Sunday
- Arrive Quito
Your trip begins in Ecuadors capital city, Quito. If youre
flying in on day one of the trip, your trip leader will meet you at the
airport or your accommodation in the morning. This afternoon well
head to Cotopaxi, one of Ecuadors most spectacular mountains in
the heart of the Valley of the Volcanoes. Here well make ourselves
at home at Hacienda La Alegria, a typical, family-run Ecuadorian ranch,
and meet our hosts, locals Gabriel and Patty. Try your hand at milking
the cows, wander around and check out the amazing scenery, or just relax
inside this beautiful home and enjoy Pattys incredible cooking!
ACCOMMODATION: Hacienda La Alegria, Cotopaxi (L,D)
Monday - Cycle Cotopaxi volcano, Baños
Today is definitely a highlight of the Tapir trip as we head into Cotopaxi
National Park. The centrepiece of the park is the perfect cone-like, snow-capped
peak of Cotopaxi (19,347 feet). Here we begin our cycling adventure down
one of the worlds highest active volcanoes! Ride downhill at your
own pace through the lunar landscape and beautiful lakes that encircle
Cotopaxi, ending your ride at 10,000 feet. The scenery is magical. If
youre game, well hike up to the snowline of this majestic
volcano for some of the best views in Ecuador. Later, well drive
through the Valley of the Volcanoes to Baños
a beautiful mountain village in the Rio Pastaza Valley.
ACCOMMODATION: El Marques Posada, Baños (B,L,D)
Tuesday - Free time in Baños
Baños, nestled between the Rio Pastaza canyon and Tungurahua volcano,
is a playground for adventure activities. There are lots of optional activities
here, including canyoning, biking, rafting, horse riding and even salsa
dancing lessons! The magnificent, subtropical cloud forest environment
of Baños offers incredible hikes too, and the town itself is charming.
There are hot springs, great cafés, a beautiful town square and
rows of little stores along the sidewalk where the locals weave melocha
(toffee).
ACCOMMODATION: El Marques Posada, Baños (B,L,D)
Wednesday - Amazon Jungle, hike to a local community,
caving
Today well head east out of Baños, down the Rio Pastaza Valley.
The high cloud forest gives way to lush rainforest, sweeping all the way
down the canyon walls into the river below as we descend into Ecuadors
Amazon jungle lowlands. Well get straight into the action when we
arrive at our rain forest lodge, with a hike to a community of indigenous
people living in the rainforest. Well take a dugout canoe across
the Napo River, then hike two hours into the jungle to the village. This
is a real highlight of the trip youll learn how these small
indigenous communities maintain their traditional ways of life and get
some sense of the important role the rainforest plays in their lives.
This afternoon were back into the action with a hike into pristine
virgin jungle and well venture deep into an elaborate canyon system.
These canyons become a series of caves and limestone cliffs. With bats
as spectators, well hike through the canyons back to Shangri La
Lodge.
ACCOMMODATION: Shangri La Lodge, Upper Napo River (B,L,D)
Thursday
- Jungle hike and reverse canyoning, soak in hot springs
Using 4x4 trucks, well travel deeper into the rainforest where well
take a short hike along a jungle trail to our first waterfall climb. The
climb up these waterfalls is a lot of fun, even for absolute beginners
at the art of reverse canyoning which is typically everyone! Once
we climb above the waterfalls, we traverse a rainforest ridge to rustic
Amarongachi Lodge, where well have lunch. If theres time later,
well hike to a beautiful lagoon for a swim before we head back into
the highlands to Papallacta. Here well soak in glorious hot springs
that sit right outside our rooms, and take in the cloud forest and mountain
views before dinner.
ACCOMMODATION: Termas Papallacta, Ecuadorian Cloud Forest (B,L,D)
Friday - Hike Santa Lucia Highlands, Quito
This morning well hike up into the Santa Lucia Highlands Plateau,
on the northwestern side of Antizana volcano, standing at 13,800 feet.
Its a heart pumping hike to reach the plateau, passing llamas and
alpacas on the trail, but the views of the Antisana, several other snow-capped
peaks and the surrounding rugged Paramo area are magnificent. Well
also get amazing views of the massive Antisana Glacier that drops down
the side of the volcano. Keep an eye out for condors too, as theyre
often seen in the area. Later well take a short drive back to Quito
where well have the afternoon free to explore the city. Well
meet again this evening for our final dinner in Ecuador.
ACCOMMODATION: Quito hotel, Quito (B,L,D)
Saturday - Quito, depart for home
Today is the last day of your 7 day trip around Ecuador with us. If you
have time to spare, were happy to help with some ideas for what
you can do for the rest of your time here. Youll return home relaxed
and refreshed from all the great activities, fine food and friendly people
youve met while travelling with us in Ecuador!
ACCOMMODATIONS : The Tapir is an active adventure
trip that takes us to some wild and remote areas of Ecuador. We've chosen
accommodations for their comfort, cleanliness and charm - not the number
of channels available on the television! Although even the remote jungle
lodges have private rooms with mosquito nets, a hammock outside and great
views!
FITNESS : You must have a reasonable level of fitness
to enjoy yourself. You don't have to be young and extremely fit (although
if you are, you won't be bored) but you should be in the habit of doing
at least some exercise. Age and experience is not important. We've designed
our trips to be as challenging as you want them to be. It's all about
having fun!
EXPERIENCE : You don't need to have any outdoor
experience to do one of our trips. We offer trips that enable you to make
the most of South America's awesome outdoor environment, culture and history.
Our staff are highly trained and very experienced outdoor guides, and
we'll look after you very well! You don't have to carry a pack, be experienced
in rafting, or be used to hiking at altitude. You don't need to be a serious
cyclist to enjoy our rides either. We have so many options that you don't
have to ride at all, if you'd rather hike, shop or laze around! All you
need is to be energetic and in reasonable shape - and we guarantee you'll
have a wonderful time. On the other hand, if you like a challenge we will
certainly give you one! There are some awesome long hikes and bike rides
in the Baños area and in the Amazon jungle. We can offer activities
to suit people who only do a little exercise and those who have a very
high level of fitness. We manage the level of commitment to suit your
experience, and we have an impeccable safety record.
FLEXIBILITY : Ecuador is in a developing part of
the world, and we can't tell you that everything runs like clock work
in South America. What we CAN tell you is that we are experienced adventure
travel leaders, and we know how to keep things operating as smoothly as
possible, even when conditions are challenging. That's why we are here!
If you bring flexibility and a sense of humor you'll find your trip goes
even smoother!
PRICE: The trip fare is US$1799
INCLUDED : . The trip fare includes just about
everything, specifically:
All guiding services. We always have an experienced trip leader with every
trip and will usually have a local guide on most of our excursions for
extra local knowledge.
Comfortable accommodation for the entire trip. We can also organize pre
and post trip accommodation for you if you let us know.
All your meals, except for lunch and dinner on your free day in Baños
where we've found most people like to check out the local restaurants
on their own. Alcohol is not included.
All hiking, biking, and jungle activities as described in the itinerary,
excluding optional activities as noted. No activities are compulsory,
and nor will your trip be less awesome if you stick to the free options.
DATES: - Dec 25 11 - Dec 31 11 , Jan 1 12 - Jan
7 12 , Jan 15 12 - Jan 21 12, Jan 29 12 - Feb 4 12 , Feb 26 12 - Mar 3
12 , Mar 11 12 - Mar 17 12 , Apr 8 12 - Apr 14 12 , Apr 22 12 - Apr 28
12 , May 20 12 - May 26 12 , Jun 17 12 - Jun 23 12