16- Day Private Tour - Ecuador Colorful - Comfortable Style

Day 1: Arrival at Quito and transfer to the hotel

1. Quito
   3h
   Welcome to Quito! Meeting with the English-speaking guide/driver at the airport and transfer to the hotel.

Day 2: Quito City Tour + Middle of the World + Teleferico

1. Quito Old Town
   4h · Admission ticket included
   Pick up from the hotel in Quito. The tour will then continue from the Basilica Church, where we will make a brief stop to visit it. After walking through the colonial streets, we will then stop at the Independence Plaza to admire the Cathedral and the Government’s Palace. We will also visit the Company Church, The Sagrario´s Church, and San Francisco´s Church, which was built during the 17th century, you will also have the chance to taste Ecuadorian chocolate.
2. 1h · Admission ticket included
   After visiting the historical sights, we will go to the Teleferico. This is one of the best ways to enjoy our city with views of beautiful valleys, snow-capped mountains and the capital, Quito. From a point at more than 13,000 feet (4000 m), you will enjoy magnificent views of the city.
3. Mitad Del Mundo
   1h · Admission ticket included
   We will head to the Middle of the World monument, where you can stand right in the middle of the equatorial line and straddle the two hemispheres. In addition, you will have a chance to participate in several experiments at the Intiñan Museum. You will also enjoy the amazing landscape in Pululahua inhabited crater just 5 minutes from the Equatorial line.

Day 3: Cotopaxi National Park

1. Cotopaxi National Park
   6h · Admission ticket included
   Our guide will pick you up at your hotel to move to one of the most emblematic points of Ecuador, the Cotopaxi volcano, considered the largest active volcano in the world at 5897 meters high (19,347 feet high). During our stay in the National Park, we will admire its natural environment, its Flora and Fauna with the explanations of your naturalist guide. We will try to ascend to the refuge located at 4,810 m (15,392 feet high). We will also hike around Lake Limpiopungo which is at the foot of the volcano to observe some birds from the Páramo region (Andean Pastures). On a clear day, the view of the volcano reflected on the lake's surface is magnificent. We make a short visit to the small museum that talks about the park, its nature, wildlife, and the eruptions of the centerpiece of the park. Once we are up, we will take a short break at the refuge before continuing to the nearby glacier. Enjoy incredible photo opportunities and spectacular scenery on ice walls and deep crevasses.

Day 4: Quilotoa Lagoon

1. Quilotoa
   4h
   Travel through the Avenue of the Volcanoes and pass through the Pujilí small town. You will also visit an indigenous local house from the “Paramos” to learn about their traditions and way of life. After your visit, head to the town of Tigua, famous for its naive paintings. Continue up to the Quilotoa volcano, where you can descend to the lake inside the crater or just walk around the crater. You will also be able to enjoy an unforgettable experience by mule back riding or kayaking in the lake.
2. Banos
   2h
   Lunch and continue up our trip to Baños. Visit the famous “Swing at the End of the World” at La Casa del Árbol and take in an amazing view of the gorgeous mountain landscapes

Day 5: Termas de Papallacta – La Casa del Suizo Jungle Lodge

1. Termas de Papallacta
   4h · Admission ticket included
   After breakfast, we will head to the east of Quito. Our first stop will be the Termas de Papallacta, this beautiful spa with thermal waters where you can relax and enjoy swimming pools perfectly suitable for relaxation and fun. In a magical and natural environment with cozy facilities that offer exclusivity combining high-quality treatments with the benefits of thermal water. (Entrance to the general pools included)
2. Papallacta
   1h
   We will continue the trip to the Guango lodge for a brief bird watching and we will enjoy the wonderful number of hummingbirds around this place, it is not uncommon to see 14 species of hummingbirds in an hour, and the sword-billed hummingbird with its long and unique beak is sure to surprise you.
3. 2h · Admission ticket included
   We will continue to the city of Tena and then to Huano to stay at La Casa del Suizo Lodge. Upon arrival, we will receive a welcome cocktail, and then we will move to your bungalow. If you wish, you can take a dip on a sandy beach on the Napo River. A delicious dinner will be served at the lodge and the site manager will explain the next day's activities.

