Ecuador HighlightsTrek
Overview
Tucked in between Peru and Colombia, this country is small enough for you to have breakfast with scarlet macaws in the jungle, lunch in the lee of a snow-capped peak and, at tea time, be eyeballed by an iguana whose patch of Pacific beach you have just borrowed.
With this tour you will experience the incredible variety of Ecuador.
ECUADOR HIGHLIGHTS TOUR item tabs
Services / TRANSFER IN
Arrival to airport in Quito. Welcome by our guide at international arrival gate. Airport assistance and transfer to the HOTEL SAN FRANCISCO DE QUITO
Overnight HOTEL SAN FRANCISCO DE QUITO
Services (CABLE CAR) / QUITO CITY TOUR + EQUATORIAL LINE + TELEFERICO
Our day’s tour will include a visit to some of Quito’s fascinating churches, La Basilica, La Catedral, La Compañía and San Francisco, a walk along the City’s four important squares (known as “plazas”). A key component of our tour of Quito will be the scenic ride on the “Teleferico.” After the ten to fifteen minute ascent from 2950 meters (almost 9680 feet) above sea level to 4100 meters (almost 13,451 feet) above sea level where the panoramic views of the city of Quito and the surrounding Andean mountains are truly awesome. At the summit we will have an opportunity to take a short (about fifteen minutes) hike to a comfortable location where we will relax with a cup of coffee as we enjoy Quito’s best vantage point for viewing.
Yet another significant stop on our tour of the City of Quito will be at the equator where we will have an opportunity to experience some of the physical phenomena associated with being at a 0 – 0 - 0 degree latitude position. Of course, we will all have the opportunity to have our photo taken as we stand with one foot in the northern hemisphere and one foot in the southern hemisphere.
At the end of our first full day in the remarkable City of Quito, we will return to our hotel for overnight.
Overnight HOTEL SAN FRANCISCO DE QUITO
Services / YANACOCHA HUMMINGBIRD RESERVE AND MINDO
Breakfast HOTEL SAN FRANCISCO DE QUITO
After breakfast, we will be transferred by van up the western slope of the Pichincha Volcano to the Yanacocha Hummingbird Reserve. At an altitude of 3500 meters (nearly 11,483 feet) above sea level we will start our trek of about 2km (about 1.24 miles) along the main trail. If weather permits we will be able to see spectacular views of the Andean ridge, including Guagua Pichincha Volcano. In cloudy weather (usually later in the day), the birds, especially hummingbirds at the feeders are more active.
After this nice walk, we will head towards the nice town of Mindo where we will visit a butterfly and orchid farm. At the end, our transport will be waiting to take us back to Quito.
Overnight HOTEL SAN FRANCISCO DE QUITO
Services / INDIGENOUS MARKET, COTOPAXI, HORSEBACK RIDING
Breakfast HOTEL SAN FRANCISCO DE QUITO
After breakfast we will depart our hotel and head off to a colorful indigenous market where we will experience some interesting sights, sounds, smells and sometimes tastes, along with a few surprises.
Near the market we will view the plaza housing the impressive tribute to one of Ecuador's national heroes, Rumiñahui, the last leader of the Inca warrior resistance to the Spanish conquistadores.
Our next stop, after a drive through the Andean countryside, will be at Hacienda Santa Rita where we will have the opportunity to soar across deep chasms on a series of five zip line of varying lengths and speeds.
Proceeding with our drive through the Andes, our next stop will be at the comfortable country inn where we will be spending the night. Following lunch at the inn it is off to the on-site stables where we will gear up with chaps and ponchos, depending on the weather. A horse will be assigned to each of us commensurate with our individual riding ability. For those of us not accustomed to the thrill of being on horseback, some basic instructions will be provided.
With everyone comfortably mounted we will start our approximate two hour horseback journey through the Andes. Helmets while horseback riding are provided. Dinner and overnight at the inn.
Overnight and dinner HACIENDA EL PORVENIR
Breakfast HACIENDA EL PORVENIR
After breakfast we will set off for Cotopaxi, Ecuador’s second highest summit (and one of the world’s highest active volcanoes). We will drive to an elevation of 4500 meters (about 13,500 feet) above sea level and then hike approximately one hour to the mountain climber’s refuge located at4800 meters (approximately 14,400 feet) above sea level. Anyone finding the trek up Cotopaxi too strenuous can opt to hike around the Limpiopungo glacier lake which, at 3800 meters (approximately 11,400 feet), will be equally interesting but less demanding.
