Notes:
Ecuador is a small yet incredibly diverse country located in the northwest of South America. Straddling the equator, it boasts a remarkable variety of ecosystems, from the lush Amazon rainforest to the towering Andes Mountains and the stunning Pacific coastline. Ecuador is renowned for its biodiversity and is home to unique wildlife and plants, particularly within its many national parks and reserves. The country's rich cultural heritage is reflected in its vibrant indigenous communities, colonial architecture, and dynamic traditions. Popular destinations include the Galápagos Islands, Cotopaxi National Park, and the colorful markets of Otavalo, all of which offer visitors a unique blend of adventure, nature, and history.
Quito, the capital of Ecuador, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most historically significant cities in South America. Located high in the Andean foothills at an altitude of 2,850 meters (9,350 feet), Quito is known for its well-preserved colonial architecture, vibrant cultural scene, and stunning mountain views. The city's historic center is home to charming cobblestone streets, ancient churches, and bustling plazas. Landmarks like the Church of the Society of Jesus (La Compañía), with its gilded interior, and the lively Plaza de la Independencia are popular attractions. Additionally, Quito serves as a gateway to Ecuador's many natural wonders, including the nearby Cotopaxi National Park and Mindo Cloud Forest, making it a perfect starting point for adventure and cultural exploration.
Mindo is a lush, cloud forest town located northwest of Quito, known for its biodiversity and eco-tourism. This small town sits in the heart of one of the world's most diverse ecosystems, offering visitors a chance to experience a wide range of outdoor activities, such as birdwatching, hiking, and zip-lining. Mindo's cloud forest is home to an incredible array of wildlife, including butterflies, orchids, and hundreds of bird species, making it a paradise for nature lovers. The town is also famous for its chocolate tours, butterfly farms, and adventure sports like tubing and canopy zip-lining. Mindo offers a peaceful retreat into nature while still providing plenty of opportunities for adrenaline-filled adventures.
Otavalo is a charming town located in the northern highlands of Ecuador, famous for its vibrant indigenous culture and artisan crafts. The town's most iconic feature is the Poncho Market, one of the largest indigenous markets in South America, where visitors can find handmade textiles, jewelry, and other crafts. Otavalo is surrounded by stunning natural landscapes, including the nearby volcanic peaks of Imbabura and Cotacachi. The area is also home to picturesque villages like Peguche, known for its weaving traditions, and Cuicocha Lake, a sacred crater lake nestled in the Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological Reserve. Otavalo offers visitors a unique combination of cultural experiences and natural beauty, making it a must-see destination in Ecuador.
Cotopaxi is one of Ecuador's most famous natural landmarks and a must-visit for adventure enthusiasts. Located in the heart of Cotopaxi National Park, this active stratovolcano stands at 5,897 meters (19,347 feet), making it one of the highest volcanoes in the world. The park is a popular destination for hiking, mountaineering, and wildlife observation. Visitors can explore the diverse landscapes surrounding the volcano, including rugged high-altitude plains (paramo), glacial lakes, and the lush Polylepis forests. Cotopaxi is also home to various wildlife species, such as wild horses, Andean condors, and foxes. The region offers breathtaking views of the Avenue of Volcanoes and provides a serene yet exhilarating escape into Ecuador’s natural beauty.
Galapagos Islands Adventure
This land-based adventure in Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands to Learn, Serve, Immerse is the ultimate combination of adventure, comfort, and wildlife interaction, and is led by local certified naturalists and the best adventure guides Galapagos has to offer. This week-long adventure takes you kayaking with sea turtles, sharks, and sea lions, hiking active volcanoes, snorkeling tropical waters alive with beautiful fish and relaxing on sandy beaches next to sea lions and marine iguanas, and actively engaging in forest conservation. After long days of fun, return to our eco-friendly boutique hotels for splendid meals and superb hospitality.
