Active Tour Mainland Ecuador

Arrival at Mariscal Sucre Airport, Quito. Transfer to Hotel.

Check in – 14:00

Breakfast

Ruco Pichincha 4696m Full Day

We pick you up at your hotel un Quito. Early in the morning we head to the Telefériqo cable cars where we ride the gondola up to 4000m with amazing views of Quito and the Andes. From here we start our trekking towards Ruco Pichincha 4696m, the beautiful rocky mountain overlooking Quito. We pass moorlands and the last section a small rocky easy hike. The trekking takes us about 5-6 hours total.

Includes:

-Professional mountain guide

-Box-lunch

-Private transportation in guide car

-Helmet

-Teleferiqo tickets

Return to the hotel

Breakfast at the hotel.

Mindo is a tiny town set amidst some of the most beautiful and peaceful countryside in the entire country. It is a centre for both nature and adventure activities. You are going to visit a butterfly farm where you will also be able to see orchids and an array of colourful humming birds. Mindo has a great biodiversity. The forest landscape is home to over 500 species of birds and 400 species of orchids. You cross the forest area in a cable car, located approximately 30 meters above the ground, then you will walk through the woods.

You will visit:

ALAMBI RESERVE: The garden of Alambi is an ideal place to enjoy nature, you will find a refuge for hummingbirds, you can see varieties of species. The Hummingbirds are the smallest birds and are the most characteristic group of Ecuador, in our country we have 124 species of the 320 in the world.

CANOPY: It is a journey through 3 different cables, using safety equipment and accompanied by a specialized guide, where you can enjoy the adventure and adrenaline that the sensation of flying between the mountains of the cloud forest of Mindo offers.

BUTTERFLY GARDEN: it’s a butterfly breeding farm dedicated to the exhibition, reproduction and conservation of the butterflies in the cloud forest of Mindo.

ORCHID GARDEN: Ecuador is home to more than 4000 species of Orchids. In fact, 1 out of every 4 plants will be an Orchid. Visit the Garden of Orchids to discover a few of these amazing and beautiful plants.

QUETZAL CHOCOLATE TOUR: In this experience, we will work together to roast, grind, and mix your own xocolatl, a traditional chocolate beverage. Together we will recharge our energy by working side-by-side to make this delectable chocolate drink. You will get the opportunity to pitch in or just observe as you learn how chocolate has been made and consumed as a beverage for thousands of years.

Breakfast

Trekking Central Andes 5d/4n

We pick you up from your hotel in Quito.
Pasochoa / Altitude 4200m / Accommodation Altitude 2500m / 5 hrs walking / 1 hr drive.

The Pasochoa, an extinct volcano that is very fertile in consequence of the lava and the thousands of years that passed by the eruption. Covered in Andean forests and moorlands, you can find many different species of plants, trees, animals and insects. Our trekking takes about 6-7 hours in total. After reaching Pasochoa Summit (4’200 m / 13’779 feet) we head to our lodge to rest for the night.
Box-lunch included.

Rumiñahui / Altitude 4600m / Accommodation Altitude 2500m / 6 hrs walking / 1 hr drive.

We continue to Cotopaxi National Park. We start our tour at the edge of the stunning Limpiopungo lagoon at 3900m. Rumiñahui is a beautiful rocky mountain which its name means: face of rock: Rumi (piedra) Ñahui (cara). We hike to the summit and back in approx. 4-5h. We traverse beautiful moorlands and the last part to the summit is a fun rocky easy climb to Rumiñahui Central. The view is amazing to active Cotopaxi volcano, Sincholagua, Pasochoa and surrounding valleys. We return to our lodge to rest.
Box-lunch included.

Ilinizas trekking / Altitude 4600-5116m / Accommodation Altitude 2500m / 6-7 hrs walking / 0.5 hr drive.

The journey takes us about 30min to the Virgin statue nearly at 4000m. The hike to the hut will take us about 2hrs and one hour back. Traversing moorlands and a small polilepis forest, the hike is very scenic with great views of the valley. If guests desire, we can try for the summit of Iliniza North adding additional 2 hours from the hut up, and 2 hours descent total.
Box-lunch included.

Quilotoa Loop / Altitude 3914m / Accommodation Altitude 4000m/ 5 hrs walking / 2 hrs drive.

