8-day Ecuador Multisport Once In A Life Time

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Quito City

Stop At: Quito Old Town, Quito Ecuador
Meet your AJ trip leader and group at 6:00pm.

Welcome to Quito! The largest, best-preserved colonial city of America - declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. The city is considered the Cultural Capital of South America and is located on the equator in a valley at the foothills of the Pichincha volcano. Depending on arrival time, you can spend your day exploring the old town of Quito and the surrounding area. ADVENTURE JOURNEYS can help you to organize a day trip (please request in advance). In the evening, one of our trip leaders will meet you at the hotel’s lobby for a welcome briefing at 18:00 hours. At this time we will discuss the details and questions you may have regarding the adventure. Our first day is an acclimation and information day.
Duration: 1 hour

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Swissotel Quito or similar

Day 2: Trekking Adventure in Cotopaxi National Park

Stop At: Cotopaxi National Park, Ecuador
After breakfast, we leave Quito driving southwards along the gorgeous Avenue of Volcanoes, getting the chance to see the colorful Andean fields. On our way, we will reach 12,000 feet. (3657 meters). After arriving at the Cotopaxi National Park, we will go hiking around Limpiopungo lagoon of the foot hills of the Rumiñahui volcano. From here, we have the best views of Cotopaxi, the highest active volcano in the world.

In the afternoon we continue our drive towards the Llanganates National Park, known as the sacred mountain, until we reach the town of Baños, located at the entrance of the Amazon. Here we can enjoy the best night life by drinking cocktails and dancing salsa.

Trekking Activity Level - Moderate, this adventure is at high elevation, make sure you drink a lot of water or coca tea (in case of altitude sickness). The trail is on dirt surrounded by bushes and grass.

Trekking Time: 3 hours Trekking Distance: 4 miles (6.4 km) Elevation Gain: 1200 feet (366 meters) Minimum Elevation: 12700 feet (3870 meters) Maximum Elevation: 13850 feet (4222 meters)

NOTE - In case the weather and physical conditions are good you may trek to the Basecamp and the maximum elevation would be 16000 feet. (488 meters)

What to wear today: Pants, t-shirt, fleece, hiking shoes, gloves, hat, buff, bring rain jacket and pants, water bottle, sun cream, binoculars.
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Casa de Luis or similar

Day 3: Biking in the Llanganates National Park

Stop At: Tungurahua, Banos Ecuador
This morning we cross country mountain bike from the Llanganates National Park down to the Pastaza River Canyon, enjoying the beauty of the special cloud rain forest climate. The road brings us through some Andean farms and a great canyon with many waterfalls. While descending into the jungle, we will have a breath-taking view of Baños, a town well known for its spectacular location right at the foothills of the Tungurahua volcano, which has been active since 1999. The volcano is the main attraction of this region. In the afternoon we will have some time to explore the town and also go to The Swing of the End of the World, where the winner of the 2014 National Geographic photo contest took his photo.

Biking Activity Level - Moderate, mostly downhill, the first 45 minutes up hill and then afterwards just down. You will be riding on cobblestone and dirt roads for the first two hours, and 1 hour on asphalt.

Biking Time: 3 hours Biking Distance: 20 miles (32.18 km) Elevation Gain: 500 feet (152 meters) Minimum Elevation while Biking: 5500 feet (1676 meters) Maximum Elevation while Biking: 10450 feet (3185 meters) NOTE - In case you want to avoid the uphill, there will always be the support of our transportation, and our driver will be happy to give you a ride till you decide to join the biking group.

What to wear today: Shorts, t-shirt, fleece, tennis shoes, buff, bring rain jacket and pants, water bottle, sun cream, mosquito repellent.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Casa de Luis or similar

Day 4: The Route of Waterfalls and Canyoning in the Amazon

Stop At: Ruta de las cascadas, Avenida Amazonas, Banos 010151 Ecuador
This morning we will hit the road of the waterfalls. The first stop will be at the Bride´s Veil waterfall, where we will take the Tarabita (cable car) to get across the Pastaza River. Then we will hike down to the Pailon del Diablo waterfall, the second highest in Ecuador. Later, we will go deeper into the jungle inside the Llanganates National Park. The name “llanganates” comes from “beautiful mountain” in the local native language. Here, 600 years ago, the Incas hid their golden treasures. Many explorers have spent years looking for these treasures, some have even disappeared with no luck in this dense pristine jungle. During a hike through the tropical rain forest, we will climb through several waterfall canyons. Our local native guide will teach about the incredible flora and fauna that thrive in this unequaled habitat. We will spend the night at the Local Basic Jungle Lodge run by a kichwa indigenous family.

Canyoning Activity Level - Moderate, the jungle exploration will be done while hiking on the canyon that has been formed by the waterfalls and the Pimpilala river, so you will be hiking on irregular terrain and water surrounded by rain forest. The weather can be hot and humid which would make this a very refreshing activity. The highest waterfall to climb is 16 feet (4.87 meters) and the rest are smaller, we will use helmets, ropes and bring optional harnesses for people that want to use them.

