13 Day – Epic Treks Of The Andes and Galapagos
The Llanganates mountain range has a long history
INCLUDED:
- All Flight in Ecuador and inter island
- Entrance fees to Galapagos and Transit
- Great Hotels and Haciendas
- Private Transportation
- Inter-Island Bote and to Leon Dormido
- Meal (B, L, D)
- All Equipment
- All day Guide (English speaker)
- Entrances fees in General
FLIGHT FROM U.S. TO QUITO, ECUADOR
Usually you will arrive in around midday. Your guide at arrival will transfers you to your comfortable hotel in Quito’s Old Town for rest and for overnight. Walk to the plaza and Dinner on your own. Welcome to Ecuador.
LATITUDE ZERO ON VOLCAN PULULAHUA
Our adventure starts heading north out of Quito. After a quick stop at the equatorial monument, we continue north until we reach Volcan Pululahua, an extinct volcano surrounded by a geobotanical reserve. Pululahua’s crater is directly crossed by Latitude 0°. As we hike into the reserve and toward the crater, we pass through a series of unique ecosystems, including montane cloud forest, myrtle forest, and dry acacia forest. This reserve is also home to a huge number of bird species, including hummingbirds, mountain tanagers, eagles, and hawks. After arriving at the crater, we continue on toward Rio Blanco, we cross the river to find an otherworldly landscape called Infiernillo (Little Hell), an arid patch of sulfur deposits within a dry forest. After our hike, we drive to the beautiful, historic Hacienda Pinsaqui, where we enjoy a delicious meal and deluxe accommodations to finish the day. (B, L, D)
CUICOCHA CRATER LAKE
This morning, we drive to Cuicocha, a crater lake collected in a secondary caldera of the extinct Cotacachi Volcano. Cuicocha translates as “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 around 3,000 meters, Cuicocha’s ecosystem is a combination of paramo and Andean forest. We will find many unique plant species in this rare combination of two ecosystems. Our path circumvents the crater rim, revealing stunning views of the lake and the volcanoes Cotacachi, Mojanda, and Imbabura. We keep our eyes open for native wildlife, and if we are lucky, we might even catch a glimpse of the rare Andean Condor. After lunch, we stop to visit Cotacachi’s leather market and Otavalo’s famous indigenous handicraft market. In the late afternoon, we head back to Hacienda Pinsaqui for another gourmet dinner and relaxing evening. (B, L, D)
CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TO PAPALLACTA
Today we drive east through the inter-Andean valley, gaining elevation as we climb into the heights of Ecuador’s eastern Andes. At 4,100 meters, we reach the continental divide, a high pass that separates the Pacific and Atlantic watersheds. We begin our hike through the Cayambe-Coca nature reserve, home to some of the best highland paramo scenery in the country. This humid area is part of the largest hydrological system in the world, and features one of the highest concentrations of lakes in the Andan range. The high altitude and humidity of the paramo create a very unique ecosystem with a host of endemic species. We hike mostly downhill, heading toward the Amazon lowlands on the other side of the eastern Andes. As we walk, we seek out three native deer species and the elusive spectacled bear, and of course we continue our search for the Andean Condor! Our hike ends in Termas de Papallacta Spa & Resort, where we spend the evening relaxing in the mineral-rich, curative waters of the local natural hot springs. The highly recommended spa treatments are booked separately. (B, L, D)
MACAW JUNGLE TRAIL
After breakfast at Termas de Papallacta, we drive along a scenic road that descends further into the Amazon basin until we reach Sumaco National Park. The local ecosystem is montane cloud forest, where many species from the jungle and the highlands coexist, in addition to some endemic mammals, birds and insects. We will see cock of the rocks, toucans, macaws, monkeys, and more. As we descend along a remote trail through dense vegetation, we can observe the gradual change from cloud forest to rainforest. We continue to descend until reaching a good spot for a healthy picnic lunch. In the afternoon, we continue by vehicle to Archidona to visit an indigenous community, where we learn about the Kichwa culture and jungle life. After our visit, we head to Cotococha Lodge. After a delightful dinner, we prepare our flashlights for a jungle night walk in the nature reserve next to our lodge. Selina Amazon Tena (B, L, D)
