IDEAL ECUADOR PROGRAM « AMAZON & ANDES »
Of 11 Days/10 Nights in Shared or Private service

2010 Prices of this Program per person in double room / No of participants
- in Shared service: 2 pers: USD 1265  //  4 pers: USD 1030
- in Private service:2 pers: USD 1475  //   4 pers: USD 1135

(*) Price of this program for more than 4 participants or for agencies and supplements  (single room, 1st class hotel, board..) on request please.

Program description

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D1- ARRIVAL IN ECUADOR: QUITO: Arrival in Ecuador, Quito the capital (at 9186 ft) in the evening (usually and according to your airline). Welcome by your guide. Transfer to the hotel. Welcome cocktail. Night

D2 - QUITO * EQUATOR MONUMENT or PANORAMIC CABLE-CAR: In the morning, city tour of Quito, visit to its Colonial and historic center, classified World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO and considerate the biggest and richest of Latin America. Then transfer to the Equator Line at 0’0’0 latitude that separates the North from the South Hemisphere. Typical lunch in option then visit to the well-known Equator Monument and its small Neo-colonial village. Visit to an ethno-scientific museum or instead, transfer to Quito cable-car station and ascent  up to Pichincha volcano (up to  13779 ft ) that overlooks the beautiful city of Quito and all the Andean cordillera around. Night at the same hotel.

D3 - QUITO * COTOPAXI VOLCANO or QUILOTOA LAKE * RIOBAMBA: Route crossing the « Avenue of Volcanoes » up to Cotopaxi volcano: tour of its park and possible hiking up to its refuge (from 14764 to 15748 ft). And lunch in a hacienda in option or instead, Excursion to the splendid Quilotoa crater lake and optional lunch in a typical inn or at an Indigenous and handicraft family home. Then drive up to Riobamba, located at the foot of one of the highest world volcano: Chimborazo (20702 ft). Free or guided panoramic and short city tour. Night at the hotel.

D4 - RIOBAMBA * TRAIN OF THE ANDES * INGAPIRCA * CUENCA: Transfer to Riobamba or Alausi village train station and trip on board the well-known Train of the «Andes » passing by the impressive Devil’s Nose (“Nariz del Diablo”) up to the terminal then return to Alausi station. Lunch in option. Then drive toward the charming Cuenca city. In the way, interesting visit to Ingapirca Inca Temple. Night in an inn at this place or in a charming hotel in Cuenca.

D5 - CUENCA: City tour of Cuenca and visit to its historic center, classified World Cultural Heritage and also Cultural capital of Ecuador. Then visit to a “Panama” hat factory. In the afternoon, in option: guided visit to an ethno-archeological museum or excursion to Gualaceo valley, famous for its handicraft villages and its beautiful landscapes. Night in Cuenca.  

D6 - CUENCA * BAÑOS:  Route to the small hot spring city of Baños. Free city tour  then leisure time or hot spring bath in option. Night at the hotel. 

D7 - BAÑOS * AMAZON: Drive toward the Amazon. In the way, stop and possible walk to the impressive Pailon del Diablo waterfall. Arrival in Misahualli region close to Napo river, an affluent of the Amazon. Transfer in canoe or by land to a lodge in the middle of the jungle. Lunch. Relax time or short tour in the surrounding forest. Dinner and night at the lodge.

D8 - AMAZON:  Excursion in the Amazon forest by canoe and on foot: observation of its flora, medicinal plants and eventually birds, animals.. Then possible visit to a small Indigenous museum or to an animal shelter or other activity. Meals and night at the lodge.

D9 - AMAZON * QUITO: Drive back to the Andes crossing amazing and varied tropical and mountain landscapes. Stop at Baeza village or at Papallacta hot springs. Lunch and/or bath in option. Night in Quito (or in Papallacta in option).

D10 - QUITO * OTAVALO * QUITO: Pan-American road up to the nice Andean region of Otavalo. Panoramic stop at San Pablo lake, located at the foot of the beautiful Imbabura volcano. Visit to the famous Indigenous market of Otavalo, the most famous and colorful of Latin America for its incredible variety of fabrics and handicraft from all the country. Tour of handicraft villages such: Cotacachi, known for its leather items, clothes, bags.. and Peguche, the village of the Indigenous weavers and musicians. Then drive back to Quito. In option, typical and farewell dinner. Night.

D11 QUITO *  INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT BACK HOME
Or EXTENSION > GALAPAGOS CRUISE or PROGRAM or PACIFIC COAST PROGRAM or RELAX JOURNEY…
Transfer to the airport and flight back home usually in the morning. 
or flight to the Enchanted Galapagos islands or depart toward the Pacific Coast.. on request please or in Galapagos sections.

This Program includes the following services:

• 10 Nights in standard (3*) class hotels and lodge with taxes included (or in option, in first class (4*) and luxury hotels (5*)
• American breakfasts in the Andes and full board in the Amazon
• In private service: English speaking guide and leader and driver up to 4 or  5 persons and private transport
• In shared service: English speaking guides during the Andes visits mentioned above; and English or Spanish speaking drivers for transfers and in the Amazon with private or shared cars or minibus.
• Visits and activities as mentioned in the program
• Entrance fees in private service
• Luggage carrier in private service, welcome cocktail.

It does not include:

• Beverages
• Other meals
• Entrance fees in shared service
• Tips for the guides and drivers
• International tax airport of USD 41 (from Quito and that can change)
• International air ticket (that we can provide you on request)
• Other services, visits and extensions in option.

(*) Prices on request.