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Ecuador
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Pichincha
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Quito
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Tours & Activities
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ECUADOR CROSS COUNTRY CYCLING 7 days
7 days
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About this activity
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival Day in Quito City
Stop At: Adventure Journeys, Quito Ecuador
Meet your AJ trip leader and group at 18:00pm.
Welcome to Quito! The largest, best-preserved colonial city of America - declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. The city is considered the Cultural Capital of South America and is located on the equator in a valley at the foothills of the Pichincha volcano. Depending on arrival time, you can spend your day exploring the old town of Quito and the surrounding area. ADVENTURE JOURNEYS can help you to organize a day trip (please request in advance). In the evening, one of our trip leaders will meet you at the hotel’s lobby for a welcome briefing at 18:00pm hours. At this time we will discuss the details and questions you may have regarding the adventure. Our first day is an acclimation and information day.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Swissotel 5 stars or Similar
Day 2: Biking in Cotopaxi National Park
Stop At: Cotopaxi National Park, Ecuador
We begin this adventure traveling south on the pan American highway for 2 hours through The Avenue of Volcanoes, it was named by the famous German explorer Alexander Vond Humboldt. On the way enjoy views of volcanoes suvh as Cayambe, Antisana, Pichincha, Illinizas, Pasochoa, and Corazon. Once we enter the park we will drive on the high alpine line where we will learn from our guide about the flora and fauna of the Paramo ecosystem, along the road we will cross a pine forest and with some luck, you could spot a whitetail deer.
Begin your journey in The Avenue of Volcanoes and start biking at an elevation of 13000 feet. Travel along a dirt road where wild horses and bulls roam, surrounded by the remains of the last eruption of Cotopaxi, which took place about 140 years ago. From here we will ride on an exciting single track all the way to the Pucara Inca Ruins, here our guides will prepare a delicious lunch for you. In the afternoon, we will continue on our way for about 1 hour to the Hacienda Santa Ana.
BIKING TIME.- from 2 to 4 hours
Biking Distance.- 20 miles ( 32 Km)
Elevation Gain.- 300 feet ( 91 m)
What to wear.- Biking shorts or pants, t-shirt, fleece, biking or tennis shoes.
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Hacienda Santa Ana or Similar
Day 3: Hot Springs in Papallacta
Stop At: Papallacta, Quito 170144, Ecuador
In this day, after breakfast, we will drive to the western part of the Ecuadorian Andes, our first stop is at the Guango Hummingbird Reserve, here enjoy the ability to view about 20 species of these marvelous birds, all while enjoying a cup of coffee or some amazon tea. Later, we continue to the Papallacta resort to check in at your cabin with location right in front of the pools of volcanic water. Today, have lunch on your own as there are plenty of choices for restaurants that offer traditional food, in the afternoon we will go for a hike in the nearby cloud forest in search of orchids, bromeliads and several other different species of flora; with some luck you could observe some birds such us tanagers, trogons, warbler, flycatchers and even a condor.
The rest of the day and night is yours to enjoy the volcanic hot springs and the Spa treatments high in the midst of the cool Andes.
Hiking time.- from 2 to 3 hours depending on the weather.
Hiking Distance.- 2 miles ( 3,2 Km)
Elevation Gain.- 500 feet (152 m)
What to wear.- T-shirt, hiking pants, tennis shoes, rubber boots for rent at the reserve, bring rain gear in your day pack as well as binoculars.
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Papallacta Hot Springs
Day 4: Biking in Cayambe Coca Ecological Reserve
Stop At: Volcan Cayambe, Cayambe Ecuador
Travel upon a precious, exclusive road with no traffic in this high region. This is a special experience because this ecological reserve is very remote and pristine with little influence from people. While descending from 13000 ft (3962 m) to 9000 ft (2743 m), enjoy the views of the Andean fields and witness the surroundings of grassland and colorful flowers, with occasional deer and rabbits crossing. This park is home of the Spectacle Bear the only species in south America. Enjoy views of the Andean fields, the local people from region depend much upon the agriculture of products like potato, corn, fava beans, lupine, etc.
We arrive at the Hacienda to check-in during the early afternoon, later we will do an optional bike ride of 20 minutes each way to the Equator monument to learn a bit more of the Latitude 0.
Biking time.- from 2 to 4 hours.
Biking Distance.- miles 35 ( 56 Km)
Elevation Gain.- 350 feet ( 106 m ) optional elevation gain 3000 feet
What to wear.- Biking shorts or pants, t-shirt, fleece, biking or tennis shoes, biking gloves.
