Ecuador Highlights & Cotopaxi Multi-Sport Tour

Tonight your flight to Quito will likely arrive in the late evening. We have arranged a convenient room for you that is close to the airport, with pick up, so that you can get a good night of sleep before starting your adventure!

Overnight: Quito, elevation 9.350′

Welcome to Ecuador! This morning after a good night of rest, your guide will meet you at the hotel and drive into the foothills of Pichincha Volcano. From here, we will bike on quiet dirt roads through landscapes of colorful farms, cowboys, and mountains. After 1-2 hours, we will reach the misty and magical cloud forest. (The ride is mostly downhill, but those that do not want to bike can ride in the van.) A delicious picnic lunch is served alongside the river before visiting a nearby hummingbird sanctuary.

In the afternoon, we will visit a local chocolatier who is pushing the boundaries of cacao, making not just delicious chocolates but also cosmetics, perfume and whiskey! While learning the secrets of the chocolate-making process, we will sample a wide range of products made from the highest quality beans.

Included Meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner
Distance: 38 km/23 mi
Drive Time: 2 hrs
Highlights: cloud forest biking & traditional chocolate
Overnight: Mindo, elevation 4,000′

Early AM Option: Birding enthusiasts can wake up at 5AM to look for a very rare bird, known as “the cock of the rock,” or Rubicola, a bird with a bright red or orange head, crest and chest!

This morning, we will hike for about 2 hours, enjoying beautiful landscapes as we pass by waterfalls. If you like, take a break and refresh yourself in the cool waters of the waterfall! In the afternoon, we have a fun ziplining adventure, where you will soar through the treetops. Afterwards, we will return to the lodge to rest and freshen up before a well-deserved dinner.

Included Meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner
Distance: 3 km/2 mi, +700′
Highlights: waterfall hike & zip line
Overnight: Mindo, elevation 4,000′

This morning after breakfast, we will make our way back to Quito (1hr 45 min drive), stopping at the Equator and the Middle of the world complex. Visit the actual line and take a picture with one foot in the northern hemisphere and the other in south hemisphere! The onsite museum features interactive exhibits on how the old civilizations determined the middle of the earth, plus interesting science experiments that are only possible at this exact location, due to the effects of the Coriolis force on earth!

This afternoon, we will head to a local favorite – the Santa Ana Brewery. Get ready for an unforgettable beer experience, accompanied by a perfectly paired lunch, which pays homage to national dishes in a contemporary way. From here, we will drive 2 more hours to Otavalo, our home for the next 2 nights. Take in the scenic views of the Andes Mountains, with photo stops along the way. The rest of the day is yours to rest and relax before dinner.

Included Meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner
Drive Time: ~4.5 hrs
Highlights: Equator & Middle of The World Complex, local beer tasting
Overnight: Otavalo, elevation 8,300′

Today, we will head northbound on the Panamerican Highway, stopping to enjoy the spectacular views of San Pablo Lake and Imbabura Volcano. Once there, we will treat ourselves to a local delicacy, bizcochos with caramel, before going to the famous Otavalo Market. Stroll through aisles of locally made handicrafts and let the sights and sounds of the market transport you to another world. From intricate fabrics, alpaca sweaters, and wood crafts, this will be an opportune moment to find the perfect souvenir to take home, all whilst directly supporting local families. After you are done exploring, we will stop at a weaving workshop where some of the best textiles in the world are produced.

After lunch, we will take a short drive to Cotacachi, a traditional village famous for its leather crafts. After a brief stop, we will continue along the scenic drive until we meet “Cuicocha,” an ancient volcano crater that has turned into a beautiful lagoon in the middle of the mountains. After just an hour of walking, you will be rewarded with the most breathtaking views. Later, return to the hacienda for some relaxation.

Included Meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner
Distance: 5 mi, +2,000′, ~ 4 hrs
Drive Time: 2 hrs
Highlights: thermal hot springs & ecological reserve
Overnight: Otavalo, elevation 8,300′

This morning’s adventure starts with a change of scenery as we drive from the Andess towards Papallacta, an entrance point to the Amazon region. This part of the adventure is to relax and recover. Papallacta hot springs is located only 1.5 hours from Quito. At the hot springs you can soak in varying thermal pools of hot and cold volcanic waters, and reinvigorate your body, mind, and soul. Additional spa services are available (supplemental cost,) such as massages and facials. Within the Cayambe Coca Ecological Reserve where the hot springs reside, there are also many winding trails to explore for those who prefer to be more active. One option from here is to take a hike and go trout fishing in the lagoon at the back of the spa. The reserve is home to a great deal of flora and fauna, sure to enhance your experience!

Optional services:
Papallacta Spa – spa treatments

Included Meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner
Drive Time: 2.5 hrs
Highlights: thermal hot springs & ecological reserve
Overnight: Papallacta, elevation 10,800′

Today is an exciting day, as we will head south towards Cotopaxi National Park. The park is named after Cotopaxi, one of the highest elevation active volcanoes on earth. Perfectly conical and surrounded by views of other volcanoes such as the nearby Rumiñahui, it is a sight to behold. The park is also home to horses and bulls, which sometimes be found dotting the landscape of lagoons, pine forest, and rock. Once we reach the National Park, we will trek upwards to the base of the glacier, nearing 17,000′! A shorter hiking option is possible, at a lower elevation (~11,200′.) This option is a relatively flat hike around Limpiopungo lagoon, located just in front of the volcano. The views are spectacular with either option! Our trek will take about three hours and afterwards we will return to Quito. Our hotel in Quito’s “Old Town” historical area awaits us!

Meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner
Distance:
– Short: 1 mi, flat but at 10,000′
– Long: 5 km/3 mi, +2132′
Drive Time: 4 hrs
Highlights: Cotopaxi!
Overnight: Quito, elevation 9,350′

Today we will visit to one of the best-preserved historic centers in all of South America! Quito’s “Old Town” is easily identified by it’s stone and wood decorative architecture in the many churches, squares, and small neighborhoods. Travel back in time with interiors that are masterpieces belonging to the colonial era’s “Quiteña School of Art.”

In the afternoon, we will have a special gastronomic lunch and cooking class experience, located in the historic center of Quito. The chef, who specializes in Ecuadorian Heritage Cuisine, will teach us how to make traditional Ecuadorian cuisine with your own hands. The class is about 3 hours long, and includes chef guidance, a craft cocktail experience, lunch, and an afternoon coffee.
With a full belly and many happy memoires, your adventures through Ecuador are coming to an end. We will arrange your transfer to the airport at least 3 hours before your flight.

Depending on your flight time, we can also arrange for your group to have a nice dinner before leaving. If you need to add an extra night to accommodate an earlier flight the next morning, please let us know. (A supplemental fee applies for the dinner and/or extra night.)

Note: Most flights to the US leave fairly late in the evening.

Included Meals: breakfast & lunch