9-Day Active Andes Expedition

Itinerary

• DAY 1 COTOPAXI – RUMINAHUI
  

  Today, your Andes Expedition starts and you will be taken to Cotopaxi National Park. This park is home to one of the highest active volcanoes in the world. Here, you will enjoy a day of hiking and biking in the area of Cotopaxi. You will go hiking around the Rumiñahui volcano, to admire its beauty. When you go mountain biking, you will have a beautiful view of all the volcanoes located in this same park. The hike around Ruminahui mountain will take approximately 2-3 hours, and the biking time is about one hour.

  • Activity:Biking. Exploring. Hiking.
  • Transport:Bus. Car.
  • Meal:Lunch.
  • Accommodation:Hacienda Papagayo Sur or Similar.
• DAY 2 QUILOTOA
  

  Today, you will walk the Quilotoa loop. On your way, you will see beautiful nature, local markets, and communities that still keep their traditions alive, and, of course, the beautiful Quilotoa lagoon, which the locals believe has no bottom. The whole hike will take approximately 5 hours and our guide will guide you along the way. After you hike down the lake, you can rent optional mules on the way back up.

  • Activity:Exploring. Hiking. Sightseeing.
  • Transport:Bus, Car.
  • Meal:Breakfast. Lunch.
  • Accommodation:Hacienda Papagayo Sur or similar.
• DAY 3 ILINIZAS NORTE
  

  Today you will visit Ilinizas Norte, a great mountain for hiking. In the past, it formed one big crater together with the Ilinizas Sur, but as time has passed, they have separated. The total altitude of the Ilinizas Norte is 5,126, and its peak is covered with a small amount of snow. After having hiked up and down this mountain, you will return to your hotel and relax for the rest of the day. The total hiking time will be around 7 hours today.

  • Activity:Climbing. Exploring. Hiking.
  • Transport:Bus. Car.
  • Meal:Breakfast. Lunch.
  • Accommodation:Hacienda Papagayo Sur or similar.
• DAY 4 COTOPAXI CLIMBING
  

  After a large breakfast, you will have time to rest and prepare yourself for tonight where you will climb the Cotopaxi volcano. You will go to the refuge in the afternoon where you will sleep until midnight. Then you start the big climb (about 6 hours up and about 3 hours down).

  • Activity:Climbing. Exploring. Hiking.
  • Transport:Bus. Car.
  • Meal:Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner.
  • Accommodation:Cotopaxi Volcano Refuge.
• DAY 5 COTOPAXI CLIMBING – TRANSFER TO BAÑOS
  

  When you have caught the sunrise, you will descend and return to your hotel, where you can have an optional celebration lunch. Here you’ll have enough time to relax and take a shower. Later, you will be picked up by your guide to go to Baños, and once you arrive, you can stroll around the town and have a drink.

  • Activity:Hiking. Relaxing. Sightseeing.
  • Transport:Bus. Car.
  • Meal:Breakfast. Lunch.
  • Accommodation:Hotel Alisamay or similar.
• DAY 6 BAÑOS
  

  The official name of this town is Baños de Agua Santa, in allusion to the thermal baths, but it is more commonly known simply as Baños. Located in the Tungurahua province, Baños offers nice tropical weather and a laid-back and relaxed atmosphere. After breakfast, you can either hire mountain bikes and go on the Ruta de las Cascadas or do any other optional activity around Baños. After lunch, you will have a free afternoon to explore the town and do any other optional activities offered.

  • Activity:Exploring. Sightseeing.
  • Transport:Bus, Car.
  • Meal:Breakfast.
  • Accommodation:Hotel Alisamay or similar.
• DAY 7 ALAUSÍ - CHIMBORAZO - CUENCA
  

  Today you will visit the small Andean town of Alausi. Straddled alongside a scenic river valley, the town has been named one of Ecuador’s “pueblos mágicos,” or magic villages. It is particularly well-known across Ecuador for its railway heritage and rich cultural community. From Alausi, you can also take the day to experience a breathtaking hike to see where the Devil’s Nose train once operated. The trail offers incredible views of the river valley and a bird’s eye view of the inoperative tracks. Finally, you’ll arrive in Cuenca where you can relax for the rest of the day.

  • Activity:Exploring. Sightseeing.
  • Transport:Car.
  • Meal:Breakfast.
  • Accommodation:Hotel Victoria or similar.
• DAY 8 CUENCA - QUITO
  

  Today, you will have a free day in Cuenca, so you can explore this beautiful city by yourself. In the afternoon, you will have a flight back to Quito. Once you arrive at the airport in Quito, you will be brought to your hotel located close to the airport.

  • Activity:Exploring. Sightseeing.
  • Transport:Airplane, Car.
  • Meal:Breakfast.
  • Accommodation:Ilatoa Lodge or similar.
• DAY 9 TRANSFER OUT
  

  This is the last day of your Andes Expedition, you will have a transfer to the airport to catch your flight back home. Please make sure you have your flight in the afternoon or evening in case there is any delay from your flight from Cuenca the night before. Rebecca Adventure Travel won’t take any responsibility for missed (international) flights.

  • Transport:Car.
  • Meal:Breakfast.