Itinerary:

DAY 1: 

You will start at 7:00 a.m. from your hotel in Quito towards the south Pan-american Highway, through the "Avenue of the Volcanoes". Along this avenue you can see important volcanoes like: Pichincha, Corazón, Rumiñahui, Ilinizas, among others. At 9:30 a.m. you will observe Cotopaxi Volcano (5.897 m - 19,347 ft) from the highway. Then you will visit San Agustín del Callo, an old colonial hacienda built over an impressive Inca palace, which is the farthest north point from Cusco with Inca Imperial architecture! Since the fifteenth century it has served as an Inca fortress, palace and finally as an Augustinian monastery! In the main courtyard it is possible to see three different styles: Inca (Imperial Style - XV century, a building style that the Incas used for their temples and palaces), Spanish Colonial (XVIII century) and Republican (XIX century). We continue towards Quilotoa Volcano, where we will hike all around the rim of the crater of the volcano, where inside is a big lagoon that has a very attractive emerald colour is located!! After being hiking for about 6 hours, we return to our starting point, and you will have time to recover your energy, having a meal at the community. Then we head downhill way to Chugchilán, to spend the overnight in the charming and comfortable Lodge “Mama Hilda”!

DAY 2: 

You leave at 8:30 a.m. to walk through the ancient streets of Chugchilán, which were major trading routes between the coast and the highlands in the past. There you will enjoy the peaceful life of its inhabitants! You will descend to the Toachi River canyon and later on to the community of "San Pedro Guayama"; during the walk you will see the manual labour that all the local people perform during the morning, then you will have time to enjoy a picnic on the edge of the canyon, enjoying the amazing view of different indigenous communities! You will drive towards the area known as "Huayra Pungo", because of the strong winds and privilege location, to visit the hut of a local indigenous family where you will have the opportunity to interact with them, and learn about their tuff life style! After this unforgettable and challenging life experience, you will be back in Quito approximately at 6:00 p.m.

RECOMMENDED DAYS: Any day of the week.

Include:

• Private Transportation
• Certified English speaking guide
• Entrance fees
• Mentioned lodging or similar (depending on availability)
• Dinner
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Mentioned itinerary and visits

Exclude:

• Additional drinks

Level de Difficulty: 

• Moderate

Recommendations:

Important gear: Camera, sunscreen lotion, cap or hat, sunglasses, gloves, binoculars, backpack or handbag, walking sticks, comfortable hiking boots, walking shoes or tennis shoes, T-shirt or long sleeves shirt, long trousers, windbreaker or waterproof jacket, warm sweater, and some cash (US dollars) for additional entrance fees, meals or drinks.  

Tour average temperature: 12 C° - 19 C°  /  53,6 F° - 66,2 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. - **Price per person will be applied according to the number of participants. For "solo travelers", couples or family groups, price per person may variates for private departures. - This tour is recommended for Children over 10 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.