Compare Andes to Amazon by Exodus Travels vs Cultural Ecuador: Mountains to the Sea by Audley Travel
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 14 days | 11 days |
| Price From | $ 3,825 | $ 5,694 |
| Price Per Day | $ 273 | $ 518 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included | All breakfasts, five lunches and three dinners are included. Hotel breakfasts are normally buffets with toast, cereal, eggs, fruits and tea/coffee. For lunch and dinner, the tour leader will recommend various options in convenient locations, usually booking restaurants and eating with the group. Vegetarians can be catered for but please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests. | N/A |
| Description |
Andean ranges, colonial landmarks, effervescent indigenous markets and verdant cloud forests are just the start of the wonders we see on this Ecuadorian adventure. We also follow the Avenue of the Volcanoes where we glimpse the snow-capped peaks of Cayambe and Chimborazo, and stay in the Amazon Rainforest, which we share with monkeys and more. It finished on the Pacific coast, where we take to boats to navigate mangroves and visit a cacao plantation – a fitting end to a trip packed with adventure and culture.Discover the best of mainland Ecuador: wildlife, jungles, volcanoes and coast |
Ecuador may be slightly dwarfed by other South American countries, but it punches well above its weight. It’s tempting to pass through only the mainland en route to the celebrated Galapagos Islands, but our specialists would urge you to holiday in continental Ecuador, too. They’re able to help you experience all the country’s beguiling variety in a tailor-made Ecuador itinerary. |
Day 1 Start Quito
Welcome to Quito, the capital of Ecuador. There’s a free transfer from the airport to the hotel for all customers today, please read the joining instructions for more details. Accommodation: Hotel Vieja Cuba (or similar)
Day 2 Quito city tour; Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve
A short walking tour of Quito this morning is the perfect opportunity to meet your guide and get to know your fellow travellers. The heart of old Quito is a colonial masterpiece and the capital is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in South America, as well as being a Unesco-listed site. Leaving Quito, we head to the Bellavista Cloud Forest on the northwestern slopes of the Andes. En route, we stop at the Intiñan Equator Museum, an interactive outdoors museum that sits directly on the middle of the earth. Here, a guide takes us around the exhibits and we can do fun science experiments only possible at the equator, while also collecting a stamp in our passports to say we have been on the equatorial line. After, we continue to Bellavista. Situated at the top of the Tandayapa Valley, it is a private reserve bursting with orchids, bromeliads, toucans, tanagers and hummingbirds. The area is a paradise for naturalists with a vast network of hiking trails. Accommodation: Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve & Lodge (or similar)
Day 3 Spot birds in Bellavista; to hacienda
We have an early start this morning to appreciate the diversity of Bellavista and spot some of the many resident bird species – there are 20 hummingbird species here alone! Following this morning's excursion, we drive towards northern Ecuador and the beautiful hacienda that will be our home for the next few nights. Accommodation: Hosteria Pantavi (or similar)
Day 4 Visit San Clemente indigenous community
After breakfast, we travel towards the foothills of the Imbabura Volcano where the indigenous community of San Clemente resides at 9,515ft (2,900m). The community consists of several families whose main livelihood is farming and agriculture. We have a guided tour by one of the families, who introduces us to native and medicinal plants, explains traditional embroidery techniques, tells us about their culture and shows us the day-to-day activities that take place here. A traditional lunch will be prepared using locally grown produce. This afternoon, we drive back to our hacienda with the rest of the day free to relax in the beautiful gardens. Accommodation: Hosteria Pantavi (or similar)
Day 5 Walk at Cuicocha Crater Lake; visit Otavalo
We start with a drive to Cuicocha Crater Lake at approximately 10,665ft (3,250m). This beautiful caldera (volcanic crater) is about 2mi (3km) wide and was formed more than 3,000 years ago by a massive volcanic eruption. We start with a scenic walk (up to three hours) along one section of the lake to take in the impressive scenery. We then continue to Otavalo, which is situated in a valley at 7,380ft (2,250m) with a bustling indigenous market. There are many stalls and the local people wear colourful traditional clothing, a fantastic introduction to Andean life and a good place to pick up souvenirs. We have time to soak up the atmosphere before continuing to our overnight stay, a 400-year-old colonial hacienda. Accommodation: Hacienda San José de Puembo (or similar)
Day 6 Visit Papallacta Hot Springs; to Amazon Rainforest
A short drive over the dramatic (and breathless at 13,350ft/4,069m) Papallacta Pass. East of Quito, the Papallacta Hot Springs are regarded as the nicest in Ecuador. We have time to bathe in both hot and cold pools as the snow-capped Antisana Volcano looms over the horizon. We continue our journey, driving around the volcano flanks before a descent into the Amazon Basin to our rainforest lodge. After a short briefing, we take a night walk to discover our new surroundings; there are fantastic night-time sounds to listen out for, a wonderful experience amid the rainforest humidity. Accommodation: Liana Lodge (or similar)
Day 7 Rainforest exploration; AmaZoonico Animal Rescue Centre
