Ecuador Highlands

9 days
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Small Group Tour
From the heights of the Andes to the depths of the Amazon Jungle, this nine-day trip will take you through diverse Ecuador. Walk through the Amazon Jungle with an Indigenous guide leading the way, hike in Cotopaxi National Park – home to one of the world’s largest active volcanos – and canoe to your river-side eco-lodge accommodation on the edge of the rainfo...
26%
$1,474
From$1,092
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Stay on the edge of the Amazon Rainforest in eco lodge-style accommodation on the banks of the Arajuno River and enjoy a special evening walk through the jungle under the night sky.
    • Walk in the rainforest with an Indigenous guide by your side to lead the way, point out local birds and teach you about the plant life that thrives here.
    • Hike to Pailon del Diablo – an 80-m-high waterfall so fierce that you’ll need to carry a poncho to keep dry from its wrath!
    • Marvel at the snow-capped Cotopaxi volcano – one of the largest and highest active volcanos in the world – while hiking through Cotopaxi National Park.
    • Learn from a local Indigenous community during your homestay in the Caldera Community. Take part in the Pachamanca food ceremony, which has been a part of South American culture for centuries.

What's this trip about?

    From the heights of the Andes to the depths of the Amazon Jungle, this nine-day trip will take you through diverse Ecuador. Walk through the Amazon Jungle with an Indigenous guide leading the way, hike in Cotopaxi National Park – home to one of the world’s largest active volcanos – and canoe to your river-side eco-lodge accommodation on the edge of the rainforest. Get a glimpse into everyday life during a homestay with a local family, where you’ll connect with them and participate in a Pachamanca food ceremony, perhaps also brushing up on your Espanol. There’s so much to see, do and learn in this South American paradise and you’ll take it all on with a local leader and likeminded travellers.

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 16 people
Age range15 years and up
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityQuito
End CityQuito

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • High Adventure

Destinations

  • South America
  • Ecuador

Attractions

  • Cotopaxi
  • Cotopaxi National Park
  • Cuenca
  • Guayaquil
  • Otavalo
  • Pailon del Diablo
  • Quito

Activities

  • Culture
  • Historic sightseeing

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 16

Trip includes

    • Amazon- Night walk
    • Amazon - Guided rainforest hike and visit to animal rescue centre
    • Banos - Walking tour
    • Banos - Pailon del Diablo Waterfall hike
    • Cotopaxi - National Park walk
    • Cotopaxi - Flower plantation visit
    • Cotopaxi- Tour of historical hacienda
    • Cotacachi- Pachamanca and village experience
    • Cuicocha - Lagoon viewpoint
    • Otavalo - Market Visit

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Quito

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Ecuador. Your adventure begins in the country’s capital of Quito, high in the Andes. You’ll notice a mix of modern and traditional houses dotted halfway up the surrounding mountain peaks that frame the city and an Old Town with architectural je...

Day 2 Tena - Amazon

After breakfast this morning, wave goodbye to the country’s capital and switch up the pace as you make your way to the Amazon on a local bus bound for Tena. Your lodge-style accommodation in Tena, on the banks of the Arajuno River, is only accessible by canoe so you c...

Day 3 Tena- Amazon

Fuel up on breakfast this morning as you have a big day of adventures ahead. First, you’ll hike into the rainforest with a local Indigenous guide leading the way. Listen carefully as they point out local bird species and teach you about the incredible plant life that ...

Day 4 Banos

Take the opportunity to mingle with the locals and maybe brush up on your Spanish on a public bus headed for Banos. Surrounded by mountains, hot springs and waterways that lead to waterfalls, this is a perfect next step after the rainforest! When you arrive, stretch y...

Day 5 Banos

Today, you have a free day to explore Banos and take on all the optional activities you like! Your leader will always be on hand to help arrange anything you’d like to do – maybe head for the ‘Swing at the End of the World’ and get your heart racing or hike to the Bellavista Viewpoint. You could also opt to soak away your worries in the hot springs or visit the local waterfalls.

