Ecuador holiday, community based tourism
| country: | Ecuador |
| location: | Galapagos Islands, Cloud forest, Andes |
| departures: | 2010: 23 Sep 2011: 17 Apr |
| price: | £2880 (17 days) excluding international flights. |
| more info: | Price includes transport as outlined in itinerary, domestic flights within Ecuador, twin-share accommodation, all meals (except one night in Cuenca), mineral water and entrance fees. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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introduction to Ecuador holiday, community based tourism
Straddling the equator on the Pacific coast, wedged between Colombia and Peru, the smallest of the Andean nations covers an area no bigger than 284,000 square kilometres. For all its diminutive size, however, the country is packed with the most startling contrasts of scenery, and the diversity of this tiny country is simply dazzling.
Encompassing tropical islands, towering snow capped peaks, cloud forests, sandy beaches, and simmering jungle, visitors are treated to a variety of unique landscapes and activities, and many say that Ecuador manages to capture an entire continent in one country.
From the traditional colourful Indian markets, to the Galapagos Islands where the vast variety species of flora and fauna will delight the nature lover, to the stunning mountain views atop a local train, Ecuador has something for everyone. And why not round off your trip with our optional extension to the Amazon jungle, one of the most unique habitats in the world.
Encompassing tropical islands, towering snow capped peaks, cloud forests, sandy beaches, and simmering jungle, visitors are treated to a variety of unique landscapes and activities, and many say that Ecuador manages to capture an entire continent in one country.
From the traditional colourful Indian markets, to the Galapagos Islands where the vast variety species of flora and fauna will delight the nature lover, to the stunning mountain views atop a local train, Ecuador has something for everyone. And why not round off your trip with our optional extension to the Amazon jungle, one of the most unique habitats in the world.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | UK - Quito: Join the tour at the hotel this afternoon. After freshening up at our hotel, we shall have free time to wander around before having dinner. |
| Day 2: | Quito – Bellavista Cloud Reserve: We shall drive northwest, leaving the metropolis of Quito behind us. The scenery changes dramatically as we enter the cloud forest, becoming green and sub-tropical. We stop to visit an orchid and butterfly farm, before continuing on to the Bellavista Cloud Reserve. In the afternoon we shall take an introductory walk into the forest with a local guide, to learn about the regions unique ecology. Overnight in the Bellavista eco-lodge. |
| Day 3: | Bellavista: We explore the region further, taking some of the well-marked trails through the forest. The trails span a large area around the lodge and there is plenty of opportunity for bird watching, learning about the medicinal plants of the forest, plus the option of cycling and horse trekking. There are also numerous hideaways around the lodge to relax and watch the hummingbirds in an idyllic setting. |
| Day 4: | Bellavista – Chugchilan: Departing Bellavista early we head south, with a brief stop at the equator monument as we cross from the northern hemisphere into the southern hemisphere. Our drive takes us along ‘the avenue of the volcanoes’ where the road is flanked by the majestic snow-capped peaks of the Andes. Passing Cotopaxi Corazon, Pasachoa, Ruminahui and Illinizas, some of Ecuador’s most impressive volcanoes, we arrive in the Andean village of Chugchilan. |
| Day 5: | Guamote: Nestled in the heart of the country, this region showcases the sheer beauty of Ecuador’s mountains and is rated as one of the hidden gems of the Andes. The region is riddled with splendid hikes, traditional highland villages and indigenous people. Today is a free day to recover from the journey and take advantage of some of the activities on offer in the area. Options include treks (of varying degrees of difficulty), horse rides, mountain biking and wildlife viewing. Alternatively, you could take advantage of the yoga studio, hot tub, sauna and board games available at the lodge. |
| Day 6: | Chugchilan – Quilotoa - Banos: After breakfast we set off from the eco-lodge to the rim of the spectacular Quilotoa crater lake, which offers tremendous views of the surrounding peaks of Cotopaxi and Iliniza Sur, and the green, mirror-like lake below. Here we will take time to walk into the crater (or for those preferring a less strenuous experience it is possible to hire mules) before continuing on to Banos, stopping en route at the tiny town of Tigua, an important centre for local arts and crafts of the region. |
| Day 7: | Banos – Chimborazo - Banos: Two choices today… either head into Chimborazo National Park for a unique trekking experience and to participate in the ancient ‘Iceman’ tradition (see facts section) and trek. Alternatively have a free day to explore the spa town of Banos - indulge yourself in the hot springs, or try your hand at one of the various activities on offer. |
| Day 8: | Banos – Guamote: A short drive brings us to the Andean town of Guamote. Thursday is market day when hundreds of people flood into the town from neighbouring villages to one of the most colourful and memorable markets in Ecuador. We’ll start the day by visiting the local school and some of the community projects set up to help local women produce handicrafts and where the locals learn computer skills, before heading into the market to get swept up in the crowds. This is a great chance to get a real taste of Andean village life and experience the vibrant culture first hand. |
