Ecuador Adrenaline Overload

Flying into South America Via Ecuador? Start with this trip (you can also end with this too). With so many exciting adventures packed into one week, this might be the highlight of your whole trip. The perfect way to acclimatise into South America (literally).

Want to do more?

This trip is designed as an exciting acclimatisation package, if you want to visit the Galapagos or attempt a Cotopaxi climb you can add them onto your trip. This is also a great way to end a trip if flying from Quito or start a trip combining this with a travel pass.

Galapagos

The Galapagos is one of the world´s most incredible wildlife destinations. A trip to this part of the world is a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to visit one of the most bio-diverse places on earth. On land you can expect to encounter seals, sea lions, land & marine iguanas, lizards, crabs, boobies, frigate birds, penguins, albatross and of course the famous Galapagos giant tortoise. Underwater encounters can include turtles, manta rays, sharks and all manner of tropical fish!

You will definitely come away with a million memories and probably just as many photos!

CotoPaxi

For the serious adventurer there is nothing like being able to stroll into the pub and say ´I remember when I summited one of the highest active volcanoes in the world´. Now you can. Bolt on the five day Cotopaxi climb and bring out the big guns.

Ready to then hit the beach and learn some Spanish? Bolt on the Ecuador Spanish and Surf.

Photos

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive to Quito, transfer from airport to hostel.

Night in Quito – hostel accommodation.

Day 2: Quito City Tour

Mitad del Mundo is an absolute must-see when visiting Ecuador! Visit the world’s actual equator and stand with the world in your hands in front of the monument as you are simultaneously in both the Southern and Northern hemispheres! The National museum, located inside the monument, will give provide an insight into the rich indigenous culture of Ecuador. A short walk down the street will take you to the intriguing museum of Intiñan where you will have the opportunity to perform a variety of experiments that will prove you are actually at the equator!

Next stop is the TeleferiQo – the best place to take in the incredible expanse of city, mountain and volcano that forms Ecuador’s capital city, Quito! You will travel by the second longest cable car in the world cable car from 3050m on the lower slopes of Volcan Pichincha, all the way up to 4050m! At the top you will be able to see the ice-capped volcanoes of Cayambe, Antisana and Cotopaxi from the mountainside lookouts!

• 10:00 Meet at the office for transfer to Mitad del Mundo
• 10:30 Arrive at Mitad del Mundo. Straddle the equator and take pictures!
• 10:45 Experience the National Museum inside the monument
• 11:15 Arrive at Intiñan Museum and perform experiments
• 12:15 Depart Mitad del Mundo
• 12:45 TeleferiQo
• 14:45 Depart TeleferiQo and transfer back to the Mariscal

* Night in Quito (B)

Day 3 – White Water Rafting

The Toachi and Blanco rivers are a blast for experienced rafters and have proved to be the beginning of a whitewater addiction for thousands of first-timers. Flowing off the coastal side of the Andes they have some of the longest navigable sections of whitewater in the country. Combine this with the sights and sounds of the forest environment we pass through and you are guaranteed a day to remember.
The day starts when we pick you up from our meeting point in Quito (6.30am). We travel west down through beautiful cloud forest to the shores of the river. The trip will take about 3 hours.
Before setting off down the river, we will fit you with life jackets and helmets, give you a comprehensive safety briefing and train each crew in the paddling techniques needed to navigate our way down the river.

Once on the river you can expect both the action of thrilling whitewater and the tranquility of drifting silently through tropical rainforests. So while you’re guaranteed to get wet you’ll also have the opportunity to be absorbed by the sounds of the forest and to see wildlife up close from our mobile ‘viewing platform’. Rafting time approximately 3½ hrs.
During the trip we’ll stop by the side of the river for a delicious picnic lunch including fresh tropical fruits and served with soft drinks, juice and water. At the end of the trip we celebrate a fun day on the river with a few ice-cold beers and return to Quito. Arrival time is approximately 7pm but may be earlier or later depending on the river level and traffic conditions.

