Get in touch with the power of the planet on this adventure packed with many of Ecuador’s natural wonders. This trip will allow you to discover the magic of Ecuador as you travel via the Avenue of Volcanoes in the high Andean mountains. This journey will also take you to the best tropical Amazon destinations. Explore the town of Baños, the charming colonial city of Cuenca and the local indigenous market at Otavalo. Learn all about the various local tribes and cultures that exist in Ecuador, while you balance wildlife spotting, natural wonders, cultural experiences and adventure.
Pre-Tour DayNov 9
Arrival Information
After clearing customs, your guide will be waiting for you at the airport outside the arrivals area holding a sign with your name on it.
The following transfers have been arranged:
Nancy Kidd and Catherine Morton-Bielz: Aeromexico flight # AB684 November 10 at 6:07 AM
For those with an airport transfer, your guide will assist with hotel check-in.
Emergency Contact Details for Quito
The main numbers you can call anytime are +593 987 004404 or +1-773-280-9571.
Pre-night accommodation at Swissotel Quito
Av. 12 de Octubre 1820 Y Luis Cordero P.O. Box, 1721565 Quito Ecuador
On arrival you will be met at the airport and transported to your hotel. The adventure begins tonight. Feel free to explore before your welcome meeting, but make sure you’re back in time to meet the group.
Emergency Contact Details for Quito
The main numbers you can call anytime are +593 987 004404 or +1-773-280-9571.
Swissotel Quito
Av. 12 de Octubre 1820 Y Luis Cordero P.O. Box, 1721565 Quito Ecuador
Our tour guide Fredy will meet us at 9:00 AM in the Swissotel Quito lobby. Please be ready to start your city tour. The groupwill have the same guide for the whole tour. Fredy will go with you through the activities planned for each day and he will give you the best advice for each day's activities and how to make the most out of each day.
The Capital of Ecuador welcomes you with the first peek of the country. We will walk through the historical plazas and churches of the old town. The city’s crown jewel is its ‘Old Town,’ a Unesco World Heritage Site packed with colonial monuments and architectural treasures.
In the afternoon we will visit the Equator Complex to witness the amazing experiments that your local guide will show you as proof that you will be standing right on the Equator line!
Breakfast
Swissotel Quito
Day 3Nov 13
Otavalo
The tour starts with a trip north from Quito in the early morning towards the Otavalo indigenous market. En route, we’ll stop briefly at a stunning panoramic lookout of the Imbabura Volcano and San Pablo Lake. The small town of Otavalo bustles with activity and makes the perfect first stop to immerse you in a world of artisan goods, from colorful textiles, alpaca coats, paintings, jewelry, leather, and so much more.
Wander the stalls to meet local artists, and find one-of-a-kind souvenirs. Try to arrive early for the best bargains (it starts at dawn), and try your hand at haggling – it’s expected for every purchase. A good negotiator could get at least 20 per cent off the starting price.
One of the most obvious signs of the Otavaleños’ cultural integrity is their traditional dress. This is not just worn for the tourists at the Saturday market, but is worn throughout their daily life. Otavalo is famous both for its friendly people and its Saturday animal market. The market dates back to pre-Inca times when jungle products were transported from the eastern lowlands and traded for highland goods. Today’s market has two different functions: the local market for buying and selling animals, food, and other essentials, and the crafts market for the tourists and other interested people.
This morning, you’ll head to Cotacachi market, where the town’s masterfully crafted leather goods have earned it a well-deserved reputation. Then we will stretch our legs with a walk to Cuicocha Lake. This stunning crater lake is in a 3km wide caldera at the foot of Cotacachi Volcano. Its name comes from the Kichwa indigenous language and means “Lago del Cuy” or Guinea Pig Lake in English.
Then back to our beautiful historic Hacienda for a chef led cooking class. Our chef will teach us how to prepare the unmistakable empanadas de viento; from flour as the main ingredient for the dough and cheese as a filling to taking them to the oven.
Breakfast
Hostería Hacienda Pinsaquí
Day 5Nov 15
Papallacta
Today we will drive through the winding Andean paramo, where you might see incredible animals like the cara-cara, Andean condor, deer, pumas, or perhaps even a spectacled bear. Then you will arrive at the day’s only destination – Papallacta Hot Springs Resort, where you can soak your worries away in the volcanic waters of their pools backdropped by stunning mountains and colorful paramo flowers.
