Compare Ecuador Nature Tour |Andes Highlights&Upper Amazon Basin by Latin Adventures

Day 1: Arrival in Quito

Accommodation: Hotel Eugenia(Standard); Hotel Casona de la Ronda (Comfort); Swissotel Quito (Luxury)

Welcome to Ecuador! Upon arrival at the airport, you will be picked brought to your hotel in Quito. Depending on your arrival time you can enjoy the city by night or relax and prepare yourself for your following adventurous days in Ecuador.

Day 2: Quito City Tour – Cable Car – Mitad del Mundo

Accommodation: Hotel Eugenia(Standard); Hotel Casona de la Ronda (Comfort); Swissotel Quito (Luxury)

This city tour and Teleférico is a full day tour which includes the Basilica Church, where you will make a brief stop and next visit the “San Juan Mirador” from where you will have a beautiful view of The Colonial Center of Quito. After walking through the colonial streets, you will then stop at the Independence Plaza to admire the Cathedral and the Government’s Palace. Then you will visit La Ronda Street, The Company Church, Santo Domingo´s Church, The Sagrario´s Church and San Francisco´s Church, which was built during the 17th century. After visiting the historical site, you will go to the Teleférico. This is one of the best ways to enjoy the city with views of beautiful valleys, snow-capped mountains and the capital Quito. From a point of more than 13,000 feet (4000 m) high, you will enjoy magnificent views. In the afternoon, you'll will go to Mitad del Mundo which is located fifty minutes from the northwest of Quito (Ecuador). You will visit the current equatorial line and straddle the two hemispheres. In addition you’ll have the chance to participate in several experiments at the Intiñan Museum. Things like watching water go down a drain in a different direction only inches away from either side of the equator, or balancing an egg on a nail, or using an ancient sun dial are some examples of what you can experiment here. Overnight in Quito

Day 3: Otavalo Market – Peguche Village – Cuicocha Lake

Accommodation: Hotel Eugenia(Standard); Hotel Casona de la Ronda (Comfort); Swissotel Quito (Luxury)

In the morning, we begin this trip from Quito, heading north along the Pan-American Highway and making a brief stop in the town of Miralago for a superb view of Lake San Pablo. During this stop, you will also have a chance to taste delicious bizcochos, a type of cookie or bread baked in a clay oven and covered with local cheese or caramel sauce. From there we will head to the town of Otavalo, home to Ecuador's largest indigenous market and one of the best known in all of Latin America. The market sets up every day, allowing you to spend a few hours wandering through this bustling handicrafts center, in addition to its food stalls. Later, it will be up to you if you'd like to go for a short hike around beautiful Lake Cuicocha or do a bit more Otavalo shopping and people watching. We can also visit a family of weavers who not only have amazing wares but will actually demonstrate how they weave on their traditional back-strap looms and show you their techniques for making striking colors from local plants. Overnight in Quito.

Day 4: Cotopaxi National Park – Hike – Interpretation Center

Accommodation: Hotel Mama Hilda (Standard); Black Sheep Lodge (Comfort); San Agustin de Callo (Luxury)

Departure in the morning to reach the Cotopaxi National Park in Cotopaxi province where we will visit the Interpretation Center and Limpiopungo lagoon; posibility to take a short hike in the surrounding of Limpiopungo valley, then we will drive up to 4.500 meters and walk up to Padre Rivas Refuge (4.830 meters). Stop for a drink in the refuge, after that if you are in a good shape try to get to the glacier (5.050 meters) Overnight in Chugchilan

Day 5: Andes Landscape – Hike – Local Communities – Lake

Accommodation: Hotel La Floresta (Standard); Samari Spa & Resort (Comfort); Luna Runtun Spa (Luxury)

On the way to Quilotoa we will stop to visit and indigenous local house from the “Paramos”, we will observe their clothes and customs, but the most important thing is that we are going to be with them in a typical indigenous house made of straw. we will sharing with them a short moment talking, watching and learning from them, about their life and how they prepare the soil to sow. We will also visit the town of Tigua, famous for its naive paintings. We will continue up to the Quilotoa volcano, where you will be able to descend to the lake located inside the crater or just walk around the crater. Prepare yourself to enjoy an unforgettable experience by mule back riding! Enjoy of the most beautiful landscape in the highlands and traditional indigenous villages! Overnight in Baños Note: on Thursdays, Saquisilí Indigenous Market; optional.

Day 6: Pintoresque Waterfalls – Hot Springs – Village Scenery

Accommodation: Hotel La Floresta (Standard); Samari Spa & Resort (Comfort); Luna Runtun Spa (Luxury)

A full day of exploration of the town of Baños and the picturesque Valley of the waterfalls. The Pailon del Diablo, is the largest and most spectacular Ecuador´s falls but other smaller ones are also impressive. There is also an opportunity to visit the hotsprings after which the town has been named. Our driver is at your disposal for the whole day to give you maximum flexibility in the visits that you would like to make such as: Visit to The House Tree, rafting, adventure activities, rest in the hotel, etc. Overnight in Baños

Day 7: Upper Amazon Rainforest - Arrival to the Lodge

Accommodation: Suchipakari Jungle Lodge (Standard); Hamadryade Lodge (Comfort); Hamadryade Lodge (Luxury)

After breakfast around 9:00 am departure from Baños to Tena to get to our new experience of travelling in the upper Amazon basin. Lodge´s welcome and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon jungle walking in the surroundings to know more about medicinal plants of the jungle. Relax in the Lodge. This itinerary is subject to change.

Hotels

Day 8: Jungle hike – Swimming in the river- Canoe paddle – Wildlife

Accommodation: Suchipakari Jungle Lodge (Standard); Hamadryade Lodge (Comfort); Hamadryade Lodge (Luxury)

This day we will enjoy of a nice jungle hiking to visit a waterfall and know more flora and fauna of the rainforest. Activities like canoe paddle, swimming in the river are involved in this full day. Depending on the Lodge cuastomers choose for this trip we will visit and indigenous community to learn and share with them a couple of hours. This itinerary is subject to change.

Hotels

Day 9: Termas de Papallacta Spa – Relaxation

Accommodation: Termas Papallacta Spa (Standard); Termas Papallacta Spa (Comfort and luxury)

Breakfast, enjoy and relax at the Lodge in the morning . After lunch, we will head to Termas de Papallacta Spa (3 hours by car) where you will enjoy of a delicious bath taking advantage of the medicinal benefits that this place hot spring offer.

Day 10: Termas de Papallacta Spa – Relaxation – Airport transfer

This day you will enjoy of one of the best hotsprings Spa of Ecuador offers. Short hike in the surroundings in a private reserve. Transfer to international Airport Mariscal Sucre or Quito. Depending on your flight time. End of our services Note: This tour finishes after lunch, so please tell us in case you have a late flight to return to your country.