Activity & Tour Descriptions
You may choose between the following options
|
Amazon Museum and Vivarium
The museum houses an impressive number of South American and other snakes, reptiles and amphibians
|
Baños (2 day)
Gateway to the Amazon river basin thermal water therapeutic springs and a reportedly miraculous Virgin (fiesta in October and 15 December), in the magnificent Pastaza valley, boasts a plethora of waterfalls, land of orchids, jungle, incredible views at the base of
the Tungurahua volcano. Baños is considered the most charming town of Ecuador.
Day 1: Depart in the morning through the "Avenue of the Volcanoes", where we can admire the beauty of the Andes. Depending on the day of the week, we can stop for a visit to one of the colorful markets held in the area. We will then descend to the enchanting valley of Patate, famous for its fruit production. If it is a one day program, we can visir the Agoyan fall, down to Puyo, and Pailon del Diablo. We will spend the night in one of the nearby hotels or hosterías.
Day 2: Visit the town of Baños, where we can appreciate the landscapes, or hike in the surrounding area, or watch how the balsa-wood artifacts are made. Return to Quito after lunch.
|
Cloud Forest Reserve (one day)
06:00 Departure to the Cloud forest reserve, only two hours northwest of Quito. This region is ideal for birdwatching (its 263 recorded species of birds and this list continues to grow! Tanager-finch, Giant Antpitta, Swallow-tailed Nightjar, Plush-capped Finch, Beautiful Jay, and the White-Faced Numbird are all found here, and everybody loves to see the brightly colored tanagers and the Platebilled Mountain-Toucan! Simply sit in the dome and admire the multitude of hummingbirds visiting the feeders in a flurry of activity.
13:00 Lunch at Bellavista
14:30 Trek into the cloud forest and the see beautiful blue waterfall.
Arrival to Quito around 18:00
|
Cloud Forest Reserve (two day)
Day 1: 07:30 Departure to the Bellavista reserve, only two hours northwest of Quito.
13:00 Lunch at Bellavista. Hike into the cloud forest.
18:00 Dinner. Overnight in the cloud forest.
Day 2: 06:00 Early wake up and breakfast for bird watching and nature walks.
8:00 Breakfast. Hike to the waterfall.
13:00 Lunch in Bellavista.
14:00 Departure from Bellavista reserve after lunch. Arrival to Quito.
|
Colorado Community (two days)
Day 1: 08:00 Departure to Santo Domingo de los Colorados (2 hours south-west of Quito)
13:00 Lunch at la Cascada
15:00 Shaman ceremony at the Colorado community
20:00 Dinner and overnight in Santo Domingo
Day 2: 8:00 Breakfast. Hike to the tropical forest of "La Perla." 13:00 Lunch in La Perla biological reserve.
14:00 Departure after lunch
Arrival to Quito around 17:00
|
Convento de San Diego and Museum
This is an amazing cloister, with colonial architecture.
|
Cotopaxi Horseback Riding tour (one day)
At over 19,300 feet, Cotopaxi is the highest active volcano in the world, covered with glaciers down to 15,748 where there is a refuge. That hike takes 1/2-1 hour; the ascent to the summit takes another 5-8 hours. One can see a domesticated llama herd, wild horses and birds galore.
08:00 Pick up at school
13:00 Lunch in a beautiful hacienda in the middle of the four volcanos
14:30 Horse back riding dressing like a "chagra or andean cowboy" with poncho blankets, scarf, hat and leather zamarros.
19.00 Return to Quito
|
Cotopaxi Horseback Riding tour (two day)
Day 1: 08:00 After breakfast, head South to Cotopaxi National Park. Explore the Andean moorlands with highland birds, or hike up to the snow line and rest at the shelter (4,800 meters above see level).
14:00 Lunch at the beautiful hacienda "El Porvenir" in the middle of the four volcanos
15:00 Horse back riding to the Rumiñahui volcano dressing like a "chagra or Andean cowboy" or hike around the waterfalls in the Pasochoa biological reserve.
