
Andes to Amazon
The best of mainland Ecuador: wildlife, jungles, volcanoes and the coast
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Reviews 25 Reviews5/5
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Vacation Style Holiday Type
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Cultural
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Wildlife
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Activity Level Leisurely / Moderate
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Group Size Small Group
Stunning Andean scenery, colonial architecture, fascinating Indian markets and verdant cloud forests are just the start. Follow the Avenue of the Volcanoes with great views of snowcapped volcanoes such as Cayambe and Chimborazo, before boarding the ‘Devil’s Nose’ train to switchback down the western Andean slopes. In the Amazon Rainforest we discover the jungle and its incredible biodiversity, before ending at the Pacific coast to discover the mangroves by boat and visit a cacao plantation.
* 13 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 3 dinners
* All accommodation (see below)
* All transport and listed activities
* Tour leader throughout
* Airport arrival transfers (at designated times)
- Flights
- Single Accommodation (available on request, inquire for supplement)
Highlights
- Visit colonial Quito, the Otavalo Indian market and Cuenca’s UNESCO Heritage Reserve
- Overnight in the peaceful Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve
- Two nights to soak up the sounds of the Amazon Rainforest
- Ride the famous ‘Devil’s Nose’ train
- Visit the ruins of Ingapirca and Cajas National Park
- Take a mangrove boat trip by the Pacific Coast and visit a Cacao plantation
- 11 nights comfortable hotels, haciendas and lodge and 2 nights standard lodge
- Group normally 6 to 16, plus leader. Min age 16 yrs
- Several areas visited are at high altitude
- Travel by minibus, train and boat
- Napo Wildlife Centre extension available
- Day 1 Start Quito.
- Day 2 Quito city tour; Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve.
- Day 3 Spot birds in Bellavista; to hacienda.
- Day 4 San Clemente Indigenous Community.
- Day 5 Walk at Cuicocha Crater Lake; visit Indian Otavalo.
- Day 6 Visit Papallacta Hot Springs; to Amazon Rainforest.
- Day 7 Rainforest exploration; AmaZoonico Animal Rescue Centre.
- Day 8 To Banos; visit Devil's Couldron waterfall.
- Day 9 Walk in Chimborazo N.P.; to Riobamba.
- Day 10 'Devil's Nose' train ride; to Ingapirca and Cuenca.
- Day 11 Half day city tour of Cuenca.
- Day 12 Walk in Cajas N.P.; to Los Chorreras.
- Day 13 Mangrove boat trip; visit cacao plantation.
- Day 14 Depart Guayaquil.

Hotels, Haciendas & Lodges
11 nights comfortable hotels, haciendas and lodges, and 2 nights standard lodge, all en suite.
Accommodation on this holiday is a real highlight as we stay in a mix of country haciendas (Spanish colonial estate houses), hotels and lodges. The haciendas offer a real retreat with welcoming staff and beautiful surroundings, whether surrounded by gardens or nestled in the mountains. Staying in the jungle is likely to be a memorable experience, our thatched bungalows nestled in the forest and only reachable by boat. Optional single supplement available, see dates and prices.
All breakfasts, 5 lunches and 3 dinners are included.
Hotel breakfasts are normally buffet style with toast, cereal, eggs, fruits and tea/coffee all available.
For lunch and dinner, the tour leader will recommend various options in convenient locations, usually booking restaurants and eating with the group. Vegetarians can be catered for but please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests.
This trip has been graded 2: Leisurely/Moderate
It will appeal to those interested in the astonishing variety of mainland Ecuador – Spanish and Inca history, Paramo highland, mangrove systems, rainforest, cloud forest and volcanoes. It is a busy trip, taking in a huge amount of scenery, flora, fauna and history in two weeks. Many of the areas visited on the trip are at high altitude and some short walks (normally one to three hours) are planned. A reasonable level of fitness is required for this trip.
Package Confirmed Dates | Trip Status Trip Status | Price (PP) Excluding Flights | Price (PP) Including Flights | |
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April 2, 2021
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Available |
$3,379.00 |
N/A |
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July 30, 2021
|
Available |
$3,379.00 |
N/A |
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September 3, 2021
|
Available |
$3,379.00 |
N/A |
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September 17, 2021
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Available |
$3,379.00 |
N/A |
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October 22, 2021
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Available |
$3,379.00 |
N/A |
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November 5, 2021
|
Available |
$3,379.00 |
N/A |
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December 17, 2021
|
Available |
$3,379.00 |
N/A |
ANDES TO AMAZON June 2011
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Seeing 4 volcanoes at once. Also the Cajas National Park was simply amazing for its scenery and vegetation. And I loved seeing the scarlet macaws.What did you think of your group leader?