Breakfast

We head to the central Andes. The Quilotoa Lake is one of Ecuador’s most spectacular sites, although relatively off the beaten path. The crater lake was formed when the volcano erupted many thousands of years ago. It is about 250 meters deep and is characterized by its stunningly bright turquoise color. We walk around the lake about 4-5 hours to complete the loop around the crater. Then we will be transferred south to Chimborazo province to our hotel to spend the night.
Box-Lunch included.

Chimborazo Trekking / Altitude 5000m/ Accommodation Altitude 3200m/ 4 hrs walking / 2 hrs drive.

Breakfast.

Afrer breakfast you go for a wonderful trekking around the area and base of the mountain to admire the moorlands, views and meet the Andean camelid, alpacas and vicuñas. You reach the mountain refuge and reach up to 5000m at the base of the mountain. Box-Lunch included.

Transport will take you to Termas de Papallacta.

Papallacta is famous for its hot springs,. It is a small village in Ecuador located at an altitude of 3,300 m in the Andes just off the Eastern Cordilleras on the road from Quito which leads into the Amazon jungle. Descending from the peak to Papallacta, one passes through the portal where the ecosystems transform from andean to tropical jungle.

There are three important reasons to visit “Termas de Papallacta”: Health, recreation & relaxation.
The thermal baths are located on the banks of the Papallacta River in a unique natural environment; here you can find nine hot thermal pools and three cold water pools. The source temperature of the thermal baths varies between 30°C and 70°C (86°F and 158°F). At the pools the temperature ranges from 36°C to 40°C (97°F to 104°F). Papallacta´s thermal waters contain sulfates, sodium, calcium, chloride and traces of magnesium which are odorless, colorless but have a slightly salty taste.
The baths’ curative properties are anti-allergenic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic and anti-rheumatic.

Breakfast.

THE HEADWATERS RUN
(1 DAY TRIP, 27Km, IV-IV+ CLASS)

The Quijos is set to become Ecuador’s premier whitewater trip with mile after mile of IV-IV+ class rapids and spectacular jungle scenery. Expect to run more whitewater in a day than you’d do in a week elsewhere. This trip is for experienced rafters that are confident swimmers. No wimps please!

Depart from your hotel. Drive to Baeza. On arrival you’ll be issued with wetsuits, life jackets and helmets. After a short drive to the put-in the Trip Leader will give a thorough safety briefing. Then you’ll split into groups for an intensive in-boat paddle practice with your guide.

Once you set off you’re straight into the action but with some easier rapids to warm up. Along the way you’ll stop for a riverside picnic lunch. In the afternoon we’ll raft through the first canyons of the Quijos running big, technical rapids including the famous “El Toro” and the spectacular Linares canyon.
Season: September to February

Includes: Professional guides, top-of-the-line rafting equipment, safety kayakers,
transportation to the river and back, a delicious riverside lunch, and unsurpassed safety.

Breakfast.

Time at Leisure enjoying Papallacta Hot Spring.

Continue to Baños.

Breakfast: at the hotel.

Baños is known as “The Gate of the Amazon Region.” Baños is located on the outside of the Eastern range of the Andes. It is a perfect place to relax and explore. This small town is famous worldwide for its natural crystalline waterfalls. You will arrive to Río Verde, where the Pailón del Diablo is located, considered one of the ten largest jumps. Pailon del Diablo is the most majestic among the waterfalls in La Ruta de las Cascadas. This waterfall is 80 meters tall and 1,410 meters above sea level.

Then you will continue on the waterfalls route, you will make several stops to explore the waterfalls in the area. First you will visit the Agoyan Waterfall, you will continue to the Manto de la Novia waterfall where you will have an opportunity to cross in tarabita. You will also visit the famous swing of the End of the World, located in La Casa Del Tree, it is a long swing located on top of a steep slope, with a beautiful mountain view. The unique location of the swing at 2600 meters above sea level, offers visitors a beautiful and scary view of the Tungurahua volcano.

After that you return to the city and see how the famous “marshmallow” (candy, which is made from sugar cane) is made.

Breakfast.

Free morning in Baños.
Rest at the hotel or optional activities. The guide will provide all the information.

Return to Quito: 4 hours. Free evening.

Transfer to the airport for your international flight.