19:00 Dinner
Overnight at Hacienda El Porvenir
Day 2:
8:00 Early breakfast at the Hacienda
Once inside the National Park, we will go to the visitor’s center to obtain information about its location, history of major eruptions from the world's highest volcano, and the local flora and fauna. We will continue our visit to Limpiopungo ("open door") lake. This is a perfect place to take breathtaking pictures of Cotopaxi, Sincholagua and Rumiñahui. The visit ends at the farmhouse.
15:00 After lunch return to Quito
|
Feria Indígena de Saquisilí
This small important market town shows and sells the best textiles in Ecuador, baskets, animals and produce. The local indigenous people dress in red ponchos and narrow brimmed felt hats.
|
Fundación Guayasamín
The home of Oswaldo Guyasamín, a well-known Ecuadorian indigenous painter, houses his works
as well as a pre-Columbian and colonial collection. Works of art and jewelry may be purchased
|
Galapagos Islands
Lying 600 miles off the Ecuadorian coast, the islands are mostly basalt gigantic volcano peaks. The animals and plants developed differently here from most other areas of the world. Half of the plants, 25% of shore fish and nearly all the reptiles are found nowhere else in the world.
|
Guagua Pichincha Active Volcano (one day)
This volcano erupted on October 7th, 1999. It's ideal for an acclimatization hike or as an observation of
an active volcanic crater. Early departure at 06:30, picnic lunch and return to Quito around 15:00.
|
Guápulo Sanctuary
This delightful colonial church, located in a precipitous valley on the east side of town was built between 1644-1688. The site is reached by descending a steep footpath.
|
Mitad del Mundo
At 23 km north of Quito, the Equatorial Line Monument is at an altitude of 2,483 meters.
The monument forms the focal point of a park and leisure area, built as a typical colonial town.
The museum is reached by a lift, then one descends through different levels each depicting different
Indian cultures. There is also a planetarium and a model of old Quito.
|
Museo-Biblioteca Aurelio Espinosa Polit
This former Jesuit seminary houses a unique collection of antique maps of Ecuador.
|
Otavalo & Province of the Lakes (one day)
This town, located north of Quito, is famous for its Saturday markets (selling hand woven textiles and other crafts) and traditionally dressed Indians, the Otavaleños. Cotacachi, a nearby town, is a great place to buy leatherwork. The nearby village of San Antonio
is known for its handwork in wood. Laguna Cuicocha is a lake in an extinct volcano where you can take boat rides to visit the islands.
All over the Andean highlands, scattered in the valleys and mountains, you will find numerous markets displaying everything from wool textiles, native fruits and fresh vegetables to jewelry, ceramics, baskets, wood carving, native paintings, embroidery, tools and even animals! The market in Otavalo is one of the most well-known markets in the country. It is a rich cultural site where locals meet with their friends and relatives to catch up on news and practice the ancient art of bargaining. It will capture your senses making you feel as if you've stepped back in time.
07:00 Early wake up and after breakfast visit Calderon, then departure to Otavalo Indian Market
13:00 Lunch at the indigenous home of Antonio Quinotoa and have the opportunity to try "cuy" (Guinea pig)
15:00 Visit and hike around the lake & volcano of Cuicocha.
16:00 Visit the town of Cotacachi,
17:30 Return to Quito
|
Otavalo& Province of the Lakes (two day)
Day 1:
07:30 Early wake up and after breakfast visit Calderón, then depart to Otavalo Indian Market.
13:00 Lunch at the indigenous home of Antonio Quinotoa and have the opportunity to try "cuy" (Guinea pig)
15:00 Visit San Antonio de Ibarra
18:30 Dinner in a typical country side hacienda in the valley of Urcuqui
Overnight in the Imbabura province
Day 2:
After breakfast departure to the volcano and lake of Cuicocha Visit to Cotacachi (leather goods)
Lunch in Puerto Lago (next to San Pablo lake)
Visit to Indian town of Peguche
17:00 Return to Quito
|
Papallacta Spring Waters (one day)
08:00 Pick up from school for the trip to the Papallacta spring waters. First trek into the mountains, ideal for seeing incredible diversity of flora and fauna. Brief orientation about natural history and ecology.
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Enjoy the spring water of Papallacta (dont forget your bathing suit)
17:00 Return to Quito
|
Panecillo
A small rounded hill dominating the old town, "little bread" is ascended after a half
hour stair climb; one discovers a huge statue of the Virgin of Quito.
