Ecuador: Amazon, Hot Springs & Volcanoes

Ecuador

From £1,317

Ecuador is a small country that packs a punch when it comes to natural beauty, biodiversity, and indigenous heritage. Discover this South American jewel on a memorable adventure, travelling from the emerald-clad Andes to the Amazon’s thriving jungles. Come face-to-face with unique creatures on a nighttime walk through the forest and on a tour of an animal sanctuary; hike through awe-inspiring Cotopaxi National Park, crowned by the soaring Cotopaxi Volcano; and delve into indigenous culture on a visit to an Amazonian community and Omaere Ethnobotanical Park.

Dates

Trip Overview
Trip Overview

Accommodation
Hotels (4 nts), historic hacienda (1 nt), jungle lodge (2 nts), hot springs resort (1 nt).
Changeover Communication
New - Otavalo Weaving Lesson
Visit the home and studio of Don Miguel Andrango, an indigenous artist who uses a traditional loom to make woven textiles as his ancestors did. Learn how he and his family are working to revive this ancient art one strand at a time.

New - Omaere Ethnobotanical Park
Learn about the relationship between culture and botany in this lush park. Set out on the trails with an expert guide to learn how the indigenous Shuar and Waorani people use native plants in their daily lives – in cooking, medicine, and more.

AMAZON HOME EXPERIENCE
Enjoy an unforgettable cultural experience with a local Ecuadorian family who’ll host us for the afternoon at their home in the jungle. Fish with them and then watch and listen as they prepare lunch and share insight about their traditional way of life here and the encroaching modern world.

Checklist
Amazon:
- Knee-length socks
- Loose-fitting, light coloured hiking pants
- Loose-fitting, light coloured long-sleeved shirts
- Pack liners to waterproof bags

Documents:
- Flight info (required) (Printouts of e-tickets may be required at the border)
- Insurance info (required) (With photocopies)
- Passport (required) (With photocopies)
- Required visas or vaccination certificates (required) (With photocopies)
- Vouchers and pre-departure information (required)

Essentials:
- Binoculars (optional)
- Camera (With extra memory cards and batteries)
- Cash, credit and debit cards
- Day pack (Used for daily excursions or short overnights)
- Ear plugs
- First-aid kit (should contain lip balm with sunscreen, sunscreen, whistle, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, bandaids/plasters, tape, anti-histamines, antibacterial gel/wipes, antiseptic cream, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, rehydration powder, water purification tablets or drops, insect repellent, sewing kit, extra prescription drugs you may be taking)
- Flashlight/torch (Headlamps are ideal)
- Fleece top/sweater
- Footwear
- Hat
- Locks for bags
- Long pants/jeans
- Moneybelt
- Outlet adapter
- Personal entertainment (Reading and writing materials, cards, music player, etc.)
- Reusable water bottle
- Shirts/t-shirts
- Sleepwear
- Small travel towel
- Sunglasses
- Toiletries (Preferably biodegradable)
- Watch and alarm clock
- Waterproof backpack cover
- Windproof rain jacket

Health & Safety:
- Hand sanitizer (required)
- Face masks (Clients will be only be required to wear a face mask where it is mandated by local regulations.)
- Pen (Please bring your own pen for filling out documents.)
- Quick Covid Test/Antigen Test

Smart Dress:
- Smart outfit (For evenings out)

