Itinerary: 

Day 1 

This is the most complete private tour in Ecuador to enjoy the three regions in mainland, without wasting time on your journey! According to your flight schedule; after landing in “Mariscal Sucre Airport" of Quito, your certified bilingual tour guide will be waiting for you, holding a sign with your name on it, in order to pick you up and drive you approximately 40 minutes up to Quito! Once you arrive to the city, you will relax and stay the overnight at Hotel Reina Isabel, which is in a very privileged location in new town! If your flight arrives early in the morning, or early in the afternoon, it will be possible to add a half-day tour in Quito's Old Town.

Day 2 

Your certified tour guide will pick you up at 7:30 a.m. from your hotel to start this fantastic adventure in Ecuador!! You'll drive up to the eastern cordillera, to the town of Pintag, from where you start gaining elevation towards the foothills of Antisana volcano, the fourth highest volcano in the country, with its summit at 5.704 meters above sea level (18,713 ft)! It is a perfect volcanic cone, consisting of two volcanic cones; the oldest one was eroded by an ancient glacier. At 3.810 meters (12,500 ft), you will have great opportunities to find interesting wildlife such as eagles, carunculated caracaras, whitetail deer, foxes and, of course, the majestic Andean condors, considered the largest flying birds in the world and one of the rarest species that may it has survived since the era of the mega beasts (10.000 years approx.)! It is in this reserve where you have 99% probabilities of spotting these huge birds! You also walk through the Andean slopes down to the Mica lagoon (4.050 m - 13,287 ft), result from the end of the last ice age! At the end of our first memorable experience in the Ecuadorian Andes, you will stay at Chilcabamba Lodge, with a spectacular infrastructure and privileged location!

Day 3 

At 8:30 a.m. you can already see the Cotopaxi Volcano (5,897 m - 19,347 ft), which is the second highest active volcano of the world! Upon entering the national park you will be surrounded by pristine forests, mountains, lakes, wild horses and ecosystems that are changing as you get higher in the protected area. You will appreciate the wildlife in their own natural habitat, while you are participating in the walk around "Laguna Limpiopungo" (3.800 m - 12,467 ft). Here you'll have the challenge of driving up to the parking lot (4.500 m - 14,763 ft), and then hike up to 4.800 meters (15,748 ft), where the Refuge "José Rivas" is! Having completed this hike, you will know you have been higher than Mont Blanc, which is the highest mountain in the Alps! After having being in the park, you visit San Agustin de Callo, a unique hacienda in Ecuador, built over impressive Inca structures! Here you will have the opportunity to enjoy a traditional lunch, surrounded by Inca walls and llamas, while you learn all about the history of this place! Then you will take the Pan-American Highway to head south along the "Avenue of the Volcanoes" driving up to Tigua. You visit the hut of an indigenous family where you will have the opportunity to interact with the local people and also learn some Kichwa words, which is the native language of the Andean region! You will stay the overnight at a charming farmhouse called “Posada de Tigua”.

Day 4 

After breakfast, we start at 9:00 a.m. You'll visit the crater lake of Quilotoa volcano, which has an emerald colour in its waters, and it's located at 3.600 meters (11,811 ft), from where you enjoy a spectacular view of the Andean foothills! This day includes a hike down into the crater of Quilotoa volcano, which takes about 25 minutes going downhill. The way back will take you about one hour to the parking lot; otherwise, you have the alternative of renting a mule to make it more comfortable! After this magical adventure, you go towards the city of Baños de Agua Santa. On the way you will visit Salasaca's Indian market, and you'll admire the Tungurahua Volcano, that has been active since 1999! Once you arrive to the city, you walk through the picturesque streets of the city and have time to visit the convent of the “Virgin of Agua Santa”, where you can see paintings with clear descriptions of different eruptions of the volcano! You will stay the overnight at Hotel Volcano.

