/ Ecuador Adventure (13 Days)/

Oyacachi - Papallacta - Sierra Azul, Natural Forest Reserve - Rafting / Jatunyacu River - Liana Lodge / Napo River - Baños -Cotopaxi National Park - Chúgchilan - Quilotoa Crater Lagoon - Zumbahua Market - Rafting /Blanco River - Pacific Coast

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• Thermal baths, mysterious cloud forests, magical waterfalls and deep gorges, breezy valleys and hills, impressive snow-capped volcanoes, typical indigenous markets, plantations that stretch as far as the eye can see, and isolated beaches. In no other part of the world can you appreciate so much natural and cultural diversity in such a small area. The activities we will enjoy during our trip are as diverse as the country itself:
  
  Our trip will include long walks in the forest and through the Andean territory, where we will go mountain biking, horseback riding, and also rafting.
  
  Trips depart every Wednesday from Quito (13 days)
  
  
  

  Day 1	Oyacachi - Papallacta. After a one-hour trip along the Pan-American highway we will turn off the highway and follow a path that passes through colorful landscapes and small towns. If weather permits, we will be able to see the majestic snow- covered summit of Cayambe (5,790 ms.) Later we will head to Oyacachi, a small town in a deep valley, that just a few years ago, could only be reached on donkey or along narrow paths. We will take a long walk which will allow us to enjoy the beautiful scenery and later we can relax in the thermal baths. We will spend the night in the Termas de Papallacta Hotel.
  Day 2	Sierra Azul Forest Reserve. At dawn we will head towards the Sierra Azul Forest Reserve. There we will take a long walk that will last the entire day, during which we will pass through thick forests and later arrive at a waterfall. We will stay at the Sierra Azul Lodge.
  Day 3	Rafting / Jatunyacu River - Liana Lodge. After breakfast we will travel to Tena. An expert rafting guide will meet us at the river to give us a short course on the main rafting safety techniques. After the course, we will begin our exciting adventure (approximately 3 hours)! We will stay at Liana Lodge in a tropical atmosphere, located alongside of the Napo River.
  Day 4	Liana Lodge . We will take a long walk through the forest. Today we will hike with an Indigenous Quichua guide. Our knowledgeable guide will explain to us all there is to know about the incredibly diverse flora and fauna of the forest. After a typical picnic deep in the forest, we will arrive, around dusk, at the Liana Lodge.
  Day 5	Canyon Pastaza - Baños. At noon we will walk along the wild and romantic Canyon de Pastaza heading towards Baños. Along the way we will walk to the "Pailón del Diablo" Waterfall. We will spend the night at the Hostal Isla de Baños.
  Day 6	Baños and its surroundings. The small city of Baños and its surroundings offer a great variety of adventure possibilities. We will take an excursion to the base of the Tungurahua Volcano where we will go mountain biking and discover Tungurahua's surroundings. Later we will walk the streets of the colorful and alive city, or simply relax in hot thermal waters. We will again spend the night in the Hostal Isla de Baños.
  Day 7	Cotopaxi National Park Refuge. Today we will continue on to Latacunga and Cotopaxi National Park. In our vehicle we will climb to a height of 4,500 meters. From here we will walk 45 minutes to the Jose Ribas Refuge located at 4,800 meters. Not too far from the refuge is a glacial crack of Cotopaxi Volcano (5,897 meters) which we can admire. At dusk we will arrive at Volcano Land, a traditional house on beautiful property.
  Day 8	Cotopaxi National Park. We will take a stroll where the cattle ranchers ("Chagras") of the Andes work, traveling through the most picturesque paramo landscapes on our way to the dormant Rumiñahui Volcano (4,700 mts). As an alternative, we can go "trekking" to Rumiñahui or cross the National Park on mountain bikes. We will, once again, spend the night at Volcano Land.
  Day 9	Chugchilan. We continue our trip along a curving freeway, crossing through colorful Andean landscape on our way to the small town of Chugchilan. In the afternoon, we will have time for a stroll or a visit to a local cheese factory. We will spend the night in the rustic and cozy Black Sheep Inn.
  Day 10	Quilotoa Lagoon. On a windy road with a spectacular view of the Canyon de Toachi, we will travel to the colorful Quilotoa Lagoon. If you wish, we can get out at the crater's edge and then ascend to the lagoon. We will return on mule. Later, led by a native guide, we will walk for 4-5 hours through the Canyon de Toachi and then return to Chugchilán. We will spend the night in the Black Sheep Inn.
  Day 11	Mercado Zumbahua - Valle Hermoso. At dawn we will head to Zumbahua, where every Saturday you can visit one of Ecuador's oldest indigenous markets. After the market, you will witness the llamas carrying the purchases to the homes of the indigenous. We will pass through hills and mountains as we head from the highlands towards to the coastal region. We will spend the night in the La Cascada en el Valle Hermoso Hotel.
  Day 12	Rafting on the Toachi River / Blanco River - Pacífic Coast. In the morning we will go rafting for 3 hours on the Toachi or Blanco River. We will continue to the Pacific coast. In the afternoon, we will reach the beautiful and solitary beaches of the Hotel Cumilinche Club.
  Day 13	Beach - Return to Quito. During the day we will have free time to enjoy the beach. Our guide will leave in the morning to return to Quito. In the late afternoon an organized taxi will transfer us to the airport in Esmeraldas and, from there, we will fly to Quito. If you would like to stay a few days more at the Cumilinche Hotel, it can be easily arranged.

  
  

  Trip includes:	Private transportation in a comfortable vehicle Certified bilingual guide lodging at the Sierra Azul Lodge, Liana Lodge, Volcano Land, and Black Sheep Inn breakfast lunch on rafting trips various park entrance fees (depending on the program) flight Esmeraldas to Quito.
  Not included:	Meals not mentioned drinks and all personal purchases. Tips .

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