11 DAY LUXURY NATURE ECUADOR

Today your Luxury Nature Ecuador tour begins. You will arrive at Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito (Certified as a global 5-Star Regional Airport by SKYTRAX), be welcomed by your English speaking driver, and transferred to your hotel. If you arrive before 6:00 PM, a delicious dinner will be prepared for you by your personal chef in the comfort of your hotel.

• TransportCar.
• MealDinner.
• AccommodationsQuito Polo Club Hotel or similar.

On the second day of your luxury trip, you will go off the grid, and reconnect back with nature. You will go to the amazing Yasuni National Park, the continental Ecuador’s largest protected natural area, and host of an impressive biodiversity in the heart of the amazon rainforest. You will be picked up from your hotel, and driven back to the airport. After a 30-minute flight to “El Coca”, you will be taken, by private transportation, to the city’s main dock at the Napo River. The next two hours will be on a motorized canoe heading down the river. Later in the afternoon, you will take the Matapalo Trail. This trail was given the Spanish name of the famous Strangler, one of many remarkable trees that you can find on this short walk. Mahogany trees over 400 years old can be seen and your guides will share their knowledge of the flora and fauna.

• ActivityExploring, Hiking, Wildlife Watching.
• TransportAirplane, Boat, Car.
• MealBreakfast, dinner.
• AccommodationsSacha Lodge or similar.

Your day starts at 6:00 AM with a wake up call, so you can enjoy a calm and wonderful breakfast. Around 7:00 AM, you will go to the observation tower & Tucaneta Trail. After a 20 minute walk the observation tower comes into sight. This amazing construction will allow you to climb 120 ft (36,5 m approx), above the forest. Your naturalist and native guides will help you spot the colorful birds of the Amazon, maybe even certain primates. Later that afternoon, you will go on the Charapa Trail. It is a great loop where different mammals, monkeys and birds can be seen coming closer to the lagoon at this time, looking for food. You will be back to the lodge after this fascinating experience, and enjoy your dinner.

During your free time in-between activities you can use our kayaks, swim in the lagoon, have a massage or just relax in your room and have a nap!

• ActivityExploring, Hiking, Wildlife Watching.
• MealBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
• AccommodationsSacha Lodge or similar.

After a delightful breakfast, you will visit the Parrot Clay Lick and Mandi Wasi. You will make your way back to the Napo River, and take a motorized canoe ride to the clay licks, one of the most fascinating displays of the wild world. Hundreds of parrots and parakeets gather here to eat the mineral rich soil, an important part of their diet. After this, you will be taken to your authentic cultural experience where an Amazonian Kichua woman will share the life of the Kichua’s in the Amazon. In the afternoon, you will go on The Coto Trail. This is a fantastic walk that takes off from the lodge to the edge of the Garzacocha Lagoon. Groups of black-mantled tamarin monkeys can be spotted on this walk, and some of our groups have even seen tapirs too.

• ActivityExploring, Hiking, Wildlife Watching.
• TransportBoat.
• MealBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
• AccommodationsSacha Lodge or similar.

In accordance with your briefing the night before, you will have an early wake up call, breakfast and departure from the lodge. The motorized canoe ride will head upstream back to Coca, where our representatives will take you to the airport. Upon your arrival to Quito’s Airport, you will be picked up by your driver, and taken, by private transportation, to the dazzling Hacienda of San Agustín de Callo. Built on the site of an Inca palace, this hacienda is one of the two most important archaeological Inca sites in Ecuador. The Hacienda has remained in the family to this day, and is currently owned by the General’s granddaughter, Mignon Plaza, whose father, the distinguished congressman, Jose María Plaza Lasso, played a pivotal role in politics throughout his life.

• ActivityExploring, Sightseeing.
• TransportAirplane, Boat, Car.
• MealBreakfast.
• AccommodationsHacienda San Agustin de Callo or similar.

On this day, you can choose which activities you and your party can participate in. You have the opportunity to go horseback riding through Andean towns and villages using old Inca paths. One of the favorite horse rides takes you towards the Cotopaxi, through a pine forest to plains just below the volcano, with magnificent views of the surrounding mountains. If you are in the mood of a more adventurous day, you could go on different excursions such as the visit to the Cotopaxi Volcano. You can also go to Bellavista – Llanganates Reserve, relax in Ilinizas Hot Springs, and more.

• ActivityExploring, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Relaxing, Sightseeing.
• TransportCar.
• MealBreakfast.
• AccommodationsHacienda San Agustin de Callo or similar.

On this day, you will visit one of the most beautiful lagoons in Ecuador and South America, the amazing Quilotoa Lagoon. The first stop on this tour is at the breathtaking Cañón del Río Toachi. This is a very photogenic canyon, on your route to Quilotoa. Continuing your trip, you will pass through the indigenous villages of the area. When you arrive at the Laguna Quilotoa, you will hike down to the Laguna and back up again, in a stunning two-hour hike tour. It is possible to hire mules for part of the trek. Later on, you will continue driving south to the Chimborazo Province, where you will stay in the gorgeous Hacienda Abraspungo.

• ActivityExploring, Hiking, Sightseeing.
• TransportCar.
• MealBreakfast, Lunch.
• AccommodationsHacienda Abraspungo or similar.

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel, and taken to the first refuge of the snowy Chimborazo. You will walk along the path to reach the second refuge of the Chimborazo volcano at 5 000 meters above sea level. This will take from 40 minutes to 1 hour of walking time. In the second refuge, you can take a break and drink hot tea, before going out to enjoy the beautiful view, and take many photos of the largest volcano in Ecuador. Afterwards, you will continue heading south until you reach your next destination, Cuenca. This drive is about 4 hours. You will stay in Hacienda Dos Chorreras. The property is located next to El Cajas National Park.

• ActivityClimbing, Exploring, Hiking.
• TransportCar.
• MealBreakfast, Lunch.
• AccommodationsHacienda Dos Chorreras or similar.

Today you will be able to choose among several activities to enjoy. You could either go exploring the fascinating city of Cuenca. Santa Ana de los Cuatro Ríos de Cuenca, commonly referred as Cuenca, is the capital and largest city of the Azuay Province of Ecuador. Of all of the cities in Ecuador, Cuenca is arguably the most charming with its cobblestone streets, old-world cathedrals, colonial parks, and urban rivers. If you are in the mood of having a relaxing day, you could stay in the hacienda and explore the surroundings.

• ActivityExploring, Relaxing, Sightseeing.
• TransportCar.
• MealBreakfast.
• AccommodationsHacienda Dos Chorreras or similar.

In the morning, your driver will pick you up, and take you to the Cajas National Park. This paradisiac National Park is definitely one of the highlights of this luxury trip in Ecuador. Your tour will begin with an easy 1-hour walk in the lower cloud forest. This section is particularly abundant in birds. This will be followed by a moderate 3-hour hike around a glacier lake. The second hike will take you through tundra vegetation and into a Polylepis forest which almost feels like a setting from Lord of the Rings. After the tour, your guide will bring you to your next and final hacienda where you spend the night, Hacienda La Danesa. They believe in their intentions and hope that their exceptional service, environmental practice and authenticity will create an experience you will never forget.

• ActivityExploring, Hiking, Wildlife Watching.
• TransportCar.
• MealBreakfast, Lunch.
• AccommodationsHacienda La Danesa or similar.

This is the last day of your Luxury Nature Ecuador trip. Depending on your departure flight time, you will have time to explore the surroundings of this elegant but yet authentic hacienda. At the arranged time, you will be transferred to the Guayaquil International Airport where you will catch your flight to your next destination.

• TransportCar.
• MealBrekfast.