Day 5 

After having breakfast, we leave at 9:00 a.m., on the direction to the "Avenue of the waterfalls"! On the way you'll admire the hydroelectric dam and waterfall of "Agoyán"; the cascades "Puerta al Cielo" and "Manto de la Novia" where you'll use the cable car to cross the Pastaza river canyon, which is located on the edge of the Sangay National Park and the Llanganates National Park! You will hike about one hour down to the Devil´s Cauldron or better known as "Pailón del Diablo", experiencing a big climate change and amazing Amazonian vegetation! After having lunch, you return back to the city of Baños, to relax and enjoy all the facilities that the city offers: restaurants, hot springs, SPA, zoo, healing treatments and massages; otherwise you could arrange some other additional adventure such as white water river rafting, canyoning, paragliding, etc. Overnight at the same hotel in Baños, and time to enjoy its great and safe nightlife!

Day 6 

We leave at 8:00 a.m. towards the Chimborazo mountain, which is the highest volcano in Ecuador (6.310 m - 20,702 ft) and the farthest point from the centre of the Earth; it means, the closest point to outer space, reason why it is called as "the closest point to the Sun", because the Earth's diameter in the equatorial latitude is wider than in the latitude of Mount Everest (about 28° north)! Its last known eruption is believed to have occurred around 550 A.C. It is in this magical mountain where Alexander von Humboldt made important annotations that contributed to the study of the geology of the planet! From the city of Ambato, we start driving up to "El Arenal" (4.200 m), where we can observe the three types of South American camels that Ecuador has; living in between inhospitable lands and indigenous communities! You could hike up to 5.000 meters (16,404 ft), to appreciate the majesty of its glaciers! Approximately at 4:00 p.m. you arrive to the city of Riobamba, and will stay your overnight at Hacienda Abraspungo. If the weather permits, you'll enjoy watching the Tungurahua volcano (5.000 m - 16,404 ft) and the Altar volcano (5.319 m - 17,450 ft) from its gardens!

Day 7 

Breakfast. At 8:00 a.m. you start your journey towards the most beautiful city of Ecuador! on our way it will be possible to visit the first Catholic Church of Ecuador built by the Spaniards on 1534, and the Alausí Train Station, which is located at 2.346 meters (7,696 ft) to have a coffee or a snack. You continue with your journey through the Ecuadorian Austro, but not before visiting the fantastic archaeological complex of Ingapirca, considered the most outstanding one in Ecuador! Here you can clearly learn all about the Inca and Cañari cultures, which were very important pre-Columbian civilizations in South America! You will stay your overnight at Posada Ingapirca to keep enjoying the misteries of our past.

Day 8 

At 8:30 a.m. you'll travel from Ingapirca to Cuenca, which is the third largest city in Ecuador and also considered a World Cultural Heritage Site (UNESCO 1999)! This city offers fascinating streets, bridges and colonial squares. As soon as you walk towards the main square, known as the “Abdón Calderon Park”, you can observe the Old Cathedral, also known as "El Sagrario" (recently renovated), built over Inca structures! Some of the Incas stones still can been seen clearly. The second Cathedral is the "New Cathedral"; which is considered the largest one in South America! You'll stop at the potteries and famous straw hats workshops well-known as "Panama Hats", here you will know its history and tradition! You will stay the overnight at Hotel Victoria, located in an important sector of the city, along the Tomebamba River!

Day 9 

You´ll start at 7:30 a.m. the journey to the charming and unknown coast of Ecuador! During the drive you'll pass from cold and temperate climates to subtropical rainforests, where the local people grow products like rice, banana, cocoa, papaya, sugar cane, etc.; and finally to tropical dry forests towards the Pacific Ocean! After doing the check in at Hotel El Marinero, you will have some time to rest and use its facilities. Our first excursion is to Punta Santa Elena, considered the most prominent geographical landmark in the South Pacific Coast! You enter the "Area of Protection of Migratory Species Peninsula de Santa Elena" to photograph large colonies of blue-footed boobies (Sula nebouxii), sea lions (Otaria flavescens), frigate birds (Fregata magnificens) and pacific brown pelicans (Pelecanus murphyi occidentalis). You'll have free time to rest and enjoy "Chipipe Beach", and a bay tour aboard a yacht. Late at night, you will enjoy the safe and peaceful nightlife in the front ocean boulevard of Salinas!