Today we discover the Amazon Basin on foot, the incredible biodiversity explained by our indigenous guide. There is a good chance of seeing kingfishers, parrots, oropendolas and other bird species. We have a good chance of seeing squirrel and capuchin monkeys, although other larger mammals are considerably more shy and harder to spot. The insect life is also fascinating, with beautiful butterflies flashing by and army and leafcutter ants on patrol. We also visit the AmaZoonico Animal Rescue Centre where we can see some of the larger forest inhabitants, such as tapirs, capibaras, peccaries and various monkey species. Accommodation: Liana Lodge (or similar)
Day 8 To Baños; visit Devil's Cauldron waterfall
We begin the wonderfully scenic drive west along the Road of the Waterfalls with spectacular views of the upper Amazon Basin and the Andes. The climb back to the highlands is mesmerising as we watch the ecology change and many waterfalls cascade from the high peaks into the lush valley of the Pastaza River. There are good photo opportunities along the way, including a visit to the Pailon del Diablo (Devil's Cauldron) waterfall. We continue to Baños, a picturesque hot spring and pilgrim town adjacent to the 16,400ft (5,000m) tall Tungurahua volcano. In the late afternoon, we have a walking tour of Baños with an optional visit to the thermal baths. Accommodation: La Floresta Hotel (or similar)
Day 9 Walk in Chimborazo National Park
We drive to the Chimborazo region for a short walk (around two hours) in Chimborazo National Park, climbing from 15,090ft to 16,400ft (4,600m to 5,000m). Given the altitude, we take the climb slowly with plenty of stops to enjoy the view. Due to the equatorial bulge, the Chimborazo summit is the furthest place from the centre of the earth. In the national park, there are good possibilities to observe vicuñas, a relative of the llama. This afternoon, we continue south to Riobamba. Accommodation: Hacienda Abraspungo (or similar)
Day 10 To Ingapirca and Cuenca
We have an early start today as we head to Cuenca, stopping to visit the Balbanera Church before continuing to Ingapirca, the largest Inca ruins in Ecuador. The Inca empire stretched along the Andes north through Ecuador into Colombia and south through Peru and deep into Chile. Ingapirca has fine examples of their famed brickwork plus a solar observatory. We descend from the highlands to colonial Cuenca where we stay for the next two nights. Accommodation: Hotel Carvallo (or similar)
Day 11 Half-day city tour of Cuenca
Like the old centre in Quito, Cuenca is a Unesco World Heritage site and a charming place to explore. A guided tour this morning takes into the remarkably intact old town, where many artisans have taken up residence amid the narrow colonial streets and famous landmarks. The afternoon is free to discover the town at your own leisure. Accommodation: Hotel Carvallo (or similar)
Day 12 Walk in Cajas National Park; to Las Chorreras
A short drive this morning brings us to Cajas National Park, known as the Gateway to the Snowy Mountains in Quichua. This is a stunning area of lofty peaks, lagoons, lakes and rivers amid pristine paramo vegetation. During a walk of around two hours, we may encounter some of the 125 bird species recorded here, such as yellow-billed pintails, Ecuadorian hillstars or violet-throated metaltails. We stay in a hotel close to Cajas National Park for our last night in the Andean Highlands before we descend towards the coast. Accommodation: Hosteria Dos Chorreras (or similar)
Day 13 Mangrove boat trip; visit cacao plantation
Today we descend towards the Pacific and visit the Manglares Churute Ecological Reserve where we take a boat through mangrove forest. This important ecosystem has both red and black mangrove species and provides opportunities for seeing several aquatic birds and other wildlife along the many small river inlets. In the afternoon, we visit a cacao plantation to learn about the production of one of Ecuador's biggest exports. We then travel to Guayaquil, the main port town in Ecuador, for our final evening together. Accommodation: Grand Hotel Guayaquil (or similar)
Day 14 Depart Guayaquil
The trip comes to an end today after breakfast and it's time to bid Ecuador and the rest of the group goodbye and begin our return journey home.
Day 1 : Quito
Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Quito. You'll be met at the airport and transferred to Casona de la Ronda, where you'll stay for two nights. In the afternoon you'll stretch your legs with a private walking tour of Quito's historic colonial center.
Day 2 : Quito
Today you'll drive north with your guide for a visit to Otavalo where you'll visit the indigenous market as well as several nearby towns famous for their exceptional artisans.
Day 3 : Riobamba
From Quito your guide will drive you south, following the beautiful scenery of the Andes and visiting a local market along the way. In Riobamba you'll spend two nights at Hosteria Abraspungo.
Day 4 : Riobamba
Today you'll visit San Rafael, an indigenous community high in the mountains, where you'll see the Alpaca project, which introduces a sustainable source of income to this remote community.
Day 5 : Cuenca
You'll continue by car and then by train through the Volcano route of Ecuador to Cuenca where you'll stay three nights at Mansion Alcazar.
Day 6 : Cuenca
Your guide will give you a private tour of charming Cuenca, including stops at Plaza San Sebastian and El Carmen de la Asuncion.
Day 7 : Cuenca
Today's tour will focus on the numerous handicrafts made in Cuenca and the surrounding villages with visits to their workshops and galleries.
Day 8 : Hacienda La Danesa
From Cuenca you'll be driven to Hacienda La Danesa, where you'll relax at this authentic farmhouse in the countryside, enjoying activities at the property.
Day 9 : Hacienda La Danesa
Excursions from the hacienda can include horseback riding, bicycling, tubing and demonstrations of farm work, while you'll enjoy delicious meals made from ingredients sourced on site.
Day 10 : International return flight
You'll have the morning to relax before heading to the airport in Guayaquil for your flight home.
Day 11 : International return flight
Arrive home today to complete your journey.