Warm Weather:
- Sandals/flip-flops
- Shorts/skirts (Longer shorts/skirts are recommended)
- Sun hat/bandana
- Swimwear
Group Leader
CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.
Group Size Notes
Max 16, Avg 10
Highlights
Visit the Otavalo Weaving studio and get a lesson from Miguel Andrango, explore villages and learn about traditional handicrafts and folk art from locals, traverse the Amazon jungle with a local naturalist guide, learn about the relationship between cultures and the plants around them at the Omaere Ethnobotanical Park, be surrounded by towering volcanoes
International Flights
Check-in times and baggage allowances/restrictions vary by airline and can change at any time. For the most up-to-date information for your flight, please contact your airline. We recommend checking in online in advance to avoid potential delays at the airport.
Introduction
Ecuador is a small country that packs a punch when it comes to natural beauty, biodiversity, and indigenous heritage. Discover this South American jewel on a memorable adventure, travelling from the emerald-clad Andes to the Amazon’s thriving jungles. Come face-to-face with unique creatures on a nighttime walk through the forest and on a tour of an animal sanctuary; hike through awe-inspiring Cotopaxi National Park, crowned by the soaring Cotopaxi Volcano; and delve into indigenous culture on a visit to an Amazonian community and Omaere Ethnobotanical Park.
Meal Budget
Allow USD250-325 for meals not included.
Meals Included
8 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
Minimum Age
You must be 18 to travel unaccompanied on a G Adventures tour. For minors travelling with a guardian over 21 years old, the minimum age is 12.
Optional Activities
Papallacta
- Hiking Excursion

Baños
- Horseback Riding (25USD per person)
- Hiking (Free)
- Hot Springs (20USD per person)
- Mountain Biking (10USD per person)
- Whitewater Rafting (30USD per person)
- Baños Ziplining Adventure Bundle (25USD per person)
- Baños Canyoning Adventure (30USD per person)

Start / Finish
ex Quito
Transport
Private van, motorized canoe, walking.
What's Included
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Otavalo Weaving Lesson, Otavalo
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Amazon Home Experience, Tena
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Visit the Omaere Ethnobotanical Park, Baños
Your Wellness Moment: Papallacta Hot Springs Visit, Papallacta. Arrival transfer. Overnight in an historic hacienda. Explore the Otavalo handicraft market. Cloud forest reserve visit. Two nights at an Amazon lodge with jungle excursions. Excursion to Cotopaxi National Park. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
Itinerary