Duration: 8 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Hacienda Guachala or Similar
Day 5: Biking to Otavalo Market
Stop At: Otavalo Market, Plaza de los Ponchos, Otavalo 100450 Ecuador
In the morning, venture for about 1 hour to the point where we start biking. It will be along a beautiful paved road that surrounds the Imbabura Volcano and experience the great views of the San Pablo Lake and the small indigenous villages of this province. During our journey, we will stop to visit a weavers workshop and learn how they make their tapestries. Lunch is on your own and the rest of the afternoon is for you to explore the Otavalo Indigenous Market. Here you will find the best souvenirs for the best prices, and most importantly most of the products are made locally by families from the area. The main things you will find here are ponchos, tapestries, blankets, jewelry, etc. In the late afternoon we will go to the hacienda for a welcome drink and a delicious dinner.
Biking time.- from 2 to 4 hours
Biking Distance.- 18 miles ( Km )
Elevation Gain.- Optional 1000 feet ( 304 m )
What to wear.- Biking shorts, t-shirt, biking or tennis shoes, biking gloves
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Hacienda Pinsaqui or Similar
Day 6: Biking into Pululahua Crater
Stop At: Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve, Crater Volcan Pululahua mirador de Pululahua, Calacali 170154 Ecuador
Today we drive for two hours heading south on the Pan-American highway, the first stop will be in Tabacundo town to see the rose shops. Most of the people in this town depend on the rose farms, they are considered among the top 5 largest business’ of Ecuador. After, we continue to the dry valley of Guayllabamba and stop for tasting the local fruit such as chirimoya.
Our bike ride will start at the small village of Yunguilla and will enter the Pululahua Crater on a dirt road into the beautiful Cloud forest. There is actually a geo-botanical reserve that is taking place inside the collapsed caldera of this old volcano. According to the experts, an immense eruption occurred here thousands of years ago and left these great formations, specifically the lava domes in the center of the volcano. While descending on our bikes, every curve will offer a chance to enjoy the amazing scenery, the two wheel adventure will finish in the center of the caldera. We will have lunch prepare by our driver and guide; and in the afternoon is optional to hike out the volcano, otherwise we continue back to Quito by bus.
Biking time.- from 2 to 4 hours.
Biking Distance.- 15 miles ( 24 Km )
Elevation Gain.- 350 feet ( 106 m ) Optional 1500 feet ( 457 m )
What to wear.- Water t-shirt, shorts, sandals, expedition hat.
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Swissotel 5 stars or Similar
Day 7: Departure Day
Pass By: Quito Old Town, Quito Ecuador
Today our trip will end and you will have your International departures. Take with you your memories and photos and leave a piece of your heart, as you will want to return to Ecuador soon to experience more of this enchanted land. We wish you a "buen viaje"!
Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.
Read more
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Day 1: Arrival Day in Quito City
Stop At: Adventure Journeys, Quito Ecuador
Meet your AJ trip leader and group at 18:00pm.
Welcome to Quito! The largest, best-preserved colonial city of America - declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. The city is considered the Cultural Capital of South America and is located on the equator in a valley at the foothills of the Pichincha volcano. Depending on arrival time, you can spend your day exploring the old town of Quito and the surrounding area. ADVENTURE JOURNEYS can help you to organize a day trip (please request in advance). In the evening, one of our trip leaders will meet you at the hotel’s lobby for a welcome briefing at 18:00pm hours. At this time we will discuss the details and questions you may have regarding the adventure. Our first day is an acclimation and information day.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Swissotel 5 stars or Similar
Day 2: Biking in Cotopaxi National Park
Stop At: Cotopaxi National Park, Ecuador
We begin this adventure traveling south on the pan American highway for 2 hours through The Avenue of Volcanoes, it was named by the famous German explorer Alexander Vond Humboldt. On the way enjoy views of volcanoes suvh as Cayambe, Antisana, Pichincha, Illinizas, Pasochoa, and Corazon. Once we enter the park we will drive on the high alpine line where we will learn from our guide about the flora and fauna of the Paramo ecosystem, along the road we will cross a pine forest and with some luck, you could spot a whitetail deer.
Begin your journey in The Avenue of Volcanoes and start biking at an elevation of 13000 feet. Travel along a dirt road where wild horses and bulls roam, surrounded by the remains of the last eruption of Cotopaxi, which took place about 140 years ago. From here we will ride on an exciting single track all the way to the Pucara Inca Ruins, here our guides will prepare a delicious lunch for you. In the afternoon, we will continue on our way for about 1 hour to the Hacienda Santa Ana.
BIKING TIME.- from 2 to 4 hours
Biking Distance.- 20 miles ( 32 Km)
Elevation Gain.- 300 feet ( 91 m)
What to wear.- Biking shorts or pants, t-shirt, fleece, biking or tennis shoes.
