Exotic Ecuador

Quito, Otavalo, Baños, Cotopaxi & the Amazon rainforest

NEW: Prices now INCLUDE airline taxes & fees.
Includes airfare, fuel surcharges, airline taxes and fees, hotels, transfers, many meals, touring & more. *

Overview

Itinerary at a Glance Exotic Ecuador
Day	Destination
1	USA/Quito
2	Quito & Otavalo
3	Otavalo Excursion & Papallacta
4	Papallacta & Amazon
5	Amazon
6	Baños & Patate
7	Cotopaxi & Quito
8	Depart Quito

Departures	March – November 2012
Departs	Los Angeles (LAX), New York Kennedy (JFK), San Francisco (SFO), Miami (MIA), Washington Dulles (IAD), Philadelphia (PHL), Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Detroit Metro (DTW), Logan (BOS); other gateways on request
Highlights	Quito, Otavalo, Banos. The Amazon rainforest, El Paillion del Diablo waterfall & Cotopaxi National Park
Included Features	Round trip flights from Miami to Quito via scheduled carriers, including fuel surcharges and taxes and fees, with other gateways available on request All ground transportation and transfers Accommodations in Superior and Deluxe hotels with private bath 19 bountiful meals including 7 buffet breakfasts (B), 6 lunches (L), 6 dinners (D) Comprehensive guided sightseeing tours including entrance fees Professional English-speaking tour directors and guides

Discover the wonders of Ecuador, a remarkable collection of landscapes, people, cultures, animals, plants, and more. Our Exotic Ecuador tour covers the highlights of this incredibly diverse country. You'll visit the capital city and UNESCO World Heritage Center of Quito, the colorful and bustling Otavalo market, the natural springs in Baños, the volcanic peaks of Cotopaxi National Park, and the world's most biologically diverse rainforest—the Amazon.

Our package includes roundtrip flights from Miami, great hotels, most meals and a comprehensive, fully-guided touring program, all for unbeatable prices. With prices like this, our Exotic Ecuador adventure is sure to sell out quickly, so be sure to reserve your space soon!

Other packages you might like:

• Ecuador & Galapagos Islands: 8 days from $3214*
• Peru, Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands: 17 days from $4814*

Dates, Prices & Options

Coming from somewhere else? Ask us about availability and prices for flights from other cities.

Want to stay longer? We may be able to arrange for you to extend your stay up to 30 days later than the scheduled dates above. Ask us about availability, prices and details.

Deposits & ticketing: Deposit is $600 per person. Flights must be ticketed within 24 hours of booking. Additional charges for flights from cities other than Miami will be charged within 24 hours of your booking. Once issued, the tickets and these charges are unchangeable, non-refundable and non-transferrable. Please be sure to send us a clear copy of the signature and picture pages of your passport within 24 hours of booking to ensure tickets are issued properly.

We must receive photocopies of your passport(s) in our offices within 24 hours of your reservation being completed. If we have not received this information, your reservation will be subject to a higher airfare and/or cancellation.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: USA/Quito. Your exciting tour to Ecuador begins today as you depart for Quito, Ecuador's capital city. Your guide will meet you upon arrival and escort you to your hotel. Sheraton Quito Hotel

Day 2: Quito & Otavalo. Arguably among the loveliest of South American cities, Quito enjoys a spectacular setting surrounded by mountains and several snow-capped volcanoes, including the still-active Mt. Pichincha. The origins of the city date back to the first millennium, when the Quitu tribe occupied the area.

After breakfast, begin a panoramic tour of the city. In the modern city, visit the Legislative Palace and Alameda Park, containing the oldest observatory in South America. Continue on to Quito's beautiful and charming Old Town. Here you'll find blocks of colonial architecture dating to the early 1500's when the Spanish founded the city, now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Vintage facades line the streets and large open plazas are surrounded by cathedrals and stately public buildings. Even more breathtaking than the exteriors are the interiors of some of the buildings, particularly the churches, many of which gleam with real gold leaf. Visit the Monastery of San Francisco, Quito's oldest church. Built in the 16th century, the monastery is an exact replica of the Escorial Palace of Madrid.

Conclude your tour with a stop at the Equatorial Monument, the Mitad del Mundo ("Middle of the World"), commemorating the exact place where Charles Marie de la Condamine established the Equator, where you can stand with one foot in the northern and one in the southern hemisphere. Later today, depart for Otavalo. Puerto Lago or similar (B,L,D)

Day 3: Otavalo Excursion & Papallacta. Today you'll experience Otavalo, whose beauty lies in its people, the Otavaleño Indians, and their market, undoubtedly one of the best in all of Latin America. Unlike other indigenous people who have given up their traditional dress for jeans and t-shirts, Otavaleños are still easily identified by their distinctive dress: women wear intricately embroidered blouses and a wealth of beaded necklaces, while men have long, braided hair and wear calf-length white trousers, ponchos and sandals.

