Caracas to Quito overland tour
| country: | Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2009: 6 Jan, 24 Feb, 31 May, 19 Jul, 20 Sep, 31 Oct, 11 Dec 2010: 10 Jan, 12 Feb, 30 Mar, 5 May, 4 Jun, 7 Jul, 22 Aug, 27 Sep, 27 Oct, 29 Nov |
| price: | From £625 (23 days) including domestic flights only, as per itinerary. Local payment US $300. Max group size 15 people |
the amazing things you'll be doing
A rare chance to traverse the lesser-visited areas of the continent. Explore traditional villages and markets of northern Ecuador, superb beaches of Colombia and the colonial architecture and unique National Parks of Venezuela. From beautiful coastline to the tops of the mountains, this trip is a joyride that has it all!
Price includes Tayrona NP trip & meals, group leader, accommodation (simple hotels/guest houses & hammocks) and transport (public transport, international flight & taxis). This trip also runs in reverse.
Price includes Tayrona NP trip & meals, group leader, accommodation (simple hotels/guest houses & hammocks) and transport (public transport, international flight & taxis). This trip also runs in reverse.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrival. Arrive in Caracas at any time. |
| Day 2-4: | Choroni. The 400 year old charming town of Choroní is located on the Caribbean coast within the boundaries of the Henri Pittier National Park, Venezuela's oldest. The area offers a relaxed atmosphere with lots of outdoor opportunities: hiking, bird watching, swimming, boating. Visit the village of Chuao, famous for its cacao plantations. |
| Day 5-6: | Chichiriviche. Travel along the coast to the town of Chichiriviche, the northern gateway to Morrocoy National Park. Take a motorized boat ride to explore the dozen of neighbouring cays, islands and islets with their beautiful white sand beaches. Snorkelling is a great option. Keep an eye out for flamingos, ibis and other sea birds along the causeway on the way to town. |
| Day 7-9: | Coro. Our final point of interest in Venezuela is the colonial city of Coro, a UNESCO World Heritage city. Wander around the cobblestone streets of this charming city. Take a journey to the past as you visit the different museums, churches and mansions. From Coro, explore the arid Peninsula de Paraguana, hike to the top of Cerro Santa Ana, or visit the lush, mountainous Sierra de San Luis, renowned for its waterfalls and caves. A walk across the sand dunes of the Medanos de Coro National Park is also an option. |
| Day 10-13: | Santa Marta & Tayrona NP. Travelling along the coast, arrive in Colombia's oldest city, Santa Marta. Use the small fishing town of Taganga as your base to explore the surrounding beaches, villages and the Tayrona National Park, renowned for its unique combination of coral formations and jungle vegetation. Visit the pre-Hispanic village of Pueblito, while hiking through forests, waterfalls, and lookouts with great views of the Sierra Nevada. Enjoy a chance to sleep in hammocks while in the National Park. (B,L,D) |
| Day 14-16: | Cartagena. Experience the Caribbean charm and beauty of this beatiful city while learning about its fabled past. Explore the town by foot or take a “Chiva” ride at night to get a feeling of this vibrant Colombian city. Visit the Islas del Rosario National Park, with its stunning beaches or soak in the crater of the Totumo mud volcano. |
| Day 17: | Quito. From Cartagena, fly over the spectacular Andes to Ecuador's capital. Enjoy Quito's vibrant nightlife. |
| Day 18: | Otavalo. Visit beautiful Otavalo and its famous handicraft market, the largest in South America. Villagers from the surrounding countryside come here every week to sell handmade goods, livestock, fruits and vegetables. |
| Day 19-20: | Cayambe. Explore the village of Cayambe. Stay in a 400-year-old hacienda, nestled at the base of the Cayambe Volcano. Hike back from the base of the volcano's glacier, rent horses and head off into the hills, or explore the beautiful property surrounding the hacienda - the choice is yours. |
| Day 21: | Papallacta. Sit back and relax with a glass of wine in the mineral hot pools of Papallacta. |
| Day 22: | Quito. Return to Ecuador's World Heritage capital, famous for its rich colonial past. Options here include a visit to the nearby Equator line, a city tour, Cotopaxi volcano mountain bike ride or just wandering in the streets of the Old Town. |
| Day 23: | Depart Quito. |
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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Our foundation: Through our commitment to responsible tourism we have developed our own foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of people and communities around the world through support of international charities, local organizations and community projects in the places that we visit on our tours.
On this tour you may have the opportunity to visit our Salesiano Street Children Project. In the last five years this project has opened its doors to approximately 870 children each year who were either living in the streets or were at immediate risk of being abandoned to the streets by their families. In Ecuador, there are more than 1 million children and adolescents who are economically active, working in the informal sector for more than 40 hours a week. It is not easy to determine the exact number of children living in the streets, but the highest concentrations are in urban areas. With various centers set up across the country, the Salesiano Street Children Project provides programs and shelter for children working on the streets of Ecuador. Children are provided with valuable programs including medical and family outreach programs, psychological support, schooling, cultural programs, technical workshops in mechanics, carpentry, auto repair, electricity and agricultural skills as well as sports on Sundays.  Our foundation supports Salesiano’s reference center, located in La Marin near the main bus terminal which is in one of the poorest sectors of Quito. This center is run by Ivan Troya, an educator who has dedicated his life to helping children in need. Through this center, Ivan and other volunteers provide programs for 50+ children on a daily basis. Parents are able to take part in their family outreach program, while children are provided with a safe environment where they can enjoy a warm meal, receive educational and psychological support, participate in music and cultural workshops and have time to play foosball and other board games. Ivan understands that each child has a unique background and individual needs and he sees the reference center as one of the only places where these children can take a break from working on the streets and spend some time just being children. |
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. |