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Hacienda Santa Ana or Similar
Day 3: Hot Springs in Papallacta
Stop At: Papallacta, Quito 170144, Ecuador
In this day, after breakfast, we will drive to the western part of the Ecuadorian Andes, our first stop is at the Guango Hummingbird Reserve, here enjoy the ability to view about 20 species of these marvelous birds, all while enjoying a cup of coffee or some amazon tea. Later, we continue to the Papallacta resort to check in at your cabin with location right in front of the pools of volcanic water. Today, have lunch on your own as there are plenty of choices for restaurants that offer traditional food, in the afternoon we will go for a hike in the nearby cloud forest in search of orchids, bromeliads and several other different species of flora; with some luck you could observe some birds such us tanagers, trogons, warbler, flycatchers and even a condor.
The rest of the day and night is yours to enjoy the volcanic hot springs and the Spa treatments high in the midst of the cool Andes.
Hiking time.- from 2 to 3 hours depending on the weather.
Hiking Distance.- 2 miles ( 3,2 Km)
Elevation Gain.- 500 feet (152 m)
What to wear.- T-shirt, hiking pants, tennis shoes, rubber boots for rent at the reserve, bring rain gear in your day pack as well as binoculars.
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Papallacta Hot Springs
Day 4: Biking in Cayambe Coca Ecological Reserve
Stop At: Volcan Cayambe, Cayambe Ecuador
Travel upon a precious, exclusive road with no traffic in this high region. This is a special experience because this ecological reserve is very remote and pristine with little influence from people. While descending from 13000 ft (3962 m) to 9000 ft (2743 m), enjoy the views of the Andean fields and witness the surroundings of grassland and colorful flowers, with occasional deer and rabbits crossing. This park is home of the Spectacle Bear the only species in south America. Enjoy views of the Andean fields, the local people from region depend much upon the agriculture of products like potato, corn, fava beans, lupine, etc.
We arrive at the Hacienda to check-in during the early afternoon, later we will do an optional bike ride of 20 minutes each way to the Equator monument to learn a bit more of the Latitude 0.
Biking time.- from 2 to 4 hours.
Biking Distance.- miles 35 ( 56 Km)
Elevation Gain.- 350 feet ( 106 m ) optional elevation gain 3000 feet
What to wear.- Biking shorts or pants, t-shirt, fleece, biking or tennis shoes, biking gloves.
Duration: 8 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Hacienda Guachala or Similar
Day 5: Biking to Otavalo Market
Stop At: Otavalo Market, Plaza de los Ponchos, Otavalo 100450 Ecuador
In the morning, venture for about 1 hour to the point where we start biking. It will be along a beautiful paved road that surrounds the Imbabura Volcano and experience the great views of the San Pablo Lake and the small indigenous villages of this province. During our journey, we will stop to visit a weavers workshop and learn how they make their tapestries. Lunch is on your own and the rest of the afternoon is for you to explore the Otavalo Indigenous Market. Here you will find the best souvenirs for the best prices, and most importantly most of the products are made locally by families from the area. The main things you will find here are ponchos, tapestries, blankets, jewelry, etc. In the late afternoon we will go to the hacienda for a welcome drink and a delicious dinner.
Biking time.- from 2 to 4 hours
Biking Distance.- 18 miles ( Km )
Elevation Gain.- Optional 1000 feet ( 304 m )
What to wear.- Biking shorts, t-shirt, biking or tennis shoes, biking gloves
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Hacienda Pinsaqui or Similar
Day 6: Biking into Pululahua Crater
Stop At: Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve, Crater Volcan Pululahua mirador de Pululahua, Calacali 170154 Ecuador
Today we drive for two hours heading south on the Pan-American highway, the first stop will be in Tabacundo town to see the rose shops. Most of the people in this town depend on the rose farms, they are considered among the top 5 largest business’ of Ecuador. After, we continue to the dry valley of Guayllabamba and stop for tasting the local fruit such as chirimoya.
Our bike ride will start at the small village of Yunguilla and will enter the Pululahua Crater on a dirt road into the beautiful Cloud forest. There is actually a geo-botanical reserve that is taking place inside the collapsed caldera of this old volcano. According to the experts, an immense eruption occurred here thousands of years ago and left these great formations, specifically the lava domes in the center of the volcano. While descending on our bikes, every curve will offer a chance to enjoy the amazing scenery, the two wheel adventure will finish in the center of the caldera. We will have lunch prepare by our driver and guide; and in the afternoon is optional to hike out the volcano, otherwise we continue back to Quito by bus.
Biking time.- from 2 to 4 hours.