Day 6: La Casa del Suizo Full Day Exploration

1. 3h · Admission ticket included
   We will start with a canoe ride down the imposing Napo River crossing the enchanted Ecuadorian jungle. Soon we arrive at the village of Misahualli, where we’ll have to make a short stop for routine inspection by the local Marine officers. With a stroll through this tranquil little town, we will be able to see a group of Capuchin Monkeys.
2. Amazoonico Animal Rescue Centre
   2h · Admission ticket included
   We continue our canoe ride until we reach the Arajuno River. Here we will visit the animal rescue center “AmaZOOnico”. This is a specialized organization dedicated to the rescue of wild animals and restoring them to their natural habitat. We will observe a great variety of species such as toucans, parrots, all kinds of monkeys, ocelots, capybaras, and much more.
3. Tena
   30m
   we’ll enjoy a scrumptious picnic by the river shore. Afterward, we can swim in the refreshing river waters or simply rest ourselves in the peaceful surroundings.
4. 1h · Admission ticket not included
   We’ll head back to our lodge, making a short stop in one of the many local indigenous communities by the Napo River. One of the native Quichua families will show us their ancestral costumes like gold washing, pottery techniques, the making of the typical drink “chicha” made of yuca, and blowpipe hunting.

Day 7: Secondary Forest – Waterfalls – Indigenous Quichua Family

1. 3h · Admission ticket included
   After breakfast, you depart by canoe upstream for ten minutes, arriving at a small shore where you begin a fun and thrilling one-hour walk, discovering the jungle’s secondary forest’s diverse flora and fauna. After the short walk, you will get to the breathtaking waterfall Las Latas where you can take a refreshing bath in its clear crystal waters and enjoy the surrounding views, which mixed with the jungle sounds, makes it an unforgettable experience.
2. 3h · Admission ticket not included
   . In the afternoon you will visit a Quichua family and learn about their millenary culture and traditions such as gold rinse on the river shoreline, traditional pottery making, making of typical drink “chicha” made of yuca (traditional Ecuadorian manioc), and the use of the “serbatana” (blowpipe for hunting use). After this amazing encounter with Quichua culture, you return to the lodge by foot over secondary jungle pads. Upon arrival enjoy a snack

Day 8: La Casa del Suizo – Puyo - Baños

1. Banos
   Pass by
   After breakfast, we will travel to Puyo and Baños all the way we will be able to observe an incredible number of landscapes that the Ecuadorian jungle offers and several rivers and tributaries that are next to the road.
2. 2h · Admission ticket not included
   You have the afternoon free to visit the zoo or simply relax near the thermal waters of Baños

Day 9: Baños – Route of the Cascades – Baños

1. 3h · Admission ticket included
   After breakfast, we will visit the surroundings of the town and we will take the "way of the waterfalls" where you will visit the different waterfalls in the area, and you will do trekking to get to "El Pailon del Diablo”, a beautiful and majestic waterfall.
2. La Casa del Arbol
   1h · Admission ticket included
   We will also enjoy la Casa del árbol, where we can see the highlights of the city of Baños
3. Cascada el Manto de la Novia
   1h · Admission ticket included
   We will visit Manto de la Novia waterfalls
4. 1h · Admission ticket included
   Our last visit for the day will be Mano de la Pacha Mama

Day 10: Riobamba – Ingapirca - Cuenca

1. Laguna de Colta
   30m
   We will enjoy a visit to the Colta lagoon and the Balbanera located in a picturesque Andean town, where there is a peaceful lagoon in whose waters the Chimborazo is reflected on clear sunny days; the railway line and the town of Cajabamba. This beautiful lagoon is known in the Puruhá language as "Kulta Kucha", which means "Pato Lagoon
2. Ingapirca Archaeological Complex
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Our trip continues to the most important Inca Archaeological Complex in Ecuador, the Ingapirca Fortress. In the surroundings, we will see how the famous artisans make the “Panama Hats.” After this interesting visit, we headed to Cuenca.

