Day 1 Quito

Upon arrival our representative will meet and escort you to the hotel. Balance of day at leisure.

Day 2 Quito – City Tour and Middle of the World

UNESCO declared Quito a Cultural Heritage Site. Its incomparable architecture and Colonial Art are treasures of America. In our first day we visit Colonial Town and its Churches: The Cathedral with an interesting collection of sculptures and paintings from Escuela Quiteña. From Independence Square, we can walk to the most of the colonial sites: El Sagrario, La Compañia de Jesus, San Francisco Church and Plaza, Convents and Monasteries. In the afternoon, just 30 minutes outside of Quito we visit The Equatorial Monument – Middle of the World, here there is a typical Andean Village, an ethnographic or Intiñan museums that shows you about our ethnical groups. (B-L)

Day 3 Cotopaxi National Park

Starting our trip early in the morning, we’ll drive through The Avenue of the Volcanoes; arrive to The Cotopaxi National Park, where you can see the Highest Active Volcano in the world: Cotopaxi (5.987 meters above sea level). Visit Limpiopungo Lake and Vicious Valley. This park is home of several animals like as condors, blue-bill pointed ducks, Andean gulls, rabbits, paramo wolves, foxes and white tailed deer. In the afternoon, we visit an interesting archeological Inca site and colonial hacienda called San Agustin del Callo. Accommodation in a hotel of the area. (B-Box Lunch)

Day 4 Cotopaxi – Quilotoa Crate Lake & Baños

Departure to Quilotoa Crater Lake; visit Tigua a little indigenous town near Zumbahua and Quilotoa, in this community we meet the Tigua artists well known for their colorful paints, which are elaborated on sheepskin trained. Their paints represent Andean landscapes, people, and daily life moments. Arrive to Quilotoa Lake where is possible to descend to the crater (Trekking for 4 hours). Departure to Baños. (B-L)

Day 5 Full Day Baños

Baños: the entrance to the jungle and a zone classified as the largest biodiversity in Ecuador. Visit the Baños city and its surroundings. For adventure, relax or an exiting bohemian nightlife, Baños is a small jewel on the Andean plateau. At the night is possible to admire the eruptions of Tungurahua Volcano. Accommodation in Baños. We’ll have a passage crossing the river by Tarabita. After, we go to El Pailón del Diablo, one of the biggest waterfalls in Ecuador, Manto de la Novia, Rio Verde, and Agoyan waterfalls. (B)

Day 6 Baños – Amazon Rainforest (Jardin Aleman Lodge)

Departure to Jungle Rainforest, Baños – Puyo – Tena during this journey you will admire our exuberant and wonderful Ecuadorian Amazon. Short visit to Omaere (Puyo). Arrive to Jardin Aleman. You will make a short walk around the Lodge. Dinner and overnight. (D)

Day 7

Breakfast at 8.00 a.m. After breakfast receive your life vest and cushion for the canoe trip. Departure 9.00 a.m. from the beach of the Lodge. Canoe ride on the Misahualli and Napo River. Visit to Indians earning their live by gold panning (tip per canoe 2.- US$). Arrive to the PROTECTED FOREST "MISICOCHA" of the Jungle Lodge El Jardin Aleman and hike in the forest. Admire the extraordinary flora and the exotic sounds of the primary rainforest. If you are lucky see toucans, oropendulos, parrots and small monkeys. Your local Indian guide will explain you flora and fauna of the Amazon Region with special emphasis to medicinal plants.

Lunch in a typical hut with a wonderful view over the Napo River. Embark the canoe and ride upstream to visit the Indian village Muyuna and see how to prepare "chicha", a fermented yuca drink and if you like taste it (tip per canoe 3.- US$). Here you can buy also handicraft made by the Indians. You continue your canoe ride direction Shamans home. Visit the local witch-doctor and experience a magical world. Learn about the medicinal plants, see a cleaning ceremony and experience the blow pipe, a traditional form of hunting. Return to the Lodge by canoe. Dinner and overnight (B-L-D)

Day 8

Breakfast at 8.00 a.m... You start your jungle hike at 9.00 a.m. Your native guide will explain the typical plants of this area and their daily use. See banana, coffee, coco and much more. During you hike you pass through a labyrinth of high rocks with caves and amazing vegetation. Lunch at Lodge. In the afternoon at 3.00 p.m. you will walk along the Misahualli River to the small village of Pununo where we cross a suspended bridge over and enter the territory of the Indian Community of "Alto Pununo". See how the Indian live and work. Continue to the bridge of the Pununo River and go back to on the left shore of the Misahualli River to the Pununo Community. Back to Lodge .Dinner and overnight. (B-L-D)

Day 9 Tena - Papallacta

After breakfast we departure to Papallacta a wonderful land known for its hot springs can be as relaxing or as full of activity as you wish. There are numerous optional spa treatments available, and the mineral-filled hot springs are known to provide many health benefits. Or, there are fabulous optional hiking and fishing opportunities in the nearby private and Natural Reserve lands. Arrive to Papallacta thermal springs spa and hotel. Evening free for leisure. (B)

Day 10 Papallacta – Quito

Departure to Quito. The mountainous terrain allows for many beautiful photo opportunities. Short visit to Papallacta Lake and spectacular view of snow-capped mountain Antisana (Cayambe – Coca Natural Reserve) Arrive to hotel in Quito (B)

Day 11 Quito – Otavalo Indian Market & Cuicocha Lake

Departure from Quito through the Panamericana North, we will visit the town of Calderon with its typical ¨masapan¨ handicrafts. Brief stop at Cayambe where the equatorial line crosses diving the world in two hemispheres, continuing we will arrive to Otavalo to visit its Indian market, full of Ecuador typical handicrafts. Otavalo is one of the most Ecuadorian Indian Markets recognized around the world. Lunch. In the afternoon we have a moderate trekking around the Cuicocha Lake in front Cotacachi Volcano (4.944 m above sea level) This Lake has a weird and wonderful turquoise – blue color, it is at 3.000 meters above sea level; from here you can have an spectacular view of Otavalo, Ibarra towns and the Imbabura Volcano. Lodging in a Colonial Hacienda or Hostel in Otavalo (B-L-D)

Day 12 San Antonio de Ibarra – Quito

The next day breakfast will be served and we will continue 4to he town of San Antonio de Ibarra, typical because of their wood goods. Next we will visit the Yahuarcocha lake and the Peguche town where we will se how the indigenous make their weaving. Return to Quito in the afternoon.

Day 13 Quito

Breakfast. Transfer to airport to take your flight to home.

Highlands & Amazon	DBL
Adventure	$ 2320

Rate Includes:

All transfers, accommodation in Quito, Cotopaxi, Baños, Tena, Papallacta and Otavalo (rate based on double accommodation), daily breakfast, meals indicated in the itinerary, professional bilingual guide, private transportation, all excursions and visits according with the program,

Not Included:

• Drinks
• Tips
• Additional nights
• Entrance fee to museums, national parks and natural reserves
• Meals not indicated
• Services not indicates
• Personal expenses, local calls, etc