£ 20
Baños - Half day rafting
You begin with a 40-minute drive to reach the river shore. After a short practice you'll descend down rapids and past lovely scenery for about 2 hours making a couple of stops to take pictures and gather up your strength. Afterwards you arrive at a small beach where you will be met and transported back to Baños.
Daily departures, min. 4 persons.
Included: Transportation from and to Baños, Professional guides, top-of-the-line rafting equipment and rafts, neoprene wet-suits and CD with pictures of the adventure.
Not included: Any meals or snacks, personal expenses, extras, tips and bottled water.
£ 24
Baños - Horse riding
The tour will begin from Baños in the morning; ride towards the natural water-slides of Nahuazo through a secondary road surrounded by beautiful landscapes and fantastic views of the active Tungurahua volcano and the Llanganates National Park. You can choose to ride for 2 or 4 hours.
The guide will accompany the group once the minimum number of 7 persons is reached.
£ 45
Cuenca - Day trip to El Cajas N.P
This is a day tour through one of Ecuador’s most impressive paramo areas covered by mysterious lakes and enchanted forests! You'll be picked up in the morning from your hotel and start with a one-hour drive up to the Cajas NP. Soon you’ll notice the change of vegetation, leaving the valley of Cuenca and crossing Andean cloud forests which lead you to the high and abandoned paramo with many grass, crystalline streams and rocky peaks. You’ll start on one of the highest points in the park, above 4000 m., from where you’ll descend through the diverse vegetation with many colourful flowers such as gentians and chuquiraguas. Now and then you’ll be following a muddy trail. Further on you’ll get to a small Polylepis forest extension. The Polylepis tree, with its funny paper-like barks of a red-brownish colour, is one of the oldest and highest growing tree species in the world. Once in the forest you’ll have the feeling of being in the middle of fairy tale like surroundings. You continue towards lower elevations where your driver will be waiting to bring you to a nearby restaurant to have lunch. Try the local specialty, trout, very delicious! Afterwards you’ll return to Cuenca where you’ll be dropped off at your hotel.
Duration: full day (7/8 hours)
Includes: transportation, local English speaking guide, lunch, entrance fee NP
Price: £ 45 p / p for 4 participants (private group).
Also available in international group, price: £31.
£ 32
Otavalo - Horse riding
Depart from Otavalo at 09h00 by car to Hacienda Pisavo; for 2 ½ hours you will ride your horse in the surrounding communities witnessing their every-day life surrounded by amazing landscapes.
Ride towards Cuicocha Lake, for a general sense of the richness of the surrounding flora and fauna. Trained Runa Tupari guides lead visitors through beautiful landscapes in the Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve.
Around noon arrive to Cuicocha Crater-lake where you will have time to visit the Interpretation Center and marvel at the breathtaking natural scenario that this volcanic lake offers; free time to enjoy lunch (not included) at the on-site restaurant.
Afterwards return by horseback to the Hacienda for another 2 hours; then drive back to Otavalo (arrival around 1600hrs).
£ 37
Otavalo - Indigenous communities
In this tour to the indigenous communities, partakers will have the opportunity to observe and learn about part of the Quichua’s different indigenous handicrafts, weaving, Andes instruments, and much more. In addition you will stop in the town of Cotacachi, which is well known for its special leather goods, and Cuicocha Lake, located in the Cotacachi Cayapas ecological reserve. Furthermore you will get the chance to see how tapestry and other textiles are made.
We work on this excursion together with the community of Runa Tupari. For more information please see: www.runatupari.com
Duration: full day.
Includes: local guide, transportation, lunch.
£ 35
Puerto López - Full day Isla de la Plata excursion
Puerto López has had many different names such as “The Small Galapagos”. It is located in Ecuador on the southwest part of Manabí. The area of the Machalilla National Park has 55.095 hectares of protected forest and 50 square meters of beautiful landscapes, flora and fauna, cultural acts, etc. During the months from June to September the observation of humpback whales is considered the principal attraction.
This spectacular Island is located 22 miles from Puerto Lopez and holds perhaps the most fascinating geological and botanical wonders. Boobies, Albatross, Frigates and a wealth of truly rare flora are part of this landscape: the Small Galapagos.
This tour takes an entire day, the island has two paths for hikers. You will be able to see birds such as blue footed boobies, red footed boobies, Nasca boobies, frigates, albatross and other tropical birds and even sea wolves. This tour includes some snorkelling where you can observe corals and coloured fish.
Duration: full day (9.30 - 17.30)
Includes: transportation to and from port, transport by boat, English speaking local guide, use of snorkelling equipment, entrance fees and packed lunch.
£ 31
Quito - Mountain biking in Cotopaxi
This is a full day tour. You'll drive south to the Cotopaxi National Park. The biking on this trip is rated as ''easy'' and you will be riding at altitudes from 3200 m up to 4600 m. Biking along the dirt roads you'll see wild horses and have a stunning panoramic landscape of up to 8 different volcanoes. After lunch you ride a single track down from Lake Limpiopungo through the pine forest and end up at the parks' entrance.
Included: Bikes, helmets, gloves, guide, first aid and repair kits, transportation in private transport from/to Quito, 4x4 back-up vehicle and packed lunch.
Not included: Cotopaxi NP entrance fee (US$2pp), personal expenses, extras and tips, extra bottled water.
£ 52
Quito - Toachi or Blanco River rafting
This is a full day trip. You travel west down through beautiful cloud forest to the shores of the river. The drive takes about 3 hours. You will normally spend 3.5 hours (a liitle longer during March - May) rafting the thrilling waters and listening to the sounds of the tropical forests, before returning to Quito at around 1830hrs.
This tour runs daily with a minimum of 4 passengers.
Included: Transportation from and to Quito, Professional guides, top-of-the-line rafting equipment and rafts, packed-lunch, snacks and beers.
Not included: Personal expenses, extras, tips and bottled water.
£ 21
Riobamba - Train ride to devils' nose
Ecuador has an unusual attraction that is recommended to most visitors in the form of a train ride. But this is no ordinary train journey. This is a train ride on La Nariz del Diablo, or, the “Devil’s Nose”. The hill through which the train’s rails descend is known by this name. The hill is almost vertical and it was a tremendous obstacle to overcome during the building of the railway. Following a trip on the train, passengers usually stay and visit Alausi or travel back to Riobamba. This town is quiet and laid back with not much going on. In addition to this, there is a statue of St Peter which is found on the outskirts of the town and overshadows the town itself. Near this statue there is a hill which provides spectacular views of the town and its' surroundings. Hiking up to this statue provides viewpoints that are not to be missed. In addition to this, Alausi is the point from which hikers will usually pick up transportation to Achupallas, the starting point of the famous Inca Trail to Ingapirca hike, heading to the most important Inca ruins in Ecuador.
Duration: half day
Includes: train and boxlunch. For small groups with public transportation: Allow about 5 USD for a bus ticket to Alausi.