Day 6 Cotopaxi National Park- Quito

Rise bright and early this morning and drive along the ‘Avenue of the Volcanoes’ to the Cotopaxi National Park, which sits at 3800 m above sea level. When you arrive, head out on a hike to Limpiopungo Lagoon for a gorgeous view of the Cotopaxi volcano – Ecuador’s seco...

Day 7 Caldera Community Stay

Make your way to the north to the Caldera Community today, where Indigenous families will be waiting for you for tonight’s homestay. When you arrive, you’ll participate in the ‘Pachamanca’ food ceremony, where the pot is heated with volcanic stones to cook the local, ...

Day 8 Otavalo-Quito

This morning after a home-cooked breakfast, say goodbye to your hosts and board the bus to the Cuicocha Lagoon. This lagoon sits in a collapsed volcanic crater and features two mounded islands that look like the backs of two guinea pigs (Cuicocha means ‘guinea pig lak...

Day 9 Quito

With no further activities planned after breakfast, your trip comes to an end. If you’d like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $1,092
Price per day$121
Last Updated: 6/4/2024
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Availability
16 Nov 2024
23 Nov 2024
$1,156
07 Dec 2024
14 Dec 2024
$1,156
21 Dec 2024
28 Dec 2024
$1,092
10 Jan 2025
18 Jan 2025
$1,455
07 Feb 2025
15 Feb 2025
$1,440
14 Mar 2025
22 Mar 2025
$1,495
11 Apr 2025
19 Apr 2025
$1,420
09 May 2025
17 May 2025
$1,455
13 Jun 2025
21 Jun 2025
$1,385
04 Jul 2025
12 Jul 2025
$1,385

Check current availability, prices, specials & more.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel

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The Intrepid Travel Experience

If you’re looking for adventure, you’ve come to the right place. For the past 25 years, we’ve been taking small groups of travelers on unforgettable trips around the world. What makes them unforgettable? Take a look for yourself and discover the Intrepid experience.

Our travelers have three styles of tour to choose from: Basix, Original and Comfort. Each has a different level of inclusions and accommodation, but all have unforgettable real life experiences as part of the package. Travellers can also choose themed trips, such as Family, Sailing or Food, to suit their interests.

Our group size has an average of just ten travellers, which allows us to get off the beaten track, use local accommodation and transport, and really get to know the culture. It also ensures we are contributing to the local economy; by choosing local suppliers we were able to keep AUD 60 million in local economies in 2012. We’re also working hard to reduce our carbon footprint and were the first in our sector to introduce carbon offset trips. This, along with our many corporate sustainability activities, has meant we’re one of the travel industry’s leaders in responsible travel.

Why Intrepid?

  •   Small groups - average of 10 people per trip
  •   Sustainability - pioneers for the industry
  •   Local leaders - authentic perspectives
  •   Local transport - get close and personal
  •   Local accommodation - experience real living
  •   Intrepid travelers - like-minded companions 

History

Intrepid Travel has come a long way since its beginnings in 1989. From two university friends, a typewriter and a kitchen desk, it is now a proud member of The Intrepid Group, taking over 100,000 travelers every year.

Intrepid Travel is part of The Intrepid Group of companies, alongside leading small group adventure companies Peregrine, Urban Adventures and PEAK DMC.

Despite growing into a global business with over 1,000 staff based all over the world and over 800 different trips across every continent, we’ve remained devoted to the same grassroots values and responsible travel philosophies that we had at the very beginning.

 

Values

On every trip we operate and in every interaction we have with a client, supplier or local, we live our core values everyday:

  • Integrity – Doing the right thing
  • Responsible – Think global, act local
  • Growth – Stakeholders in our own success
  • Innovation – Thriving on new ideas and embracing change
  • Fun – It’s engrained into who we are and what we do
  • Passion – We are inspired by the work we do and the trips we offer

 

Why we love this operator
They're highly committed to sustainable tourism and contribute to crucial initiatives like climate action, focusing on local cultures and more.
What they’re known for
Small group tours for all types of travelers at a range of different price points and trips to off-the-beaten-path destinations.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Hotel (5 nights),Jungle Eco Lodge (2 nights),Homestay (1 night)

