EXPLORANDES ECUADOR WILSON 547 Y DIEGO DE ALMAGRO QUITO ECUADOR www.explorandes-ecuador.com ECUADOR ADVENTURE (10d/9n) www.explorandes-ecuador.com
DAY 1: QUITO Arrival in Quito and transfer to your hotel (no meals). DAY 2: PINTAG UBILLUS In the early hours of the morning, you will leave Quito on a 1 ½ hour drive to the town of Pintag from where you will start your trek at 8,600ft (2,620 mt). You will enjoy a moderate uphill walk through Haciendas and Andean houses. The trek continues until you reach the Ubillus community where you will set up camp by a natural spring at 9,100ft (2,770mt.)B-L-D. DAY 3: SINCHOLAGUA MOUNTAIN Today you will start walk through typical Andean vegetation on a beautiful scenic cobblestone road for about 2 hours, and continue walking through farmlands for about 1 hour. After your picnic lunch you will start a 3 hour uphill trek to a small valley and enjoy the beautiful sight of the Paramo landscape. You will continue uphill until reaching the slopes of the Sincholagua Mountain where camp will be set up at 12,450ft (3.790 mt.). B,L, D.
DAY 4: SINCHOLAGUA PITA RIVER After an early breakfast, we start our trek uphill towards the highest pass (14,430ft 4,399 mt) on our trek and from here we start our descent passing through a native forest and highland Paramo vegetation with extraordinary views of the Cotopaxi volcano, on clear days.as we continue our descent we will be able to see a lagoon to our left, to then follow-on and across the Pita river in order to reach our camp at a very nice and sheltered place. Camp (12,210ft 3.721 mt). B, L, D. DAY5: MANANTIAL LIMPIOPUNGO PATATE After breakfast, this morning we will continue our trek for another 4 hours that will take us to the Manantial, a great location surrounded by a few small hills and a small river that comes straight out of the bottom of one of this hills. Continuing our trek we will reach the archeological site called Incahuasi, a beautiful plateau lying between Sincholagua and Cotopaxi, before walking on towards Rumiñahui and the Limpiopungo lake in the valley of Cotopaxi. After lunch, a 2-hour drive, passing along the picturesque "Avenue of the Volcanoes", we will drive through a unique multicolor patchwork of crop fields towards Patate, where you will have overnight at the beautiful Hacienda Leito. From here we have a spectacular view of Tungurahua Volcano, presently in constant volcanic activity.b, L, D.
DAY 6: BIKE TOUR LEITO BAÑOS Today in the morning we will genty start biking up the valleyand then follow a dirt road that heads to the ridge and through patches of cloud forrest as we go downhill to Baños ( 2 1/2hours), a small town nestling in the shadows of the Tungurahua volcano high above the Amazon Basin. The area is rich in vegetation, orchids and tropical birds. Baños is famous for its nearby hot springs that provide hot running water to the local. Lunch near the amazing Pailon del Diablo waterfall, and visit of the town. Afternoon return to hacienda for overnight. If lucky, we might even see a night eruption of Tungurahua. B, L, D. DAY 7: BAÑOS PUYO- COTOCOCHA
We wake early the next morning and we head east towards the Amazon rainforest driving through the cloud forrest spectacular canyon. This drive takes around 5 hours during which you will be able to take magnificent pictures of the drastic vegetation changes. Overnight at Cotococha Lodge. B, L, D. DAY 8: COTOCOCHA JATUNYACU RAFTING The adventure begins where the road ends, at the highest accessible point of the Rio Napo, in a remote spot in the jungle. Here we begin our rafting (2 ½ h) of the upper Rio Napo, known locally as the Rio Jatunyacu, big water in native Quechua dialect. Pm return to lodge for a jungle walk (optional - extra cost). B, L, D. DAY 9: COTOCOCHA QUITO After breakfast return to Quito, on our way we stop at Papallacta Hot Springs for a soothing dip in the clear healing waters of the thermal pools surrounded by lush vegetation. We dip into the many warm springs and cool off in the fresh mountain air. We will have lunch at this place. Overnight Puembo(B, L, D). DAY 10: TRANSFER OUT Transfers to the airport for international flights. (B)
EQUIPMENT LIST Trekking Water proof windbreaker, hiking boots, sleeping bag, daypack, waterproof gloves, wool cap covering entire head and ears, warm trousers, rain gear, good sunglasses, hat, sunblock (at least 15 spf), canteen, flashlight (head flashlight recommended), pocket knife, camera, binoculars, and wash kit. Rafting A T-shirt, bathing suit and sneakers (which will get wet) or Teva sandals, towel, set of dry clothing and shoes for after the river rafting, water proof windbreaker, insect repellent, sunblock, hat and sunglasses with a safety strap. We provide water-proof bags for your camera and binoculars. END OF SERVICE The itinerary may change due to unusual weather patterns, natural events, the strength of the group and so on. We will do our very best to keep to the set itinerary however we cannot be held responsible for any last minute changes that might occur. In all such circumstances your expedition leader will have the final word.