Day 1: QUITO

Arrival, welcome at the airport, and transfer to your hotel. Proclaimed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site, Quito is full of history: spacious plazas, old streets where you feel as if you have been transported back to the 16th century. Departure is from your hotel in order to visit colonial Quito attractions such as The Cathedral, the Main Square “Plaza de La Independencia”, La Compañía Church, San Francisco Church and square, and El Panecillo hill from where the “Virgen de Quito” will share a magnificent view of colonial Quito.

Day 2: QUITO – LAGO AGRIO –CUYABENO NATURE RESERVE

We will leave from your hotel for a flight to Lago Agrio. Via private vehicle, we will travel from the Lago Agrio airport to the bridge over the Cuyabeno River. From there we will transfer into a motor coach canoe for the journey to the Cuyabeno Lagoon. During the trip you will have the opportunity to observe a grand variety of birds, monkeys, butterflies, and other species in their natural environment. We will navigate through a marvelous display of lush tropical vegetation, arriving at our camp situated on the banks of the famous Cuyabeno Lagoon. There will be time for some exploring of the area and enjoying a cool shower at dusk. Dinner and the night will be spent in a lodge here.

Day 3: CUYABENO NATURE RESERVE

With an early start, we will take aguided walk through the jungle. Various plant species utilized for their natural medicinal qualities will be described along with methods of survival in the jungle. In the afternoon we will visit a place frequented by the famous Amazon dolphins. Later we will take a nocturnal walk to observe alligators and enjoy a concert of the birds and insects that are all around in the dark. Dinner and the night will be spent at the lodge.

Day 4: CUYABENO NATURE RESERVE

An early rise will find us embarking for Puerto Bolivar, a community of indigenous Sionas. Here we will visit a shaman who will give a demonstration of how natural medicines are used to cure medical patients. In the afternoon, we will fish for piranhas and take another nocturnal walk.
Dinner and the night will be spent at the lodge.

Day 5: CUYABENO NATURE RESERVE – LAGO AGRIO – QUITO

We will rise early to visit a good bird watching location, experiencing the sights and sounds of the unbelievable variety of species in their native environment. Aftwerwards, we will travel back to Lago Agrio for a flight back to Quito. Dinner and the night will be in Quito.
If we do not go to Cuyabeno for some reason, we have the option to go to the Pañacocha
community instead.

Day 6: QUITO – OTAVALO – QUITO 

We will depart early from your hotel in Quito to visit the Otavalo Indian market, the most important and colorful in Ecuador. At dawn, the Otavaleños go to the market plazas to sell their products such as animals, vegetables, fruits, and a large variety of colorful handicrafts including art, tapestries, ponchos, rugs, sweaters, and wood carvings. If there is enough time in the afternoon there are options to visit the village of Peguche, see a waterfall, a textile mill, and a shop where musical instruments are fabricated. Night will be spent at a beautiful historic
hacienda near Otavalo.
Optionally there is a visit to the indigenous animal market. However, in order to visit thismarket, we must rise and leave very early.

Day 7: QUITO – COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK 

We will depart Quito heading south via the Valley of the Volcanoes to the foot of the landmark Cotopaxi volcano which is the highest active volcano in the world at 19,347’ (5,898 m). We will visit the magnificent park which encompasses nearly 84,000 acres. Optionally we will hike to the first refuge, the Refugio Jose F. Ribas, which is a climbing shelter for those endeavoring to summit Cotopaxi and sits at 15,744’ (4800 m).
Dinner and the night will be spent at a local hacienda enjoying the high altitude environment and maybe a taste of the local drink canelazo.

Day 8: COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK – QUILOTOA – BAÑOS

We leave early to travel to one of the most beautiful locations in Ecuador, the stunning turquoise lake of Quilotoa. Formed in the crater of a highland volcano, the water is sulfuric and the location quite distinctive. Surrounding the lake lives an indigenous population of Quilotoans who are known for their elaborate painting with bright colors on animal skins.
We will travel to and spend the night in Baños, a charming little spa town famous for its warm spring waters and located in a small valley high in the Andes Mountains.

Day 9: BAÑOS – RIOBAMBA

We spend the day in Baños, a charming village, well known for its warm sulfurous springs. There are several possible activities: thermal water pools, horse riding, mountain biking, a walk through the surrounding hills, and a
visit to the Indian village of Salasacas known for its weaving.                                                                       We leave Baños by a road which crosses a high Andean plain, admiring the wonderful páramo landscape and typical crops of the indigenous highlanders. The night will be spent in Riobamba at an old hacienda beautifully transformed into a hosteria.