(A safer route is in taxi from the old town.) The view of the city and surrounding volcanoes is marvelous.
|
Parque Metropolitano de Quito
In La Alameda one finds a monument of Simón Bolivar, a relief map of Ecuador, statues of members
of the French Académie des Sciences, an observatory and 2 lakes.
|
Pasochoa Biological Reserve (one day)
Depart from Quito around 08:00. Drive through the southern part of the city, seeing the so-called
"Avenue of the Volcanoes", including the beautiful Ruminahui and the Ilinizas, weather permitting.
We then leave the plateau and get to Tambillo Valley, a very lush and productive area. We get to the Pasochoa
Reserve, declared a sanctuary for birds and plants by the World Wide Fund. Pasochoa Reserve is
located in a former caldera area of the Pasochoa volcano, formed some 100,000 years ago when it exploded.
We begin our hike, and see the Andes vegetation, and take one of the several trails to get in contact with
nature and learn about this Andean rain-forest area. There will be a picnic lunch, or lunch can be arranged
in a nice hacienda nearby. We will return to Quito in the afternoon.
|
Pululahua Crater (one day)
Departure from Quito at 08:30 a.m. View the quick changes from Quito's green areas to the scrubby
vegetation of the nearby valley of "La Mitad del Mundo". Then we climb up to reach the only inhabitated
crater of the world, Pululahua, formerly a hacienda. We descend about 300 meters to reach this crater, and
along the way we will be able to see the orchids and birds that live in this natural reserve. The hiking time
is around 11/2 hours. After the hike we will be picked up by a vehicle to continue the tour behind the crater,
and to experience the lower altitude and warmer climate. If possible, we will visit a local distillery of "puntas",
that is the sugar-cane liquor typical in Ecuador. After a picnic lunch, return to Quito.
|
Quilotoa Crater & Lagoon (two day)
Day 1:
Early departure to visit the Pujily Indian Market. We will view the breathtaking
scenery from the town of Pujilí to the highlands of Tigua, where the famous painters make a unique
handicraft on sheep's skins with naif motifs. This is one of the few places where you can still see
the use of llamas as beasts of burden which are tied up with very colorful ropes. The market itself is
a plethora of sights and sounds. Spend the night in one of the hacienda houses of the area.
Day 2:
08:30 Breakfast
09.30 Depart to the Quilotoa crater lake, where, according to the season and time of the year,
the alkaline water color changes from green to a deep blue. After a picnic lunch, return to Quito.
|
Rafting Tour (one day)
Early departure for river rafting on Blanco or Toachi river
Lunch in the middle of the forest
Return to Quito
|
Salasaca Indian Market, Baños & Manteles Hacienda (3 day)
Day 1: Visit an Indian Market, as well as the little village of the hardworking Huasalata weavers of Salasaca Indians. Visit the charming city of Baños and spend the night there.
Day 2: After breakfast in Baños continue to Manteles Hacienda. From the hacienda, take a short, but very rewarding, hike to the nearby forest. Spend the night at Hacienda Manteles. Lunch and dinner included.
Day 3: After breakfast, another little hike before returning to Quito. Decide between horseback riding, or explore the beautiful forest. After lunch, return to Quito around 16:00.
|
Trip to the Beach of Atacames (two day)
Beyond Esmeraldas, warm sea, good climate, "camaronera" shrimp growing farm, Atacames - a fishing village and beach resort.
DAY 1: At 00:00 hours we will depart early from Quito, descending towards the Western Lowlands. You will be able to see the fast changes from the Andes climate to a subtropical climate and vegetation, and then to actual tropical weather. We will continue travelling towrads the province of Esmeraldas, which is very well known for the strong African influence especially of the people. After our arrival to the city of Atacames for lunch, we will pay a short visit to the town, enjoy the beach and then we will spend the night in one of the several hoteles/hosterías of the area.
DAY 2: After breakfast, we will be able to see some beautiful and colorful birds typical of these areas, and then have a half day to relax and enjoy the sea and the sand before taking the bus back to Quito after lunch.
|
