Arrival at Mariscal Sucre Airport, Quito. Transfer to Hilton Colon Hotel

Accommodation: Mercure 4*

Check in – 14:00

Breakfast

Ruco Pichincha 4696m Full Day

We pick you up at your hotel un Quito. Early in the morning we head to the Telefériqo cable cars where we ride the gondola up to 4000m with amazing views of Quito and the Andes. From here we start our trekking towards Ruco Pichincha 4696m, the beautiful rocky mountain overlooking Quito. We pass moorlands and the last section a small rocky easy hike. The trekking takes us about 5-6 hours total.

Includes:

-Professional mountain guide 

-Box lunch

-Private transportation in guide car

-Helmet

-Teleferiqo tickets

Return to the hotel

Accommodation: Mercure 4*

(Breakfast, Box Lunch)

Breakfast

Mindo is a tiny town set amidst some of the most beautiful and peaceful countryside in the entire country. It is a centre for both nature and for adventure activities.

You are going to visit a butterfly farm where you will also be able to see orchids and an array of colourful humming birds. Mindo has a great biodiversity. The forest landscape is home to over 500 species of birds and 400 species of orchids.

You cross the forest area in a cable car, located approximately 30 meters above the ground, then we will walk through the woods.

Another of the most popular activities in Mindo is the zip-lining canopy runs between towers high in the forest.

Also you have a chocolate tour which includes a demonstration of the chocolate-making process .

Return to the hotel

Accommodation: Mercure 4*

(Breakfast)

Breakfast

Trekking Central Andes 5d/4n

We pick you up from your hotel in Quito.

The Pasochoa, an extinct volcano that is very fertile in consequence of the lava and the thousands of years that passed by the eruption. Covered in Andean forests and moorlands, you can find many different species of plants, trees, animals and insects. Our trekking takes about 6-7 hours in total. After reaching Pasochoa Summit (4’200 m / 13’779 feet) we head to our lodge to rest for the night.

 Accommodation: Lodge                         

(Breakfast, Lunch Box, Dinner).

Breakfast

We continue to Cotopaxi National Park. We start our tour at the edge of the stunning Limpiopungo lagoon at 3900m. Rumiñahui is a beautiful rocky mountain which its name means: face of rock: Rumi (piedra) Ñahui (cara). We hike to the summit and back in approx. 4-5h. We traverse beautiful moorlands and the last part to the summit is a fun rocky easy climb to Rumiñahui Central. The view is amazing to active Cotopaxi volcano, Sincholagua, Pasochoa and surrounding valleys. We return to our lodge to rest.

Accommodation: Lodge               

(Breakfast, Lunch Box, Dinner).

Breakfast

The journey takes us about 30min to the Virgin statue nearly at 4000m. The hike to the hut will take us about 2hrs and one hour back. Traversing moorlands and a small polilepis forest, the hike is very scenic with great views of the valley. If guests desire, we can try for the summit of Iliniza North adding additional 2 hours from the hut up, and 2 hours descent total.

Accommodation: Lodge                                               

(Breakfast, Lunch Box, Dinner).

Breakfast

We head to the central Andes. The Quilotoa Lake is one of Ecuador’s most spectacular sites, although relatively off the beaten path. The crater lake was formed when the volcano erupted many thousands of years ago. It is about 250 meters deep and is characterized by its stunningly bright turquoise color. We walk around the lake about 4-5 hours to complete the loop around the crater. Then we will be transferred south to Chimborazo province to our hotel to spend the night.

Accommodation: Lodge / Hotel                

(Breakfast, Lunch Box, Dinner).

Breakfast

Afrer breakfast we go for a wonderful trekking around the area and base of the mountain to admire the moorlands, views and meet the Andean camelid, alpacas and vicuñas. We reach the mountain refuges and reach up to 5000m at the base of the mountain. 

Transport will take us to Termas de Papallacta.

Papallacta is famous for its hot springs,. Papallacta is a small village in Ecuador located at an altitude of 3,300 m in the Andes just off the Eastern Cordilleras on the road from Quito which leads into the Amazon jungle. Descending from the peak to Papallacta, one passes through the portal where the ecosystems transform from alpine to tropical jungle.

There are three important reasons to visit “Termas de Papallacta”: Health, recreation & relaxation.
The thermal baths are located on the banks of the Papallacta River in a unique natural environment; here we can find nine hot thermal pools and three cold water pools. The source temperature of the thermal baths varies between 30°C and 70°C (86°F and 158°F). At the pools the temperature ranges from 36°C to 40°C (97°F to 104°F). Papallacta´s thermal waters contain sulfates, sodium, calcium, chloride and traces of magnesium which are odorless, colorless but have a slightly salty taste.
The baths’ curative properties are anti-allergenic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic and anti-rheumatic.

