Complete Ecuador Adventure (28 Days)

Company : LEAD Adventures South America
Duration: 4 weeks to 4 weeks
Approx Costs: 2000 to 2500 $ Dollars (US)

This trip focuses on giving the participant a taste of the Ecuadorian culture, its people and its regions! Be part of Spanish Lessons, spend time at a beautiful beach and get to experience the Amazon Jungle!

The trip is composed of 4 weeks of traveling around the country and volunteering! During you time in Ecuador you will not only visit the Old Historic Town in Quito where colonial churches and plazas are found but also experience breathtaking landscapes.

Cost

Prices from $2.250 USD

What is included?

Accommodation at hostels in shared rooms.
Entrance tickets to the visits in City tours.
Breakfast at all our hostels
Transfers to/from Quito and Guayaquil International airports
Public transportation between cities.
On-site 24 hour emergency contact number and assistance
Certified guides during the whole program.

What is not included:

Personal travel insurance
All items of personal nature
Any additional activities and excursions
Alcoholic beverages/extra snacks

Itinerary

DAY 1 - INTERNATIONAL ARRIVAL
Your plane arrives in Quito (Ecuador’s capital city). After warm welcome at the Quito airport, we will transfer to the Hotel. The first area named a World Heritage Site by the United Nations in 1978, Quito's Centro Histórico will transport you back and forth between centuries as you meander down its cobblestone streets and pedestrian walkways.

DAY 2 - QUITO CITY TOUR
This comprehensive city tour includes visits to residential neighborhoods at the northern end of the city, continuing through the Gran Colombia Avenue up to the Basilica Church, where we will make a brief stop, next to the "San Juan Mirador" for a beautiful view of Colonial Quito. While walking through the colonial streets we will stop at the Independence Plaza with a chance to admire the Cathedral, the Government's Palace, and the Archbishop's palace. We then visit the stunning La Compañia Church with its adornments and gold altars. Finally we drive on to the "Panecillo Mirador" for a breathtaking view of Quito.

DAY 3 - MIDDLE OF THE WORLD
In the morning we will visit the cable car. Quito Teleferico, is located in the Pichincha volcano, an area of 160 hectares. It has 18 comfortable cabins with panoramic windows that allow visitors to 6 each, take a trip of 8 minutes starting at a height of 3045 meters above sea level to climb to 4050 meters at the top. During this trip will enjoy a beautiful view of Quito, the valleys and mountains that surround it lovingly.

After this visit, we head to the monument of the Middle of the World, geographically located at 0 degrees and 0 minutes, 0 seconds and marks the division between northern and southern hemisphere as established by French Geodesic Mission in the eighteenth century, we will know the Ethnographic Museum in which you can observe all ethnic groups in Ecuador, plus the history of each of their lifestyles. This is an opportunity to be photographed with the feet on the northern and southern hemispheres at once. Also visit the resort, whose city is a replica of colonial Spanish architecture that provides a wide variety of tourist attractions including the main square, church, post office, bullring, cafeterias, restaurants and various craft centers.

DAY 4 - MINDO
One of the most visited cloud forests in Ecuador is the natural Reserve Mindo-Nambillo Protected Forest 14,170 hectares (35,000 acres), ranging from 1,400 to 4,778m. Hundreds of bird species (400 species) recorded here. The town approximately 2 hours drive from Quito, you will stay overnight at one of the several confortable lodges in the town. Mindo has tourist attractions like tubing, orchids, butterfly gardens, cable car, waterfalls, and access to different types of cloud forest. Highly recommended for Nature Lovers. This day after you arrival and chek-in at our hostel, you will visit our buterfly museum, to watch more tan a hundred species. A trekking waterfalls-tour will take place in the afternoon. The tour includes private public transportation, bilingual guide, and accommodation at our lodge. Extra activities can be easily booked through our operator.

DAY 5 - MINDO CANOPY ACTIVITY
This 4 hours activity will offer the longest and highest cables found in the area; at the same time you can enjoy panoramic views, unique in this cloudforest region of Ecuador.

DAY 6 - RETURN TO QUITO
Return to Quito the next day, after breakfast.

DAY 7 - QUILOTOA LAGOON VISIT
Early departure to the Quilotoa volcano which has a big lake in its crater. We will walk down to the crater and ride on mules on our way up again. In the afternoon we will take the bus to Baños.