Enjoy the Papallacta Hot Springs Resort for the rest of the day with a dip in hot springs, optional spa treatments, and hiking excursions. Soak in the natural hot springs the area is known for and let the mineral waters soothe sore muscles. The hot springs vary in temperature, make your way through the circuit with views of the Antisana volcano in the distance. The beautiful and tranquil hot springs are right outside your door at this one of a kind resort.
Start your day with a visit to a hummingbird sanctuary. Keep your camera ready, catching great pictures of these beautiful little birds isn’t easy.
Then we visit Guango private cloud forest reserve for a walk with your tour guide to learn about the unique flora and fauna of the region. Then continue to Tena to catch our motorized canoe to the Amazon lodge. Settle in and receive a briefing from a local naturalist guide about the lodge and area.
The lodge is located along the bank of the Arajuno River approx. 40min. from Tena. We stay in comfortable cabañas next to the river, which have private bathroom with hot water in the rainfall-shower, electricity and a balcony. From your balcony, you can relax in a hammock or deck chair and observe hummingbirds, shore river birds and butterflies. In the evening, listen to the night music of the multitude of frogs and other nocturnal creatures. The Lodge also has an open-air lounge with pool and full service bar, all connected by a raised and roofed boardwalk to guests rooms.
This evening we will embark on a night walk with the naturalist guide to learn about the nocturnal creatures of the Amazon.
Breakfast
Itamandi Ecolodge
Day 8Nov 18
Tena
Depart early by canoe to visit a parrot clay lick (Saladero). With our naturalist guide, view parrots and parakeets who gather to eat the mineral-rich clay which helps them digest fruit and seeds. Later, enjoy a unique cultural experience at a local family’s home. Meet the family to learn about their traditions and what daily life is like in the Amazon.
Breakfast
Itamandi Ecolodge
Day 9Nov 19
Banos
Depart the Amazon to Baños, a stunning town surrounded by volcanoes. Along the way, visit the Valley of Waterfalls including San Martin, Devil’s Cauldron and the Bride’s Veil.
Baños is one of the most popular spots in the country. Many Ecuadorian families vacation here. One look at this delightfully green mountain town and you will know why. Baños means “baths” and this is precisely what the town is famous for. Some are thermal springs from the base of Tungurahua Volcano, which means “little hell” in Quichua. Other baths have melt water running into them from Tungurahua’s glaciated flanks. Locals swear that the baths are good for your health; it’s definitely worth rising early to watch the dawn creep over the mountains from a hot spring vantage point.
Breakfast
La Floresta Hotel
Juan Montalvo y Thomás Halflants Esquina Baños de Agua Santa Ecuador
Phone: (+593) 3 2741824
Phone: (+593) 3 2740457
Phone: (+593) 999910187
La Floresta Hotel check-in time: 2:00 PM (local time)
Day 10Nov 20
Riobamba
This day takes you to the majestic Chimborazo Volcano, soaring to an elevation of 6,310 meters above sea level (the furthest point from the center of the earth!). This peak dominates the landscape for miles in every direction. You will have an opportunity to do a short hike to the Glacier’s edge as well before heading to the classic mountain lodge for the evening.
Breakfast
Hostería La Andaluza - Hacienda Chiquipogio
Km. 16 Comunidad Chuquipogio, via a Quito Riobamba, EC060150 | San Andrés. Ecuador
Phone: +593 99 612 4509
Phone: +593 3 233 3000
Hostería La Andaluza - Hacienda Chiquipogio check-in time: 2:00 PM
Day 11Nov 21
Cuenca
The canton of Guamote is the most traditional region in Ecuador. 95% of the population is Indigenous (while in the whole of Ecuador it is only 25%). Guamote itself has about 5,000 inhabitants, but in the mountains surrounding Guamote another 40,000 people live in small communities. We will visit a Guamote community project. Afterwards, you’ll visit the Inca ruins at Ingapirca, where you will learn about how this site is a unique fusion of Cañari and Inca architecture and how it was relevant as a religious site. The day ends in the colonial city of Cuenca.
Breakfast
Hotel Victoria
Calle Larga 6-93 y Presidente Borrero Cuenca, Ecuador
Phone: (593) 7-2827401
Phone: (593) 7-2831120
Hotel Victoria check-in time: 1:00 PM (local time)
Day 12Nov 22
Cuenca - Quito
Your final day takes us through the historic colonial town of Cuenca, visiting the major highlights including Calderon Square, the New Cathedral, El Turi panoramic lookout, and El Barranco. Then you’ll visit a factory where the Panama hats are made. Then a short flight back to Quito.