Day 10 

After having breakfast, you depart to the north, towards the "Ruta del Spondylus", that passes through several fisherman communities that have friendly people and privileged landscapes! First you visit the "salt mines" to walk by giant salt mountains, where you can appreciate the water from settling ponds, with fascinating ochre and metallic tones, as the process of extracting salt progresses! From June to October it is possible to photograph large flocks of flamingos (Phoenicopterus chilensis). Then you will drive to the community of Ayangue, which is located in a beautiful cove, where you can practice snorkeling in beautiful coral reefs! You'll have all morning to enjoy and relax on the beach! Later, you visit the San Pablo Beach, where sometimes you can spot very close to the sandy beach, groups of dolphins (Delphinus delphis), bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae); the last ones only between June to October. You will have time to relax and enjoy the hotel facilities, or it is also possible to go for shopping at Salina´s Artisan Market, located very close from your hotel!

Day 11 

You'll have all morning to relax at Salinas beach. After having lunch, you'll start your drive back to Guayaquil. Once in the city, you'll visit what in 1695 was the “Plaza de Armas” in the colonial city, today well-known as “Parque Seminario”, where you can take great pictures of hundreds of Iguanas (Iguana iguana) that are hanging around all over the place!! You continue with "Malecón 2000", considered one of the greatest works undertaken by the city. And finally, you go to the delightful "Barrio Las Peñas" that was the birthplace of the city, and an aristocratic centre during the 1920's, during the cocoa exports booming! After this fantastic journey you will check in at the Hotel Continental. During the evening you'll go for dinner, and also to enjoy the peaceful and charming nightlife of the largest city of Ecuador!

Day 12 

You will be picked up by your local guide to be transported to "Josè Joaquìn de Olmedo" Airport of Guayaquil, to take your flight going to your next destination. End of your unique, unforgettable and still not so well-known adventure in the most beutiful country of South America!! 

RECOMMENDED DAYS: Any day of the week.

Include:

• Private Land and sea transportation
• Certified english speaking guide
• Entrances fees
• National parks entrance fees
• Lodging in mentioned hotels or similar (according to availability)
• All hotel breakfasts
• Lunch and dinner day # 2
• Full board from day # 8 to # 11
• Snorkeling equipment
• Transport Guayaquil hotel – Guayaquil airport
• Mentioned itinerary and visits

Exclude:

• Drinks
• Additional meals
• Additional hotel nights
• Flight Tickets

Level de Difficulty: 

• Moderate

Recommendations:

Important outfits: Camera, sunscreen lotion, insect repellent, cap or hat, sunglasses, gloves, walking sticks, bathing suit, towel, sandals, binoculars, backpack or handbag, comfortable hiking shoes, walking shoes or tennis shoes, T-shirts, long sleeves shirts, long and short trousers, windbreaker and waterproof jacket, warm sweaters, passport, and some cash (US dollars) for additional entrance fees, meals or drinks.

Tour average temperature: 10 C° - 26 C°  /   50 F° - 78,8 F°

Insurance: It is responsibility of every traveler that he/she is adequately insured against personal accidents and medical expenses during his/her trip to Ecuador, as well as having travel cancellation and baggage insurance to protect himself/herself.

Tour booking policy: Our tours are based on private transportation and guiding services. - All tour prices are given in US dollars. - All services should be fully prepaid before starting the tour. - Bookings must be done through www.ecuadorbesttours.com, or by paying directly at our offices. - For last minute bookings, our clients must request availability via phone call or email. After confirming availability, bookings must be fully prepaid before starting the tour. - Especial physical conditions, allergies and dietary restrictions must be informed to a EBT's representative in advance. - Our tours will be guided in fluent English or Spanish languages, as it is required. - EBT shall have no liability with passengers in case of accidents or sickness. Therefore, EBT deeply recommends a private travel insurance. - EBT reserves the right to cancel or suspend tours depending on weather conditions, natural disasters, government regulations, suspicious diseases, etc. Always regarding for the safety of the passengers. - Under no circumstances, EBT will refund any money on the same day that the tour takes place. - Cancellations must be done 5 days previous departure day. - Flights cancellations, or last minute flight changes are totally out of control or responsibility of EBT. - This tour is recommended for people over 8 years old. - EBT never offers any refund if a cancellation happens within 5 days before tours departure date. - EBT always offers a 60% refund of the total amount if the client decides to cancel a tour 6 days or more, before tours departure date.