Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival into Quito

Ecuador Latitude 0-0-0 Longitude 78-27-8A BikeHike Adventures representative will greet you at the airport and transfer you to a comfortable hotel in the city. The remainder of the evening is at leisure to explore Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 2: San Pablo - Otavalo (Mountain Biking)

We start with a typical Ecuadorian breakfast and then drive northbound to the beautiful lake of San Pablo where our physical adventure begins. We set off on fat tire mountain bikes, pedaling on a paved road around the lakeshore of San Pablo. We'll ride through indigenous villages and past fertile corn fields. Eventually we`ll hit some singletrack and ride along an abandoned railroad line that leads to the town of Otavalo, world famous for it´s handicraft market. We stop by the market for lunch at a restaurant and spend 1-2 hours in the afternoon shopping. This is the best place for buying souvenirs in the country! In the late afternoon we`ll shuttle 25 minutes to our cozy 18th century hacienda (ranch) for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B,L,D)

Day 3: Cuichocha - Cayambe (Hiking and Mountain Biking)

After a wholesome and hearty breakfast, we drive 50 minutes up to the impressive crater lake of Cuicocha for a 3 hour hike around the rim of the crater. Midday we'll break for a picnic lunch. After the hike we get back on our bikes and glide downhill through small indigenous villages. At the town of Cotacachi we stop for a visit to the leather handicraft shops the town is renowned for. Afterwards we shuttle by vehicle to the oldest hacienda in the country for a big dinner and a relaxing evening in front of the fireplace. Overnight at the Hacienda. (B,L,D)

Day 4: Cayambe - Papallacta (Hiking and Hotsprings)

After breakfast we drive southeast to Papallacta, ascending to an altitude of 4,300 meters/14,300 feet. Here we set off on a 3 hour hike through a pristine high mountain inside a nature reserve. This area is abundant with lakes. With some luck we'll see deer, condors and potentially even spectacled bears! Afterwards we'll head to The Papallacta Hotsprings where we overnight in cozy rooms. This are the best hot, thermal pools in Ecuador and they are just outside your door! Tonight dinner is fresh rainbow trout. (B,L)

Day 5: Papallacta - Tena (Mountain Biking)

This morning we whisk down swirling switchbacks from from the high Andes to the misty cloud forest! We follow the scenic Quijos and Cosanga river gorges. After lunch we drive into the Amazon region and the jungle lodge located on the river. The change of temperature and scenery is dramatic! (B,L,D)

Day 6: Amazon (Jungle Hiking and Innertubing)

We’ll rise early, have breakfast then gear up for our jungle adventure. A native Quechua guide will lead us on a 3 hour hike through primary and secondary rain forest. We will also visit an Animal Rehabilitation Centre, where injured animals are brought to recover. The interpreter guides us around the grounds showing us the local residents including tapirs, caimans, toucans and monkeys. Our chef Ramiro will prepare a delicious lunch and in the afternoon we get into innertubes on the Arajuno River, where we’ll enjoy a relaxing float trip down the calm river. (B,L,D)

Day 7: Jatunyacu River (Whitewater Rafting)

We switch gears today and set off for a day of whitewater adventure on the mighty Jatunyacu River, which means “big water” in Quechua. Donned in helmets and lifejackets, we cast off the riverbank and blast through big and bouncy standing waves. Being the headwaters of one of the two rivers that form the mighty Amazon River, this wide river has the perfect combination of exciting rapids, calm pools, and dense jungle. Depending on the water level, there will be some opportunities to jump out of the raft and refresh in the cool water. Late afternoon we drive back to our cozy jungle lodge. (B,L,D)

Day 8: Amazon - Baños (Mountain Biking and Hiking)

Early this morning we board our vehicle for a picturesque drive to Baños. We'll pass through the Pastaza River Gorge to visit some of the region’s thundering waterfalls. After a hike to the Pailon del Diablo Waterfall (the Devil`spot) we'll have some lunch then change to our biking gear. The rest of the day is on two wheels, riding 10 miles to the beautiful town of Baños, a village in the bottom of a fertile valley, surrounded by lush and tropical mountains. Baños is famous because of the Tungurahua Volcano, which last erupted in the summer of 2006. This evening is at leisure to relax in the steamy hotsprings or enjoy some of the lively nightlife including great restaurants and pubs, nightclubs, folkloric street music and cinemas. Overnight in a comfortable hotel. (B,L)

Day 9: Baños – Cotopaxi National Park (Horseback Riding)

We drive 2.5 hours in the morning to a beautiful hacienda on the slopes of Cotopaxi, the highest active volcano in the world! Here we'll saddle up on horses and spend a few hours cantering along dirt paths and open fields amongst an barren and bold volcanic landscape. If we have a clear day, over a dozen volcanoes will be visible, many of them active. In the afternoon we shuttle by vehicle 2 hours back to our hotel in Quito. (B,L)

Day 10: Departure

You’ll be transferred to the international airport for connecting flights home.

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