Canyoning Time: 3 hours Canyoning Distance: 2 miles (3.22 km) Elevation Gain: 500 feet (152.4 meters) Minimum Elevation while Canyoning: 2000 feet (609.6 meters) Maximum Elevation while Canyoning: 2500 feet (762 meters) What to wear today: Shorts, water long sleeve t-shirt, water sandals, rain jacket, water bottle, sun cream, mosquito repellent.

NOTE - This is a very basic accommodation, you will have your own room but will have to share the bathroom. The rooms are very clean and all the beds have mosquito nets. There is no electricity in the room but there is a social area where you can have access to power to charge your batteries.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Basic Lodge run by an Native Family - Home stay

Day 5: Jatunyacu River rafting and Volcanic Hot Springs

Stop At: Termas de Papallacta, Km. 65 vía Quito - Baeza, Papallacta 150753 Ecuador
We greet the day by preparing our gear to paddle the wild waves of the Jatunyacu River, located just a 5 minute drive from the homestead. The beauty of this river will inspire you and reveal the magic of the Amazon rain forest. After a very important safety briefing from our rafting guides, we will start our class III rafting expedition down the Jatunyacu River, well known for its clear waters and awesome rapids. We will have a lot of fun playing some games and also exploring one of the canyons. The end of the journey offers us a stop for a picnic, prepared by our guides. We conclude our day with a drive back up to the Andes, stopping to visit the paradise of hummingbirds at the Guango Reserve. Finally, we will continue up to Papallacta, where we will stay the night and recharge in the volcanic hot springs high in the midst of the cool Andes.

Rafting Activity Level - Moderate, this is considered a class III river for white water rafting. There are some awesome waves and also plenty of flat water to go swimming. The river is surrounded by amazing views of the Amazon landscape.

Rafting Time: 4 hours, depending on the level of the water, it can be less time. Rafting Distance: 18 miles (28.96 km)

What to wear today: Shorts, water long sleeve t-shirt, water sandals, water bottle, sun cream, mosquito repellent.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Termas de Papallacta

Day 6: Hiking The Cloud Forest & Otavalo Indigenous Market

Stop At: Otavalo Market, Plaza de los Ponchos, Otavalo 100450 Ecuador
In the morning we will do a hiking exploration in the nearby Cayambe Coca Ecological Reserve, there is beautiful flora that included colorful orchids, and while walking slowly and quiet you may see some beautiful birds too, later we will travel across the Andes to stop by the Equator line and have an explanation about this great attraction and for standing on both hemispheres at the same time, your guide will suggest a place to eat before going to Otavalo Indigueous Market and spend some time shopping and learning about this ancient culture that is still alive here.

In the late afternoon we’ll be transferred to the hacienda and enjoy a welcome cocktail as well as a delicious dinner.

Hiking Activity Level.- Easy, this adventure will be on a very nice trail along the river and that is surrounded by a Cloud Forest, in the early morning will be possible to have great views of the snowed capped Antisana Volcano, the trail can be a bit muddy so make sure you wear your hiking shoes.

Hiking Time.- 2 hours Hiking Distance.- 3 miles (4.82 km) Elevation Gain.- 150 feet (45.72 meters) Minimum Elevation while hiking.- 10400 feet (3169.92 meters) Maximum Elevation.- 1550 feet (472.4 meters)

NOTE.- This morning if you do not want to go hiking, you can book a spa treatment and pay directly to the Hotel, make sure you organize this the night before just by calling from your own room to the Spa. What to wear today.- Pants, t-shirt, fleece, hiking shoes, gloves, hat, buff, bring rain jacket and pants, water bottle, sun cream, binoculars.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Pinsaqui Hacienda or similar

Day 7: Trekking the Loop of Cuicocha Crater Lake

Stop At: Cuicocha Lake, Laguna Cuicocha Ecuador
Today after a very healthy breakfast we have a very short drive to the Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological Reserve, the main attraction here is the Cuicocha Crater Lake. Our adventure will take us on a trek around this still active volcano, your guide will present many beautiful flowers to you along the trail. At the end of our hike, we will take a boat ride to the center of the crater to observe the activity of this volcano, witness bubbles coming up from the center of the caldera. In the afternoon we will drive back to Quito to take part of the farewell dinner with the guides and members of the group.

Trekking Activity Level - Moderate, the trekking trail is on dirt, sand and gravel, located in the Paramo Ecosystem at high elevation. Trekking Time: 5 hours Trekking Distance: 7.5 miles (12.07 km) Elevation Gain: 2500 feet (762 meters) Minimum Elevation while trekking: 10000 feet (3048 meters Maximum Elevation while trekking: 11470 feet (3496 meters)
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Swissotel Quito or similar

Day 8: End of services

Pass By: Quito Old Town, Quito Ecuador
International departures, end of services. Take with you memories and photos and leave a piece of your heart, as you will want to return to Ecuador soon to experience more of this enchanted land. We wish you a "Buen Viaje"!

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.