6 Days: Quito, Otavalo, Amazon, Tungurahua, Quilotoa, Cotopaxi...

Day 1: Quito | MIDDLE OF THE WORLD | OTAVALO INDIGENOUS MARKET | PEGUCHE TOWN & WATERFALL | CUICOCHA LAKE | COTACACHI COMMUNITY

1. Quito
   Pass by
   This morning after an orientation meeting we continue to the Middle of the World
   
   Overnight: Otavalo
   Meals: Not included
2. Intinan Equator Museum
   1h 30m · Admission ticket included
   Visit the Middle of the World Monument, located at a latitude of 0º, and stand with one foot in the Northern and one in the Southern Hemisphere.
   
   Here you will learn about our ancestral villages history, to the magnificent effects that the sun produces in our solar cylinder. Travel to the past through our centuries-old huts, discover and understand the physical phenomena of the earth with our didactic examples, observe the path of the sun (Intiñan) in the Acoratene, and of course enjoy a natural and privileged environment. Our main objective is to rescue a new image of the existence of a geographical center about the ancestral worldview and an ethnoecological habitat in the Middle or Center of the world.
   
   Then Continue to Imbabura Province. located in the highlands of the Andes Mountains at an elevation of 8,441 feet.
3. Cascada de Peguche
   45m · Admission ticket included
   Visit the Peguche town and walk into the andes forest to the waterfall.
4. Otavalo Market
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Visit the indigenous market in Otavalo, one of the largest in South America run by the local Otavaleños. Here, enjoy the lively market atmosphere and browse the various stalls for traditional goods such as handwoven cloth and rugs, jewelry and more
5. Cuicocha Lake
   30m · Admission ticket not included
   One of the most beautiful Lake in Ecuador and an “off the beaten path” destination! Cuicocha lies at the foot of the extinct volcano Cotacachi (4968m) in the Western Cordillera in the province of Imbabura, north of Quito. The fascinating Caldera has a 3 km wide and approx. 200 mts deep crater lake.
   
   One of the particularities of Cuicocha Crater Lake that makes it even more special than Quilotoa are the 2 islands in the middle of it, actually they are lava domes, which rise over the water surface. They are well covered with vegetation and support some wildlife.
6. Cotacachi
   40m
   Cotacachi is a small artisan town. Cotacachi has amazing hot springs, lush forests, nature reserves, and snowy summits. Cotacachi's main production is leather goods. In the center of the town, there are dozens of shops with good quality leather products such as jackets, pants, belts, wallets, shoes, bags and more

Day 2: PAPALLACTA HOT SPRINGS | HUMMINGBIRD CLOUD FOREST | TENA | AMAZON RAINFOREST

1. Termas de Papallacta
   2h · Admission ticket included
   After breakfast transfer from Cotacachi Andean Town to the Jungle wildlife reserve
   
   On the Route we start to visit the Papallacta Hot Sprigns, is the ideal place to escape from the noise of the city and the daily routine. More than a destination, it is a comprehensive experience that will awaken all your senses.
2. Yanayacu Biological Station
   45m · Admission ticket not included
   Here is a paradise for bird lovers and photographers alike; it is not uncommon to see up to 14 species of humming birds in one hour, including the amazing sword-billed hummingbird.
   
   Located near the paramo zone and hot springs of Papallacta, surrounded by a 300-hectare reserve & network of trails, offering the perfect opportunity for trekking, wildlife observation & relaxation.
3. Tena
   Pass by
   Tena is an attractive place where many travelers find themselves hanging around quite happily for days before or after a trip into the rainforest. Tena has a friendly population, a gorgeous setting surrounded by jungle-covered hills, a lively malecón. White-water (Rafging or Kayaking) fanatics from around the globe come to paddle and play on the high concentration of surrounding rivers
4. Misahualli
   35m
   A popular tourist stop is the small town of Misahualli Ecuador. Located at the junction of the Misahuallí and Napo rivers this sleepy, end of the road town has beautiful jungle scenery and a large sandy beach.
   
   The most popular inhabitants of Misahualli are the monkeys. They wander along the beach and into the park at the center of town.
5. Napo Province
   1 day
   Once we arrive at the EcoLodge, our staff will welcome you. From there we will continue to relax in the lounge with a fresh tropical drink and a short briefing that will contain general information about the accommodation and activities, provided by one of our naturalist guides
6. 3h
   TREKKING IN THE JUNGLE
   
   Leaving the Lodge, your guide can lead you on half a dozen trails (of varying degrees of difficulty) that can last from half an hour to 4 hours winding through the thick and humid rainforest that connect to the river or lake, crossing muddy roads and always looking for the elusive fauna of the place.
   
   FLOATING DOWN BY THE RIVER
   
   The water is very refreshing after a hike in the jungle. In this fun activity on a buoy, your ability to row with your hands will be the key, looking at the sky and its banks full of trees, you will feel like part of a dream. You decide if you want to undertake this adventure alone or as a couple. This is one of the quietest ways to enjoy a river in the Amazon. We provide the life jacket

Day 3: RIDE ALONG THE NAPO RIVER | ANACONDA ISLAND | ANIMAL REFUGE CENTER | VISIT INDIGENOUS FAMILY

1. Amazoonico Animal Rescue Centre
   2h · Admission ticket included
   After Breakfast in your lodge. We walk to the Napo River for ride by canoe to the Animal Refuge Center, which is protecting a number of different animals, some in danger of extinction. Amazónico is not a zoo, but a rescue center for Amazon animals in Ecuador. We can observe some animals in their natural environment at close range
2. Laguna del Caiman Negro
   1h · Admission ticket included
   After the Box Lunch, we walk through the Anaconda island. Here is a paradise for bird lovers and photographers alike. We can observe the caiman on the lagoon, prehistoric bird ¨Hoatzin¨, woolly monkeys, squirrel monkeys, just to name a few...
3. Ahuano
   1h
   We also visit a family in one of the indigenous communities to learn about their cultivation habits, medicinal plants, as well as the ancestral way of hunting with blowguns and handmade traps in the forest
   
   Return to the Lodge
4. 45m
   NIGHT HIKE IN THE JUNGLE
   
   The frog concert announces that the forest takes on another life in the dark. Do not forget to bring a flashlight for this tour, where we can observe: fishing bats, nocturnal monkeys, owls, snakes, some amphibians, tarantulas, toads, sighting of alligators and possibly snakes.
   
