Ecuador & Amazon holiday
| country: | Ecuador |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | Departures most Saturdays throughout the year |
| price: | From £365 (16 days) excluding flights. Local payment US $250. |
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the amazing things you'll be doing
Spend 2 weeks exploring the interior of Ecuador, the pearl of South America.
Ecuador has always been a favourite for us. We'll show you the Amazon jungle, including a visit with a Quichua community. Visit the famous Otavalo market and explore the colonial town of Cuenca. Soak in the natural hot springs at Baños and Papallacta and relax at a charming hacienda, where you can walk in the foothills of the Andes.
Ecuador has always been a favourite for us. We'll show you the Amazon jungle, including a visit with a Quichua community. Visit the famous Otavalo market and explore the colonial town of Cuenca. Soak in the natural hot springs at Baños and Papallacta and relax at a charming hacienda, where you can walk in the foothills of the Andes.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive Quito. Arrive in Quito at any time. There are no planned activities, so check into our hotel and enjoy the city. |
| Day 2: | Papallacta Hot Springs (B). Morning free to explore Quito. We take an afternoon bus trip through the heights of the Andes. En route to the Amazon we stop for the night in Papallacta and enjoy a relaxing glass of wine in the natural mineral hot pools. |
| Day 3-4: | Amazon Homestay (2B,1L,2D). This morning we descend into the Amazon jungle region. The scenery changes dramatically as we leave the mountains and enter the lush tropical Amazon rainforest. We stay with a Quichua family and enjoy the hospitality of these wonderful people, while experiencing life in the jungle first-hand. You will be sure to take home some very special memories. |
| Day 5-6: | Jungle Lodge (2B,2L,2D). Today we travel to our jungle lodge located on the Napo River, one of the Amazon's two major tributaries. We explore by foot and canoe to learn about the natural history of this area. There is also an option for an exhilarating whitewater rafting trip on the Napo! |
| Day 7-8: | Baños. We return to the mountains for our journey to Baños, a small town nestled in the hills of the Andes. Opportunities to participate in outdoor activities such as hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking abound. You may also opt to relax in the town's natural hot baths. |
| Day 9-11: | Cuenca. We head south along the stunning 'Avenue of Volcanoes', through Ecuador's central valley of mountains, to reach the town of Cuenca. This is a full-day trip with spectacular views along the way. Cuenca is perhaps the most beautiful town in Ecuador with its cobblestone streets, busy markets and interesting architecture. There is time to explore the town, hike in Cajas National Park, or visit the nearby Inca ruins of Ingapirca. A short flight back to Quito for the night of Day 11. |
| Day 12-13: | Cayambe. We continue north to the village of Cayambe, where we stay in a 400 year old hacienda nestled at the base of Cayambe Volcano. G.A.P discovered this hacienda years ago and it has become special to all who visit. From here we can travel to the base of the volcano's glacier and hike back down. We can also rent horses and head off into the hills, or take some time to explore the beautiful property surrounding the hacienda! |
| Day 14-15: | Otavalo / Quito. Next we visit the beautiful area of Otavalo and its famous handicrafts market. Villagers from the surrounding countryside come here every week to sell handmade goods as well as livestock, fruits, and vegetables. We return to Quito for our farewell evening. |
| Day 16: | Depart Quito (B) |
travellers' tales
One of the highlights was horseback riding up the mountain in Banos, Ecuador while listening to, and feeling (!) Volcan Tungurahua rumble back to life. (more)
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.how this holiday makes a difference
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While on this tour, travellers will spend two days with a Quichua family in the Amazon. This visit allows you to experience the natural beauty of the area and learn about traditional Quichua lifestyle, beliefs and customs. You will have the opportunity to visit a sacred waterfall, learn about traditional hunting practices and the uses of tropical plants. In addition to supporting this family ecotourism initiative, proceeds from Cabañas Pimpilala have gone towards constructing the first community school house and to the Indigenous Association of Cando which supports community development projects. This community is supported through our non-profit organization, the Planeterra Foundation with an annual donation that goes to support sustainable community development initiatives.
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Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |