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Adventure Tours |
 P10 SOUTHERN ROUNDTRIP On this 3 week excursion we explore the southern regions of Ecuador, from Quito to the Peruvian border. The Andes mountains and the Pacific coast are our points of interests with their cultural and natural attractions. Active volcanoes, Inca ruins, colonial towns, train ride, national parks, beautiful beaches and a petrified forest are all found in this program. At the same time we learn about life of the inhabitants in the different regions of the country. Day 1 We start our excursion right in Quito with a city tour, which includes the old colonial center and the Archaeological museum, which exhibits pre-Inca treasures right up to modern artwork. Day 2 On this day we visit Mitad del Mundo, the Equator Line Monument, the Inca ruins of Rumicucho and the Pululahua crater, largest volcanic crater in the world. Day 3 We leave Quito in the morning and head south on the Pan-American to Cotopaxi National Park. After exploring this popular reserve, we head to Pelileo, from where on a clear night, we can see the eruptions of Tungurahua volcano. Day 4 In the morning we drive to Baņos to visit this small tourist town and its beautiful zoo. After lunch there, we drive to Riobamba by way of Penipe passing the beautiful Altar mountain. In the afternoon we get to know Riobamba, provincial capital of Chimborazo. In the evening we buy the tickets for the train ride at the station. Day 5 At 7 am the train leaves for Alausi and from there you go down the famous Devil's Nose and return later to Alausi by the same way. After that exciting adventure, which lasts till 1.30 pm we continue by jeep on towards Cuenca, with a stop at the Inca ruins of Ingapirca. Day 6 We spend the whole day in Cuenca, Ecuador's most charming colonial town, visiting the old colonial center with its churches and old grand houses. In the afternoon we visit a Panama Hat factory to learn about the production and marketing of this world famous hat. We stay a second night in Cuenca. Day 7 On this day we visit El Cajas, a national park 30 km west of the city. This high paramo region has many small lakes and is ideal for day hikes. Day 8 Today we leave Cuenca and drive south to Loja, a small provincial town with a well-preserved colonial center. We spend the night there. Day 9 Early in the morning we visit the Podocarpus National Park. This reserve has many orchids and other plants to offer its visitors. After spending the whole day there hiking and exploring the region, we head to Vilcabamba, a small village famous for its supposed longevity of its inhabitants. Day 10 We spend the day around the village exploring its attraction and sights on hikes along rivers and coffee plantations. Day 11 In the morning we leave this pleasant valley and drive to Puyango, famous for its petrified tree trunks and many unique plants and animals. The park is close to the Peruvian border and unique in Ecuador. Afterwards we move on to Machala, also called the banana capital of Ecuador as many of those fruits are grown in the vicinity. Day 12 Today we visit the island of Jambeli, taking a boat from Puerto Bolivar, the banana port of Machala. This archipelago has beautiful beaches and mangroves with many birds and we spend the afternoon relaxing there. Day 13 On this day we hire a boat and visit small nearby islands, which are in particular famous for their bird populations. Day 14 We return to Machala and drive north to Churute reserve. This is a large reserve of dry tropical forest and mangroves, which we visit for a few hours. Afterwards we head to Guayaquil, where we spend the next two nights. Day 15 We spend the day sightseeing in Guayaquil, Ecuador's largest city by visiting its modern Malecon district at the bay and the old colonial district of Las Peņas. Day 16 In the morning we leave the metropolitan and drive north along the Pacific beach to Puerto Lopez., our next stop on our tour. Day 17 We visit Isla de la Plata, also called Galapagos for the Poor as those islands are similar to them, having interesting birds, like boobies and frigates. From June to September there are also the huge humpback whales to be seen, which gather in the warmer waters to breed. Day 18 We spend the day at Machalilla National Park. The reserve offers beautiful sand beaches and a tropical dry forest surrounds the ocean. Day 19 Today we leave Puerto Lopez and drive to La Mana and from there up the Andes to Quilotoa Crater Lake. We arrive late there after a long drive. Day 20 We spend the day in Quilotoa, hiking around the beautiful region and descending to the level of the water. Apart from the volcano, this region has a very large Indian population, who lives still in a very traditional way. Day 21 From Quilotoa, we return to Quito by way of Sigchos, passing the Ilinizas peaks. For lunch we stop at the old hacienda La Cienaga near Lasso. Late afternoon we arrive in Quito, where we end our long trip.
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