E C UA D OR
Volcanoes and Jungles
by bike, raft, zip-line, horseback & foot
10-days
Ecuador is a fun, safe and stimulating destination, making it one of the best adventure vacations for
families. We’ve packed loads of activity, fun and authentic cultural encounters on this adventure and
tweaks can be made along the way to ensure that the trip level fits your family needs like a glove.
In 10-day you’ll bike down winding roads on the Chimborazo Volcano, ride horses through lush
countryside in Banos, bounce down bubbling class II rapids on the Anzo River and float peacefully
down a calm river on giant innertubes. Once we get to Cotopaxi you’ll safely zip through the forest,
high above the ground on pulleys and cables with panoramic views of the Pasochoa Volcano. There
is down time built in to wander through the colourful local markets bargaining for goodies and
also visit an animal rescue centre to meet the many monkeys, birds and other injured animals that
are being nursed back to good health. The pace on this adventure light, with kids in mind, and our
guides are well equipped to cater to all of your family needs.
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Day 1
QUITO
arrival
A BikeHike Adventures representative will greet you at the
airport and transfer you a comfortable family-run hotel
located in a central but quiet part of Quito. Quito is located
at 9,240 feet/2,800 meters above sea level on the slopes of
the active Pichincha Volcano.
Day 2
Q U I T O - O T AVA L O - C O T O C A C H I
biking & hiking
Please be ready in the lobby at 8am after eating breakfast. We start with a drive northbound to the beautiful
lake of San Pablo before getting on our bikes. We start
the Cotacachi Volcano to admire the deep blue waters of
with a 16km/10 mile bike ride following paved, dirt and
the active crater lake Cuicocha and the nature reserve of
cobblestone roads and finally a railroad track to the city of
Cotacachi-Cayapas, often visited by condor, hawks, eagles,
Otavalo, world famous for its indigenous handicraft mar-
deer and even the Andean bear. The next leg of the journey
ket. This is the best place in the country for buying gifts
is back on our bikes, riding 16km/10 miles downhill on
and souvenirs. After visiting the market we will enjoy a
paved and dirt roads through indigenous villages. We’ll
traditional lunch and maybe even some barbequed guinea
stop in Cotacachi, known for its fine leather handicrafts
pig for a side dish. After lunch we shuttle up the slopes of
and great for last minute souvenir shopping. In the late
afternoon we reach our cozy countryside inn for dinner
and overnight accommodation. (B,L,D)
Day 3
O T AVA L O - PA PA L L A C T A - A M A Z O N
biking & hot springs
We have a very exciting day in store for us today with
dramatic changes of altitudes, climates, natural beauty and
cultures! We begin with a typical Ecuadorian breakfast and
then drive to the Eastern Andean Mountain Range, right
through the “Avenue of the Volcanoes”. Here we’ll drive up
to the high pass located at 13,200 feet/4,020 meters, then
switch to our bikes with a thrilling 15 km/9 mile descent to
the town of Papallacta with the best thermal pools in the
country. There is leisure time to soak and swim in a dozen
outdoor pools - hot, warm and cold ones! The pools are
beautifully located in a valley in the high mountains and if
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it’s a clear day we’ll be able to view all the surrounding vol-
on this scenic river that eventually merges with the Napo
canoes, including Ecuador’s highest, Antisana and Coto-
River, one of the main water tributaries of the Amazona
paxi. Once were refreshed and relaxed, we’ll climb back on
River. Late afternoon we drive to the jungle town of Puyo
our bikes and continue biking on downhill paved roads to
for the night. Puyo has the best balsa handicraft factory in
the town of Baeza. The temperature rises as we descend.
the country. It’s a great opportunity to buy some souve-
We reach the town of Baeza in time for lunch, where fresh
nirs. (B,L,D)
trout is the specialty. After lunch, we drive deep into the
Amazon where we will check into a basic jungle hotel run
by the indigenous Quechua people. Once settled in, we
have the option to do a one hour night hike. This is a great
Day 6
P U YO - BA NO S
hiking & horseback riding
time to see some of the nocturnal animals that inhabit the
Early this morning we board our vehicle for a picturesque
jungle. Highest point 13,200 feet/4,020 meters, Lowest
drive to Baños. We’ll pass through the Pastaza River gorge
point 1,500 ft/457 mt. (B,L,D)
to visit some of the region’s thundering waterfalls. Upon
reaching the trailhead of the Devil’s Pot waterfall, we’ll hike
Day 4
about a half hour along a spongy forest floor that leads to
AMAZON
hiking & innertubing
the cascade. We’ll take some time to admire the powerful waterfall. After lunch we’ll drive to Banos, a beautiful
We begin with a 3-hour hike into virgin and secondary
town set deep in a lush valley, renowned for its steaming
rainforest accompanied by an indigenous Quechua guide
hot springs and surrounding volcanoes. In the afternoon
who will educate us about the vegetation, animals, birds,
we’ll go horseback riding on the slopes of one of the most
insects, etc that we might encounter. In some of the nar-
active volcanoes in the country, Tungurahua at 16,500
row canyons we can get some close encounters with bats.
