EXTREME ADVENTURE

Extreme Adventure

Imagine Ecuador Offers Tailor Made Holidays and Packages, Customized Tours, Honeymoon and Wedding trips. Experience the Galapagos Islands, the Amazon Rainforest, the Pacific Coast, and Enjoy Cultural Tours and Outdoor adventures with our customized tours!

OVERVIEW

Imagine Ecuador is a Tour Operator specializing in adventure and ecotourism in Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands, and all South America. We offer customized luxury tours around Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands as well as Amazon jungle expeditions. We also organize professional tours for trekking and mountain climbing, mountain-biking, horseback riding, scuba diving, whitewater rafting, bird watching, incentive travel, honeymoon trips. We can even arrange flights and hotel accommodation.

ITINERARY

Day 1: Airport – Hotel transfer. Overnight in  Quito.

Day 2: Old Town and Middle of the World. Overnight in Quito. Breakfast included.

Day 3: Otavalo  Market, Peguche waterfall and Cuicocha Lake. Overnight in Quito. Breakfast included.

Day 4: 8:00 am – We will drive the Volcano Avenue. Stop at Cotopaxi National Park and visit the Limpiopungo Lagoon at 3800 meters. Overnight in Quilotoa at Samay Kirutoa Lodge. Breakfast included.

Day 5:  After breakfast we will take a hike to the incredible scenic viewpoint called Shalala. Lunch at Samay Kirutoa Lodge. Drive back to Quito. On the way we can stop at the Tigua Art Gallery and we’ll also be able to visit indigenous villages. Overnight in Quito. Breakfast included.

Day 6: After breakfast we’ll begin the 2-hour drive to the Papallacta Hot Springs. Once your settled in your room you’ll have time to enjoy the wonderful spa with its naturally-heated pools.

The Cayambe – Coca Park . This park is located in the Andes Mountains, 3,300 meters above sea level, near the Cayambe -Coca National Park (403,103 hectares). It is an ONU Protected Area of Great Importance (a wet moor) and is also a RAMSAR (Convention on Wetlands of International Importance) site. It is also a pristine source of drinking water for the city of Quito. Overnight in Termas Papallacta. Breakfast.

Day 7: After breakfast we will drive for about 3 hours to Tena. Lunch in Tena then it’s one more hour to the entrance of the Itamandi Ecolodge located on the Arajuno River. There will be a 15-minute canoe ride to get to the Lodge.

Night walk (optional). A flashlight and camera are the most important tools for this night excursion where guests can listen to and observe fishing bats, owls, a variety of insects, tarantulas, toads and frogs, and possibly snakes. If the sky is clear, we may do some stargazing.

7:30pm – Dinner

Day 8: 5:45am – 6:00am (if the climate permits) Parrot Salt Lick

For bird lovers we’ll take a canoe trip 15 minutes upstream, early in the morning, to visit a salt lick (Saladero) for birds. Here hundreds of parrots and parakeets gather, drawn by the salt that helps them digest the fruits or seeds they have consumed. They convene in the treetops and later descend to the lick. Binoculars are highly recommended.

7:00am – 8:30am – Breakfast

9:00am or 9:30am – Long hike

After a scrumptious breakfast, we’ll head out for a hike through the primary and secondary Rainforest. Our expert naturalists will identify and answer questions about the flora and fauna of the Rainforest along the trail. You will observe a great variety of insects, a diversity of birds, and with some luck, we may see reptiles or monkeys. This activity takes about 2 ½ -3hours.

Back at Itamandi EcoLodge for Lunch and a siesta.

3:00pm – Visit to Native Community

In the afternoon it’s time to enjoy a cultural activity. An Amazonian Kichwa community will receive us and we’ll learn about their way of life and the interactions they have with the forest. This encounter will reveal a part of the Amazon that you won’t find on the maps: the relationship between the Amazonian people and their environment.

Part of our visit to the community involves their famous “Chicha,” a fermented yucca drink that has become part of their festivals but is also part of their daily life. We participate in the preparation of this beverage and also try some of the local cuisine.

The event ends with a traditional dance performed by children from the community. Afterward, you will have some time to check out handicrafts made by members of the community. The sale of these items supports the community in a positive way.

