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Tucan: Complete itinerary

Hike Bellavista Cloud Forest · Visit Otavalo Markets · Hike Cuicocha Lake · Bike descent of Cotopaxi Volcano · Farm Activities at traditional Hacienda · Hot Springs · Bike the Rio Pastaza Canyon · Reverse Canyoning, Caving, River Tubing and Hike the Amazon Jungle · Whitewater Raft Rio Napo · Hike Pailon del Diablo Waterfall

Sunday - Hike Bellavista Cloud Forest

Our trip begins in Quito, where we'll meet before heading north for a couple of hours to the Bellavista cloud forest. We'll spend the day hiking trails on the steeply-forested slopes of this gorgeous area to look and listen for native birds. Bellavista is a hummingbird paradise and a stunningly beautiful retreat, whether you want to get your heart pumping on the hills or would rather stop and absorb the symphony of sounds in the misty forest. The view from our lodge is so beautiful that you won't want to close your eyes!

ACCOMMODATION: Bellavista Cloud Forest Lodge, Bellavista (B,L,D)

Monday - Hike to Peguche Waterfall, visit Otavalo Markets

Today we head north-east to Otavalo, a lovely town surrounded by volcanoes and fertile green hills. After lunch, we'll hike to La Cascada de Peguche, a beautiful waterfall above town. If you'd prefer not to hike today you can spend the afternoon at the famous Otavalo famous street market instead. This is one of the most famous markets in South America, and the economic cornerstone of this proud community which has been exporting its fine textiles to the world for decades.

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel Coraza, Otavalo (B,L,D)

Tuesday - Hiking Cuicocha Lake and life on the ranch

This morning we'll hike around Cuicocha Lake, an extinct volcanic crater known as "The Lake of the Gods". This beautifully-colored lake lies at the foot of the immense Cotacachi volcano, with views that will take your breath away! In the afternoon we'll head for Cotopaxi, one of Ecuador's most spectacular mountains, in the heart of the Valley of the Volcanoes. Here we'll make ourselves at home at Hacienda La Alegria - a typical Ecuadorian ranch. Try your hand at milking the cows, wander around and check out the amazing scenery, or just relax inside this beautiful home and enjoy Patty's incredible cooking!

ACCOMMODATION: Hacienda La Alegria, Cotopaxi (B,L,D)

Wednesday - Cycle Cotopaxi Volcano

This morning we head into Cotopaxi National Park. The centerpiece of the park is the perfect cone-like, snow-capped shape of Cotopaxi (19,347 feet). Here we begin our cycling adventure on the world's highest active volcano! Ride downhill at your own pace through the lunar landscape and beautiful lakes that girdle Cotopaxi, ending your ride at 10,000 feet. The scenery is simply magical. If you're game, we'll hike up to the snowline of this majestic volcano for some of the best views in Ecuador. Later we'll drive to Baños, a beautiful mountain town in the Rio Pastaza Valley.

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel El Marquez Posada, Baños (B,L,D)

Thursday - Free day in Baños

Baños, nestled as it is between the Río Pastaza canyon and Tungurahua volcano, is a playground for adventure activities. There are lots of optional activities here including canyoning, biking, horse riding, and even Salsa dancing lessons! The magnificent, subtropical cloud forest environment of Baños makes for some incredible hikes too, and the town itself is charming. There are hot springs, great cafes, a beautiful town square and lines of little stores where the locals weave melocha (toffee) on the sidewalk.

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel El Marquez Posada (B)

Friday - Cycle the Rio Pastaza Valley, hike Pailon del Diablo Waterfall

Today we head east to the town of Tena. We'll leave Baños on our bikes, riding down the Rio Pastaza Valley. This is some of the most unforgettable cycling you'll ever do. The high cloud forest gives way to lush rainforest, sweeping all the way down the canyon walls into the river below as we descend into Ecuador’s Amazon jungle lowlands. Along the way, we'll stop for a cable car ride over the canyon and hike down to the Pailon del Diablo waterfall. Our day ends at the idyllic Shangri La Jungle Lodge, overlooking the Upper Napo River in the heart of the Amazon rainforest.

ACCOMMODATION: Shangri La Jungle Lodge, Upper Río Napo (B,L,D)

Phil says: “Ecuador isn't exactly crowded with travellers - which is great for us! I can't understand why it isn't renowned as an adventure destination - places like Shangri La lodge offer truly unique activities in an amazing setting, and are a must for any adventure lover!”

Saturday - Caving, river tubing and hike on the Upper Río Napo

This morning we'll launch straight into the action with a hike into pristine virgin jungle, where we’ll venture deep into an elaborate canyon system. These canyons become a series of caves and limestone cliffs. With bats as spectators, we'll hike through this canyon system back to Shangri La Lodge. After lunch, we'll head out on to the Upper Napo for some river tubing. This involves floating down the river on inflated rubber tubes - all you have to do is kick back and enjoy the ride. Using our arms and feet as paddles, we'll float eight miles downriver to the take-out point, which is just a short ride back to the lodge.