Day 10: RIOBAMBA – DEVIL’S NOSE TRAIN – CUENCA

We will depart early for the colonial city of Cuenca. En route, we will stop at the Alausi train station to take the famous Andean Devil’s Nose train. The spectacular ride begins and ends in Alausi and is approximately two hours long. This iron railway formed part of the historic transportation and communication route that once connected the coast and highlands of Ecuador.
The train route is still usable but the trip from Alausi to Riobamba is used only for tourism and takes between 6 to 8 hours. For the last ten years, the train has notoriously been loaded with adventure-seeking and willing passengers seated on the roof in order to admire the scenery, which after Alausi is quite breathtaking. So bring your camera and your sense of adventure for this ride which spans gorges and skirts precipitous slopes.
Unfortunately, the train is often late and has cancellations. Therefore it is possible we will not be able to take it. If that occurs, we will exchange the train ride for a trip up to the Ozogoche Lakes.
Before arriving in Cuenca, we will stop at Ingapirca for a visit to the Cañari Inca ruins, considered by many as the most important architectural legacy of the Incas in Ecuador. Located north of Cuenca, Ingapirca is an ancient military and religious complex built by the Cañaris. It was conquered and rebuilt by the Incas before the Spanish arrived and is a vast archeological complex. Aftwerwards we will arrive in Cuenca and spend the night at a hotel.

Day 11: CUENCA – GUALACEO AND CHORDELEG – CUENCA

This morning is free so you can explore the wonderful colonial city of Cuenca which is the third largest city in Ecuador and an important cultural center. You can walk down cobblestone streets admiring colonial architecture including Cuenca’s famous domes, visit handicraft markets, and maybe a museum, church, or one the four rivers that run through and around the city. It won’t be hard to see why many consider Cuenca the most beautiful city in Ecuador.
In the afternoon we will travel to visit the nearby small towns of Gualaceo and Chordeleg, which are known for the beautiful work of their artesans and tradesmen. The night will be spent in your hotel in Cuenca.

Day 12: CUENCA – CAJAS NATIONAL PARK – GUAYAQUIL

We will leave early to visit the protected area of the Cajas National Park. Situated near the Gulf of Guayaquil and home to hundreds of glacial lakes, important species such as the Andean tapir and Andean toucan, as well as several archeological sites, Cajas is the headwaters for two of the rivers flowing through Cuenca. We will do some hiking through the park and later will travel to and spend the night in Guayaquil.

Day 13: GUAYAQUIL – PUERTO LÓPEZ

On the Pacific coast, Guayaquil is located on the banks of the Guayas River and is the most important commercial center in the country. You will visit some of the the main tourist attractions which include, the Malecón, the Cerro del Carmen, the colonial neighborhood Las Peñas, and The Cathedral.
Later we will drive to Puerto López where we will dine and spend the night in a hotel.

Day 14: PUERTO LÓPEZ

This is a free day with an optional excursion to the Isla de la Plata (Silver Island). With this option, we will travel by boat to the island named after the purported treasure buried there by Sir Francis Drake during the 16th century. We will hike on the island, part of the Machalilla National Park, to enjoy its unusual dry tropical coastal climate and its spectacular sights including blue-footed and masked boobies, pelicans, deer, howler monkeys, and Frigate Birds.                                                                                                                                    Not enough? During the months of June to September, the boat ride to the island very possibly might feature some dramatic and impromptu somersaults by migrating humpbacked whales. The Park, in addition to being one of the most important bird-watching sites in the world, possesses several important archeological sites including the ruins at Aguas Blancas and Los Frailes Beach. The archeological sites evidence the rich prehistoric cultures that called this coastal region home.

Day 15: PUERTO LÓPEZ – GUAYAQUIL

Today we can visit thewonderful beaches near Salinas: San Vicente or Santa Elena along the route back to
Guayaquil. Alternatively we can visit some of the historical museums in Guayaquil prior to your airport transfer to meet your departure flight back to your home country.

• The domestic flights Quito – Lago Agrio – Quito
• Transfers to and from the airports
• Accommodations at first class hotels, hosterias, and rustic lodges in the Amazon based on double occupancy rooms with bathrooms and showers
• Equipment for the Amazonian portion including raincoats, first aid kit, and fishing tackle
• Motor coach canoe transportation in the Amazon region
• Private ground transportation
• The Andean train ride Alausi - Alausi
• All meals
• Visits and excursions mentioned in the program
• Bilingual guide for the entire tour
• Indigenous guide when appropriate

• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
• Tips
• Visits, excursions, and entrance fees not mentioned in the program, or
  mentioned as optional. Some approximate costs (USD per person) are: Isla
  de la Plata: $30 (including picnic lunch); archeological sites, thermal springs,
  waterfalls: $0.50 - $2; Cotopaxi and Cajas National Parks: $10 each;
  Machalilla National Park: $20; Cuyabeno Reserve or Pañacocha community:
  $20 each; Ingapirca: $6; Museums: $1 - $10
• Personal expenses
• Fees and expenses not mentioned in the program