Route Overview

Day 1: Quito
Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included.
TRANSPORT
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
ACTIVITY
The adventure begins tonight. Feel free to explore before your welcome meeting, but make sure you’re back in time to meet the group. Check for the meeting time on the welcome note at the hotel. After introductions, your CEO will review the details of your tour. Please note that normal check-in times apply at our start hotels, but you can usually store your luggage for the day if you arrive early.
ACCOMMODATION
Hotel Mercure
Day 2: Quito/Otavalo
Drive into the mountainous Andean highlands, stopping for lunch in the village of Peguche. Meet some of the local residents, and learn about the community’s weaving traditions. Continue to Otavalo, surrounded by misty volcanoes, and visit the town’s famous handicraft market—one of the largest outdoor markets in South America. Browse stalls selling colourful local art, textiles, and souvenirs, and try your hand at haggling. Later, settle into your room at a historic hacienda, where we’ll spend the night.
TRANSPORT
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
ACTIVITY
Visit the small highlands weaving community of Peguche. Meet locals in this traditional Andean community and enjoy an included lunch.
ACTIVITY
Discover some amazing local art, tapestries, and textiles at Otavalo’s famous artisan market, the largest handicraft market in South America. Wander the stalls to meet local artists, and find one-of-a-kind souvenirs. Try to arrive early for the best bargains (it starts at dawn), and try your hand at haggling – it’s expected for every purchase. A good negotiator could get at least 20 per cent off the starting price.
ACCOMMODATION
Hotel Pinsaqui
Day 3: Otavalo/Papallacta
Make your way to the village of Papallacta, known for its abundant natural hot springs. En route, visit the home and studio of a renowned traditional weaver, who is working to preserve the indigenous weaving techniques of the Otavalo region. Get a glimpse of the family’s daily life, and observe them at work on the backstrap loom, which has been used in these parts for centuries. Continue to the Papallacta Hot Springs Resort for an afternoon of relaxation. Soak in the mineral-rich waters of the thermal pools, enjoying stunning mountain views, and indulge in a variety of optional spa treatments.
TRANSPORT
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
ACTIVITY
Visit the home and studio of Don Miguel, a man working to keep his culture’s traditions alive. For thousands of years the indigenous people of the Otavalo region have used the backstrap loom to create their woven goods, however new technologies have slowly been pushing out the tradition. Learn how Don Miguel and his family are working to help revive this ancient art as he demonstrates every step of the process, from cleaning the wool, to naturally dyeing it, to backstrap weaving.
ACTIVITY
Soak in the natural hot springs the area is known for and let the mineral waters soothe sore muscles. The hot springs vary in temperature, make your way through the circuit with views of the Antisana volcano in the distance.
FREE_TIME
Enjoy the afternoon at leisure, as you relax and soak in the natural hot springs.
ACCOMMODATION
Termas de Papallacta
Day 4: Papallacta/Tena
Head towards Tena, often called Ecuador’s gateway to the Amazon. On the way, we’ll stop at Guango Lodge to explore the property’s cloud forest reserve—home to a plethora of avian species, including more than 10 varieties of hummingbirds. Enjoy lunch in the lodge’s orchid garden, then continue to Misahualli. This charming town is one of the oldest ports in the Ecuadorian Amazon, and harbours a thriving population of capuchin monkeys. Arrive in Tena and board a motorized canoe to our jungle lodge, perched along the banks of the Arajuno River. This evening, embark on a walk into the forest with a naturalist guide, looking out for the Amazon’s nocturnal creatures.
TRANSPORT
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
ACTIVITY
Enjoy an excursion to Guango private cloud forest reserve. Take a guided walk with our CEO to learn about this unique environment, flora and fauna. A bird lovers paradise, keep your eyes peeled for a variety of parrots, toucans, tanagers and more. We will also enjoy the orchid garden lunch at the lodge and observe a multitude of dive-bombing hummingbirds. Seeing 14 species of hummingbirds within an hour is not uncommon, and the Sword-billed hummingbird with it's unique, long bill is sure to amaze you.
ACTIVITY
Embark on a night walk with a local naturalist guide to learn about nocturnal creatures of the Amazon. A flashlight and camera are the most important tools on this excursion, which allows us to hear the nocturnal sounds of the forest and to search out bats, owls, a variety of insects, tarantulas, toads and frogs, and possibly snakes. If the sky is clear, we might have the chance to do some stargazing.
ACCOMMODATION
Itamandi Lodge
Day 5: Tena
Depart early by canoe to visit a saladero, or a parrot clay lick. Alongside our naturalist guide, observe brightly coloured parrots and parakeets gather here to snack on the mineral-rich clay, which studies suggest aids in digestion and provides an important nutrient supplement. Return to the lodge for breakfast, then take a tour of AmaZOOnico, an animal rescue centre that rehabilitates wild creatures that have been victims of illegal trafficking. Later, we’ll visit the home of a local Amazonian family for a unique cultural experience. Chat with your hosts about their traditions and beliefs and learn about everyday life in the jungle; then sit down to a delicious homemade lunch.
ACTIVITY
Visit a parrot clay lick (Saladero) with a naturalist guide. This unique site is where parrots and parakeets gather to eat mineral-rich clay that will help them digest the fruits or seeds they have consumed. Hundreds of parrots and parakeets will approach the treetops and later will come down to the clay bank to eat this soil rich in minerals.
ACTIVITY
Take a guided tour of amaZOOnico, a rescue and rehabilitation centre that rehabilitates, reintroduces, and cares for animals who are victims of illegal trafficking. See large cats and reptiles up close, and learn all about the important work of this sanctuary.
ACTIVITY
Enjoy a truly unforgettable cultural experience with a local Ecuadorian family who’ll welcome and host us for the afternoon at their home in the jungle. Discuss their traditions, beliefs, and history and hear about what daily life is like for them in such a unique environment. Go fishing with them and then watch and listen as they prepare lunch and share insight about their deep connection to nature, as well as their thoughts on the encroachment of the modern world on their traditional way of life here. A marvelous afternoon you’ll talk about for years to come.
ACCOMMODATION
Itamandi Lodge
Day 6: Tena/Baños
Leave the Amazon behind and travel to Baños. This popular resort town is packed with gorgeous landscapes, thrilling outdoor activities, and—as the name indicates—thermal springs originating from the base of the Tungurahua Volcano. Along the way, stop at Omaere Ethnobotanical Park for a walk with an expert guide, discovering the diverse flora of the region and learning about the indigenous uses of the various plants found there. After arriving in Baños, enjoy free time to stroll through the town; or opt to go horseback riding through the picturesque countryside.
TRANSPORT
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
ACTIVITY
Visit the Omaere Ethnobotanical Park and discover ethnobotany – the study of the relationship between cultures and the plants around them. Plants are integral to the lives of Amazonian indigenous groups who use them for shelter, nourishment, medicine, and in spiritual practices. Set out on the trails with an expert guide to learn about the diverse plant life and the local Shuar and Waorani people, and enjoy unique botanical experiences like tasting cinnamon and being painted with Achotillo sap.
FREE_TIME
Opt to take a walk through town and visit some shops.
ACCOMMODATION
Hotel Sangay Spa
Day 7: Baños
The day is yours to explore Baños and the surrounding area. Choose to head to the mountains for an invigorating hike, and later soak your tired muscles in one of the town’s thermal springs. Set off on a mountain biking adventure, pedaling past rivers, waterfalls, and delightfully green landscapes; opt to hit the rapids on a white-water rafting excursion; and much more.
FREE_TIME
Relax at leisure or opt to take part in some active pursuits.
ACCOMMODATION
Hotel Sangay Spa
Day 8: Baños/Quito
Drive back to Quito, Ecuador’s capital, along the spectacular Avenue of Volcanoes. En route, we’ll venture through Cotopaxi National Park—home to the snowcapped Cotopaxi Volcano, the second highest peak in the country. As you explore this magnificent park, keep an eye out for the resident wildlife, which ranges from condors, foxes, and deer to the vicuna and the endangered Andean puma.
ACTIVITY
Visit Cotopaxi National Park, home to Cotopaxi Volcano, which stands at 5,897m (19,342 ft). The beautiful cone-shaped, snow-covered volcano is Ecuador’s second highest peak and the highest active volcano in the world. Keep an eye out for park wildlife, including condors, foxes, deer, spectacled bears, and more. For those who want to hike, there are options available (weather permitting). Please ensure you have proper hiking shoes or boots, a waterproof/windproof jacket and warm hats and gloves. Hike is approximately 1.5 hours.
TRANSPORT
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
ACCOMMODATION
Hotel Mercure
Day 9: Quito
Depart at any time.
ACTIVITY
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.