The market takes place in the main Plaza, but don't hesitate to wander into the side streets, where the goods on display diversify and the prices are lower. Enjoy the cacophony of sounds as Andean pipe music mixes with Spanish and native Quechua voices, complemented by an explosion of color from the many fabric, fruit and other stalls.

Later this afternoon, continue to explore other nearby villages: Cotacachi, famous for its leatherwork and Peguche, known for its traditional weavings.

After lunch at a local restaurant, travel along the Andes Mountain range to Papallacta, a small town tucked away in a high Andean valley at the entrance to the Amazon jungle. Enjoy a relaxing stay at your spa-resort, located around hot thermal springs. Termas de Papallacta (B,L,D)

Day 4: Papallacta & Amazon. The Amazonian segment of your tour begins after breakfast today as you set out along a scenic stretch of road overlooking lush green valleys and sparkling waterfalls.

Arrive at Punta Ahuano, a tiny port town on the north bank of the Napo River, where piraguas (canoes) await you for a short ride downstream to your lodge. After check-in, sip a refreshing welcome cocktail as you watch the sunset. Casa del Suizo (B,L,D)

Day 5: Amazon. Enjoy a full day exploring the wonders of the Napo River area. Your tour guide will present two options after your walk through the jungle to help you maximize your stay. The first option, for wildlife aficionados, is a tour to Amazoonico, a rescue center for wounded and displaced tropical rainforest animals. You'll be able to observe coatis, tapirs, and several species of monkey, snakes, and a variety of birds, many of which wander around freely! The second option, for adventure seekers, is an ultimate rafting experience on the Napo River. Not only will you have the chance to enjoy a refreshing ride down this Amazonian tributary, you'll actually learn how to make your own raft by tying balsa logs together. You will decide, together with your group members which program the group will take.

Later in the day, enjoy a unique opportunity to visit a local Quechua family who will explain various aspects of their traditional culture, including a special lesson on making chicha, a beverage typical of the region.

Or, if you are in the mood for a more laid-back afternoon, we recommend a stroll through the artisan village of Ahuano, where you can watch traditional Quechua ceramics being created. (Excursions are provided on a group basis only.) (B,L,D)

 

Day 6: Baños & Patate. After breakfast, set out in canoes again to return to La Punta. Continue by coach to Puyo, the most important city in Ecuador's Oriente region. En route, you'll see the spectacular Rio Verde falls, better known as El Pailón del Diablo (The Devil's Cauldron). Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

Then head to nearby Baños, nestled in a lush valley at the foot of the Tungurahua volacano, famous for the hot springs that give it its name (baths).

The mild climate, verdant landscape, and mineral-rich natural springs in and around Baños make it an oasis of tranquility and relaxation. Sparkling waterfalls, rolling hills, and scenic bridges complete this picturesque setting. Be sure to sample some of the town's trademark taffy, called melcocha.

The final stop on today's tour is Patate, known for its picturesque location on the Patate River, its excellent grape cultivation, and the production of some of the best "aguardiente" liquor in the highlands. Hacienda Leito Los Llanganates or similar. (B,L,D)

Day 7: Cotopaxi & Quito. Today's excursion takes you to another one of Ecuador's treasures, Cotopaxi National Park, home to several volcanoes, including Cotopaxi, the highest active volcano in the world (19,500 feet above sea level). Spanning an impressive 84,000 acres, this natural reserve protects a diverse array of flora and fauna, including llamas, deer, wild horses, as well as many rare species endemic to the region. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled and your cameras ready for a lucky sighting of the mythical Andean condor.

After lunch at a local restaurant, begin the return journey to Quito. Sheraton Quito Hotel (B,L,D)

Day 8: Depart Quito. Today bid adios to Ecuador as you transfer to the airport to board your return flight to the USA. Depending on your flight schedule, optional tours may be available for purchase locally. Late check-out is also available for a supplement for flights departing Quito this evening. (See Dates & Prices). (B)

Booking & Travel FAQs

Important Travelers Note

The high altitudes reached on this trip (Quito is at 9,200 feet above sea level) and the amount of walking involved, often on uneven terrain, requires that you be in good physical condition to fully enjoy the trip. We strongly suggest that you consult your physician if you have any concers regarding your ability to handle these conditions.

read more Testimonials