*Night Quito (B,L)

Day 4: Otovalo Market

You can’t put a price on goatskin trousers, well actually you can in Otovalo. There are a few locations in South America there are better to acquire some authentic handicrafts than Otovalo.

A welcome rest from all the adventure, this is your chance to meet locals, check out the impressive array of handmade local crafts and check out your own haggling skills.

Day 5: Mount Up! Horseback riding

Get out and about in the wilderness and see for yourself the Avenue of the Volcanoes from a different perspective – on horseback! With trails and horses suitable for beginner and experienced riders, this is a great way to enjoy the great outdoors.

• 10:00 Start the ride

Ride along Papagayo Farm and see the spectacular panoramic views of Pasochoa,
Corazon, Ilinizas…

• 14:00 Arriving back to the Hosteria

Afternoon – enjoy the garden and the Jacuzzi of Papagayo.
*Night in the Avenue of the Volcanoes – Hosteria PapaGayo (B, L)

Day 6: Quilotoa Lagoon

Today you will see the breathtaking views of the emerald green volcanic crater lake – Quilotoa. On the journey there, we pass through the Andean mountains, 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. We will then set off on the steep hike down to the shoreline of the lake, where you will have the option of kayaking, and then either hiking back up to the rim, or using a mule!

• 08:15 Depart PapaGayo to pick up other clients. Leave to the Laguna.
• 09:30 Explore Pujili/Saquisili and visit a native family.
• 10:30 Depart to Laguna Quilotoa (park entrance fee: $2)
• 13:00 Begin descent to the Laguna
• 14:30 Begin ascent to the Laguna viewpoint / rent mules $8 (optional)
• 15:30 Lunch
• 16:30 Return back to PapaGayo
• 18:30 Arrive at PapaGayo for chocolate cake and hot coffee / tea

*Night at the Avenue of the Volcanos – Hosteria PapaGayo (B,L)

Day 7: Biking in Antisana NP

The Andean landscape in Ecuador will be even more spectacular exploring it by bike!! Don’t think about it, come with us and we will provide you the best equipment that you will require to get to Cotopaxi National Park. Besides enjoying the highest active volcano at 5,897 meter (19347 feet), we will get to Limpiopungo to admire the reason why Cotopaxi means Moon’s throne. Inside the national park we hike up to the refuge which is situated at 4,810meters (15780 feet) on the Cotopaxi snowline.

• 08:00: Pick Up and leave towards Cotopaxi.
•  09:00: Enter to Cotopaxi National Park.
•  09:30: Visit to the museum and explanations of the area, volcanoes, animals, etc.
•  10:45: Arrive at the parking lot at 4,500m (14763ft), and begin hike up to “Jose Rivas” refuge.
•  11:30: Reach refuge at 4,810m (15780 ft). Rest, enjoy the view…
•  12:00: Hike to the glaciers (below decision of the guide depending on the weather) 5,000m (16404 ft) and return to the parking lot. Drive to departure point.
•  14:00: Equipment and bikes check and short briefing – begin decent on mountain bike.
•  14:35: Arrive at Laguna Limpiopungo via bike. After short rest depart Cotopaxi National Park.
•  15:40: Lunch.
•  17:30: Chocolate cake and hot coffee / tea (you have the option to spend the night in Hosteria PapaGayo, for more information please asks us…)
•  19:00: Return

*Night in the Avenue of the Volcanoes – Hosteria PapaGayo or transfer back to Quito (B,L)

Accommodation

The first three nights you stay in a hostel in Quito.

On day four we move to a great place just outside Quito in Cotopaxi National Park. A charming 150 year old farmhouse in the spectacular “Avenue of the Volcanoes”, a part of the western mountain range of the Andes located south of Quito in Ecuador.

This colonial hosteria accommodation near the volcano Cotopaxi does not only offer magnificent views of the untouched country-side, but also gives you the possibility to experience the culture of the Andes’ local communities. At the altitude of 3200m you can comfortably acclimatize and prepare yourself for the climbing of Cotopaxi, Ilinizas or even Chimborazo.

Price

Dates

The start date for this trip is flexible please contact us with your preferred start dates.