Duration
10 Days / 9 Nights
Package Type
Multi-Destinations
Activity Level
Moderate
Physical Difficulty
Cultural rating
Wildlife expectation
Discover the extra-ordinary magic of Ecuador by travelling from The Andean mountain range to the Amazon Basin, travelling by train and trekking through the Volcano Avenue. Starting high in the Andean mountain range, and exploring the mountain towns of indigenous Otavalo, Quito, Baños and Cuenca to cruising the tropical Amazon rivers and exploring the indigenous jungle tribes and civilizations of this biodiverse region. This off the beaten path journey will teach us all about the different regions, local tribes and their cultures, while visiting these unique and incredible places in Ecuador.
Special features of our 10 day From the Andes to The Amazon Adventure:
Type of Tourism: Nature, Biodiversity, Adventure, Off the beaten track
Places to Visit: Quito, Otavalo, Amazon basin, Baños, Cuenca.
Duration: 10 Days and 9 Nights.
Type of Service: group tours.
Accommodation: 3 star hotels at every destination that you will visit. These hotels have been carefully chosen and we can guarantee that you will feel comfortable and your every need catered for!
Today is arrival day to Quito, the capital of Ecuador. This well preserved colonial city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. The city is located on the equator in a valley at the foothills of the Pichincha volcano. You can spend your day exploring the old town of Quito and the surrounding area if you arrive early. In the evening, the guide will meet you at the hotel’s lobby for a welcome briefing at 6 pm. We will discuss the details and questions you may have about the tour. This first day is a good acclimatizati...
We will collect you early from the Quito hotel, to head north through the majestic Andes. On the way, we will stop at a lookout point over the Imbabura Volcano and Lake San Pablo. In Otavalo, you will have plenty of time to wander through the narrow cobblestone streets, filled with the Indigenous people wearing the traditional blue ponchos, white trousers and long braided hair. Learn all about their way of life and their native language. We will head to Pijal, a small village located in the heart of the Andes to visit one of our sust...
After breakfast, we will head out along a windy, spectacular road towards the Amazon Rain forest, descending 2500 metres in elevation. As we drop, we can appreciate how the landscape and vegetation change drastically between the different climates. Later, we will stop at the “Guacamayos-Macaw Lookout,” located between Antisana and Sumaco National Reserves (low elevation cloud forest), to observe the magic blanket of clouds that covers the Amazon rain forest, until we finally arrive at the Arajuno River, where a motor cano...
Today, we will head out into the Amazon on a hike to look for different animal species and learn about the region's endemic medicinal plants. We will also meet the family who will offer us their home for an interactive experience in the jungle. We can take part in their everyday activities and learn about the customs and traditions as well as their natural products such as medicinal plants. We will head out on a hike with the family to collect local plants, weave with vines and enjoy other traditional activities that the families sti...
After breakfast, we will head to the Rio Verde, located in the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Sangay National Park. Here, we will hike down to the second-highest waterfall in Ecuador, the Pailon Del Diablo, where immense cascades of water crash on the rocks, which we can view from the bridge. We can also hike behind these immense falls. We will then head on to another incredible waterfall called El Manto de la Novia, where we will ride in a cable car across the canyon of the Pastaza River. In the evening, we will arrive at the tow...
After breakfast, we will visit The Swing of the End of the World, where you will have time to replicate the amazing picture that won the National Geographic photo competition, appreciating the spectacular landscape in the front of us.
We will have a free afternoon to enjoy some of the many optional activities in this picturesque town.
Bright and early, we will drive through valleys and farming villages to reach the Chimborazo Volcano, the highest mountain in Ecuador, found at an elevation of 6310 m. The volcano's summit is said to be the furthest point from the centre of the earth on the planet. We will hike the short trail to reach an elevation of 5000 m where the glacier begins. This region is home to the Andean condor, cara-cara, hummingbirds, and vicuñas. Once extinct in Ecuador, vicuñas have been reintroduced and are now a protected species
After an early breakfast, we will visit Ingapirca, the most impressive Inca archaeological site in Ecuador. We will spend the afternoon learning about this ancient site, notable for its unique fusion of Inca and native Cañari architecture, as well as for its religious meaning. We will continue to the city of Cuenca, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its colonial architecture and where we will spend the evening.
In the morning we will enjoy a city tour, visiting the most important buildings and notable places in Cuenca, such as Calderon Square, the New Cathedral, El Barranco and El Turi lookout point. In the afternoon, we will visit a famous Panama hat factory to learn about this famous hats history. In the afternoon, we will visit the towns of Chordeleg and Gualaceo, famous for the jewellery and handicrafts. The market town Gualaceo is where locals gather to exchange their products and crafts. Here you can find the famous, traditional Macan...
Today we will have a free morning to enjoy the city before we take our short flight back to the capital. In Quito, we will head to the airport for your flight back home or to your next exciting destination!
You can check our safety protocols in the following link: https://adventurejourneys.com/news-about-covid-19
We do not include travel or health insurance and we strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance for any unexpected circumstances. This is not obligatory, however. An full travel insurance policy that covers cancellations and delays as well as medical insurance.