RAINFOREST WALK, EXPLORE THE PASTAZA GORGE
This is our most relaxed hike, with plenty of time to enjoy the jungle wildlife at an easy pace and recover at a lower altitude. The forest displays a great variety of trees like balsa, cedar, rubber and cinnamon. As we hike, our guide identifies countless species of orchids, vines, ferns, insects, and reptiles, teaching us the traditional ways indigenous tribes use many of these plants. After lunch, we drive south and start climbing back into the Andes through the Pastaza River Gorge. This scenic route, with rocky cliffs in a deep cloud forest canyon, is known for its many waterfalls. We stop to admire some of the largest, including Pailon del Diablo (Devil’s Cauldron) and Manto de la Novia (Bride’s Veil). We pass through Baños, an attractive subtropical town set on the slopes of the very active Tungurahua Volcano, and enjoy some fantastic views of Tungurahua before arriving to an Andean Hacienda, where we will spend the night. (B, L, D)
MYSTERIES OF THE LLANGANATES
The Llanganates mountain range has a long history of mystical events and legends. To this day, it is one of the few places in the world that remains largely unexplored and uncharted. Locals relive stories of failing compasses and disappearances, and the most famous legend tells how Inca general Rumiñahui hid a vast fortune of gold in one of the range’s lakes. The Llanganates is protected as a vast, 220,000 hectare national park, it covers four provinces and the altitude in the park varies between 4,500 and 1,200 meters. Our hike starts around 3,500 meters and takes us through cloud forest, Andean forest, and paramo ecosystems. This picturesque and remote trail gives us the chance to enjoy great views of the surrounding volcanoes and spot an abundance of hummingbirds, mountain tanagers, and deer. We continue our hike to Laguna San Borja seeking for the elusive spectacled bear, looking up for evidence of its presence, following its prints and traces. If we are very lucky we may see one! In the afternoon we continue the journey through the avenue of the Volcanoes to the Cotopaxi area for dinner and overnight at an Andean Hacienda. (B, L, D)
COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK
Cotopaxi Volcano, with its symmetrical, glaciated cone and imposing presence, is one of Ecuador’s most enduring images. The wild paramo that surrounds this 5,897 meter giant is designated as Cotopaxi National Park, and is a spectacular place to hike while searching for highland wildlife and admiring incredible volcanic scenery. We begin our adventure on the slopes of Volcan Rumiñahui, where we get stunning views of Cotopaxi rising over 2,000 meters above the high plain. As we hike, we spot hares, foxes, falcons, deer, and with luck, condors flying overhead. We descend the slopes of Rumiñahui Volcano, all the way to Limpiopungo Glacier Lake, home to scores of aquatic birds. It is common to see gulls, ducks, teals, lapwings, shore birds, and even the occasional high-altitude flamingo on the banks of Limpiopungo. After stopping for lunch at a local hacienda, we return to Quito to rest and celebrate an Epic Adventure! (B, L, D)
QUITO – GALAPAGOS INTERPRETATION CENTER, HIKE AND SNORKEL TIJERETAS
After a morning flight from the mainland to San Cristobal Island, we continue to our hotel for an energizing lunch, introductions, and a short overview of our trip. Our Galapagos adventure starts with a visit to the local Interpretation Center where we learn about the unique wildlife, geology, natural history, and social dynamics of the Galapagos. Now that we know a little more about the islands we make our way to our first stop, Frigate Hill, where we might spot many of the unique avian species of the Galapagos. As we hike over natural lava rock trails our guides tell us all about the Galapagos cotton, palo santo, acacia, and cacti surrounding us, as well as blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, pelicans, herons, gulls, warblers, mockingbirds and finches that we spot in the vegetation and sea cliffs. In addition to the diverse wildlife, this walking tour provides marvelous views of the rugged coastline and the town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno below us.