| Day 9: | Guamote – Ingapirca – Cuenca: After breakfast we may have the opportunity to board the ‘Nariz del Diablo’ (Devil’s Nose) train* for a ride along the historic Trans-Andean Railroad. Travelling on the roof of the train from Guamote to Alausi, we pass through the most dramatic section of the railroad that once ran to the coast, where a series of steep switchbacks cut through the rock face and offer amazing views of the surrounding countryside. *The train can be unreliable - if it is not running we will visit one of the project sites supported by Inti Sisa. Afternoon visit to the archaeological site of Ingapirca (15th century) - Ecuador’s most important set of Inca ruins - before continuing on to the Colonial city of Cuenca. |
| Day 10: | Cuenca: Morning half-day city tour of the ‘jewel of the south’: Cuenca (declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site) visiting some of the parks, churches, plazas and local landmarks. Despite being the country’s third largest city, Cuenca retains the feel and pace of a much smaller town and is a pleasure to wander around. We’ll have a free afternoon to explore the museums, shops and markets or visit one of the centres that produces panama hats and other haberdashery. Evening is also free to carry on exploring – meal at own expense. |
| Day 11: | Cuenca - Guayaquil: Heading northwest, a 4-5 hour drive takes us down through steamy banana and cocoa plantations to the city of Guayaquil, where we’ll have time to look around and get prepared for our Galapagos adventure. |
| Day 12: | Guayaquil – Galapagos Islands: A morning flight takes us to the main airport in the Galapagos Islands. After clearing immigration we’ll board our boat and transfer to Isabela, the largest of the Galapagos Islands (4588 sq km) and home to a string of volcanoes, mangrove beaches and wildlife colonies. The boat crossing takes around 2 hours, giving us a free afternoon to settle into our stunningly located hotel - our base for the next 3 nights - and relax on the white sandy beaches. |
| Day 13: | Galapagos Islands:Taking a short boat ride this morning, we visit the small islet of Las Tintoreras where a colony of white-tipped reef sharks can often be seen resting in the black-lava canal. This area is also famed for an abundance of marine iguanas, birdlife and sea lions, and we’ll take time to snorkel in the crystal clear waters. Returning to Isabela Island, after lunch we’ll take a walk in the National Park to see the Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre and investigate the plant and bird life en route. |
| Day 14: | Galapagos Islands:A full day trekking trip on Isabela Island takes us to the top of the Sierra Negra Volcano (1,124m) – a geological feature that is the second widest active crater in the world and dates back approximately 535,000 years. Spotting various wildlife en route, our walk up to the crater takes 3-5 hours and we’ll be rewarded with spectacular views of the island. |
| Day 15: | Galapagos Islands: After breakfast we’ll take a boat to Santa Cruz and visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn more about these unique islands. The centre is responsible for conducting a number of important scientific research projects on the flora, fauna and geology of the islands and houses an informative museum, as well as a number of famous Galapagos tortoise and a hatchling centre. The afternoon and evening are free to explore the island of Santa Cruz – meal at own expense. |
| Day 16: | Galapagos Islands - Quito:Returning to the mainland today, we take a flight up to Quito where there’s time to wander around and do any last minute shopping before our farewell dinner. Last but not least, we’ll finish up with a horse-drawn carriage ride through the Colonial old town. Lit up at night, the vintage facades, churches and plazas (some of them dating back to the 15th century) offer a great example of the grandeur of the old town and a great end to our trip. Overnight at one of the best hotels in the city. |
| Day 17: | Quito: Tour ends after breakfast. |
traveller reviews for Ecuador holiday, community based tourism
From the moment we stepped on to the canoe it all became a bit of an adventure. Our excellent local guide Delfin brought the forest to life with his tales of the living in the forest (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
 During our stay in Guamote we are proud to support the Inti Sita community project, an enterprise set up to help the indigenous communities improve their living conditions through education and co-operative ventures. Profits from the guesthouse are used to run several educational workshops including computer classes, textile designs and music classes as well as providing a kindergarten for local children whose parents cannot afford pre-schooling. This trip supports and stays at two award winning eco-loges all with strong community ties that allow the profits from tourism to go directly into local communities: The Black Sheep Inn in Chugchilan and Bellavista Cloud forest reserve apa. In South America we use local ground handlers - this means that all the operational costs go directly into the local economy and helps to improve employment opportunities in remote regions. By incorporating home-stays, locally owned hotels, restaurants and the services of guides and drivers into our itineraries, we ensure that money you spend on your trip goes directly into the local economy and local communities benefit from tourism. When you take one of our trips, we automatically make a contribution to “Carbon Clear” – an organisation who work with hundreds of organisations to measure their carbon footprint and reduce their carbon emissions. We also support emergency relief efforts in the areas we travel to, such as the Pakistan Earthquake Fund set up in 2005 and a variety of other community benefiting NGOs around the world. We also support several other NGOs around the world such as the Hope Foundation, Tibetan schools trust and Adopt-A-Minefield, which are all carefully selected to improve the standard of living for the communities we visit. |
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. |
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