feet/5,000 meters. Dinner is on your own this evening, but
After a delicious lunch at the lodge and a rest in a hammock we’ll float down the calm river on big and bouncy
innertubes. We’ll float past indigenous fishermen casting
their nets into the water and children playing in the river.
The forests and skies above are alive with the calls of parrots and oropendulas. We’ll stop to visit an indigenous
village halfway down the river to get to know more about
their culture, customs and farming practices. Highest and
lowest point 1,500 ft/457 mt. (B,L,D)
Day 5
A M A Z ON - P U YO
whitewater rafting
After breakfast at the lodge we have a 30 minute drive to
the town of Tena. From here, we’ll drive another 45 minutes up into the National Park of Llanganates to begin our
day of rafting on the Anzo River. Donned in lifejackets and
helmets, our guides will safely lead us down class II rapids
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highly suggested is a massage or a soak in the eucalyptus
volcano in the world at 19,340 feet/5,895 meters. In the
steam baths beforehand. Highest point 5,900 ft/1,800 m,
park, we’ll be surrounded by a dozen active volcanoes,
Lowest point 1,500 ft/457 m. (B,L)
making for a fabulous landscape for our 20 km/12 mile
downhill bike ride. The chances are good for spotting wild
Day 7
horse, condor, deer, wolf, etc on this ride. We eventually
BANOS
make it to a forest where we’ll go canopying on the sides
free day
of the volcano Pasochoa. Later in the afternoon we’ll drive
We have a full day of leisure in Banos but there is plenty to
north to the province of Imbabura. We’ll make a stop
keep you occupied here. There are lots of great hikes to the
enroute in Cayambe to sample the typical local cheese and
top of the valley overlooking the town, interesting farmers’
biscuits. Our charming hacienda is located in the town of
markets, the steamy hot springs, horseback riding and a
San Pablo on the slopes of the Imbabura Volcano. Highest
great variety of restaurants and cafes. (B)
point 14,760 ft/4,500 m, Lowest point 8,580 ft/2,600 m.
(B,L)
Day 8
BA NO S - C H I M BOR A Z O VOL CA NO
Day 10
biking
QUITO
We drive 3 hours this morning from the lush lowlands
departure
with crops of sugar cane plantations up to the barren high
You’ll be transferred to the international Airport to connect
mountain territory inhabited by the vicuna. This animal
with your flight back home. (B)
appears to be a cross between a llama and deer, but
it’s actually a camelot, related to the camel. We drive to
the parking lot, and then can hike up to a nearby refuge
located at 16,400 feet/5,000 meters. If we’re lucky and the
skies are clear, we’ll have amazing views of Chimborazo
Volcano, Ecuador’s highest at 20,700 feet/6,310 meters.
After lunch and coca tea we mount our bikes for a beauti-
T R I P I NC LU DE S
ful 32 km/20 mile downhill ride on dirt and paved roads
Meals as indicated (B=breakfast, L=lunch,
on the slopes of the volcano. During the bike ride, we’ll
D=dinner), all accommodation (twin shared), all
stop to visit an indigenous village to see how the highland
internal transportation, bikes, airport transfers and
people live up in the Andes. Later in the afternoon we drive
English-speaking guides.
2 hours to La Cienega Lodge, one of the oldest haciendas
in the country. Highest point 16,400 ft/5,000 m, Lowest
point 9,500 ft/2,895 m. (B,L,D)
NO T I NC LU DE D
Gratuities, airport departure taxes, meals not included and items of a personal nature.
Day 9
C O T O PA X I N A T I O N A L PA R K - Q U I T O
hiking & biking
This morning we transfer to Cotopaxi National Park,
famous for the Cotopaxi Volcano, the highest active
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