Day 11: City Tour in Cuenca – Gualaceo -

1. Cuenca
   4h
   On this day we will have a city tour through the city of Cuenca, a city declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and discover its cultural and architectural diversity. visiting the most important churches and monuments of this city, we also observe the broken bridge, and we visit the tourist viewpoint of Turi, where we can have a panoramic view of the entire city of Cuenca. Enjoy the history and architecture of the city on this picturesque tour!
2. Gualaceo
   1h
   One of the most important towns near the city, famous for its handicrafts made with gold and silver, and for its colonial traditions.
3. Chordeleg
   1h
   One of the most important towns near the city, famous for its handicrafts made with gold and silver, and for its colonial traditions.

Day 12: Cajas National Park – Guayaquil City

1. El Cajas National Park
   4h · Admission ticket included
   After breakfast, we go on a short excursion to El Cajas National Park or the Gualaceo Valley (depending on weather conditions), and then we will travel to Guayaquil. El Cajas National Park has several small lagoons (more than 230). They are the remains of the last ice age. The lakes are connected by small rivers, whose crystal-clear waters flow into the Pacific. We will have a short walk through this protected area. We will continue the trip to Guayaquil.

Day 13: Guayaquil – Montanita – Puerto López

1. Puerto Lopez
   Pass by
   On this day, we will have one of the most important routes of the tour we will take part of the "Ruta del Sol". In Ballenita, you have a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean from a high cliff. Small fishing villages can be visited during the complete tour and beautiful mostly rustic beaches will join us during our trip. Salango and Montañita. Then we continue to Puerto Lopez.
   Puerto Lopez is one of the iconic places in Ecuador and has the privilege of receiving the humpback whale show every year, its main attraction.

Day 14: Isla de la Plata

1. Isla de la Plata
   6h · Admission ticket included
   . On this day get ready because we will visit the fantastic Isla de la Plata. Known as the little Galapagos, it is the perfect destination for nature lovers looking for a unique adventure with incredible landscapes and diverse fauna. We will see species like those of the Galapagos, such as sea lions, blue-footed boobies, and frigates, it is one of the most famous places to snorkel due to its richness and diversity of marine fauna. From the months of June to October, this package includes the observation of humpback whales during their love rituals.

Day 15: Manta – Santo Domingo - Mindo

1. Playa de los Frailes
   30m · Admission ticket included
   On this day we will make a trip from Puerto López, a brief stop at Los Frailes beach, it is one of the most beautiful beaches in Ecuador, because of its extension, white sand, because of the tranquility it offers as it is separated from the road and because it usually is empty. It belongs to the Machalilla National Park and is surrounded by cliffs and a viewpoint. To get to the beach you must go through a beautiful dry forest that exhibits species of flora and fauna typical of the area
2. Quito
   Pass by
   We will continue to Manta, Santo Domingo, and then Quito.

Day 16: Mindo Cloud Forest – Quito

1. Mindo Nambillo Cloud Forest Reserve
   6h · Admission ticket included
   Visit a unique Hummingbird Garden. See 15 to 20 different species of hummingbirds, depending on the season or time of the day, and try local tropical fruits. Take a 1- 2-hour walk into the cloud forest to admire the diverse flora and fauna up close. Look for endemic species of plants and some birds found nowhere else on earth as you encounter a series of beautiful waterfalls. Reach the protected Mindo Cloud Forest Reserve to experience the astonishing beauty of one of the highest biodiverse sites in the world

• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Children must be accompanied by an adult
• Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
• A minimum of 2 people per booking is required