Quick Details
This 11-day outdoor adventure is one of the best Ecuador has to offer. With 4 completely different lodges in different geographical locations combined with rafting, jungle treks, biking, camping, horse-riding, caves, Andes treks, hot pools, and great food.
Since our main forte is rafting, we will be rafting 3 of the best rivers Ecuador has to offer: The mighty Quijos, Jatunyacu, and the deep jungle Jondachi-Hollin. This trip has a splash of everything that has to do with high energy activity and pleasure.
We pick you up at you‘re hotel in Quito at 9:00-9:30 and travel up the highest pass in Ecuador. From here we take a walk to see some high Andes lakes. The walk is on average 4hrs. We will have a chance to see Hawks, Foxes, Rabbits, Deer, Condors, and maybe even the elusive Andean Spectacled bear that roams this area.
We will descend down to the beautiful hot springs of Papallacta. Springs located in the shadow of the great Antisana volcano. Lunch will be prepared while you soak in the hot springs. After this, we will descend down into the Andes cloud forest and stay at a beautiful riverside lodge. Dinner will be served and then it is rest and relaxation for the night.
After breakfast, we will embark on a raft trip which will take place along the mighty canyons of the Quijos. It is a very special place. Orellana and the Spanish Conquistadores descended alongside this river to go on to discover the Amazon.
The river itself carves through impressive lava formations and is stacked with fun, powerful rapids. There’s a lot of birdlife including the famous cock of the rock and the torrent duck. After the river, we will head back to the lodge and have a chance to soak in the hot tub whilst enjoying the riverside bar.
After breakfast, we will depart and head down to the jungle. En route, we will stop and trek down the Grand Canyon of the Jondachi, a magical place. A natural pool concaved out of the rock with its feeding stream shooting out of the cave in the ground. After this, we will have lunch and have a chance to visit some naturally formed caves. There are lots of caves in this area that are in fact lava tubes. Jumandi, a famous warrior used these caves to ambush and hide from the Spanish during the time of the conquest. After this activity, we will head to our beautiful Oasis in the jungle called the River People Home. Here you will want to rest and relax by the pool while having a beverage or cocktail at our River People bar.
Another exciting day starts with a big fun, a big river raft trip down the Jatunyacu river. A tributary to the Upper Napo River, which descends from a wild and remote are called the Llanganates. A place of mystery and stories. Legend has it that this was the area where the Incas hid gold from the Spanish and many attempts have been made to find it which have had disastrous consequences.
The river itself descends with power and has lots of big wave trains interspersed by big pools where we can jump out and swim. After lunch, the river opens up into a wide expansive valley where it will join with the Anzu river and form the mighty Napo River, one of the big tributaries of the Amazon.
After a beverage at the take-out, we will head back to the River People Home for dinner and a good night’s rest.
Another day of adventure. We will raft down to a lodge located deeper in the jungle. The river descent starts with technical boulder garden maneuvers with deep narrow chutes and steep lush jungle walls. Numerous cascades fall into this canyon. Parrots, birds, and the Amazon Heron are a common sight on this river. There is also a chance to see monkeys, sloths, and a very rare sighting of the elusive jaguar
After lunch, we will arrive at a confluence with a much bigger river. The rapids pick up from here and form big water waves with exhilarating fast-moving currents. The gorge gets deeper and the cascades get higher. The feeling of being deep in the jungle is at its highest at this point. After this, we will arrive at the jungle lodge. Located on the river’s edge, this place has beautiful Rustic cabins overlooking the river with a beach to rest and relax on. Thick jungle foliage surrounds this special place, and the jungle sounds at night are impressive echoing off the canyon walls on the opposite side of the river. The cacophony of jungle sounds of the river will either put you to sleep or keep you awake in awe of its wonders and mysteries.
After a leisurely breakfast, we will head out to explore the jungle on foot, and immerse ourselves into the thick foliage to learn about its plants, insects, birds, and medicines. We will walk along the river’s canyon walls and emerge to take a swim when it’s hot.
The day will be spent watching, listening, and learning. After this, time can be spent enjoying the beach, the place, and if the weather permits a few drinks around the fire at night.
In the morning and after saying goodbye to our hosts we will depart on transport and head back up the Andes via a different route towards the town of Baños. On the way, we will stop and observe the valley of the waterfalls and visit the spectacular El Pailon del Diablo waterfall. After this, we will have lunch and visit Baños spa.
After a relaxing time at the spa, we will go to a unique plateau area surrounded by trees and Andes subtropical vegetation nestled on the side of the mighty Pastaza River. We will set up camp and if weather permits have a barbecue before settling in for the night.
Bucket List Ecuador Travel, 2016, El Pailon Del Diablo
Today there are a few options. Depending on the group’s decision we will either go canyoning, biking or hiking.
After dinner, there is an option to enjoy the town’s nightlife before spending the night at camp.
This day we go higher into the Andes to spend the night within the vicinity of Ecuador’s highest volcano, Cotopaxi. There are many activities to choose from at this place. We can trek up to the Refuge and touch Cotopaxi’s glaciers or take a horse ride through the Paramo Grasslands in English.
The Paramo is the source of the Amazon, a big wet sponge vital to all life in the Andes and Amazon Basin. This lodge has a very family atmosphere and the hosts are very friendly.
After breakfast, we will make preparations to climb one of the volcanoes in the vicinity of Cotopaxi (around 4,500 m). From here we will get beautiful vantage points of the Andean mountains and volcanoes. The River Pita will also be observed, one of Cotopaxi’s largest deposits of pyroclastic flow. Protected regions of Polylepis forests surround the area. This mainly wind-pollinated rose family contains 28 different species in its genus.
The whole site is breathtaking with large mountain ranges surrounding us and real Andean scenery. Llamas may be seen grazing the area. These animals are ideal for the Andes Mountains as they are especially sure-footed, which means they are able to tread this tricky landscape without slipping on the grounds or rocks. They also have a unique blood type that allows them to adapt to the poor oxygen levels in high-altitude areas.
After breakfast and a relaxed morning enjoying the scenery, we will start heading back towards Quito. On the drive back we can observe the mountains and volcanoes that surround us. We will also make a few stops to enjoy some Ecuadorian cuisine, look at the candy-making in Machachi and enjoy the friendly atmosphere of the Ecuadorian locals. We may also stop for some Helados de Paila, one of Ecuador‘s most popular ice-cream-making techniques.
Once we get back to Quito we will drop you off at your hotel and say our farewells.
ABOUT OUR GUIDES:
All our guides are…
CRISIS ASSISTANCE PLAN:
To make sure you are well-cared after guides also carry an emergency beacon and communication devices. In the unlikely event of an emergency, we have a helicopter service provided by SPOT, our crisis assistance plan.