Javier was superb. He was very knowledgeable and great fun to be with. We even enjoyed his jokes! He was always looking for ways to improve our experience. His command of English was very good and he gave us a real insight into Ecuadorian life. A wonderful guide.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Make sure that you take a headlight for the jungle (there is no electricity in the chalets). Also take thick socks - we wore gumboots/wellingtons twice for muddy walks and thick socks made them much more comfortable. Also, make sure you take your hiking boots or good walking shoes/trainers - we did more walking than expected - all optional - I thought the walking greatly added to the experience.Is there anything else you would like to add?
A wonderful trip - don't hesitate!A wonderful experience we shall always remember
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Probably staying in the jungle lodge, surrounded by monkeys in the day, going out on the night walk and at night listening to the sounds of the jungle in our candle lit room.What did you think of your group leader?
Fabian is an excellent organiser, is very knowledgable about all sorts of things and kept us entertained with his stories. I appreciated his concern for our welfare and safety which was one thing that worried me slightly before we went but we had no problems at all whilst we were there.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take a woolly hat, gloves and maybe a scarf. It was very cold walking at high altitude (which we did twice) for a couple of hours each time. If that was on the list of equipment I missed it. Don't rely on the temperature charts for Quito or Guayaquil and think that the whole country is the like either of these places. It can be quite chilly at 4800 metres on Chimborazo. We managed to buy hats and gloves locally but you might want to take your own.ANDES TO AMAZON
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
There were so many... After a 2 hour hike in the jungle we came to a clearing that overlooked the rainforest from a high view point - that was brilliant!Visiting the equator line and standing in two hemispheres at once was a priceless bucket list moment!Walking in the flanks of Chimborazo at over 4000m was a fantastic first time - lunar-like landscape - wonderful!As the clouds disappeared as a big reveal to show us the crater lake - it was a great 'WOW' moment.What did you think of your group leader?
He was lovely, very knowledgeable about his country and very kind.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take a small rucksack for the jungle, as you won't be able to take your main luggage with you on the boat to the rainforest lodge.Is there anything else you would like to add?
The accommodation on this trip is brilliant, especially the haciendas! I'd never experienced such lovely accommodation on any of my trips so I thoroughly recommend this trip not only based on your adventure but the quality of the accommodation and staff.Small country packs a punch!
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Watching a volcano explode at night (from a safe distance)! The trip to meet a family high in the Andes, hear about their way of life and enjoy a delicious meal they cooked for us. The diversity of the country from scenery to people. The most amazing clouds!What did you think of your group leader?
Our leader Fabian was simply the best I have ever been with, he clearly loved his job and his country and that reflected in the way he ran the trip. Fabian worked hard to make sure everything went smoothly and to ensure the safety of the group, he took the time to find out what everyone wanted from the trip and was very inclusive catering to all levels of fitness and competence. Fabian put up with some merciless teasing which he took in good humour. Praise also to Mauricio our fearless driver who safely delivered us to all our destinations without mishap and some of the roads were pretty scary!Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Don't bother with a mosquito net for the rainforest as the rooms are fumigated before arrival and there is nowhere to hang one anyway. Be open in your outlook and enjoy the diversity of this wonderful country.Is there anything else you would like to add?
The trip could have been a bit longer to give more time in Quito as half a day was not enough, also that would allow some more free time for individual exploring as the only time we had was in Cuenca, more free time would have given guests, leader and driver a chance to refresh themselves.Land of Vast Contrasts
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Walking up Chimborazo - an almost lunar landscape crowned by the snow capped peak. Buffeted by the wind, passing by huge rocks thrown from the volcano, time to reflect on all the experiences so far.What did you think of your group leader?
Fabian's knowledge of the land, people, history and wildlife is very good as is his ability to communicate interesting and important facts. His dry sense of humour kept the mood light-hearted. He's very well organised but also flexible and finds opportunities to do additional activities. He takes time to understand what the group is interested in and is very keen to make sure you get the most from your holiday pictures! Always tell him if there's something you can see from the bus that you want to stop and photograph, or if there's something specific you want to buy and he'll do his best to accommodate.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
A mosquito net wasn't needed in the Jungle Lodge as they don't suffer from mossies there, and the huts don't have hanging points for that reason. Insect repellent still needed for other types of fly though. Take a head torch for the night walk to keep hands free for taking photos. To reiterate other reviews, take one or two rucksacks to decant a couple of days' worth of stuff into as cases aren't taken to the Jungle Lodge. Hat and gloves advisable for the high altitude walk at Chimborazo. Careful with light coloured swimwear when you go to the thermal spring baths - the water's coloured with natural minerals which can stain. Try and use some of the language, especially for ordering meals as it makes life easier and quicker and is part of the whole experience.Is there anything else you would like to add?
A fabulous trip.