Ekwador – raz w dżungli, raz na wulkanie

Otavalo - El Angel Ecological Reserve - Cuicocha - la Mitad del Mundo - Quito - Lake Quilotoa - Tigua - P.N. Cotopaxi - Napo River - Tena Jungle - Baños - Pailón del Diablo - Manto de la Novia - Chimborazo Volcano Reserve - Guamote - Ozogoche Laguna - P.N. El Cajas - Cuenca - El Deseo - Guayaquil



Welcome to the equator! A unique trip to Ecuador, a travel program with adventure elements, addressed to those who are curious of the world and lovers of tropical nature. Ecuador is an unprecedented mosaic of landscapes: snow-capped volcano peaks, mountains covered with tropical forests, mountain meadows of Paramo, as well as the greatest diversity of plant and animal species per km² in the world. Fascinating Andean communities and picturesque markets. The sightseeing route includes colorful, colonial Quito - the capital of the smallest country in the Andes. The diverse topography of Ecuador offers many opportunities for active tourism - the program includes trekking, canoeing and a hike in the Amazon jungle. Route in Ecuador: approx. 1,500 km.

1. DAY. OTAVALO Meeting at the airport. Departure to Ecuador. Arrival in Quito. Transfer to the Indian town of OTAVALO, the main purse-making center. Check-in at the hotel, dinner, overnight.
2. DAY. EL ANGEL ECOLOGICAL RESERVE Breakfast. Transfer to the EL ANGEL ECOLOGICAL RESERVE, located in the province of Carchi, right on the border with Colombia. The reserve is the birthplace of many rivers and is almost 85% covered by frailejones - a plant endemic to the area. Additionally, it provides shelter for Andean condors and many other species of birds and animals. Hike among spectacular paper trees, passing a waterfall, a lagoon and the highest swing in Ecuador (4,000 m a.s.l.) on the way. Lunch at the lodge. Return to the hotel, overnight.
3. DAY. CUICOCHA - LA MITAD DEL MUNDO - QUITO Breakfast. Check out from the hotel. Transfer to the CUICOCHA crater lake, located at the foot of the extinct volcano Cotacachi (4939 m above sea level). Admiring the fantastic views from the vantage point. Drive to LA MITAD DEL MUNDO, the monument to the equator located at 0 ° latitude. This is a great time to be in two hemispheres at once. Transfer to QUITO, the capital of Ecuador, located at the foot of the Pichincha volcano, at an altitude of 2800 m above sea level. A walk around the Old Town entered on the UNESCO list: Independence Square, Presidential Palace, Metropolitan Cathedral. Transfer to the Panecillo hill, from which there is a view of the entire city. At the top is the tallest aluminum monument on our planet - La Virgen del Panecillo. Transfer to the hotel, accommodation, overnight.
4. DAY. LAKE QUILOTOA - TIGUA Breakfast. Check out from the hotel. A visit to the market with folk art products. Drive to the volcanic crater, LAKE QUILOTOA, located at an altitude of 3,914 m, with extremely emerald water. There are several viewpoints along the crater that invite you to admire the lake from different angles. Free time or for those willing to trek from the crater towards the lake and back. Lunch. Then drive to the small town of TIGUA, known for its traditional paintings and masks. Admiring local handicrafts. Transfer to the village of Lasso. Hotel accommodation. Overnight.
5. DAY. P.N. COTOPAXI - THE NAPO RIVER Breakfast. Check out from the hotel. A trip to the COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK and the Cotopaxi volcano (5897 m above sea level), the highest active volcano in the world. Transfer to the parking lot at 4500 m above sea level, from where the trek to the Jose Rivas hut located at 4800 m above sea level begins. Then, return to the parking lot and walk along the shores of Lake Limpiopungo (3800 m above sea level), where you can meet exotic birds, herds of llamas and other species of mammals. Lunch in the form of a packed lunch. Drive towards Tena. Along the way, you will notice how the landscape changes between the highlands and the Amazon. The road ends in Punta Ahuano, a tiny port town on the north bank of the NAPO RIVER, where the canoeing trip downstream will begin. Accommodation in a hotel in the Tena area. Dinner and overnight.