A group flight has been booked from Cuenca to Quito departing from Cuenca at 20:15 PM. Our guide will drop us off at the airport by 6:00 PM and the flight duration is about 50 minutes. Upon arrival in Quito, the Holiday Inn Quito Airport hotel driver will be waiting for the group outside the arrivals area holding a sign with the name of the hotel on it. The drive to the hotel takes about 5 minutes and the rooms will be ready for check-in.
Breakfast
Holiday Inn Quito Airport
Solar Numero 4, Barrio Santa Rosa, Quito, 00000 Ecuador
Phone: 593-2-2940500
Holiday Inn Quito Airport check-in time: 3:00 PM
Day 13Nov 23
Depart Ecuador
It is time to say good-bye to this beautiful country and the amazing friends you have made along the way. After breakfast transfer to the airport for your flight home or continue on to our Galápagos Islands Cruise.
For those transferring to the airport for their flight home, Holiday Inn Quito Airport hotel offers shuttle service to the airport every 30 minutes.
For those continuing on to our Galápagos Islands Cruise, you have reservations at the Holiday Inn Quito Airport hotel for the night of November 23 as part of the tour.
Women's Travel Club
Friends • Fun • Travel
www.womens-travel-club.com
Nov 9, 2023 - Nov 23, 2023
Classic Ecuador 2023 Itinerary
Pre-Tour Day Nov 9
Arrival Information
After clearing customs, your guide will be waiting for you at the airport outside the arrivals area holding a sign with your name on it.
The following transfers have been arranged:
For those with an airport transfer, your guide will assist with hotel check-in.
Emergency Contact Details for Quito
The main numbers you can call anytime are +593 987 004404 or +1-773-280-9571.
Pre-night accommodation at Swissotel Quito
Av. 12 de Octubre 1820 Y Luis Cordero P.O. Box, 1721565 Quito Ecuador
Phone : +593 2 256 7600
Swissotel Quito check-in time: 3:00 PM (local time)
Pre-Tour Day Nov 10
Arrival Information
After clearing customs, your guide will be waiting for you at the airport outside the arrivals area holding a sign with your name on it.
The following transfers have been arranged:
For those with an airport transfer, your guide will assist with hotel check-in.
Emergency Contact Details for Quito
The main numbers you can call anytime are +593 987 004404 or +1-773-280-9571.
Pre-night accommodation at Swissotel Quito
Av. 12 de Octubre 1820 Y Luis Cordero P.O. Box, 1721565 Quito Ecuador
Phone : +593 2 256 7600
Swissotel Quito check-in time: 3:00 PM (local time)
Day 1 Nov 11
Welcome to Ecuador
On arrival you will be met at the airport and transported to your hotel. The adventure begins tonight. Feel free to explore before your welcome meeting, but make sure you’re back in time to meet the group.
Emergency Contact Details for Quito
The main numbers you can call anytime are +593 987 004404 or +1-773-280-9571.
Swissotel Quito
Av. 12 de Octubre 1820 Y Luis Cordero P.O. Box, 1721565 Quito Ecuador
Phone : +593 2 256 7600
Swissotel Quito check-in time: 3:00 PM (local time)
Day 2 Nov 12
Quito
Our tour guide Fredy will meet us at 9:00 AM in the Swissotel Quito lobby. Please be ready to start your city tour. The group will have the same guide for the whole tour. Fredy will go with you through the activities planned for each day and he will give you the best advice for each day's activities and how to make the most out of each day.
The Capital of Ecuador welcomes you with the first peek of the country. We will walk through the historical plazas and churches of the old town. The city’s crown jewel is its ‘Old Town,’ a Unesco World Heritage Site packed with colonial monuments and architectural treasures.
In the afternoon we will visit the Equator Complex to witness the amazing experiments that your local guide will show you as proof that you will be standing right on the Equator line!
Breakfast
Swissotel Quito
Day 3 Nov 13
Otavalo
The tour starts with a trip north from Quito in the early morning towards the Otavalo indigenous market. En route, we’ll stop briefly at a stunning panoramic lookout of the Imbabura Volcano and San Pablo Lake. The small town of Otavalo bustles with activity and makes the perfect first stop to immerse you in a world of artisan goods, from colorful textiles, alpaca coats, paintings, jewelry, leather, and so much more.
