Ecuador small group tour
Description of Ecuador small group tour
Step away from South America’s main tourist routes and discover one of its best kept, and most biodiverse secrets; Ecuador. This eight-day small group tour is the perfect introduction, taking you from colonial Quito to colourful Guayaquil, staying in comfortable three-and four-star hotels.
Less well-known than neighbouring Peru, Ecuador offers a microcosm of South American landscapes all tied together by manageable driving distances, friendly, welcoming people and beguiling indigenous cultures.
It won’t just be the altitude that takes your breath away in Quito. This charming city’s historic old town, overshadowed by volcanoes, offers a splendid start to this small group tour. And from here it’s a short hop into the Avenue of Volcanoes where snow-capped Cotopaxi and Chimborazo dominate the skyline.
This holiday offers a perfect overview of Ecuador’s highlights; visit Mitad del Mundo – the monument marking the middle of the world on the Equator, ride the vertiginous switchbacks along the iconic Nariz del Diablo (Devil’s Nose) railway, shop in Pujili’s colourful indigenous market and tour Ingapirca, the largest Inca site in the country.
Did you know Panama Hats come from Ecuador not Panama? Discover hats and a whole host of other handicrafts in historic Cuenca before finally descending down to sea-level through the beautiful El Cajas National Park to Guayaquil, where this tour ends.
This small group holiday is guaranteed to depart with a minumum of only 2 people.
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1 Reviews of Ecuador small group tour
Reviewed on 12 Apr 2015 by Ellie Ehrenfeld
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
We covered a lot of different landscapes, activities, altitudes and environments in a relatively short time. Guide was excellent and flexible to meet our preferences. Excellent mix of history, culture, architecture, local crafts and industry, hiking, city vs. more remote areas, etc. Every day was different and new. Excellent trip.
Responsible Travel
Planet
On our treks we use locally produced fresh produce, buying from villages where appropriate. In preference we choose local over imported goods, and encourage the use of Andean products in all our cooking. We pack out all non-organic waste and minimize this by using products with minimum packaging, leaving no litter and keeping all water sources clean, leaving camp-sites cleaner than we find them. We bury organic waste at a suitable depth.When out on tour we encourage learning about Ecuador, the local culture of the teams we work with and the areas we pass through. Our guides hold informal talks with groups to inform about and discuss with them all aspects of local life. This helps understanding of the area and appreciation of the people who live there. We support a childrens health care project in Quito. Please bring with you and second hand or new warm clothes and shoes, which we will distribute to children in the Quito area through suitable organizations.
People
Since 2006 we have been able to support the Huchuy Yachaq community project in the marginalised neighbourhood of Hermanos Ayar, on the outskirts of Cusco, with the help of everybody who has travelled with us. We donate USD 3000 a year to this community project.The project has been set up by volunteer social workers and teachers to provide much needed social and educational support to the children and families of this neighbourhood. Children are encouraged to attend study and games sessions held each afternoon and participate in holiday projects. Our contributions so far have paid for educational books and games, tables and chairs, improvements to the structure of the basic community owned building and the addition of functioning toilets, materials for the children to take to school, school books, holiday programmes.
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