There's no better laboratory for conservation and biology field studies than the Galapagos Islands, seeing habitat restoration firsthand. From the waters teeming with species found only here, to the highlands inhabited by giant tortoises, we will learn to understand and protect this fragile ecosystem.
After breakfast, your guide and your driver will pick you up at 08h30 at your hotel in order to travel to the northwest of Quito, en route you will stop in Yanacocha Reserve, located in the high cloud forest on Pichincha’s volcano at 11,300ft. The reserve protects 964 hectares of forest, it contains the entire world range of this very rare hummingbirds.
Amongst mammals, the Spectacled Bear, Andean Fox, Western Mountain Coati, Andean Paca, Northern Pudu, Red Brocket Deer, Oncilla, and Puma are all present but not easy to see. You will follow the puma footprints that are often seen along the main trail in order to probably see the footprints.
Box lunch en route and then you will continue to Mindo in the cloud forest, in the afternoon you will visit the Chocolate tour at El Quetzal of Mindo that is a chocolate farm where you can see and experience the process of how is made the chocolate from "bean to bar". Then you will be transferred to Terrazas de Dana where you will overnight.
Meal: B, BL
Accommodation: Las Terrazas de Dana Lodge
Full days to continue enjoying of Mindo. Here you have
interesting activities like:
Butterfly farm, where the local guides explain about the metamorphosis of this insect and will introduce you to a different world, the butterflies' world where they can eat from your hands.
Canopy area that is a wonderful experience on which you will travel through 10 cables of different sizes that permit you to fly from tree to tree like a bird.
Tubbing or regatta, you will feel the adrenaline in your bodies while you will go down on Nambillo river.
Mindo Nambillo reserve, you can hike through its trails learning about this ecosystem and looking for bromelias, orchids, some bird species, insects and if we are lucky
mammals. The trail ends in a beautiful waterfall where you can swim and if you want some adventure you can jump from a big rock into the water.
Tarabita, you can take a cable car in order to cross the Nambillo canyon over the amazing nature.
Frogs concert, there is a local Hosteria, where you can enjoy of a nightly tour through the trails of the forest, here it is possible to see and listen to the different species of Frogs and insects. For sure you will enjoy the magical sounds of Mindo’s evening.
For more adventurous people Mindo offers rappel, biking, motorbiking.
Meal: B
Accommodation: Las Terrazas de Dana Lodge
After breakfast you will have full morning to relax or continue enjoying of the amazing cloud forest.
At 13h00 our driver (Spanish speaking driver) will be waiting for you in order to depart to Hacienda Cusin located close to Otavalo (4 hours approximately). Overnight.
Meal: BAccommodation: Hacienda Cusin
Full days to explore Otavalo and its surroundings where you have interesting places to visit like:
The Ponchos’ Market that is considered the most important indigenous market of South America; Here you can find colorful handicrafts like rugs, clothes, Panama hats, pictures, jewelry, etc.
Condor Park, is a non-profit wildlife refuge for owls and raptors, including the endangered condor. The main aim of the foundation founded and sponsored by the Dutch Embassy and several Ecuadorian organizations is to take care and rescue predatory birds such as eagles, hawks, owls, and condors. You can enjoy of a flight exhibitions.
Peguche that is an indigenous village well-known for its skilled weavers and its traditional music. The Peguche Waterfall is approximately 20 meters high and located within forty hectares of forest declared "Watershed Protected Forest and Vegetation."
Cotacachi town known for its famous leather handicrafts.
Cuicocha that is part of Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological Reserve. This lake lies inside the crater of an active volcano surrounded by native vegetation. This place is considered as a sacred lake and in a certain season of the year the native people celebrate traditional rituals there, to purify and clean their souls. Overnight in Hacienda Cusín.
Meal: B
Accommodation: Hacienda Cusin
After breakfast our driver (Spanish speaking driver) will be waiting for you in order to depart to Cotopaxi province, before to arrive to El Porvenir you will go to Papallacta Resort & SPA, where you can walk through the trails of the area or you can rest and enjoy of the hot springs and the thermoludic area (SPA) that this place offers.