Pricing & Availability

Date From	Date To	Price
09 June 2023	17 June 2023	£1549
07 July 2023	15 July 2023	£1549
21 July 2023	29 July 2023	£1549
04 August 2023	12 August 2023	£1549
25 August 2023	02 September 2023	£1317
15 September 2023	23 September 2023	£1549
06 October 2023	14 October 2023	£1479
20 October 2023	28 October 2023	£1479
03 November 2023	11 November 2023	£1549
24 November 2023	02 December 2023	£1549
08 December 2023	16 December 2023	£1659
22 December 2023	30 December 2023	£1659
05 January 2024	13 January 2024	£1549
19 January 2024	27 January 2024	£1549
02 February 2024	10 February 2024	£1549
16 February 2024	24 February 2024	£1549
08 March 2024	16 March 2024	£1549
22 March 2024	30 March 2024	£1549
12 April 2024	20 April 2024	£1549
26 April 2024	04 May 2024	£1549
10 May 2024	18 May 2024	£1659
24 May 2024	01 June 2024	£1659
07 June 2024	15 June 2024	£1659
21 June 2024	29 June 2024	£1659
05 July 2024	13 July 2024	£1659
19 July 2024	27 July 2024	£1659
02 August 2024	10 August 2024	£1659
23 August 2024	31 August 2024	£1659
06 September 2024	14 September 2024	£1659
18 October 2024	26 October 2024	£1549
01 November 2024	09 November 2024	£1549
22 November 2024	30 November 2024	£1549
06 December 2024	14 December 2024	£1659
20 December 2024	28 December 2024	£1659

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