We suggest that you speak with your doctor to ensure that you are up-to-date with the recommended vaccinations when traveling to the destination. In any case, a negative Coronavirus Molecular Test (PCR) is needed to enter the country.
We suggest that you speak with your doctor to ensure what medications you will need to bring to the destination. Pharmacies and drugstores are common in all cities, however, it is not certain that you will be able to find a specific drug that you can find in your country of origin.
As in any city in the world, there can be pickpockets in crowded places. We suggest being vigilant at all times, but if you are in a group you will always be safer.
We do not include the cost of any domestic or international flight in any of our programs. These services must be booked independently by each guest.
Yes, hotels will charge the cost of a double room as standard, so a single supplement will be charged if you are traveling alone.
VA Expeditions is supported by Valencia Travel, a company with more than 12 years of foundation with a solid financial position. We have insurance from the insurance company La Positiva, that supports us and protects our guests from any eventuality at the destination, covering our guests for more than 5 million US dollars.
Each trip is customizable, but there may be additional restrictions and expenses in each case. We suggest contacting your sales representative for more information.
Yes, in addition to multi-day programs, we offer half-day experiences and excursions without overnight, which you can purchase as additional services. In case you wish to purchase one of these services, you can ask your guide, the transfer representative or your sales representative to provide you with the support you need.
Yes, you can add additional or optional services to your regular tour. We appreciate contacting your sales representative for any changes you wish to make.
Yes, you can travel with children and we have many activities to do as a family, however, depending on your itinerary, some experiences can be a bit demanding for young children. As a recommendation, we suggest that you ask your sales consultant if the tour you wish to book is suitable for children.
We work with a maximum group size of 12 passengers for sustainability reasons and a more personaized experience.
We suggest making your reservations at least one month before your trip in order to reserve the best hotels, transportation and services for your travel dates, however, in last minute cases, we can reserve up to 15 days in advance.
We suggest consulting with your embassy to review any documents, tests or special visa you need for your trip.
The official currency in Ecuador is the United States dollar (USD). In large cities there is a good chance that you will find ATMs or ATMs, however, we suggest that you do not rely entirely on this solution, as it may not be enabled to work with your bank.
Yes, we cater for all special dietary requirements. Please let us know at the time of booking if you have any allergies or special dietary needs.
As a sustainable travel company, we are in constant search of how we can improve the sustainability of our operations, that is why we carry out the following activities to generate a fair and sustainable development in our areas of operation: "Women & Weaving - Sacha Warmi" project to support women from an indigenous community in the Ecuadorian Andes and Pan Animalia
a project to improve the quality of life of stray dogs in Galapagos Islands.
Tips are not included in the cost of the tour. You should plan to tip 10% in restaurants and for your guided services, however, tipping is never required.
Cultural norms vary within each Latin American country, even within each city within the country, however, we recommend the following measures to have a pleasant visit in each destination: Latin American culture in general tends to be closer and more informal than in others cultures, so there is usually always a friendly approach in all conversations, and going directly to the point could be considered offensive to some people. Personal space can be much shorter as well, but without being interpreted as sexual in nature.
The schedules are also usually more relaxed and informal, however, this is not the case of VA EXPEDITIONS, since we will always respect the hours indicated in your itinerary. This may be different for other appointments that you can book on your own at other locations.
This depends on each itinerary, and will be indicated in the detail of the day. However, our itineraries always usually include free times to offer more flexibility to our guests.
For any emergency, we appreciate contacting the following number: +593 2 255 8805
At VA Expeditions we believe that every action we take should generate a positive impact on the communities and the environment of our entire production chain, which is why we carry out various activities focused on this objective. For an example of our sustainable projects, visit: https://adventurejourneys.com/pan-animalia/
All our guests have 24/7 support for any type of emergency or eventuality. For emergencies you can contact the following number: +593 2 255 8805. For general inquiries, you can write to us at the following email: info@valenciatravelcusco.com
This depends on each itinerary, but generally is a ratio of one guide for every nine guests.
This depends on the type of the type of Travel insurance that the passenger has. We recommend that you have a comprehensive travel insurance policy for better care and hospital facilities.
The tours are carried out by an expert team that has determined the optimal times of visits to make the most of our guests' time, without rushing. All our programs are customizable, so if at any time at the destination you want to adjust the pace of the trip, you can ask your guide to reach a consensus with the whole group in case you need to make adjustments to the pace of the trip.
Each trip is customizable, but there may be additional restrictions and expenses in each case. We suggest contacting your sales representative for more information.
Yes, you can safely store any luggage at your hotel.
For city tours, there are public bathrooms available, in remote destinations bathroom facilities are more sparse.
In the mountains and remote places there is no Internet connection. Hotels and public places usually have WIFI available.
In cities and tourist centers you will have good telephone reception. In remote areas, there may be no cell phone reception.
It depends on each itinerary. We suggest contacting your account representative to give you specific information regarding your program.
The tap water in Ecuador is not always friendly on the stomach for those who haven't been in Latin America for a while. There is purified water in each of the accommodations which you can use to fill up each morning, so be sure to pack a reusable water bottle or two. There will also be water in the transportation.
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