During the return trip we stop at beautiful Carola Beach for a dip, where we snorkel and swim with sea turtles and sea lions while enjoying a lovely sunset on the beach. We return to the hotel for a gourmet seafood dinner after which you can set out to explore the friendly, laid-back town and visit the colony of endemic Galapagos sea lions next door. (L, D).SNORKEL THE NORTHERN COAST OF SAN CRISTOBAL
Today we explore the northern coast. We either visit Leon Dormido (Kicker Rock), Punta Pitt or Cerro Brujo. The visiting site depends on the week day and the Galapagos National Park regulations. On our exploration trip we make sure to search the nearby coves and cliffs for sea turtles, sea lions, frigate birds, blue-footed boobies, and nazca boobies. Here we have the chance to get up close and personal with sea lions in their favorite playground. As we snorkel, we might see eagle rays, golden rays, Galapagos sharks, starfish, clams, and thousands of tropical fish. If we’re lucky, we may even come across hammerhead sharks. As the sun sets on our day under the waves, we return to the hotel to for a relaxed evening. (B, L, D).
DISCOVER ISABELA’S BEACHES, LAGOONS, AND ISLETS – SNORKEL
Our journey continues to Isabela, the largest island in the Galapagos. It´s constantly changing and evolving due to the six shield volcanoes, rendering it one of the most volcanically active spots on the planet. After a short small aircraft flight we settle into our hotel. We then set out on a one-of-a-kind hike that will take us through an incredible variety of coastal ecosystems, along the way we spot giant tortoises, flamingos, and other wildlife as we pass through white sand beaches, the alluring poison apple forest, a gaping lava tube, dark mangroves and brackish lagoons. After a nourishing lunch we set out to explore Tintoreras, a group of small islets filled with hidden coves and isolated beaches. Here we find the endemic Galapagos penguin, as well as reef sharks, sea turtles and sea lions. At the end of the day, we retire to our hotel. We finish the evening with a delicious dinner and an optional stroll down the expansive beach and the sand streets of idyllic Puerto Villamil. (B, L, D).
EXPLORE THE SANTA CRUZ HIGHLANDS
An invigorating speedboat ride takes us to our next destination: Santa Cruz Island. Along the way we keep an eye out for whales and dolphins in the ocean around us. After checking in we head to El Chato nature reserve in the Santa Cruz highlands, home to the Galapagos giant tortoise. It is an honor to hike among these fascinating, gentle giants, who on average live to be over 175 years old. El Chato is also home to many pintail ducks, finches, frigate birds, egrets and the beautiful vermillion flycatcher.
Our hike continues through some incredible lava tunnels created by flowing magma. Legend has it that the buccaneers who once frequented the Galapagos used these deep caves to hide Inca gold plundered from Spanish ships! After some pirate stories from our guides we head up to Los Gemelos, a pair of deep volcanic sinkholes at the high point of Santa Cruz. The path takes us through a forest of endemic Scalesia trees covered in ferns and epiphytes where we’ll keep a lookout for the resident short-eared owl.
If there is enough time we may visit the Charles Darwin Research Station where local scientists rear endemic plants and animals for educational, scientific, and conservation purposes. We’ll learn about the ongoing conservation efforts to protect the future of the Galapagos. In the late afternoon we return to the hotel and get ready to celebrate our once-in-a-lifetime trip with a delicious farewell dinner. We soak up the ambiance of our last night in the Galapagos with magnificent views of the brightly-lit ships in the bay and the town beyond. (B, L, D).TRANSFER OUT TO QUITO
Finally, it’s time bid a fond farewell as we transfer to Baltra Island for our return flight to the mainland to connect to the international airport for your departure home, marking the end of Magical Tours Peru services. If your schedule permits, trip extensions to other regions or extra days in Quito can also be arranged. (B)
- Comfortable and weather-appropriate clothing.
- Appropriate footwear for walking or hiking boots.
- Sun protection: sunscreen, hat or cap, and sunglasses.
- Insect repellent.
- Snorkeling equipment (if you wish to participate in snorkeling activities in the Galapagos Islands).
- Camera or mobile phone to capture special moments.
- Medications and necessary personal items.
- Basic first aid kit.
- Personal hygiene items.
- Other personal items according to your needs.
- All Flight in Ecuador and inter island
- Entrance fees to Galapagos and Transit
- Great Hotels and Haciendas
- Private Transportation
- Inter-Island Bote and to Leon Dormido
- Meal (B, L, D)
- All Equipment
- All day Guide (English speaker)
- Entrances fees in General