Wander the stalls to meet local artists, and find one-of-a-kind souvenirs. Try to arrive early for the best bargains (it starts at dawn), and try your hand at haggling – it’s expected for every purchase. A good negotiator could get at least 20 per cent off the starting price.
One of the most obvious signs of the Otavaleños’ cultural integrity is their traditional dress. This is not just worn for the tourists at the Saturday market, but is worn throughout their daily life. Otavalo is famous both for its friendly people and its Saturday animal market. The market dates back to pre-Inca times when jungle products were transported from the eastern lowlands and traded for highland goods. Today’s market has two different functions: the local market for buying and selling animals, food, and other essentials, and the crafts market for the tourists and other interested people.
Tonight we stay at a historic highlands hacienda.
Breakfast
Hostería Hacienda Pinsaquí
Panamericana norte km 5, Otavalo, Ecuador
Phone: +593-6 2 946 116
Phone: +593-6 2 946 117
Hostería Hacienda Pinsaquí check-in time: 11:30 PM (local time)
Day 4 Nov 14
Otavalo
This morning, you’ll head to Cotacachi market, where the town’s masterfully crafted leather goods have earned it a well-deserved reputation. Then we will stretch our legs with a walk to Cuicocha Lake. This stunning crater lake is in a 3km wide caldera at the foot of Cotacachi Volcano. Its name comes from the Kichwa indigenous language and means “Lago del Cuy” or Guinea Pig Lake in English.
Then back to our beautiful historic Hacienda for a chef led cooking class. Our chef will teach us how to prepare the unmistakable empanadas de viento; from flour as the main ingredient for the dough and cheese as a filling to taking them to the oven.
Breakfast
Hostería Hacienda Pinsaquí
Day 5 Nov 15
Papallacta
Today we will drive through the winding Andean paramo, where you might see incredible animals like the cara-cara, Andean condor, deer, pumas, or perhaps even a spectacled bear. Then you will arrive at the day’s only destination – Papallacta Hot Springs Resort, where you can soak your worries away in the volcanic waters of their pools backdropped by stunning mountains and colorful paramo flowers.
Enjoy the Papallacta Hot Springs Resort for the rest of the day with a dip in hot springs, optional spa treatments, and hiking excursions. Soak in the natural hot springs the area is known for and let the mineral waters soothe sore muscles. The hot springs vary in temperature, make your way through the circuit with views of the Antisana volcano in the distance. The beautiful and tranquil hot springs are right outside your door at this one of a kind resort.
Breakfast
Termas Papallacta Spa & Resort
Km. 65 via Quito - Baeza
Phone: (593-2) 398 0900
Mobile: (593-9) 9 275 3079
Termas Papallacta Spa & Resort check-in time: 3:00 PM (local time)
Day 6 Nov 16
Papallacta - Tena
Start your day with a visit to a hummingbird sanctuary. Keep your camera ready, catching great pictures of these beautiful little birds isn’t easy.
Then we visit Guango private cloud forest reserve for a walk with your tour guide to learn about the unique flora and fauna of the region. Then continue to Tena to catch our motorized canoe to the Amazon lodge. Settle in and receive a briefing from a local naturalist guide about the lodge and area.
Breakfast
Itamandi Ecolodge
Tamayo N24-96 y Foch Edificio Reina Isabel, Of. 1 P.B., Quito-Ecuador
Phone: +(593) 2 222 0614
Phone: +(593) 2 2220827
Phone: +(593) 0963188161
Day 7 Nov 17
Tena
The lodge is located along the bank of the Arajuno River approx. 40min. from Tena. We stay in comfortable cabañas next to the river, which have private bathroom with hot water in the rainfall-shower, electricity and a balcony. From your balcony, you can relax in a hammock or deck chair and observe hummingbirds, shore river birds and butterflies. In the evening, listen to the night music of the multitude of frogs and other nocturnal creatures. The Lodge also has an open-air lounge with pool and full service bar, all connected by a raised and roofed boardwalk to guests rooms.
This evening we will embark on a night walk with the naturalist guide to learn about the nocturnal creatures of the Amazon.