The SPA's hydrotherapy area consists of five hot thermal pools and one cold pool. The Thermoludic Area is the ideal place to experience a variety of different hydro massages using either water jets or air bubbles.
At 15h00 you will travel through the avenue of volcanoes to arrive to “El Porvenir”, the principal hacienda of Volcano Land located close to Cotopaxi National Park. Overnight.
Meal: B
Accommodation: Hacienda El Porvenir
At 09h00, after breakfast our bilingual guide will be waiting for you in order to visit Cotopaxi National Park, where if the weather conditions permit, you can hike up to the Cotopaxi refuge (4,800 m. / 15744 ft).
Lunch included in a local refuge and then you can visit Limpiopungo lake, located at 3800 meters in the base of Cotopaxi Volcano where you can rest and enjoy of the amazing view and its flora and fauna.
In the afternoon you will return to Hacienda El Porvenir, overnight.
Tomas your guide will return to Quito in the afternoon.
Meal: B, L
Accommodation: Hacienda El Porvenir
Full days to enjoy of Hacienda El Porvenir. Your driver is Edwin Herrera.
You have different activities like:
Horseback riding trip visiting the surroundings of Hacienda El Porvenir that is one of the most beautiful and privileged places in Ecuador Highlands, it is surrounded by an amazing view where beautiful mountains stand out like Rumiñahui, Pasochoa and specially Cotopaxi volcano. You will ride side by side with herds of wild horses and bulls, you will wear the typical clothes of the “Chagra” the person in charge of looking for the cattle like a cow boy.
Apu Mountain SPA, cooking classes, self-guide trails, mountain bike rental, high rope course, reforestation. Overnight.
Meal : B
Accommodation: Hacienda El Porvenir
Full days in Patate valley organized directly / Not part of this quote.
About the Timpe Farmhouse
For the next few days, you will be immersed on a working Ecuadorian farm and stay in a Farmhouse built by our hosts, Luis and Rosario Timpe. The Timpe Farmhouse sits on a 20-acre property with stunning views of the Tungurahua volcano from the comfort of their communal kitchen table. The land, which has belonged to the family for centuries, has rich volcanic soil excellent for agriculture. The farm’s main products are fruits and avocadoes. We’ll stay amid acres of mandarin, orange and lime trees which we can pick and eat throughout our stay. The Timpes are a horse-loving family and have 10 beautiful, well-trained horses.
You will experience Ecuadorian rural life first-hand, helping with farm chores such as feeding the livestock and tending to the crops and fruit trees. Enjoy horseback riding, hiking, and walking around the farm property.
Suggested Activities while staying in Patate valley:
Walk through the town of Baños, and shop in the market for local handicrafts including balsa carvings, weavings and tagua animals. You can also see the traditional method of extracting juice from sugar cane and turning it into the delicious sweet jam called melcochas.
Experience the exhilarating visit to the famous waterfall route including Pailon del Diablo and Manto de la Novia. We will cross the Pastaza River in a cable car, hanging more than 200 meters above the rushing river!
At the end of our fun-filled day, relax back at the Timpe’s farmhouse. If you are interested, you can enjoy a cooking lesson with your hostess, Rosario, while helping her prepare a delicious traditional Ecuadorian meal!
Visit the town of Salasaca: The Salasacas people are descendants of a mitimae (colonist) group which arrived from Bolivia during the Incan Empire in the 15th and 16th centuries. Salasacas’ main economic activities are agriculture, livestock-raising and handicrafts including tapestries showing different aspects of traditional life, woven by hand on looms. We’ll visit a local family who will demonstrate their weaving process. In the afternoon, we’ll return to the guesthouse of Rosario and Luis for horseback riding, hiking, photography and/or a tour of the estate.
Meal: B, L, D
Accommodation: Timpe Farmhouse
Customized Pricing based on group size and dates