Biking Distance.- 15 miles ( 24 Km )
Elevation Gain.- 350 feet ( 106 m ) Optional 1500 feet ( 457 m )
What to wear.- Water t-shirt, shorts, sandals, expedition hat.
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Swissotel 5 stars or Similar
Day 7: Departure Day
Pass By: Quito Old Town, Quito Ecuador
Today our trip will end and you will have your International departures. Take with you your memories and photos and leave a piece of your heart, as you will want to return to Ecuador soon to experience more of this enchanted land. We wish you a "buen viaje"!
Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.
Included
- 5x Breakfast
- 1x Dinner
- 2x Lunch
- Accommodation included: 6 nights
- Activities: Biking in Cotopaxi NP, Biking in Cyamabe Coca ER, Biking to Otavalo, Biking into Pulilahua Crater, Hiking in Papallacta, Soaking in volcanic hot springs.
- Accommodation based in double occupancy: 2 nights in first class hotel in Quito, 1 night in Papallacta Resort, 3 nights in Colonial Haciendas
- Transportation: private and comfortable land transportation.
- Gear: Trek X caliber, 29 inches wheels, rock shock suspension, hydraulic brakes, bontrager helmets.
- Trip Leader: Certified EPL expert English-speaking Adventure Trip Leader and local guides
- Entry/Admission - Cotopaxi National Park
- Entry/Admission - Papallacta
- Entry/Admission - Volcan Cayambe
- Entry/Admission - Otavalo Market
- Entry/Admission - Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve
Not included
- International flights
- My Own Room supplement - estimated budget USD $420
- Airport transfers to/from Quito airport
- Travel insurance (mandatory)
- Required immunizations (mandatory)
- Meals not described in the itinerary- estimated budget USD $120
- Personal expenses
- Tips for guides and drivers - estimated budget USD $100
Additional
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- It is our intention to adhere to the itinerary described; however, due to our travel style, on occasions it may be necessary or desirable to make small changes. Weather conditions and unpredictable local circumstances may lead us to make alterations to the route and/or travel times. Hotels and flight schedules might change according to availability. Any mention to specific wildlife in the itinerary or trip details is not a guarantee that it will be seen during the trip.
- Driving Time: 2 hours driving a day
- Season: All year
- Provinces: Pichincha, Cotopaxi and Imbabura provinces.
- Territory: Central and Northern Andes of Ecuador.
- Altitude: From 6900 feet ( 2100 m ) to 13000 feet ( 3962 m
- Temperatures: Day 15-34ºC / 59-93ºF - Night 12-17ºC / 53-62ºF
- Level of Activity: Moderate to Challenging. This program is located in the central and northern Andes of Ecuador and we cycle mostly on dirt roads, single track and one day on asphalt, the rides are mostly flat and downhill but there is also optional climbs depending on the physical level of the group, for people that need a brake or are tired can ride in the bus with our driver but still enjoy the attractions.
- Gear: Top of the line Bikes, TREK X caliber, rock shock suspension, hydraulic brakes, 29 inches wheels, bontrager helmets.
- Hotels: All prices are based on double-occupancy. If you are travelling solo, you will be matched with another participant of your same sex. If you prefer to have a single room, please contact AJ prior to your departure to arrange your accommodation at an extra cost.
- Food: One of the highlights of this trip is the Gastronomy, most of what we eat is organic and very fresh. Products like yucca, plantains, heart of palm, salads, fish, chicken, beef, always coffee and tea. All this is prepare by professional chefs from the Haciendas, for picnic and box lunches we include a huge variety of fruit, protein, vegetables, and snacks. Vegans, Gluten free and Vegetarians are welcome in our trips, there will always be options for them.
- Guides: All AJ guides and trip leaders are highly experienced, licensed to operate in Ecuador and certified as Wilderness Adventure First Aid responders. We always carry a complete first aid kit in our trips.
- Clients receive interpretation and education about the ecology and conservation of the Andes, Amazon Rainforest and Galapagos Islands, and learn about the factors that threaten it. We aim to promote long-term conservation of both local people cultural identity and the environment. We transport out and recycle all non-organic garbage and we prefer to work with local suppliers. Your visit will encourage the local communities to support responsible eco-tourism as a sustainable alternative for their living.
- Please inform AJ of any existing medical conditions ( i.epregnacy, diabetes etc). Yellow fever, Hepatitis B vaccination and Malaria Medication are mandatory for this trip. We strongly recommend to ensure that routine immunizations such as tetanus and diphtheria are up to date and to consider Hepatitis A and Typhoid vaccinations. Please ask your doctor for advice.
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
Features
Tourism
60%
Sport
40%
Cultural
40%
Nightlife
30%
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