Galapagos Islands and Ecuador

Itinerary

Day 1 – Domestic flight from Quito to Coca, followed by a scenic 2 ½ hour motorised canoe trip on the beautiful Napo River, spotting incredible wildlife and native communities on route. This is followed by a short walk through the fascinating flooded forest and a 20 minute tranquil paddle by canoe across the Challuacocha blackwater oxbow lake to your home for the next few days, the Sani Lodge, deep in the Amazon jungle.

Once settled, you will take a short hike into the jungle to experience first hand the dense flora, primates, birds, frogs, insects and snakes of the Amazon ecosystem.

After the sun sets, you head out to the lagoon to paddle silently through the darkness and see the Amazon come alive at night by torchlight.

Day 2 – Hike into the rainforest to learn more about the endemic plants, animals and people of the Amazon, including the medicinal uses for the many plant species, search for impossibly small species of frog and startlingly large insects, whilst looking up high to see the primates flying around the canopy, and learn about the Sani culture who will teach you their blow-gun hunting techniques.

After a picnic lunch in the forest, you hop in a kayak to paddle back to the lodge across the beautiful lagoon, enjoying the wildlife and sounds of the rainforest on the way.

Day 3 – An early morning paddle to Sani Lodge’s observation tower where you can enjoy incredible views of the forests canopy from 108ft with the chance to spot sleeping sloths, howling moneys or some of the 565 species of birds. This is followed by an insight into the life of the Sani community with a local Sani guide, you will learn about the local’s architecture, the farming techniques, their lifestyle, discover plants in the rainforest that are used for medicine, the community turtle breeding work and also help with cooking your own  traditional lunch with the Sani women.

 Day 4 – Explore Ecuador’s largest mainland park and is a Unesco designated international biosphere reserve, Yasuni National Park. With its diverse flora and fauna, and various species of colourful parrots, it is one of the last true wildernesses in Ecuador.

Day 5 – During the journey back to Coca for the flight back to Quito you will learn about the challenges that local communities and ecotourism ventures face with the intense pressure that extractive industries place on the Amazon. 

Itinerary

Day 1 – Visit Cotopaxi National Park where you can enjoy the incredible views of the snowcapped summits of Cotopaxi and Antisana volcanoes, followed by the Interpretation centre to learn more about the volcano’s eruption history and the surrounding area. 

Next is the chance to explore Lake Limpiopungo and a hike to Mt. Cotopaxi’s J. Ribas refuge (4800m) with its spectacular views of the volcano and the surrounding Andean peaks.

The afternoon is spent  riding the trails through the scenic Andes by mountain bike.

Day 2 – Trek to the Quilotoa volcano crater and its fascinating green lake followed by 

a visit to the community of Tigua, who’s native painting representative the folklore and legends of the Andes.

Day 3 : Experience the traditional marketplace in the Cotopaxi area, markets are an important part of Ecuadorian culture as the places where indigenous communities meet to buy food and accessories.  This is followed by a visit to a rose plantation before returning to Quito. Ecuadorian roses are recognised as being some of the world’s finest and are exported to all parts of the globe. 

Itinerary

Day 1 – You begin at Duran railway station to board the fully restored steam engine that will provide the transport along  coastal tracks to Yaguachi, where you board a diesel-electric train which will take you through extensive plantations of sugarcane, banana, coffee, pineapple and a countless number of tropical products, on route to the Naranjito area.

You will then journey into the Andes by bus, climbing more than 2,000 meters (approximately 6,500 ft.) in just 4 hours. Witness the changes to the climate, vegetation and geography before arriving in the picturesque mountain town of Alausí, high in the Andes.

Day 2 – An early train journey, this time on board the fearsome Nariz del Diablo, or Devil’s Nose pass; an intricate switch-back track that allows the train to descend 511 metres (1,6756 ft.) in just 12 kilometres of railway. Considered an engineering marvel in its day, this train ride is still spectacular. This is followed by a visit to the Andean mountain community that has historically depended on the activity the train has brought, and a chance to look around the colourful local market which serves more than a dozen surrounding communities.