6. DAY. JUNGLE TENA Breakfast. An expedition to the TENA JUNGLE, located at the foot of the Andes, known as the gateway to the Amazon. Trekking through the wild jungle is a great opportunity to observe various species of birds and insects, as well as trees and medicinal plants. The guides will explain how such plants are used not only in medicine, but also in construction and other local activities. On the trail you can admire hanging bridges and lianas. Lunch. Then drive to the village of Ahuano, where you will be able to learn about the traditional Quichua culture and taste the traditional Indian drink - chicha. Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight.
7. DAY. BAÑOS - PAILÓN DEL DIABLO - MANTO DE LA NOVIA Breakfast. Check out from the hotel. Transfer to the town of BAÑOS, famous for the Sanctuary of Our Lady and hot springs, located at the foot of the Tungurahua volcano. Drive to the spectacular PAILÓN DEL DIABLO waterfall - one of the largest waterfalls in Ecuador (approx. 80 m high). Then, a stop at the next MANTO DE LA NOVIA waterfall (approx. 40 m high), in the beautiful landscape surrounding the waterfall, you can observe many colorful birds that settle on the rocks. A visit to the famous treehouse known as Casa del Arbol, with a swing over seven meters high, known as the "swing at the end of the world". An opportunity to admire the spectacular views of the Tungurahua volcano and the mountains surrounding the city of Baños. Drive to the center of Baños for a tasting of traditional sugarcane juice and candies known as "melcochas". Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation, overnight.
8. DAY. CHIMBORAZO VOLCANO RESERVE - GUAMOTE Breakfast. Check out from the hotel. A visit to the CHIMBORAZO VOLCANO RESERVE, which is the highest peak in Ecuador (6310 m above sea level) and - interestingly - the farthest point from the center of the Earth! The last eruption is estimated to have taken place around 550 AD. In addition, the reserve is famous for the vicuñas that live there - mammals from the camelid family. Drive along a picturesque route with breathtaking views of the Andes to the small village of GUAMOTE, where you can get the impression that time has stood still. Innovative projects are being carried out in the village to improve the living conditions of the local population through education. A lesson in preparing a local delicacy - empanadas. Dinner. Transfer to the hotel, accommodation and overnight.
9. DAY. LAGUNA OZOGOCHE Breakfast. Check out from the hotel. Transfer to the OZOGOCHE LAGOON, which is made up of 45 small lakes. Walk. Drive towards Cuenca. Stop at the Pistishi viewpoint, from where you can see part of the El Nariz del Diablo train route. Lunch. Transfer to Cuenca, which is considered the most beautiful city in Ecuador, entered on the UNESCO list. It delights with colonial architecture, cobbled streets and an unusual atmosphere. It is also known for making hats. Transfer to the hotel, accommodation. Free time. Overnight.
10. DAY. P.N. EL CAJAS - CUENCA Breakfast. Transfer to the EL CAJAS NATIONAL PARK, the area of which is mostly a plateau covered with high Andean moors with over 200 lakes and glacial lagoons, connected by small rivers and streams. Light trekking in the park. Lunch. Back to CUENCA. Sightseeing: colonial center, flower square, Panama hat factory. Return to the hotel, overnight.
11. DAY. EL DESEO - GUAYAQUIL Breakfast. Check out from the hotel. Transfer to the EL DESEO cocoa plantations, where you will be able to process the production of chocolate. Lunch. Transfer to GUAYAQUIL, the largest city of Ecuador and the main seaport. A visit to the Seminario Park - a historic botanical garden where iguanas run across the lawns and turtles swim in the ponds. Walk along the Malecon 2000 coastal boulevard with a beautiful view of the Guayas River, up to the bohemian district of Las Peñas, with its 19th-century wooden architecture. Transfer to the hotel, accommodation, overnight.
12. DAY. Breakfast. Check out from the hotel. Free time. Transfer to the airport. Departure to Poland.
13. DAY. Arrival in Poland.

BENEFITS: 11 nights in hotels ***: 2 in Otavalo, 1 in Quito, 1 near P.N. Cotopaxi, 2 in Tena, 1 in Baños, 1 in Guamote, 2 in Cuenca, 1 in Guayaquil; 2-person rooms with bathrooms • meals: 11 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 4 dinners • flight: Poland-Quito, Guayaquil-Poland • van, minibus or coach (depending on the number of people) • pilot care • KL and NW Itaka Complex insurance extended to sports extreme

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