacta
Enjoy a tour of the market in Otavalo, one of the largest in South America and run by the local Otavaleño Indians. Let the lively market atmosphere gets you, where the stalls are full of traditional goods such as hand-woven clothes and rugs, jewelry, fruits, vegetables and more. Then, visit the surrounding towns of Cotacachi, known for its leather handicrafts, and Peguche, known for its beautiful waterfall. This afternoon, transfer to Papallacta located in the Andes Mountains. Have the afternoon at leisure in the city, famous with its hot springs. Overnight in Papallacta.

Day 4 Papallacta - Amazon Resort
Leave Papallacta and head to La Punta Ahuano, a small Quechua village on the Napo River. From here you will board a canoe that will take you to your Amazon lodge. Once you are here, you will be amazed by both the wildlife and the culture inherent to the Amazon. In the afternoon, visit Ahuano to have the opportunity to meet a local Quechua family and learn about their way of life first hand before returning to the hotel.

Day 5 Amazon
This morning explore the local flora and fauna by hiking to the Napo river for approximately two hours. The Amazon rainforest is the world's largest ecosystem, so be sure to keep an eye out for the innumerable species of tropical plants and flowers, insects, and butterflies. Enjoy the views as you cross suspended bridges and fly through the jungle on a short zipline basket ride. At the end of the hike, don’t miss to try a rafting trip on a traditional balsa log raft or a visit to the Butterfly farm.

Day 6 Amazon - Baños - Patate
This morning, board a canoe for the short trip back to La Punta Ahuano and continue travelling by bus to Patate. En route, make some stops for visiting the small town of Puyo, also called "City of the Clouds”, and Baños, noted for its thermal springs and beautiful highland scenery. In Baños have the chance to see a demonstration on vegetable ivory, a traditional craft that utilizes palm nuts to make jewelry and animal carvings. Along the way, don’t miss El Pailon del Diablo or "The Devil's Cauldron", one of Ecuador's most beautiful waterfalls. In the late afternoon, check into your hotel in Patate. Evening at leisure.

Day 7 Patate - Cotopaxi National Park - Quito
Today enjoy a visit to Cotopaxi National Park with the volcano that lends its name to the park. home to some of the highest altitude volcanoes in the world. The picturesque Cotopaxi Volcano is one of the highest altitude active volcanoes in the world. In the protected area you can also see a wide variety of local wildlife including wild horses and the elusive Andean Condor. You can have an optional an hour-long hike around the Limpiopungo Lake to admire some more beautiful scenery. After the excursion, continue to Quito, world’s highest capital city.

Day 8 Quito
Transfer to the airport for your flight back home.