   This is also a great opportunity to OBSERVE THE STARS and constellations!

Day 4: WATERFALLS ROUTE | THE DEVIL´S CAULDRON WATERFALL TREK | THE SWING AT THE END OF THE WORLD | TUNGURAHUA VOLCANO | BAÑOS

1. Tena
   30m
   Enjoy this journey from the jungle on napo province to Baños de Agua Santa on Tungurahua province, along the Ecuadorian landscapes will suprise you.
   
   The tour we will start with the balsa craft in the puyo city located on the pastaza province
2. Mirador Mira Mera
   30m · Admission ticket not included
   This is a trip in the adventure capital of Ecuador. We will start the tour on the Route of the Waterfalls, you will travel in cable car on the Pastaza River to obtain extraordinary panoramic views of the river, mountains and beautiful jungle landscapes in Tungurahua Province
   
   You will have free time to do extreme activities such as canopy, tibetan bridge, extreme swing and many more
3. Cascada El Pailon
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Along the way to visit the powerful El Pailón del Diablo ¨The Devil´s Cauldron¨, one of Ecuador´s most beautiful waterfalls
   
   Lunch not included
4. Cascada el Manto de la Novia
   45m · Admission ticket included
   The next point is the spectacular waterfall "Manto de la Novia". The Cable car will take us above the amazing Pastaza river canyon, which will give us a closer view of the waterfalls.
5. 35m · Admission ticket not included
   The hand of the Pachamama , is the most recent attraction of this beautiful viewpoint, in which a giant hand emerges from the earth to provide tourists with a unique place to admire the landscape of the Tungurahua province and take spectacular photos.
6. La Casa del Arbol
   45m · Admission ticket included
   We will go up to the ¨Swing at the end of the World¨ in La Casa del Arbol, from where you can see the epic mountain of the Tungurahua volcano.
7. Banos
   12m
   In the afternoon, check into your hotel in Baños Town
   
   City by Night | Dinner not included & Lodging

Day 5: SALASACA INDIGENOUS | TIGUA CRAFTS | QUILOTOA CRATER LAKE

1. Salasaca Mercado Artesanal
   35m
   Next to the church on the Ambato–Baños road, behind a statue of a local man donning a black poncho, this market has some great local artisan goods, including Salasaca's famous wool ponchos and hand-woven rugs and tapestries. The busiest day is Sunday, but at least a few stalls open daily.
2. Pujili
   30m
   Pujilí, a town known for its ceramics. Many lndians gather here, with their llamas loaded with colorful fruits, vegetables and other goods.
3. Tigua
   35m
   We will visit the Community of Tigua, cradle of Naif art artists. In the gallery we can see the different articles made by hand. The paintings are hand painted on llama and sheepskin leather.
   
   Here we will be able to appreciate the raising of the guinea pigs and the agriculture of the area.
4. Canon del Rio Toachi
   35m · Admission ticket included
   On our way to Quilotoa we will visit the Toachi Cannion, we will be able to enjoy the incredible landscapes
5. Laguna Quilotoa
   3h · Admission ticket included
   When we get to Quilotoa (3900 msnm) in the Illinizas Ecological Reserve we will make the walk to the turquoise lagoon, there are other options of trails, according to the degree of difficulty and the weather we will take the best path.

Day 6: COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK | MACHACHI | QUITO

1. Zumbahua
   5h
   After the Breakfast we drive around 2 hours along the range of the Andean Mountains we can find the Cotopaxi Active Volcano (5897 mts), Chimborazo Volcano (6263 mts), filled with an exceptional variety of flora and fauna species.
2. Cotopaxi National Park
   6h · Admission ticket included
   We enter the Cotopaxi National Park, where we register and we can access the protected area.
   
   The fist stop is at the Mariscal Sucre Interpretation Center, with an exhibition of photographs and information about the Area.
   
   Panoramic View at the Limpiopungo lagoon, from here we can observe the different species of birds, native plants of the area and the volcanoes near the park: Pasochoca, Quilindaña, Rumiñahui and others....
3. 2h · Admission ticket included
   Finally Guided horse-back riding over the páramo, close to herds of wild horses and fighting bulls. We can also see various species of high-altitude birds (Condors are frequently spotted) and native flora against a backdrop of spectacular scenery. The ride take us up to 4200 mts (2 hours)
   
   After relishing the freedom of nature at its wildest and enjoying the exhilaration of galloping with the pure wind of the high Andes. The rides take us inside the exclusive trails of our Hacienda at the majestic páramos and native forest of the Cotopaxi area, where our native guides intertwine legends, history and tradition in their tales.
4. Machachi
   1h
   Travel to the Machachi, it is a city surrounded by the volcanos Atacazo, Corazon, Rumiñahui, Illinizas Peaks, Viudita Hill, Pasochoa, and Sincholagua
   
   Lunch Not Included
5. Quito
   Pass by
   Return to Quito City | End Tour

Pickup details

Please contact Us, for recommended Quito Hotels and coordinate the time for the pick up

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Specialized infant seats are available
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels