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 A3 ANDES NATURE (7 days) This 7-day excursion is put together for active people who like to hike in high mountain regions and are interested in its distinct flora and fauna. As the Andes are considered a young mountain range by geological standards, almost all the higher elevations are of volcanic origin. Different formations of those stratovolcanoes, from old, extinct volcanic calderas and crater lakes to presently active volcanoes with continuous eruptions will be encountered and so will be the amazing biodiversity of those high paramo regions. Day 1 Arrival at Quito airport and transfer to hotel in Quito. Depending on your arrival time, a visit to the old colonial center or another attraction in Quito are scheduled. Day 2 In the morning we leave Quito and drive north to Otavalo, where we first stop and visit the famous Indian market in town. We spend a couple of hours there and move then to Cuicocha crater lake, which is located at 3200m at the foot of Cotacachi mountain. This volcanic caldera is filled with water and around 200m deep with islands sticking out in the middle of the lake which are extinct lava domes. We undertake a boat ride circling the domes and later visit the interpretation center of this reserve. In a small hostel overlooking the lake, we spend our second night. Day 3 In the morning we hike around this beautiful lake, which takes some 5 hours. The trail leads along the crater rim and offers excellent views of the lake. On clear days also great views to nearby Cotacachi, Mojanda and Imbabura mountain reward you and even the far off snow covered peaks of Cayambe and Cotopaxi can be glimpsed. But not only great scenery awaits you but also a interesting mountain vegetation with many orchids awaits you on the hike. After lunch at our hostel we drive then back to Quito. Day 4 Today we drive south and visit Cotopaxi National Park, Ecuador's most visited national park. Our first stop is the parking area of Cotopaxi mountain refuge, which is located at 4600m. We start then the 40 minute hike up to Jose Ribas Refuge which is located at 4800m. Weather permitting, we enjoy great views of this beautiful and perfect volcanic cone covered by permanent ice. Our next stop is Limpiopungo, a lake located at 3800 m at the foot of Rumiñahui mountain. This area is famous for water birds, which nest there among the reeds and we hike around its shore. Afterwards we leave the park and drive to Pelileo, where we spend the night in a small hostel, which has a perfect view to Ecuador's most active volcano Tungurahua. With luck and good weather we see some pyroclastic eruptions at night and lava flows down its steep flanks. Day 5 In the morning we check again on the volcano and we head then to Chimborazo, Ecuador's highest peak. The road leads right up to 4800m and on the way there the graceful vicunas can be seen. Below the first refuge some birds, like seed snipes, caracara falcons and hummingbirds can be observed. We get then ready to hike up to the second refuge at 5000m altitude. Afterwards we drive to Ambato by way of Guaranda and continue on to Latacunga where we take the road to our last stop of our volcano nature tour, the beautiful crater lake of Quilotoa, located in the Western Cordilleras at a height of 3800m. Day 6 In the morning we descend to the bottom of the lake, where we might enjoy a swim in the clear but cold waters of the lake or take a boat ride. The descent and consequently ascent takes alltogether 3 hours and after that we return to the Quito by way of Sigchos passing the twin peaks of Ilinizas. We arrive later in the afternoon in Quito, where we end our volcanic expedition. Day 7 Depending on your departure time, a visit to the old colonial center or to another sightseeing attraction in Quito are scheduled. Transfer to the airport and return to your country.
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