Next is a journey on board the “Black Monster”, an impressive and carefully refurbished Baldwin steam locomotive, travelling through fields of quinoa, potatoes, onions, corn and other products provided by these fertile soils, heading towards the capital city of Chimborazo province, Riobamba, passing Mt. Chimborazo, Ecuador’s highest mountain, at 20,549 ft.

Day 3 – A chance to experience the fascinating local community of La Moya before a train journey passing through a valley close to the spectacular snow-capped Mt. Cotopaxi before the final stop of the day at Latacunga. room, dinner

Day 4 – Explore Cotopaxi National Park and the wildlife of Limpiopungo Lagoon before boarding a train that will tour the foothills of Mt.Cotopaxi and visit a typical Andean hacienda where you are met by Andean cowboys, or “Chagras”, who will show off their skills as riders and share their culture and traditions. The day ends in Quito at the Eloy Alfaro station.

Itinerary

Day 1 –  Arrive in Puerto Lopez and visit the Salango Museum which gives the history of the region in the pre-Hispanic era. Learn about the fascinating local cultures and  Señorío de Salangome (the present community of Agua Blanca).

Day 2 – Full day visit to Isla de la Plata, also known as a Galapagos in miniature.  Here you can find blue footed boobies, marine iguanas and many of the same wildlife that live on the famous Galapagos Islands. There is also the option for a spot of snorkelling or swimming in the warm Pacific water before sailing back to Puerto López.

Day 3 – An opportunity to visit one of Ecuador’s most picturesque beaches at Los Frailes, where you can enjoy snorkelling, swimming or relaxing on the beautiful beach before a return flight to Quito.

Itinerary

Day 1 – Enjoy the scenic alpine drive through the Andes to Cotopaxi passing mountain villages before the snow-capped summits of both the Cotopaxi and the Antisana volcanoes come into view.  After a visit to Cotopaxi Interpretation centre where you will learn the history of the volcano’s eruptions and the surrounding areas, there is a walk around the beautiful Limpiopungo Lake which is surrounded by beautiful peaks of the Andes with the imposing Cotopaxi in the distance

Day 2 –  Travel the Avenue of the Volcanoes route, stopping at local markets to enjoy traditional Ecuadorian culture on route, before arriving at the huge and spectacular waterfall of Pailon del Diablo (Devil’s Cauldron).  Next stop is the ‘Swing at the end of the World’ of Baños, on the way to the Amazon, which offers stunning views over the canyon and mountains, as well as Mt. Tungurahua, the nearby active volcano.  

Day 3 – Hop on the Devil’s Nose train which zigzags through the almost perpendicular walls of the mountain face, making for an exhilarating train ride and one of the most spectacular railway journeys in the world.  Before departing Sibaqmbe, you can take time to learn the traditions and culture of the native Puruhua people in Sibambe.

From Sibambe there is a hike to Pistishi viewpoint where you can see view’s of Nariz del Diablo (Devil’s Nose) railroad and reflect on the journey you have just taken!

Next is the Ingapirca Ruins, the largest and best preserved archaeological complex in Ecuador and the Inca Empire’s only remaining sun temple.

Day 4 – Travel to the towns of Gualaceo and Chordeleg, the traditional settlements located just 45 minutes East of Cuenca to experience the traditional craftspeople of Ecuador. Here you have the opportunity to meet families who are still making textiles the way the “Cañaris” (the pre-Inca inhabitants) did more than 500 years ago and visit the workshops of a traditional jewellery maker, a guitar maker’s that forms part of the ‘Guitar Trail’ and a ‘Chola Cuencana,’ who stills makes straw hats in the time-honoured manner. Along the way, there is also the chance to visit an orchid farm, shoemakers and a traditional food and fruit market.

Day 5 – Heading towards Bucay on Ecuador’s coast, stopping on route to enjoy the breathtaking views of the Andes. In Bucay there is a visit to Hacienda La Danesa, a traditional dairy farm that produces about 2,000 litres of milk per day, as well as fresh cheese for guests every morning. The hacienda also has cocoa and teak plantations and breeds beautiful pinto quarter horses.  Here there is an opportunity to take a tour of the cacao plantation or visit the teak plantation, alternately, you can chose to go mountain biking or tubing on the river before the final destination of Guayaquil.