HACIENDAS OF ECUADOR ITINERARY:
DAY 1 ~ Quito
Arrive in Quito, Ecuador. You will be met at the airport and
transferred to elegant Swissôtel, a five-star hotel with many
amenities, including a beautiful spa and indoor/outdoor swimming
pools. Swissôtel
DAY 2 ~ Quito – Cotopaxi National Park
Travel to Cotopaxi National Park. From the camping and
picnicking area at Laguna de Limpiopungo (12,464'), you'll enjoy
incredible views of Cotopaxi (19,347'), the world's highest
active volcano and celebrated for the symmetrical perfection of
its cone. Then you'll hike three to four hours to the stone
remains of some ancient Inca structures, enjoying lunch and more
birding along the way (Andean lapwings, caranculated caracara,
and Ecuadorian hillstar, and possibly condors) and may see feral
horses and deer. After the hike, transfer to Hacienda La
Carriona, a 200-year-old hacienda located near Sangolqui in the
Los Chillos Valley, about a 45-minute drive south of Quito.
Dinner and overnight at the hacienda. Breakfast, Lunch,
Dinner...Hacienda La Carriona
DAY 3 ~ La Carriona – Papallacta
After breakfast we will drive 1½ hours to the Paramo of
Papallacta (13,800', the beginning of the walk). From here we
will hike downhill (to 10,824') for about 5 hours, passing
through a unique environment of lakes and polylepys forest that
harbors special Andean birds and some mammals like rabbits,
Andean fox, puma, and bear.
Continue to Termas de Papallacta, an intimate lodge located just
one hour east of Quito at 10,000' in a pastoral setting that is
great for hiking, birding, horseback riding, and relaxing in
thermal hot springs. The resort is located on the "Cinnamon
Trail," the same route that the Spanish conquistador Francisco
de Orellana followed in 1542, leading to his discovery of the
Amazon River. The lodge has many beautiful pools of varying
temperatures and design and a full service spa, while the
restaurant serves up fresh trout caught daily in the area, and
authentic Ecuadorian soups and specialties. Time permitting, you
can walk along trails starting from the lodge up into the
valley, or you can walk into the small town of Papallacta across
the road and cross the river to hike on trails along the river.
Hummingbird feeders and flowering plants attract some of the
most spectacular hummingbirds of the high Andes, such as
sword-billed hummingbird, giant sunbeam, sparkling violetear,
great sapphirewing, and black-tailed trainbearer. In the nearby
countryside you may see groups of colorful tanagers feeding in
trees, such as the dramatic scarlet-bellied mountain tanager and
along the trails you may spot the high altitude Brazilian rabbit
that has small ears to adapt to the cold of Andean nights.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner...Termas de Papallacta
DAY 4 ~ Papallacta – Pesillo – Zuleta
After breakfast we will drive about 2½ hours to Pesillo, a
small village where we'll have lunch. Afterward, we begin our
three-hour hike through the high Andean grasslands (highest
elevation 10,800') along an old "hacienda trail." We'll arrive
in the afternoon at Zuleta, a 4,000-acre working hacienda with
general agriculture, forestation, and dairy farming operations.
The remainder of the day is free to relax or visit the beautiful
environs of the hacienda. Hacienda Zuleta, an upscale 15-bedroom
hacienda dating from the late 16th century, was rated as one of
the world's "Top Ten Finds" by Outside magazine. Here you'll
have options to hike, horseback ride, mountain bike, visit a
condor rehabilitation project on Zuleta's 4,000 acres, and be
treated to Zuleta's hospitality and fresh Ecuadorian cuisine.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner...Hacienda Zuleta
DAY 5 ~ Condor Reintroduction Project – Zuleta
Hike two hours to the hacienda's condor reintroduction
project, stopping along the way to see some pre-Inca mounds. In
the afternoon we'll hike an hour back to the hacienda and visit
the cheese factory and embroidery workshop and learn about the
farm's purebred horses. (Optional horseback riding is
available.) Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner...Hacienda Zuleta
DAY 6 ~ Zuleta – Angla – Peguche – Quito
After breakfast, we hike three hours from Zuleta to the
village of Angla near Lago San Pablo. After a picnic lunch,
we'll hike a scenic route along the foothills of Imbabura
(15,190'), a mountain considered sacred by the local people
since the time of the Incas. We'll pass through small towns
where the Otavaleños (ethnic group) live and make their
handicrafts to sell in the Otavalo Market. During our hike we
will have an incredible view of San Pablo Lake as well Mojanda
and Cotacachi mountains. We will continue our hike through crops
of onions, potatoes, and corn, where locals still use a wooden
plow and oxen. We'll then head down to the small village of
Agato and continue by bus back to Quito. Farewell dinner and
overnight at the Swissôtel.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner...Swissôtel
DAY 7 – Departure
Transfer to the airport and depart on homeward-bound flight.