6:30pm – Participate in the production of artisanal chocolate (optional)

7:30pm – Dinner

Day 9:  Itamandi Ecolodge

8:00am – Breakfast

9:00am – Check-out and take a motorized canoe ride for 20 minutes to the Arajuno Bridge. Then we’ll drive to Puyo where we will have lunch. After lunch we will continue toward Baños, stopping along the waterfall route and at the Pailon  del Diablo (Devil’s Cauldren), the most spectacular waterfall in the region, then on to Baños. Overnight in Banos. Breakfast included.

Day 10: Outdoor activities in Baños (optional) These may include a half day of rafting, Canyoning or a visit to the Tree House with swing above Baños. You can also soak in the hot springs at night or early in the morning. The Hot springs are open from 5am till 22:00pm.

Day 11: After breakfast at 7am  we will drive from Banos to Alausi for the 2-hour train ride. The train will take through the precarious Nariz del Diablo (Nose of the Devil) stretch until we arrive in Alausi where our driver will be waiting to pick us up. After that, we’ll visit the Incan ruins at Ingapirca, Finally, we’ll head south to Cuenca where we’ll stay overnight. Breakfast included.

Day 12: City Tour in Cuenca (Churches, museums, scenic view point in Turi, archaeological center and Pumapungo). Visit to a Panama hat workshop.  Breakfast included.

Day 13: Visit toCajas National Park where we’ll trek to the top of a mountain getting a beautiful view of the many lagoons. In the afternoon we’ll drive 5 hours to Guayaquil or take a flight for 40 minutes. Overnight in Guayaquil. Breakfast included.

Day 14: City tour in Guayaquil to the Cerro de Santa Ana (The Santa Ana Hills), Las Peñas district, the Parque Histórico (Historic Park) of Guayaquil, the Malecon 2000. Breakfast included.

Day 15: After breakfast, we’ll leave Guayaquil  and travel 3 hours along the coastal Spondylus Route. We’ll continue up the Pacific Coast to Puerto Lopez, a small fishing village with a beautiful bay and great seafood.  Overnight in Puerto Lopez. Breakfast included.

Day 16: Excursion to the Isla de la Plata (Silver Island), an island that is famous for having some species of animals typical of the Galapagos. we’ll take a speed boat trip to the Machalilla Park (2 hours). When we arrive on the Island, we’ll have a 2-hour guided hike through the nature reserve. Then we’ll stop for snacks and anyone can go snorkeling to see marine life such as sea turtles, exotic fish, coral, etc. Back to Puerto Lopez in the afternoon. During the months of August, September, October Puerto Lopez is famous for Whale Watching. Overnight in Puerto Lopez.  Breakfast included.

Day 17: We’ll visit the Salango Museum of Puerto Lopez in order to learn about the coastal culture and view their traditional ceramics. Then we’ll go to the famous beach, Los Frailes, before finishing the day at the archaeological site Aguas Blancas with its sulfur baths. Overnight in Puerto Lopez.  Breakfast included.

Day 18: After breakfast we will drive to Manta for our flight back to Quito. Overnight in Quito. Breakfast included.

Day 19: Transfer Hotel Airport fly back to Quito. Breakfast included.

INCLUSIONS

INCLUDED:

  • Accommodation at your choice of 3, 4 or 5 stars Hotels
  • English speaking guide
  • Private transportation

 

NOT INCLUDED:

  • Lunch and Dinner
  • Entrance fees to Museums, National Parks, and Reserves
  • Alcoholic drinks and other things not specified in the program
  • Tips

Please ask us to give you the best quote, prices and tailor the package according to your special needs!

 

TO PACK

WHAT TO BRING:

Passport, travel insurance, airline tickets, credit or debit card (see personal spending money), quick dry clothing, fleece top, winter gloves, winter jacket, winter hat, 4 shirts/t-shirts, 2 pair of shorts, 2 pairs of long trousers, 1 pair hiking pants/track pants, rain jacket, rain pants, sun hat or cap, 1 swimming suit, sport sandals, hiking shoes, tennis shoes, day backpack (20-liter, with rain cover), pocket knife, watch or alarm clock, waterproof binoculars, insect repellent, sunscreen 60 SPF, flashlight or headlamp, waterproof camera if possible, personal water bottle or camelbak (1-liter), money belt, sunglasses, first-aid kit (should contain lip salve, aspirin, band aids, antihistamine, altitude medication, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, rehydration powder, and any extra prescription drugs you may be taking).

REMEMBER: IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO TRAVEL “LIGHT”!

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