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Ecuador
Ecuador
has been described as 'South America in a nutshell'.
There are four geographical regions - paradisiacal
white beaches on the coast, the 'Avenue of Volcanoes'
in the Andean Sierras, the emerald Amazonian forests,
and the world-renowned Galapagos Islands - described
as a 'Paradise of Evolution' by Charles Darwin.
EXPLORING ECUADOR & THE
GALAPAGOSGeography,
Biology, Geology, Culture, History, Archaeology, Colonial
Architecture, Nature Conservation… this trip
ticks all the boxes!
Tour
Highlights Pululahua Crater
• Cotopaxi National Park • Saquisili Indian
Market • Sigchos Trail • Amazon Rainforest
DAY
1 LONDON TO QUITO
You will fly from London to Quito. Meet your guide
and transfer to your hotel.
DAY 2 QUITO - EQUATOR
LINE
We start with a tour of Quito and the historic centre.
This afternoon we visit the Equator Line La Mitad
del Mundo. Here, it is possible to jump from one hemisphere
to the other.
DAY 3 HIKING & VOLLEYBALL
IN THE PULULAHUA
Today we will hike into the biggest crater on earth
- the Pululahua, one of only two inhabited craters
on earth. In the afternoon we will participate in
a fun Volleyball Championship with the locals. The
day ends with a barbecue at the farm on the bottom
of the crater.
DAY
4 YUMBO TRAIL
We will follow in the footsteps of the ancient civilisation
of the Yumbos, a pre-Incan culture said to be one
of the oldest in the whole of South America! The trail
takes us through three different climatic zones and
at the end we can enjoy bathing in natural pools of
sulphur water.
DAYS
5-7 AMAZON EXPEDITION
This morning we will depart by plane to the Amazon
Basin, followed by a canoe trip down the Aguarico
River to the Nativo Lodge. We will spend our days
on expeditions in the primary forest with our guide,
who will also instruct us in the use of plants for
survival. We will also try piranha fishing and canoe
trips on the river.
DAY
8 AMAZON - QUITO
We retrace our route up river and return to Quito
by plane. We will spend this evening at a local school
attending a cultural presentation.
DAY
9 PICHINCHA VOLCANO
Today we depart for Pichincha Volcano where we will
hike up to the crater. On the rim you can see the
spectacular view of steam shooting out of the crater.
DAYS
10-12 GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
This morning we will fly to the Galapagos Islands,
a laboratory of evolution. There are few places in
the world where it is possible to find such a variety
of species, which show so many degrees of evolutionary
changes, in such a restricted area. Each day you will
explore different islands with your expert guide,
while cruising on your private boat at night.
DAY
13 GALAPAGOS - FLY TO QUITO
After a visit to the Charles Darwin Station on Santa
Cruz Island, we return to Quito by plane.
DAY
14 COTOPAXI - BANOS
This morning we depart for a hike up to the Cotopaxi
National Park, Cotopaxi being the highest active volcano
on earth measured from the centre of the planet. Then
we continue to Banos, a small but lively town, located
at the foot of the Tungurahua volcano.
DAY
15 BANOS - QUITO
Today we take another hike, this time to the viewpoint
of Baños from which we will be able to overlook
the whole town and its green valley. Bathing in the
volcano-heated springs of Banos is said to have a
healing effect due to the fact that it is rich in
minerals.
DAY
16 DEPART QUITO
There is free time this morning before your transfer
to the airport and return flight.
DAY
17 ARRIVE LONDON
Your flight arrives back in the UK early this morning.
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