Day 1 Arrival • Flight to Quito/Ecuador. Upon arrival at Quito Airport, you will be welcomed by your Engish-speaking tour guide. You begin your journey with transfer to your hotel in Quito. Lodging in Quito.

 

Day 2 Quito - Middle of the World • In the morning, city tour in the historical center of Quito. The magnificent colonial capital has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the afternoon, drive to the Equator Monument, Mitad del Mundo, the center of the world. Nowhere else in the world is it easier to visit the equator line or to see whether water really flows in different directions on the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Visit to the ethnological museum. Afterwards, you begin your journey with a drive through the Western Andes reaching 4,000 meters above sea level which takes you to the most beautiful volcanic hot springs in Ecuador, to recharge your body, mind, and soul in the Papallacta thermal baths. Lodging in Papallacta.

 

Day 3 Papallacta – Amazon • Drive into the Amazon Basin with impressive viewpoints over the biologically richest area in the world. Arrival at your rainforest lodge, where you will be welcomed with the traditional drink Guayusa and become familiar with the unique diversity of plants and wildlife. For the night walk, flashlights and rubber boots will be provided, before your guide introduces fascinating animals such as spiders, grasshoppers, eels, snakes, toads, frogs, owls, and the Paiche Arapaima Pond, the monster of the Amazon. Lodging in the Amazon.

 

Day 4 Amazon • Today awaits you a very special jungle adventure, the "Full Day Amazoonico 360°." You can choose to enjoy the refreshing waters while tubing on the calm Arajuno River or to relax as you drift along in a canoe before reaching the animal sanctuary. It is the perfect opportunity to observe local wildlife while contributing to their well-being. Later, in a motorized canoe, you will visit "Anaconda" Island, where an authentic indigenous tribe awaits you to demonstrate blowgun techniques, traditional dances, the extraction of fibers from the pita plant, as well as the preparation and tasting of chicha. Lunch by the riverside. We will also look out for the icon bird known as the Hoatzin at the caiman swamp. Return by motorized canoe to the lodge. Lodging in the Amazon.

 

Day 5 Amazon • This morning you are invited on a short hike and a peaceful silent canoe tour in the lagoon of a beautiful nature reserve. A local guide will introduce you to the harmonious coexistence with the rainforest while you immerse yourself in the diverse wildlife of the jungle. In the afternoon, the tour continues with a presentation and tasting of a food of the gods known as the cacao beans. An interactive cocoa-making experience with hot chocolate, fruits and a chocolate face mask. Lodging in the Amazon.

 

Day 6 Amazon – Baños • In the morning we will continue to visit the first attraction of the day the majestic waterfall “Pailon del diablo” where we can feel the force of nature. Breathe in the cool breeze and listen to the water crashing onto the rocks. Access is via an ecological trail where you can admire the beauty of orchids. Arrival at your accommodation in Baños de Agua Santa, famous for adrenaline activities, which are optional and can be booked directly on site. For example: canyoning, bungee jumping, canopy tours, and “Tarabitas”. We will visit the market of local products in which you can purchase their specialty sweets of pure, local sugarcane and souvenirs. An optional visit to the hot springs of Baños is also suggested. At the end of the day, we recommend visiting the Basilica of Baños de Agua Santa. The locals use it to devotedly make any request to the Virgin of Baños. Lodging in Baños.

 

Day 7 Baños – Quilotoa • After breakfast, you will drive to the breathtaking Quilotoa Lake. This emerald-colored lagoon is located in the crater of a volcano at 3,800 m (12,467 ft). It is the minerals in the water that make the lagoon a spectacular display of different shades: green, turquoise, and blue. The lake invites you to go kayaking, hiking, and descending into the crater, with ascents available via mules. Lodging in Quilotoa.

 

Day 8 Quilotoa – Cotopaxi • In the morning, you begin a fantastic journey to the misty Cotopaxi Volcano, which is covered by an eternal blanket of dazzling white snow and glaciers. With an altitude of 5,897 meters above sea level, it is considered the highest active volcano in the world. Within the national park, you can hike up to the main refugee, José Rivas. The hike takes about 1 hour and takes you to 5,042 meters, near the snow line of Cotopaxi. The unique local fauna gives us glimpses of wild horses and the Andean condor, the largest flying bird in the world. It is also home to llamas, foxes, rabbits, and moorland bird species. Transfer to the airport Quito where you can continue your personal onward journey or take your international return flight.