Enthralling Ecuadorian Escapade
Summary of Itinerary
(2N Quito, 1N Cotopaxi, 1N Quilotoa, 1N Banos)
Day 1-Landing in Quitoand walking tour
Day 2-Off to Cotopaxi
Day 3-Best of Quilotoa
Day 4- Bienvenido a Baños
Day 5- Pastaza River and Devil's Cauldron
Day 6- Airport
Inclusions
- Hotels (4 star) including Breakfast
- Sightseeings as per itinerary
- Admission tickets to sightseeing as mentioned in the itinerary at relevant places
- Transfers from airport to hotels and vice versa
- Intercity transfers
Key Exclusions
- International and Domestic Flights
- Visa Charges (Visa assistance is included)
- City Taxes at hotels (Euro 1-3 per person per night)
- Train station to hotel transfers (airport transfers are included by private cab)
- Lunch and Dinner
A FEW KEY POINTERS TO KNOW BEFOREHAND:
- There’s rarely a convenience store open after 10pm, so be stocked up before that time in advance.
- Definitely chew on some Coca leavesas they help one in acclimatizing with the altitude.
- The chocolates and coffee here are a must have!
- Ecuador literally means equator in Spanish, the sunshine is always at its peak, hence keep the sunscreen handy always
- The currency here is USD, and some coins here are only usable in Ecuador and not anywhere else.
- ATMs in the country aren’t reliable generally. Keeping cash handy is advisable.
Ecuador is a really noisy country, really really noisy. Keeping a set or two of earplugs shall prove beneficial more often than not.
Activities
Day 1-
Landing in Quitoand walking tour
You will be greeted by our representative at the airport and transferred to your hotel in your private cab. After freshening up, a tour of the Ecuadorian capital of Quito awaits us. We’ll witness the grand Plaza De La Independencia&La Plaza Grande, we might even get to see the president if we’re lucky! Post this, we’d head to one of the amazing colonialchurches and the serene Plaza Mayor. The trip ends at the with a colonial workshop in La Ronda. (Overnight in Quito)
Day 2-
Off to Cotopaxi
We start the day early for what’s going to be an exciting set of adventure packed days in down South. We’ll board the luxury bus at 6 am and arrive at the Chuquiragua Lodgeto catch our first views of the stunning Cotopaxi Volcano, one of the country's most famous sights followed by a hearty breakfast to set the tone for the remainder of the day. From there we’ll set off for the Cotopaxi National Parkto witness the jaw-dropping Limpiopungo Lagoon, a stunning glacial lake in the shadow of the Cotopaxi Volcano!This will be followed by a visit to the José Rivas Refuge, the main base camp for the volcano. Post this, in the afternoon, we will return to the Chuquiragua Lodge for an afternoon lunch surrounded by gorgeous landscapes. End the day by enjoyingfree use of the lodge's spa area, complete with jacuzzi and saunain order to refuel yourselves for the next day. (Overnight in Cotopaxi)
Day 3-
Best of Quilotoa
A tour of the marvellous Toachi River Canyon sets the ball rolling on the third day not forgetting the guided hike down to the shore of the Quilotoa Lagoon, just as breath-taking. This picturesque lake, given the ample amounts of time we’ll get to explore it, will surely set your Instagram feed apart. Next stop in the day is a guided hike to the local community in Quilotoa to gorge on amazing lunch and take in the exquisite Ecuadorian cuisine. Mirador Shalala is the final stop in the day and there couldn’t be a better end to our Quilotoa adventure. and no words can do justice to the marvel this place is. Post this we’ll head to our hotel in the evening and feel free to switch off to recharge your batteries for the next day or explore the place a bit on your own! (Overnight in Quilotoa)
Day 4-
Bienvenido a Baños
Get your bags packing as the Baños awaits us on day 4. Setting off at 12 in the afternoon, we’ll reach the city at 3 pm and right from the moment you set foot in the city closest to Devil's Cauldronyou’ll be blown away by the aura of the place on offer.Herein we’ll have some lunch and then visit the famous "Swing at the End of the World" at La Casa del Arbol and take in an amazing view of the gorgeous mountain landscapes. After spending a major chunk of the day here, we’ll head back for some dinner on the penultimate night. Recommended activity: visit the nearby thermal baths which gave Baños its name and go for a relaxing dip in these healing pools (Overnight in Baños)
Day 5-
Pastaza River and Devil's Cauldron
You’ll be picked up at Juan Montalvo Park (main Baños drop-off point) to begin the day's activities. We’ll head straight to the Pastaza River and ride a cable car over it to experience one of the most extraordinary sights in this part of the world, with 360 degree views of waterfalls, mountains, and beautiful jungle landscapes. Saving the best for the last, we’ll pay a visit to the stunning Devil's Cauldron (Pailón del Diablo) waterfall, the premier tourist attraction in the country. From here we’ll set off for Baños in the noon before shortly leaving for Quito, to cap what has been a marvellous journey. (Overnight in Quito)
Day 6-
Airport
On the last day you’d be transferred to the Quitoairport, in a private taxidirectly from Quito city.