10 Day Classic Ecuador & Amazon Adventure 2017 Itinerary

10 days
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Group Tour
3 Quito, 1 Otavalo, 1 Papallacta, 2 Amazon, 1 Baños, 1 Cotopaxi

Overview

Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate

Highlights

    • Tour Colonial Quito with its priceless treasures of art and architecture Explore the Mindo Cloud Forest, a magnificent 47,000 acre reserve Stand at latitude "0" at the Middle of the World Monument at the Equator Browse for local goods at the lively Otavalo Market one of the largest in South America View magnificent flora and fauna in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest Stand before the powerful Devils Cauldron, one of Ecuador's most striking waterfalls Meet with a local Quechua Indian family in the river side village of Ahuano Tour a working rose plantation and learn about the process of this valuable export

What's this trip about?

    3 Quito, 1 Otavalo, 1 Papallacta, 2 Amazon, 1 Baños, 1 Cotopaxi

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Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeSmall Group - 24 max
Age range12 years and up
Flights and transportRound trip airfare and all internal transport included
Start CityOperator does not provide
End CityOperator does not provide

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Cultural

Destinations

  • South America
  • Ecuador

Attractions

  • Otavalo
  • Quito

Trip includes

    • Round trip flights Miami-Quito, Quito-Miami Some departure dates may be offered from an alternate nearby airport. Check flight itinerary options when booking. Other departure cities available. Click on date of departure for selection and prices Airline taxes & fuel surcharges 9 nights accommodations
    • 3 nights Quito 1 night Otavalo 1 night Papallacta 2 nights Punta Ahuano (Amazon) 1 night Baños 1 night Cotopaxi Hotel porterage All transfers 19 Meals: 9 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5 dinners Sightseeing per itinerary in modern air-conditioned motor coach Services of English-speaking tour manager throughout Services of English-speaking local guides Entrance fees per itinerary

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Itinerary

This 10 day "on-the go" program features the highlights of Ecuador in an active itinerary which includes several walking tours as well as some early starts and long days.

DAY 1, Saturday - Depart for Ecuador
Depart on your flight to Quito, Ecuador; arrive and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure in this vibrant city aptly called "an urban jewel", with its priceless treasures of art and architecture. Tonight, get acquainted with Ecuadorian food at one of the town's wide choice of world-class restaurants and cafes Overnight: Quito ▲

DAY 2, Sunday - Mindo Cloud Forest
An excursion this morning to the beautiful Mindo Cloud Forest Reserve, home to over 350 species of birds, including toucans, parrots, and golden tanagers. See the diverse natural landscape, gorgeous waterfalls and rushing rivers amid the tropical rainforest. During your ...
DAY 3, Monday - Middle of the World Monument
Today, a visit to the Middle of the World Monument at the Equator, which marks latitude "0". Here, you can stand with one foot in the Northern and one in the Southern Hemisphere! Then, on to the magnificent Peguche Waterfall, situated in a protected forest important to t...
DAY 4, Tuesday - Otavalo Market, Transfer to Papallacta
Visit the lively Otavalo market, one of the largest in South America, run by the local Otavaleño Indians - a great way to experience Ecuadorian culture and the traditions of the Andes. Local people use the market the same way today as their ancestors did during Ecuador's...
DAY 5, Wednesday - Amazon Lodge, Meet a Quechua Indian Family
A contrast in scenery as you reach La Punta Ahuano, a tiny port on the north bank of the Napo River, where you board a motorized canoe that takes you to the lodge in the Amazon Rainforest, where you'll spend the next two nights. Enjoy the sounds, the serenity, and the ma...
DAY 6, Thursday - Hike in a Private Nature Reserve
This morning, after a canoe ride you can hike in the Misicocha Private Nature Reserve for approximately two hours while viewing the beautiful flora and fauna up-close. The Amazon rainforest is the world's largest ecosystem, so be sure to keep an eye out for the innumerab...
DAY 7, Friday - El Pailon del Diablo & Baños
This morning, board a canoe for the short trip to La Punta Ahuano, continuing by coach to Patate. Stop along the way to visit the powerful El Pailon del Diablo or "The Devil's Cauldron"*, one of Ecuador's most beautiful waterfalls. Drive to Baños, an idyllic little town ...
DAY 8, Saturday - Transfer to Cotopaxi
Drive this morning to Cotopaxi, known for its magnificent roses. After lunch, tour of the working Casa de los Perez rose plantation. Although roses are not native to Ecuador, the country has a perfect environment for rose cultivation, and is presently one of the world's ...
DAY 9, Sunday - Quito City Tour
Journey to Quito today, the historic masterpiece in the high Andes, at the base of the Pichincha Volcano. Upon arrival in Quito, tour of the colonial quarter, the largest and best preserved in Latin America, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Begin at Independence ...
DAY 10, Monday - Depart Ecuador
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight *Please note: Some flights depart shortly after midnight in the very early morning of Day 10 and will require a transfer on Day 9. Transfers depart the hotel approximately 4 hours prior to flight time Meals: Breakfast ...