Accommodation: Termas de Papallacta 4*

(Breakfast, Lunch Box)

Breakfast

THE HEADWATERS RUN
(1 DAY TRIP, 27Km, CLASS IV-IV+)

The Quijos is set to become Ecuador’s premier whitewater trip with mile after mile of class IVIV+ rapids and spectacular jungle scenery. Expect to run more whitewater in a day than you’d do in a week elsewhere. This trip is for experienced rafters that are confident swimmers. No wimps please! Depart from your hotel in Quito or Magic Bean, 7:00 am. Drive to Baeza. On arrival you’ll be issued with wetsuits, life jackets and helmets. After a short drive to the put-in the Trip Leader will give a thorough safety briefing. Then you’ll split into groups for an intensive in-boat paddle practice with your guide. Once we set off we’re straight into the action but with some easier rapids to warm up. Along the way we’ll stop for a riverside picnic lunch. In the afternoon we’ll raft through the first canyons of the Quijos running big, technical rapids including the famous “El Toro” and the spectacular Linares canyon.
Season: September to February 

Includes: Professional guides, top-of-the-line rafting equipment, safety kayakers,
transportation to the river and back, a delicious riverside lunch, and unsurpassed safety.

Accommodation: Termas de Papallacta 4*

(Breakfast, Lunch)

Breakfast.

Time at Leisure enjoying Papallacta Hot Spring.

Continue to Baños.

Accommodation: Sangay 4*

(Breakfast)

Breakfast.

Baños is known as “The Gate of the Amazon Region.” Baños are located on the outside of the eastern range of the Andes. It is the perfect place to relax and explore. This small town is famous worldwide for its natural crystalline waterfalls.

Here you can see how it is made the famous “marshmallow” (candy, which is made from sugar cane).

Baños is the main tourist attraction for adventure, there are several ways to enjoy nature through hiking, horseback riding, cycling and rafting.

We will start the city tour and the visit the waterfalls: “Agoyán”, “Manto de la Novia” and “Pailón Del Diablo”.

Accommodation: Sangay 4*

(Breakfast)

Breakfast.

Free morning in Baños.
Rest at the hotel or optional activities. The guide will provide all the information.

Return to Quito: 4 hours. Free evening.

Accommodation: Hotel Mercure 4*

(Breakfast)

Transfer to the airport for your flight to the Galapagos Islands.

Breakfast: at hotel

When you land in Baltra a guide will be waiting for you. You will arrive at Santa Cruz Island crossing the Itabaca Channel, it is a waterway that connects two islands,(Baltra and Santa Cruz), in 10 minutes.

Then we continue to Highlands of Santa Cruz. Here you may observe the famous Giant Tortoises in their natural environment, which also known as Galapagos, and from where the name of the Islands derive. Also catch sight of the famous Galapagos Finches, Bird Wizards, as well as endemic vegetation such as Escelacias forests and Matazarnos.

Later you will have free time to explore the town of Puerto Ayora, where you can several souvenir shops.

Accommodation: Villa Laguna 3+* Deluxe Room

(Breakfast, Lunch)

Breakfast.

From the second-day the excursion may change depending on the availability. Visits to the islands are confirmed one week before arrival. Visits could be to the following islands (one island per day):

North Seymour Island:

North Seymour is a small island near to Baltra Island in the Galapagos Islands. It was formed by uplift of a submarine lava formation. The whole island is covered with low, bushy vegetation. This island is home to a large population of blue-footed boobies and swallow-tailed gulls. It hosts one of the largest populations of frigate birds in Galapagos.

North Seymour has a visitor trail approximately 2 kilometers (1.2 mi) in length crossing the inland of the island and exploring the rocky coast. North Seymour is an extraordinary place for breeding birds, and is home to one of the largest populations of nesting blue-footed boobies and magnificent frigate birds. Pairs of blue-footed boobies can be seen conducting their mating ritual as they offer each other gifts, whistle and honk, stretch their necks towards the sky, spread their wings, and dance—showing off their bright blue feet.

Plazas Island: 

South Plaza is a small island off the east coast of Santa Cruz in the Galapagos Islands. It has an area of 0.13 km and a maximum altitude of 23 metres. South Plaza was formed by lava up streaming from the bottom of the ocean. Despite its small size it is home to a large number of species and it is famous for its extraordinary flora. That is why this island is very popular with visitors. On the steep banks it is possible to see a great number of birds such as nesting Red-billed Tropicbirds and Swallow-tailed Gulls, but most of all, enjoying the beautiful view from atop the steep banks or strolling along the base of the cliff is an extremely pleasurable experience. Very attractive are the beautiful prickly pear cactus trees (Opuntia echios) and of course the large colony of Galapagos Land Iguanas. Depending on the season, the Sesuvium ground vegetation changes its colour from intense green in the rainy season to orange and purple in the dry season.

Bartolome Island:

Bartolome Island is a volcanic islet in the Galápagos Islands group. It is a volcanic islet just off the east coast of Santiago Island. It is one of the “younger” islands in the Galápagos archipelago. With a total land area of just 1.2 km², this island offers some of the most beautiful landscapes in the archipelago. The island consists of an extinct volcano and a variety of red, orange, green, and glistening black volcanic formations.

Bartolome has a volcanic cone that is easy to climb and provides great views of the other islands. Bartolome is famous for its Pinnacle Rock, which is the distinctive characteristic of this island, and the most representative landmark of the Galápagos.

It has two visitor sites. At the first one, you may swim and snorkel around Pinnacle Rock; the underwater world there is really impressive. You can snorkel with the penguins, marine turtles, white-tipped reef sharks, and other tropical fish.

Accommodation: Villa Laguna 3+* Deluxe Room

(Breakfast, Lunch)

Breakfast.

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Quito or Guayaquil.

(Breakfast)