Description
Experience the thrill of Ecuador with our 8-day multisport adventure, spanning the Andes to the Amazon. Begin your journey in Quito, exploring its rich culture. Enjoy biking through the stunning Cotopaxi National Park and hiking to the breathtaking Quilotoa Crater Lake.
Continue your adventure with rafting on the Jatun Yacu River in the Amazon, and explore the lush rainforest with guided hikes. This tour offers a perfect blend of adventure, cultural immersion, and natural beauty. Check the itinerary for more details and start planning your epic Ecuadorian adventure today!
Features
8 Days Ecuador Multisport Andes-Amazon
Tour Details
DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN QUITO CITY
We have nothing planned for our arrival day. Depending on the time of your flight, you can spend your time relaxing or exploring Quito.
Quito is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Ecuador’s capital. It is considered the cultural capital of South America and the second most important city of the old Inca Empire. Because of its strategic location in the middle of the Andes, you can organize fantastic day trips such as: Quito City tour, including trips to the Equator Line, Mindo Cloud Forest, Cotopaxi National Park, Quilotoa Crater Lake, Otavalo Indian market, Papallacta hot springs, Pululahua inhabitant crater, and more.
Ecuatraveling has many options for all types of travelers who are staying in Quito. We incorporated outdoor activities into each experience, such as Cotopaxi biking, Pululahua crater horse riding, Mindo canopy zip-lining and tubing, Papallacta trekking, Hatu Yacu river rafting, etc.
Please see the menu of adventures we have to offer and contact us if you are interested in further exploration in and around Quito.
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DAY 2: COTOPAXI VOLCANO BIKING ADVENTURE
Meet your guide at 8:00 at the hotel front desk, ready to leave. Our adventure begins by driving down the Pan-American Highway. On the way, we will see some beautiful scenery of potato and corn fields. Once we reach the entrance of the park at 3,900 m (12,795 ft) of altitude, we will start biking on this Altiplano. About 600 years ago, the Incas had a small village named Tambo there. It was a place where their messengers were able to rest after a long journey. They brought important information from the southern part of the Empire.
This National Park surrounds the active volcano Cotopaxi. It is considered to be the highest active one on earth. It is 5,897 m (19,347 ft) high and is the most beautiful mountain of the Andes due to its perfect cone-shape and its very white glacier.
This reserve is 33.000 hectares big and is located both in the Andes and Amazon regions of the country. On the plain called Limpiopungo, we will find rivers with very clear water as well as the lake with the same name.
The fauna includes deers, rabbits, foxes, bulls, horses and several bird species such as coots, teals, gulls, caracaras and, with luck, we might even spot the majestic Andean condor!
In the afternoon we will be transferred to Baños.
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DAY 3: BIKING IN THE LLANGANATES NATIONAL PARK
This morning, we will mountain-bike from the Llanganates National Park down to the Pastaza River Canyon while enjoying the beautiful scenery of the cloud forest. We will bike through some Andean farms, where tomato and passion fruit trees are cultivated. While descending into the jungle, we will have a very nice view of the town of Baños, well-known for its spectacular location right on the foothills of the Tungurahua volcano. This volcano has been active since 1999 and is the main attraction of this region. We will have some time to explore before enjoying the best nightlife.
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DAY 4: WATERFALLS AND HIKING IN THE AMAZON RAINFOREST
This morning, after a very healthy breakfast, we will head for the road of the waterfalls. The first stop will be at the Bride’s Veil waterfall. By taking the Tarabita (cable car), we will get across the Pastaza river and, later, we will hike down to the Pailon del Diablo waterfall, the second highest in Ecuador. Afterwards, we will go deeper into the jungle to the Llanganates National Park. The name llanganates means beautiful mountain in the local native language. In this area, the Incas hid their golden treasure 600 years ago. Some explorers spent many years looking for it but it has never been found. Some of them even disappeared in this thick pristine jungle.
Here, we will take a 3-hour hike through the tropical rainforest and we will climb along several white-water waterfalls. Our naturalist native guide will tell us about the incredible nature and wildlife we can find around. This is a humid and warm area which will make our experience even more demanding, so get ready to wear your rubber boots and enjoy the magnificence of the Ecuadorian Amazon!
The night will be spent at the Local Basic Jungle Lodge.
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DAY 5: WHITE WATER RAFTING ON THE JATUNYACU RIVER
This day, we will spend another day in the Amazon jungle, which is considered the most diverse ecosystem of the planet. After a very important safety talk with our rafting guides, we will start our class 3 rafting expedition down the Jatunyacu river. The river is known for its clean water and awesome rapids. We will have a lot of fun playing some games and exploring one of the canyons. At the end of the river, we will stop for a fresh picnic, prepared by the expert guides. Later, we will drive back to the Andes for the overnight stay.
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DAY 6: SOAKING IN THE NATURAL VOLCANIC HOT SPRINGS
This morning, we will go to the nearby Cloud Forest Reserve for a short hike and then enjoy soaking at Papallacta Spa Resort in the natural volcanic Hot Springs. This healthy water comes from the Antisana and Cayambe Volcanoes. In the afternoon, we will be transferred to the Otavalo Indigenous Market, where you will find amazing handicrafts for the best prices. We will spend the night a the San Clemente Homestay.
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DAY 7: FARMING WITH THE LOCALS
In the morning, we will learn about the farming of different products from this region, and we will go for a hike up to the Imbabura Volcano. After an organic lunch cooked by the locals, we will drive back to Quito.
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DAY 8: END OF SERVICE
International departures, end of services.
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Min 2 people.
Prices
Accommodation
TripsHighlights
Visiting one of the highest active volcanoes in the world, covered with ice on its peak
Hiking in the "Amazon jungle" and paddling the rapids of the "Jatunyacu River"
Visiting one of the most powerful waterfalls of "Ecuador"
Exploring "Llanganates", famous for its amazing landscapes and mystery stories
What'sIncluded
Private comfortable transportation
English-speaking certified adventure guides
Accomodation: 5 nights in Tourist Class Hotel, 1 night in a homestay in the jungle, 1 night in a homestay in the Andes
Meals: 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 3 dinners
Outdoors gear: trekking sticks, cross-country bikes 2013, helmets, gloves, 7-person rafts, paddles
Snacks and water
What'sNot Included
Airport transfers
Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
All drinks in hotels
Travel insurance
Personal expenses
Tips for guides and drivers