Ecuador Hiking Adventure

Your adventure starts heading north out of Quito. After stopping at the equatorial monument, continue on to Volcan Pululahua, surrounded by a geobotanical reserve. Pululahua is an extinct volcano surrounded by botanical reserve. Crossed by Latitude 0°, the Pululahua crater is one of the world’s largest, so roomy that people live in the crater and cultivate crops in its fertile soil. You hike into the reserve and towards the crater, passing through a series of unique ecosystems, including mountain cloud forest, myrtle forest and dry acacia forest. After the hike, drive toward Otavalo where a delicious dinner and a restful night await you. Overnight at a charming hacienda. (B,L,D)

Hike Details: Your guide will select today’s hiking route based on your fitness level. | Altitude: from 7,545 ft to 9,720 ft.

Today’s hike takes you to Cuicocha, a crater lake formed in a secondary caldera of the extinct Cotacachi Volcano. Cuicocha means “Lake of the Guinea Pigs,” named for the shape of its two central islets. The lake and surrounding slopes are protected as a nature reserve. At an elevation of 9,800 feet, Cuicocha’s rare ecosystem is a combination of paramo and Andean forest, filled with unique plant species. The path skirts the crater rim, offering stunning views of the lake and three volcanoes, Cotacachi, Mojanda, and Imbabura. Here you will likely encounter wildlife and might even catch a glimpse of the rare Andean condor. On the way back to the hacienda, you will visit Otavalo’s famed indigenous handicraft market for a chance to see local handicrafts. Enjoy another gourmet dinner and relaxing evening at the hacienda. (B,L,D)

Hike Details: Approx – 5.4 miles | Altitude: from 10,300 ft to 11,555 ft.

Depart Otavalo through the inter-Andean valley, gaining elevation as you climb into the heights of Ecuador’s eastern Andes, reaching the Continental Divide (13,450 feet), a high pass that separates the Pacific and Atlantic watersheds. The setting for today’s hike through the Cayambe-Coca nature reserve is some of the country’s best highland paramo scenery. This is a humid area that is part of the largest hydrological system in the world, and features one of the highest concentrations of lakes in the Andes. The unique paramo ecosystem provides habitat to a host of endemic wildlife, including three deer species, the elusive spectacled bear and the even more elusive Andean condor. The challenging hike is mostly downhill in the direction of the Ecuador Amazon lowlands and ends at the Termas de Papallacta Spa & Resort, your home for tonight. Enjoy the mineral-rich, curative waters of the local natural hot springs before a most relaxing overnight stay. (B,L,D)

Hike Details: Approx – 6.4 miles | Altitude: from 12,165 ft to 14,400 ft.

Early risers will enjoy a final soak in the pools located just steps out of each room at Termas de Papallacta. Then, drive along a scenic road that descends further into the Amazon basin reaching Sumaco National Park. This ecosystem is the highest part of the tropical forest, where many species from the jungle and the cloud forest coexist. See tanagers, toucans, parrots, and more. As you descend along a remote trail through dense vegetation, observe the beautiful landscape and waterfalls in the rainforest. After the hike, your guide will seek out a great spot for lunch. In the afternoon, drive to Archidona to visit an indigenous community to learn about the Kichwa culture and jungle life. Today’s final destination is your jungle lodge. After a delightful dinner, set out on a jungle night walk with your guide followed by an lovely night listening to the natural symphony of the jungle. (B,L,D)

Hike Details: Approx – Your guide will select today’s hiking route based on local conditions. | Altitude: from 4,440 ft to 7,535 ft.

Take a break today with an easier hike. The relaxed pace allows plenty of time to observe jungle wildlife and to recover at a lower altitude. The forest displays a great variety of trees such as balsa, cedar, rubber and cinnamon. During the hike, your guide identifies countless species of orchids, vines, ferns, insects and reptiles, describing the traditional ways that indigenous tribes use many of these plants. After lunch, ascend into the Andes through the Pastaza River Gorge. This scenic route, bordered by the rocky cliffs of a deep cloud forest canyon, is known for its many waterfalls. During the drive, stop at two famous waterfalls: Pailon del Diablo (Devil’s Cauldron) and Manto de la Novia(Bride’s Veil). As you pass through Baños, notice the views from this subtropical town set on the slopes of the very active Volcan Tungurahua. Tonight, you’ll sleep at a hacienda in the Leito Valley with views of Tungurahua in the distance. (B,L,D)

Hike Details: Approx – 2.10 miles | Altitude: from 5,095 ft to 5,260 ft.

The Llanganates mountain range has a long history of mystical events and legends, and remains one of the world’s largely unexplored and uncharted places. Local residents recount the area’s many stories, of failing compasses and disappearances, and the most famous, about Inca general Rumiñahui who supposedly hid a vast fortune of gold in one of the area’s lakes. The Llanganates is protected as a vast 543,632-acre national park, reaching into four provinces, with an altitude that varies between 3,900 and 14,750 feet. The day’s hike starts around 11,480 feet and travels through cloud forest, Andean forest and paramo ecosystems. This remote, picturesque trail offers great views of the surrounding volcanoes and places to spot an abundance of hummingbirds, mountain tanagers and deer. On your hike to Laguna San Borja, you will be looking for prints and traces of the elusive spectacled bear. In the afternoon, drive through the Avenue of the Volcanoes to the Cotopaxi area. Enjoy the cozy ambiance of your Andean hacienda, with its historic charm and warm fireplaces. (B,L,D)

Hike Details: Approx – 2.3 miles | Altitude: from 9,975 ft to 12,530 ft.

Cotopaxi Volcano, with its symmetrical, glaciated cone and imposing presence, is one of Ecuador’s most enduring images. The wild paramo and panoramic volcanic scenery that surrounds this 19,350-ft giant is designated as Cotopaxi National Park and is a spectacular place to hike. You begin today’s adventure on the slopes of Volcan Rumiñahui, where stunning Cotopaxi may be seen rising over 5,660 feet above the high plain. From the trail, spot hares, foxes, falcons, deer, and you may even see herds of wild horses. You descend the slopes of Rumiñahui all the way to Limpiopungo Glacier Lake, home to scores of aquatic birds. It is common to see gulls, ducks, teals, lapwings and shore birds. The hike will leave you ready for a hearty and satisfying lunch. In the late afternoon you’ll arrive back into the city where you spend your final night in Quito. (B,L)

Hike Details: Approx – 2.14 miles | Altitude: from 12,465 ft to 13,125 ft.

Your wonderful journey through Ecuador ends with a transfer to the airport for your international flight home. Trip extensions to other regions or extra days can also be arranged.(B)