After our tour, we will head towards the city of Riobamba.
Overnight and dinner HACIENDA ABRASPUNGO
Breakfast HACIENDA ABRASPUNGO
We will start the day with an early breakfast so that we can leave our hotel at 08:00 a.m. in order to make the mandatory 11:00 a.m. arrival at the local railway station in Alausi where we will board our train, the “Devil’s Nose,” so named as a result of the series of switch backs through the Andes.
In the early 1900’s when the “Devil’s Nose” rail line was being built, it was considered among the world’s most dangerous railway construction projects. Nevertheless, persistence prevailed, resulting in today’s most spectacular railroad experience.
This rail venture goes from Alausí down to Zibambe where we will take our box lunch at a cafe run by the local Indian community.
After lunch we will return to Alausí and then head south along the Panamericana Highway where we will encounter yet another Ecuadorian ethnic group, Los Cañaris. Then it’s on to the province of Cañar we will stop at Ingapirca’s arqueological site, Ecuador’s most important Inca’s site.
In the late afternoon or early evening we will arrive arrival at our final destination for the day, the City of Cuenca.
Overnight HOTEL CARVALLO
Breakfast HOTEL CARVALLO
Following breakfast in our hotel we will start a two to three hour hike hike through Cajas National Park, a beautiful natural area located 29 km (about 18 miles) west of Cuenca, near an easily accessible high plateau forest. The area, speckled with over 230 lakes, separated by rocky ridges, has been a Ramsar site,i.e. a wetland of international importance, since 2002.The well managed park, the source of Cuenca's drinking water is a favorite with birdwatchers, trekkers and trout fishermen. The rich birdlife includes 125 species including the condor and many varieties of hummingbird.
After lunch in a local restaurant, will head back to Cuenca for a city tour that will include a visit to the colonial churches, parks and streets. We will also have the opportunity to visit a ceramics factory as well as the production center where the world famous straw hats (mistakenly known as “Panama” hats) are manufactured. These hats are remembered as Teddy Roosevelt’s headgear of choice.
Overnight HOTEL CARVALLO
Breakfast HOTEL CARVALLO
Breakfast will be offered at our Cuenca hotel and then it’s off to the enchanting city of Guayaquil. Our tour of this vibrant city will include several panoramic visits of local civic, cultural and historical importance.
At Iguana Park we will be charmed by the appearance of numerous “strolling” iguanas. A visit to the Southern Malecon 2000 will allow us an opportunity to appreciate the Integration Plaza with its famous Southern Marketplace or Cristal Palace and then connect to the Plaza Olmedo dedicated to the recognized Guayaquil poet and ex president Jose Joaquin de Olmedo. Continuing our visit to the city’s important monuments, we will view the Morisca Tower, then the Rotonda Monument with the statues of Simon Bolivar and San Martin.
Our tour of Guayaquil would not be complete without a visit to the neighborhood of Las Peñas, the oldest part of the city and making the easy ascent up the 444 steps to the top of Santa Ana Hill. Las Peñas was once a decaying part of the city, falling rapidly into further ruin. With the aid and encouragement of the local government, coupled with the fierce determination of area residents, the area has been transformed into a quintessential example of an urban renewal success story. The quaint shops, boutiques and clubs that line the steps to the summit of Santa Ana Hill are a Guayaquil “must see.”
Overnight HOTEL HAMPTON INN
Breakfast HOTEL WYNDHAM
After breakfast we will be transferred to the Guayaquil international airport for our homeward bound flights or for connections for trip extensions.
Trip Extensions
If you wish to extend your Ecuador adventure by adding a rainforest jungle tour, a Galapagos tour, and / or a Peruvian experience, TOURS UNLIMITED can assist you with arrangements.
Breakfast HOTEL WYNDHAM
- Accommodation in double room in the mentioned hotels or similar, depending on the availability at the moment of the reservation
- Meals mentioned in the program
- American breakfast or buffet according to hotels
- Entrances and visits according to itinerary
- Private tourism land transportation
- Bilingual private guide Spanish - English
- International flights
- International departure tax from Quito: USD$41p/p * from Guayaquil USD27 p/p
- Alcoholic beverages
- Tips
- Meals not mentioned in the program
- Entrance fees or visits not mentioned in the program
- Taxes and flights are subject to change without prior notice by the Ecuadorian airlines and government. Please take note about his information in order to tell to your clients.
| Description | Highlights of Ecuador Tour in 9 days |
| Price base in: | 2 passengers |
| Total Price for 2 passengers | USD3.554 |