DAY 1, Friday - Depart the USA, Arrive in Quito
Depart the USA for Ecuador. Arrive in Quito and transfer to your hotel. Balance of the day at leisure
Overnight: Quito
Depart the USA for Ecuador. Arrive in Quito and transfer to your hotel. Balance of the day at leisure
Overnight: Quito
DAY 2, Monday or Saturday - Quito City Tour & Visit to the Middle of the World
In the morning meet with the tour manager for an orientation. The morning's tour of Quito begins with a view of the Congress Building, whose outside stone mural records Ecuador's history. Continue to Quito's colonial section to walk along the narrow cobblestone streets and feel the charm of 16th-century Quito. See the Independence Plaza, the Cathedral, Presidential Palace, and the Archbishop's Palace before visiting La Compañia Church or the Church of San Francisco**. Afterward, see the Middle of the World Monument, located at a latitude of 0º, and stand with one foot in the Northern and one in the Southern Hemisphere. This afternoon, transfer by bus to Otavalo
Overnight: Otavalo
La Compania Church in Quito
In the morning meet with the tour manager for an orientation. The morning's tour of Quito begins with a view of the Congress Building, whose outside stone mural records Ecuador's history. Continue to Quito's colonial section to walk along the narrow cobblestone streets and feel the charm of 16th-century Quito. See the Independence Plaza, the Cathedral, Presidential Palace, and the Archbishop's Palace before visiting La Compañia Church or the Church of San Francisco**. Afterward, see the Middle of the World Monument, located at a latitude of 0º, and stand with one foot in the Northern and one in the Southern Hemisphere. This afternoon, transfer by bus to Otavalo
Overnight: Otavalo
La Compania Church in Quito
DAY 3, Sunday - Otavalo Market, Transfer to Papallacta
This morning, enjoy a tour of the market in Otavalo, one of the largest in South America and run by the local Otavaleño Indians. Here, enjoy the lively market atmosphere and browse the various stalls for traditional goods such as hand-woven clothes and rugs, jewelry, fruits, vegetables and more. Then, visit the surrounding towns of Cotacachi, known for its leather handicrafts, and Peguche, known for its beautiful waterfall. This afternoon, transfer to Papallacta located in the Andes Mountains. The balance of the day is at leisure to explore Papallacta's spas and hot springs, for which it is famous
Overnight: Papallacta
DAY 4, Monday - Transfer to Amazon Resort
After breakfast, transfer by bus to La Punta Ahuano on the Napo River where you will board a canoe that will take you to your Amazon lodge. Enjoy the serene tranquility that the lodge has to offer and prepare to be amazed by both the wildlife and the culture inherent to the Amazon. In the afternoon, visit Ahuano to have the opportunity to meet a local Quechua family and learn about their way of life first hand before returning to the hotel
**Please note upon arrival the lodge is approximately a 5-10 minute walk uphill from where passengers will exit the canoe
Overnight: Amazon
DAY 5, Tuesday - Full Day Amazon
This morning, you can hike to the Napo river for approximately two hours while viewing the beautiful flora and fauna up close. The Amazon rainforest is the world's largest ecosystem, so be sure to keep an eye out for the innumerable species of tropical plants and flowers, insects, and butterflies. Enjoy the views as you cross suspended bridges and fly through the jungle on a short zipline basket ride. At the end of the hike, enjoy a rafting trip on a traditional balsa log raft. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure. Consider a visit to the Butterfly farm
**Please note this is an active hike and sections of the path include steps. Also, those who participate in the rafting trip will need to step through the water to reach the raft and will get wet during the ride
Overnight: Amazon
DAY 6, Wednesday - Baños & Patate
This morning, board a canoe for the short trip back to La Punta Ahuano and transfer to Patate via motor coach. En route, stop in the towns of Puyo, nicknamed "City of the Clouds, and Baños, noted for its thermal springs and beautiful highland scenery for a short tour of each. In Baños, you will be treated to a demonstration on vegetable ivory, a traditional craft that utilizes palm nuts to make jewelry and animal carvings. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to view El Pailon del Diablo or "The Devil's Cauldron", one of Ecuador's most beautiful waterfalls. In the late afternoon, check into your hotel in Patate. Enjoy the balance of the day at leisure
**Please note that it is an active hike to and from El Pailon del Diablo waterfall
Overnight: Patate
This morning, board a canoe for the short trip back to La Punta Ahuano and transfer to Patate via motor coach. En route, stop in the towns of Puyo, nicknamed "City of the Clouds, and Baños, noted for its thermal springs and beautiful highland scenery for a short tour of each. In Baños, you will be treated to a demonstration on vegetable ivory, a traditional craft that utilizes palm nuts to make jewelry and animal carvings. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to view El Pailon del Diablo or "The Devil's Cauldron", one of Ecuador's most beautiful waterfalls. In the late afternoon, check into your hotel in Patate. Enjoy the balance of the day at leisure
**Please note that it is an active hike to and from El Pailon del Diablo waterfall
Overnight: Patate
DAY 7, Thursday - Cotopaxi National Park
Today enjoy a visit to Cotopaxi National Park, home to some of the highest altitude volcanoes in the world. The picturesque Cotopaxi Volcano, rising more than 19,000 feet above the plains, dominates the scene. The park is also home to a wide variety of local wildlife including wild horses and the elusive Andean Condor. Passengers have the opportunity to take an hour-long hike around Limpiapungo Lake and take in the beautiful scenery of the surrounding plains and volcanoes, followed by a visit to the park's Interpretation Center. After the excursion, continue to Quito, nestled high in the Andes Mountain
**Please note the hike length at Cotopaxi National Park is subject to weather conditions
Overnight: Quito
Today enjoy a visit to Cotopaxi National Park, home to some of the highest altitude volcanoes in the world. The picturesque Cotopaxi Volcano, rising more than 19,000 feet above the plains, dominates the scene. The park is also home to a wide variety of local wildlife including wild horses and the elusive Andean Condor. Passengers have the opportunity to take an hour-long hike around Limpiapungo Lake and take in the beautiful scenery of the surrounding plains and volcanoes, followed by a visit to the park's Interpretation Center. After the excursion, continue to Quito, nestled high in the Andes Mountain
**Please note the hike length at Cotopaxi National Park is subject to weather conditions
Overnight: Quito
DAY 8, Friday - Depart for the USA
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight
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