ACCOMMODATION: Shangri La Jungle Lodge (B,L,D)

Sunday - Jungle Hiking and reverse canyoning

This morning we'll be using 4x4 trucks to head deeper into the rainforest where we'll take a short hike along a jungle trail to our first waterfall climb. The climb up these waterfalls is a lot of fun, even for absolute beginners at the art of reverse canyoning - which is typically everyone! Once we climb above the waterfalls, we traverse a rainforest ridge to rustic Amarongachi Lodge, where we'll have lunch. Later we'll hike to a beautiful lagoon for a swim

ACCOMMODATION: Shangri La Jungle Lodge (B,L,D)

Monday - Hike to local Amazon community

Today we visit a community of indigenous people living in the rainforest. We take a dugout canoe across the Napo River, then hike two hours into the jungle to the village. This is a real highlight of the trip - you'll learn how these small indigenous communities maintain their traditional ways of life and get some sense of the important role the rainforest plays in their lives. After this unique visit, we'll head to the Amazon frontier town of Tena.

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel Travelers Lodging, Tena (B,L,D)

Tuesday - Raft the Rio Napo

We have another exciting day today, rafting the Río Napo. We leave Tena for a short drive into the jungle to the put-in, where you'll get a familiarization and safety briefing. Then we're off! We'll be descending Grade III and IV rapids, interspersed with calm stretches to catch our breath and take in the scenery. In between paddling the rapids, sit back and take in the magnificent rainforest environment - it's hard to beat.

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel Travelers Lodging (B,L,D)

Wednesday - Return to Quito, depart for home

Today is the last day of your 11-day trip around Ecuador with ACTIVE SOUTH AMERICA We'll get back to Quito by lunchtime and if you have time to spare, we're happy to help with some ideas for what you can do here. If you have a flight this evening, we'll make sure to get you back to the airport on time and you'll return home relaxed and refreshed from all the great activities, fine food and friendly people you've met while traveling with us in Ecuador. (B)

Important Information

ACCOMMODATIONS:  The Tucan is an active adventure-oriented trip that takes us to some wild and remote areas of Ecuador. We've chosen accommodations for their comfort, cleanliness and charm - not the number of channels available on the television! Having said that, even the remote jungle lodges have private rooms with mosquito nets, a hammock outside and great views!

RECOMMENDED FLIGHTS:  We recommend you arrive in Quito by Saturday, as your trip starts early on Sunday morning. We’re happy to help with booking pre-trip accommodation if you let us know in advance. On the last day of the trip you can fly out any time after 3pm.

PICK-UP INFORMATION:  We’ll pick you up from Hotel Reina Isabel, in Quito, on Sunday morning at 6.30am.

DROP OFF INFORMATION:  You’ll be arriving back in Quito in time for flights departing after 3pm on Wednesday, the last day of your trip. We’ll be happy to drop you off at the airport, or at your hotel if you’re staying on in Quito!

FITNESS:  You must have a reasonable level of fitness to enjoy yourself. You don't have to be young nor extremely fit (although if you are, you won't be bored) but you should be in the habit of doing at least some regular exercise. Age and experience is not important. We would rather have an older person with a good attitude than a 22-year-old couch potato!

EXPERIENCE:  You don't need to have any outdoor experience to do one of our trips. We offer trips that enable you to make the most of South America's awesome outdoor environment, culture and history. Our staff are highly trained and very experienced outdoor guides, and we'll look after you very well! You don't have to carry a pack, be experienced in rafting, or be used to hiking at altitude. You don't need to be a serious cyclist to enjoy our rides either. You don't have to ride at all, if you'd rather hike, shop or laze around! All you need is to be energetic and in reasonable shape - and we guarantee you'll have a wonderful time. On the other hand, if you like a challenge we will certainly give you one! There are some awesome long hikes and bike rides in the Baños area and in the Amazon jungle. We can offer activities to suit both people who only do a little exercise and those who have a very high level of fitness. We manage the level of commitment to suit your experience, and we have an impeccable safety record.

FLEXIBILITY:  Ecuador is in a developing part of the world, and we can't tell you that everything runs like clockwork in South America. What we can tell you is that we are experienced adventure travel leaders, and we know how to keep things operating as smoothly as possible, even when conditions are challenging. That's why we are here! If you bring flexibility and a sense of humor you'll find your trip goes even smoother!

INCLUDED:  The trip fare is US$2499. The trip fare includes just about everything, specifically:

• All guiding services. We always have an experienced trip leader with every trip and will have a local guide on most of our excursions for extra local knowledge.
• Comfortable accommodation for the entire trip. We can also organize pre and post trip accommodation for you if you let us know.
• All your meals, except for lunch and dinner on your free day in Baños where we've found most people like to check out the local restaurants on their own.
• All drinking water. Alcohol and other drinks are not included.
• All hiking, biking, rafting and jungle activities as described in the itinerary, excluding optional activities as noted. No activities are compulsory, and nor will your trip be less awesome if you stick to the free options.
• Tips for local activity guides and drivers are taken care of by ACTIVE SOUTH AMERICA.

NOT INCLUDED:  This is your holiday, and we are serious about not nickel-and-diming you!  You’ll have a few meals and drinks to cover, extra activities if you choose them, and you’ll probably feel like tipping your guides at the end of a fabulous time, but you won’t be pulling out your wallet every few minutes on your ACTIVE SOUTH AMERICA trip! 

We’ll see you soon!

Itinerary valid through April 2008

If you have questions about getting down to South America, basic questions about our trips, how to pack, what to do with extra time before or after your trip, or have general questions about South America, click here to read answers to frequently asked questions.