Find Yourself in Ecuador

We’ll be received at Quito Airport and transferred to our hotel in the vibrant and colorful capital of Ecuador. Early arrivals will be able to explore the city center, a UNESCO world heritage site. Our first major event of the trip will be a dinner reception and team briefing in the evening after everyone has arrived.

Our first full adventure day begins with a drive south on the pan American highway. The views from the road are spectacular with the possibility of seeing the volcanoes of Cayambe, Antisana, Pichincha, Illinizas, Pasochoa, and Corazon. This day is all about spectacular views and the hiking trail we picked is the cherry on top. We’ll be heading to the Limpiopungo lagoon 3800 m on the foothills of the Rumiñahui volcano. From here, we have the best views of Cotopaxi, the highest active volcano in the world. There is also the possibility to see wild horses, wild bulls, and a variety of native bird species. If the weather conditions permit, we will attempt to trek to the basecamp at 4876 m. The day will end with a drive to Isinlivi where we’ll be spending the night.

After breakfast, we’ll head for an awesome day of cross-country mountain biking from the Llanganates National Park down to the Pastaza River Canyon. The route takes us through the beauty of the special cloud rainforest climate. We’ll also be passing through Andean farms and a great canyon with more waterfalls than we could count. As we descend from vistas of snowcapped volcanoes into the Amazon jungle, we’ll have a breath-taking view of Baños, a town well known for its spectacular location right at the foothills of the active Tungurahua volcano.

It’s all about waterfalls today and the first stop is at the Bride´s Veil waterfall where we’ll take the Tarabita (cable car) to get across the Pastaza River. From there, we’ll hike down to the Pailon del Diablo waterfall, the second highest in Ecuador, gateway to the deep jungle inside the Llanganates National Park. Here, 600 years ago, it is said that the Incas hid their golden treasures. During a hike through the tropical rainforest, we’ll climb through several waterfall canyons. The night will be spent in a basic local jungle lodge with an indigenous family.

The day kicks off with preparations to paddle the wild waves of the Jatunyacu River. The beauty of this river is indescribable. We are literally in the magic of the Amazon rainforest. Our rafting expedition will take us through incredible rapids, beautiful clear waters and the thrills of the Amazon like few others will ever experience. The journey ends with a picnic on the riverbank before we join our road transfer back up to the Andes. The night will be spent in Papallacta, home to volcanic hot springs that contrast perfectly with the cool Andes air.

Our day begins with a hike to explore the nearby Cayambe Coca Ecological Reserve. The trail passes through the cloud forest and between some of the flora treasures of the region that includes colorful orchids. We’ll also have the unique opportunity of visiting the equatorial line where we can literally stand in two hemispheres of the planet at the same time! We’ll be having lunch in a small village called Pijal, home to a sustainability project called Sacha Warmikuma (women from the mountain) that are supported by LHO and our partners. The highlight of the day is our visit to the Otavalo Indigenous Market where we’ll have the opportunity to learn more about the local culture and have some shopping time. The day ends in our Hacienda accommodation where a welcome cocktail awaits!

Ever thought you’d ride a boat inside the crater of an active volcano? That’s what we’ll be doing on our last full adventure day. After breakfast, we’ll take a very short drive to the Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological Reserve. From there we’ll follow the trekking trail around the crater rim before descending into the crater lake to take a boat ride to the volcano’s center. At the center, we’ll be able to observe live volcanic activity! After that, we’ll make the drive back to Quito for our farewell dinner.

Our last day together will be dedicated to airport transfers. Breakfast is included on this day.