Transportation & Flights

Private vehicle,Public bus,

Transportation & flights

Private vehicle,Public bus
Guides
All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative. Your group leader or local representative will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory on all our trips for those travelling internationally. We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. If you are travelling within your home country or region please confirm before travel that you are entitled to access the public medical system easily should an accident occur. We strongly recommend all travellers have a policy that also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage or personal effects. For international trips, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number has been sighted by your group leader or local representative. If you have credit card insurance your group leader or local representative will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number, and emergency contact number rather than the bank's name and your credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country. For travellers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland or USA the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory. However the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and travellers from these regions who decline travel insurance when travelling outside of their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form at the Group Meeting, recognizing personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise. For assistance with travel insurance or other services, please visit the link below: Travel insurance is compulsory for all our trips. We require that, at a minimum, you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. When travelling on a trip, you won't be permitted to join the trip until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company's 24 hour emergency contact number has been seen by our local representative. If you have credit card insurance our local representative will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number and emergency contact telephone number rather than the bank's name and credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country. Please go to our website for links to various travel insurance providers: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/booking-resources/our-services The Ecuadorian government has declared that travel insurance is compulsory for all travellers entering Ecuador. Proof of insurance may be requested at upon entering the country by immigration officials.
Visa requirements
PASSPORT You’ll need a valid passport to travel internationally and most countries require your passport to have a minimum of 6 months validity, so remember to check the expiry date. We need your passport information to get everything ready for your trip so it’s important that the information on your booking matches your passport exactly. Please take care to provide the correct details. We recommend carrying a copy of the photo page of your passport while travelling and leaving a copy at home with family or friends. VISAS & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Many countries require a visa and obtaining the correct visa for your trip and any countries you may transit through is your responsibility. We recommend you check your visa requirements as soon as you have booked your trip. This will ensure you have time to prepare your documents and for your visa application to be processed. You can check the entry requirements for your nationality on your government's foreign travel advisories, consular websites or on our page here:  www.intrepidtravel.com/visa-entry-requirements ECUADOR VISA Australians, New Zealanders, Americans, Canadians and British do not currently require a visa for Ecuador. For all other nationalities please reconfirm your visa requirements with your travel agent.
Health & Safety
Many national governments provide a regularly updated advice service on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure. Please refer to our website's safety page for links to major travel advisories and updates on safety issues affecting our trip. We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe-keeping of your passport, air tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewellery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of our hotels have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. In addition to any included activities on your trip you'll have some free time to pursue your own interests, relax and take it easy or explore at your leisure. Our local representative may be able to assist you with available options in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your Intrepid itinerary, and Intrepid makes no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time. Please also note that our local representative has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it's deemed necessary due to safety concerns. For more details on the type of conditions and safety standards you can expect on your trip, please refer to Intrepid's operational safety policy on our website. We recommend that you take a moment to read through this information before travelling, and would appreciate any feedback on how well it's being implemented in the field: Most national governments provide regularly updated foreign travel advice on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all destinations and activities on your trip. Please refer to our website's safety page for links to major travel advisories and updates on safety issues affecting our trips here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/travel-alerts We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe-keeping of your passport, flight tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your jewellery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of our hotels have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. Your group leader or local representative will accompany you on all included activities, however, during your trip you'll have some free time to pursue your own interests or relax and take it easy. While your group leader or local representative will assist you with the available options in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your Intrepid itinerary, and Intrepid makes no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time. Please also note that your group leader or local representative has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it's deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Intrepid's operational safety policies can be viewed on our website at the link below. We recommend that you take a moment to read through this information before travelling, and would appreciate any feedback on how safety is being managed on our trips.
Age Requirements
15 years and up
Additional Information

Finish point

  • La Cartuja Hotel
  • Leonidas Plaza N20-08 y 18 de Septiembre
  • Quito
  • ECUADOR
  • Phone: +593 2523577
Trip ID
intrepid-GGSH

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