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Ecuador is one of the smallest countries in America. It lies on both the Northen and the Sourthen Hemispheres and is divided by the Equator line, thus the name of the country. Ecuador has 4 diverse and unique regions: the Amazon Rain forest, the highlands Andes, the Coast, and the Galapagos Archipelago.
These four regions are subdivided into provinces. Besides its exuberant biodiversity, Ecuador is home to an impressive variety of ethnic groups, includind communities who still practice ancient cultural traditions.
Quito: Capital city of Ecuador. The 2nd highest capital of South America rests along the foothills of the Pichincha volcano to 2800 m. height above sea level. It was originally inhabited by the pre-inca tribe. Quitus, whose name signifies “ Middle of the Earth” since the city is located 15 miles south of the Equator. Its history and fusion of cultures makes Quito a complex and fascinating city to discover, It is no wonder the city has been a recipient to international awards such as UNESCO´s First World Heritage Site in 1978 honoring the largest and best-preserved historical centers of America. In 2013, it was awarded the title of "The Leading Destination of South America" by the World Travel Awards.
Andes: Many of the provinces in Ecuador`s highlands are named after the most important mountain or volcano on its territory: Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Tungurahua, and Chimborazo. Most of the names of the mountains have their origin in an indigenous tongue, mostly Quichua. The word “Andes” itself comes from ANTI, which means “where the sun rises”.
Amazonia: The Amazon Region of Ecuador known as "The East" is formed by the following provinces, from north to south: Sucumbios, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Morona Santiago and Zamora Chinchipe. It is characterized by its warm, humid and rainy climate. The temperature varies between 23 º C and 26 º C. Ecuador has two parks that cover the Amazon Basin: Cuyabeno National Park, Yasuní National Park.
This tropical region is home to thousands of indigenous people belonging to some 200 different nationalities. Among the best known are the Siona, Secoya, Cofan, Shuar, Zaparo, Huaorani and Quichua. The indigenous tribes that inhabit the Ecuadorian jungle are the ancestral guardians of the biological inheritance of this region of the world. Having lived there for over 10,000 years, they know plants, their animals and their secrets better than anyone else.
Day 1: Transfer Quito Airport –Alangasí (Quito)
Night in Alangasí: Las Sevillanas Garden House (30 minutes of airport, beautiful place to relax in the nature).
http://shinegalapagos.com/hospedaje
Day 2: Otavalo
Pick up 08:00 am
San Pablo Lagoon
Otavalo market (Saturday)
Cotacachi Town
Night in Mojanda
http://www.casamojanda.com/?lang=es
Day 3: Mindo
Pick up at 08:30 am.
Visit a Butterfly farm * usd 6
Visit Chocolate factory * usd 6
Canopy *usd 10 - 18 or Hiking (2 hours) until the waterfall *usd 4
Night in Mindo
http://www.hosteriaarasari.com/galeria-de-fotos.html
Day 4: Quito City
Pick up at 09:00 am
Mitad del Mundo * usd 10 - 12 - 15 (depend of the places to visit)
Old Town
Places to visit:
Basilica Churche * usd 6
Plaza de la Independencia
Compañía de Jesús Churche * usd 6
San Francisco Churche * usd 6
Panecillo
La Ronda
Night in Quito
https://www.realaudiencia.com/
Day 5: Cotopaxi (Or Papallacta Hot Springs)
Pick up at 08:00 am
Limpiopungo Lagoon
Hiking (1 hour aprox.) to the Jose Rivas Refugie (4810 meters above sea level)
Hiking to the Glacier (20 minutes more)
Night in Quito
https://www.realaudiencia.com/
Day 6: Quito (Hotel Check out at 12:00pm)
Day free
Pick up at 09:50pm (at the hotel)
You must take the bus last night before to start the Cuyabeno Trip. Tourist Transport to Lago Agrio. Meeting: La Mariscal neighborhood, Q Restaurant at 10:15 PM. You will arrive at Lago Agrio the next day at 06:30 a.m. (Mon-Wed-Thu-Sun).
Day 7: CUYABENO RESERVE: Caiman Lodge. Pick up at 09:00 am (Lago Agrio – Casa de mi abuelo).
We will meet in Lago Agrio between 9:00 am and 9:30 am, where we will take private transportation to the entrance of the Cuyabeno Reserve.
At this point, visitors must register at the office of the Reserve and then board the canoe. Here our naturalist guide will give information on the Reserve, important recommendations and other tips to begin the journey in two hours by canoe down the Cuyabeno river to Caiman Lodge. During the canoe trip will enjoy the wonderful flora and fauna found in the jungle. You can also see some of the 10 species of monkeys, birds and other jungle animals, depending on weather and weather conditions, arrive at Caiman Lodge around 1:30 pm. We take lunch.
At that time they will be assigned their rooms and can relax for a few minutes. After a siesta we will leave the camp to swim in the lagoon and watch a beautiful sunset while having the chance to see freshwater dolphins and take pictures of sunset. Then back to camp for dinner and then we will make the night walk for an hour to catch sight of arachnids, amphibians and reptiles luck.
They finish their first day in the jungle relax in a hammock or have a beer at the bar.
http://shinegalapagos.com/producto/caiman-lodge-3-days
Day 8: Breakfast 8:00 am
9:30 am Walk day in primary forest, where the guide will explain about the ecology of the Amazon rainforest, plants, flora and fauna and interactions of the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth. Lunch. Will take a break in amahacas or rooms. In the afternoon we will go to look for animals in trees, such as monkeys and birds and dolphins in the lagoons and river, a tour was held in the large lagoon, and wait for the amazing sunset.
7:00 pm Dinner. Will depart in search of alligators from motorized canoe.
Day 9: 5:30 a.m. We will go to watch the sunrise and a variety of birds.
8:00 a.m. We will breakfast at the hotel and prepare for the return at 9:30 to Cuyabeno bridge where we will have lunch and then be picked up by our private bus that will take you to Lago Agrio.
Private Transport Lago Agrio to Baños (7 hours)
Night in Baños
Day 10: Baños
Pick up at 07:30 am
Route of the waterfalls: Pailon del Diablo waterfall *usd 4
Casa del Árbol. *usd 3 (entrance)
City Tour Baños
Night in Baños
Day 11: Laguna Quilotoa
Pick up at 08:30 am
Hike down to the lake
Ascent to Quilotoa Town * usd 2 (entrance), (3800 meters above sea level)
Tigua Town
Visit Saquisilí town (Thursday) or Pujilí town (Wednesday and Sunday).
Night in Quilotoa
Day 12: Alausi
Pick up at 07:00 am
Nariz del Diablo Train (Tue-Wed-Thu-Fri-Sat-Sun)
Visit “Ingapirca” Arqueological Ruins *usd 4 (not included entrance)
Night in Cuenca: Hostal Calle Angosta
http://www.hotelcalleangosta.com/
Day 13: Chordeleg
Pick up 08:30 am
Gualaceo
Chordeleg
City Tour Cuenca (not included entrance to the places)
Night in Cuenca: Hostal Calle Angosta
http://www.hotelcalleangosta.com/
Day 14: El Cajas National Park – Quito
Pick up 08:30 am
National Park “El Cajas”
Departure to Quito (7H40 aprox.)
Night in Alangasí: Las Sevillanas Garden House.
http://shinegalapagos.com/hospedaje
Day 15: Transfer out
Transfer Hotel – Quito Airport
CUYABENO RESERVE:
CUYABENO RESERVE:
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