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Dates & Availability

Price From $1,049
Price per day$105
Last Updated: 9/14/2017

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Gate 1 Travel.

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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Jan 2024

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Gate 1 cares about money and not customer satisfaction or safety

We have loved Gate 1 and always sing their praises. We've been on 7 tours with another one booked for fall. We were supposed to leave for Ecuador this week, however ...

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Dec 2023

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THE ABSOLUTE WORST. Dishonest, incompetent, fraudulent. We booked a trip to Europe with them, and it was a mess from start to finish. The flight that we paid extra...

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Dec 2023

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Gate 1 Travel offers escorted tours, European river cruises, independent vacations and customized international vacation packages for less. Our discount travel packages and tour packages to destinations worldwide provide exceptional value, saving our customers time and money. We have taken care of all the details so you don't have to. Find your dream vacation today.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • *Not Included:Optional tours and gratuities.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
12 years and up
Optional Activities
Termas de Papallacta Spa Package Indulge in a little relaxation and pampering this evening at the Spa at Termas de Papallacta. Unwind for 20-30 minutes in one of the thermal hot pools and the refreshing cold pool. Next, enjoy a 20 minute mineral infused steam as hot water trickles over rocks and eucalyptus leaves in the Steam bath at the thermal grotto. Wrap up your session with a 30 minute neck and back massage to help you relax after an exciting day of sightseeing. Approximate tour duration is 1.5 hours. *Please note that a swimsuit is required to enter the Spa and Thermal Pools. **Due to limited availability, advanced booking is recommended. OnDay : 4 Price : $50 Butterfly Farm & Balsa Wood Carving Demonstration Today, visit the nearby Butterfly Farm, just a 15 minute walk from the lodge. The farm houses and serves as the mating ground to many butterfly species found in the surrounding jungle, including the brilliant blue morpho butterfly. Observe how these beautiful creatures are fed, raised and undergo metamorphosis. Enter the "winged room" where you will be surrounded by hundreds of exquisite colored butterflies flying around. After, walk for another 15 minutes and visit an indigenous handicraft workshop, before returning to your lodge. Approximate tour duration is 1.5 hours. *Optionals "Cacao Farm and AmaZOOnico Rescue Center", "Butterfly Farm and Balsa Wood Demonstration", and "Canopy Adventure Park" operate at the same time and should not be booked together. OnDay : 6 Price : $12 Canopy Adventure Park Take a 15 minute drive and then hike 30 minutes through the rainforest to get to the Canopy Adventure Park that is located near the Pangayacu River. The Canopy Adventure Park is a ropes course or "parcour". You’ll find yourself whizzing under the foliage and over the jungle floor in no time with the help of experienced guides. There are two circuits, each with increasing level of difficulty. It is recommended that you wear hiking boots for this activity as you will be walking some distance through the forest. For some, this activity may be considered very strenuous and people with difficulty breathing, heart or other medical conditions, should consider not choosing this optional tour. Minimum age is 8 years old and minimum height is 3' 3" (1 meter) Approximate tour duration is 2 hours. *Optionals "Cacao Farm and AmaZOOnico Rescue Center", "Butterfly Farm and Balsa Wood Demonstration", and "Canopy Adventure Park" operate at the same time and should not be booked together. OnDay : 6 Price : $19 Cacao Farm & AmaZOOnico Rescue Center Take a 25 minute canoe ride on the Arajuno River to visit a cacao farm, where you watch the process of obtaining chocolate from the seeds of the cacao fruit. Try your hand at grinding the roasted cacao beans in order to obtain the paste from which chocolate is made. At the end of the demonstration, taste a delicious cacao spread on toast or, a cup of hot chocolate. After, get back on your canoe and ride downriver to visit the AmaZOOnico Animal Rescue Center. The AmaZOOnico serves to rescue and care for the Amazonian animals who were injured, mistreated and illegally-trafficked. Take a guided tour of the center and watch rare species of animals in their natural habitat. Approximate tour duration is 3.5 hours. *Optionals "Cacao Farm and AmaZOOnico Rescue Center", "Butterfly Farm and Balsa Wood Demonstration", and "Canopy Adventure Park" operate at the same time and should not be booked together. OnDay : 6 Price : $15
Additional Information
Additional Information: Land only price does not include arrival/departure transfers.
Trip ID
gate1-EC-10DCLECAA-PKG-17

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