DAY 8 - BAÑOS WATERFALL TOUR – CHIVA TOUR AT NIGHT
This day, you will take a tour to the waterfalls of the region. Some of them are only reachable by cable car. Later at night, the tour in Chiva, a traditional bus, will let you know the city of Baños, visiting some attractions and the volcano balcony.

DAY 9 - BAÑOS CANNOYING TOUR
This day you will enjoy the cannoying tour in the morning. Canyoning is an adventure sport that is practiced in the canyons and ravines of a river, which may present a very varied: they are sections with low flow or dry, points andother stretches deep pools with waterfalls. Transportation will take you from the hostel to the site where this activity will take place.

DAY 10 - TRIP TO TENA
Departure to Tena. On arrival you will do a short stop to prepare your visit to the Indian community the next day.

DAY 11 - INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY
After breakfast, you will be taken to the community to do some activities interacting with the locals. A trekking tour boarding the Jatunyacu river will let you see the flora and fauna of the region. After lunch, a local guide will show you medicine plants that are used to heal some illness on the locals. You can observe how the indigenous women work on handicrafts.

DAY 12 - INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY
After breakfast, the people in the community will guide you to an amazing waterfall; on the way you can see the fauna of the region. After lunch the locals will show and teach you how to prepare chocolate.

DAY 13 - INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY
After breakfast, you can refresh taking a bath in the community lagoon. In the afternoon, the locals will perform traditional activities including a religious ceremony, dancing, etc.

DAY 14 - RETURN TO BAÑOS
We will pack all of our stuff to wait for the people for the rafting. After breakfast you will be transported to a part of the Upper Napo River known as the “Jatunyacu” to experience the emotion of white water rafting. After receiving your equipment and full safety instructions you will be ready to enjoy 25 km of rapids and natural pools and breath taking jungle scenery.Rafting also includes a delicious riverside lunch and for the more adventurous the possibility of using a sit on top kayak. In the afternoon, you will get back to Baños.

DAY 15 - FREE DAY IN BAÑOS
Free day to hang around.

DAY 16 - TRIP TO CUENCA
Early in the morning, we will take the bus to Cuenca. Free afternoon to hang around.

DAY 17 - CITY TOUR CUENCA
This day you will take a touristic bus which will take you for 2 hours approximately, to the most important places in this historic and cultural city.

DAY 18 - TRIP TO VILCABAMBA
Today after breakfast we will head for Vilcabamba. We will have all the afternoon free to enjoy the surroundings of this magic town.

DAY 19 - BIKING TOUR IN VILCABAMBA
Today we will mountain bike in the area of Vilcabamba and its surroundings. At night, we'll enjoy a dinner at the hostel restaurant.

DAY 20 - HORSE RIDING TOUR IN VILCABAMBA
Today we will be have a horse ride enjoying the surroundings going through nature trails of Vilcabamba. At night, we'll enjoy a dinner at the hostel resutarant.

DAY 21 - TRIP TO GUAYAQUIL
After breakfast, we will continue our travel to Guayaquil. After reach the hotel, we will have the night to enjoy the surroundings.

DAY 22 - CITY TOUR IN GUAYAQUIL
This comprehensive city tour includes visits to residential neighborhoods at the northern end of the city, continuing through the 9 de Octubre avenue, to reach the famous Malecón Simón Bolivar, where we will make a brief stop. While walking through the Malecón we will stop at Las Peñas beighborhood, a traditional place to have the most beatutiful view of the city. After that, we can visit the Iguanas park, another touristic attraction in the city.

DAY 23 - TRIP TO MONTAÑITA
In the morning you will take a public bus to reach Montañita, the most popular beach in Ecuador for foreigners. The trip takes 3 hours. Free afternoon.

DAY 24 - SURF LESSONS IN MONTAÑITA
After breakfast, our specialist guides will take you to specific spots to catch the waves. Our instructor will show you the technic to surf and during the next 2 hours, you can improve your skills.

DAY 25 - FREE DAY IN MONTAÑITA

DAY 26 - RETURN TO GUAYAQUIL
After breakfast, our guide will take you back to Guayaquil.

DAY 27 - FREE DAY IN GUAYAQUIL
Free day in Guayaquil. This day, our guide can recommend you some places to know; museums, shopping centers are some options.

DAY 28 - INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURE
Free morning to get ready for your international flight departure. Transfer-out to the international airport in Guayaquil.