Breakfast...
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You'll find the old saying, Mi casa es su casa, rings truer than
ever on this delightful amble in Ecuador, a country of great
singular beauty. Snowcapped volcanoes, lush emerald valleys,
sparkling lakes, and cool cloud forests harbor a multitude of
extraordinary birds and plant life. By day you'll hike in the
shadow of volcanoes along countryside paths, taking in the fine
scenery and meeting the colorful kaleidoscope of Ecuador's
friendly, welcoming people. In the evening you'll experience the
unique ambiance of some of Ecuador's exquisite haciendas,
centuries-old historic retreats that have been converted to
gracious country inns. Stays at an intimate spa resort in a high
Andean valley and at Quito's five-star Swissôtel round out your
adventure. Trip Highlights:
- Hike in the shadow of Cotopaxi, the world’s highest
active volcano
- Visit Termas de Papallacta, an intimate lodge that’s
great for hiking, birding, horseback riding, and relaxing in
thermal hot springs
- Hike along an old “hacienda trail” to Zuleta, rated as
one of the world’s “Top Ten Finds” by Outside magazine
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TOUR
DETAILS |
Activity Level
Mountain Travel Sobek trips are designed for flexible,
energetic people who like to be active and have a spirit of
adventure and a positive attitude. The hikes are easy to
moderate and range from two to five hours, but do take place at
higher elevations (around 10,000 feet) and you may feel the
effects of high altitude a bit until you get acclimatized. You
may have trouble catching your breath or have a slight headache
the first day or so, but taking it easy and drinking plenty of
water helps alleviate these symptoms.
If you are not optimally conditioned, we recommend that you
start a training program at least three months before departure,
gradually increasing the intensity and duration. If your health
is questionable or your physical capacity is limited, please
discuss other trip options with us.
Minimum age for participation is 6.
Seasonal Considerations
The dry season of Ecuador's highlands is between mid-June
and September and around Christmas, but even the mountains' wet
season (January through May) is not usually that rainy. The
central valley is generally spring-like all year, with
temperatures no higher than 24°C (66°F).
Your Guide
You will be accompanied throughout the trip by an
English-speaking local guide. Besides ensuring everything runs
smoothly and safely without a hitch, he or she will provide a
unique perspective on the local life and culture as only a
native can. Their close familiarity with the local geography,
history, culture and traditions are the key to a superb,
informative experience—one you just can't get on your own. In
their friendly company, you will truly learn, enjoy, and share
their passion for the country they call home. You'll be in good
hands with them every step of the way. Guide assignments will be
confirmed in the Final Bulletin sent to you three weeks prior to
departure.
What's Included
- services of an English-speaking local guide
accommodations
- meals as noted (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
- airport transfer on Days 1 & 7
- sightseeing arrangements as noted in the itinerary
- ground transportation
- basic medical and evacuation insurance
What's Not
International airfare to Quito and return; optional tips
to local guide; insurance other than basic medical and
evacuation insurance noted above (we strongly recommend you
purchase the supplementary trip insurance offered by
Mountain Travel Sobek, which includes trip cancellation
insurance); excess baggage charges; airport departure tax in
Quito ($40.80 per person); cost of medical immunizations;
and items of a personal nature (sodas, alcoholic beverages,
laundry, etc.). Unused transportation to/during the tour
will not be reimbursed.
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2008 DEPARTURE DATES & RATES |
Activities:
5 days moderate hiking at medium elevation (maximum 13,800')
Best Time to Go
January, April–December
Land Cost
$3,095 per person, double occupancy
$350 single supplement
$4,295 solo traveler
Note on Prices: Prices are based per person, double
occupancy, with a separate cost for solo travelers. If you are
traveling in a group but prefer single accommodations, a single
supplement fee applies. Triple accommodations are not available
in many of the destinations we visit.
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