Breakfast
Itamandi Ecolodge
Day 8 Nov 18
Tena
Depart early by canoe to visit a parrot clay lick (Saladero). With our naturalist guide, view parrots and parakeets who gather to eat the mineral-rich clay which helps them digest fruit and seeds. Later, enjoy a unique cultural experience at a local family’s home. Meet the family to learn about their traditions and what daily life is like in the Amazon.
Breakfast
Itamandi Ecolodge
Day 9 Nov 19
Banos
Depart the Amazon to Baños, a stunning town surrounded by volcanoes. Along the way, visit the Valley of Waterfalls including San Martin, Devil’s Cauldron and the Bride’s Veil.
Baños is one of the most popular spots in the country. Many Ecuadorian families vacation here. One look at this delightfully green mountain town and you will know why. Baños means “baths” and this is precisely what the town is famous for. Some are thermal springs from the base of Tungurahua Volcano, which means “little hell” in Quichua. Other baths have melt water running into them from Tungurahua’s glaciated flanks. Locals swear that the baths are good for your health; it’s definitely worth rising early to watch the dawn creep over the mountains from a hot spring vantage point.
Breakfast
La Floresta Hotel
Juan Montalvo y Thomás Halflants Esquina Baños de Agua Santa Ecuador
Phone: (+593) 3 2741824
Phone: (+593) 3 2740457
Phone: (+593) 999910187
La Floresta Hotel check-in time: 2:00 PM (local time)
Day 10 Nov 20
Riobamba
This day takes you to the majestic Chimborazo Volcano, soaring to an elevation of 6,310 meters above sea level (the furthest point from the center of the earth!). This peak dominates the landscape for miles in every direction. You will have an opportunity to do a short hike to the Glacier’s edge as well before heading to the classic mountain lodge for the evening.
Breakfast
Hostería La Andaluza - Hacienda Chiquipogio
Km. 16 Comunidad Chuquipogio, via a Quito Riobamba, EC060150 | San Andrés. Ecuador
Phone: +593 99 612 4509
Phone: +593 3 233 3000
Hostería La Andaluza - Hacienda Chiquipogio check-in time: 2:00 PM
Day 11 Nov 21
Cuenca
The canton of Guamote is the most traditional region in Ecuador. 95% of the population is Indigenous (while in the whole of Ecuador it is only 25%). Guamote itself has about 5,000 inhabitants, but in the mountains surrounding Guamote another 40,000 people live in small communities. We will visit a Guamote community project. Afterwards, you’ll visit the Inca ruins at Ingapirca, where you will learn about how this site is a unique fusion of Cañari and Inca architecture and how it was relevant as a religious site. The day ends in the colonial city of Cuenca.
Breakfast
Hotel Victoria
Calle Larga 6-93 y Presidente Borrero Cuenca, Ecuador
Phone: (593) 7-2827401
Phone: (593) 7-2831120
Hotel Victoria check-in time: 1:00 PM (local time)
Day 12 Nov 22
Cuenca - Quito
Your final day takes us through the historic colonial town of Cuenca, visiting the major highlights including Calderon Square, the New Cathedral, El Turi panoramic lookout, and El Barranco. Then you’ll visit a factory where the Panama hats are made. Then a short flight back to Quito.
A group flight has been booked from Cuenca to Quito departing from Cuenca at 20:15 PM. Our guide will drop us off at the airport by 6:00 PM and the flight duration is about 50 minutes. Upon arrival in Quito, the Holiday Inn Quito Airport hotel driver will be waiting for the group outside the arrivals area holding a sign with the name of the hotel on it. The drive to the hotel takes about 5 minutes and the rooms will be ready for check-in.
Breakfast
Holiday Inn Quito Airport
Solar Numero 4, Barrio Santa Rosa, Quito, 00000 Ecuador
Phone: 593-2-2940500
Holiday Inn Quito Airport check-in time: 3:00 PM
Day 13 Nov 23
Depart Ecuador
It is time to say good-bye to this beautiful country and the amazing friends you have made along the way. After breakfast transfer to the airport for your flight home or continue on to our Galápagos Islands Cruise.
For those transferring to the airport for their flight home, Holiday Inn Quito Airport hotel offers shuttle service to the airport every 30 minutes.
For those continuing on to our Galápagos Islands Cruise, you have reservations at the Holiday Inn Quito Airport hotel for the night of November 23 as part of the tour.
Breakfast