Haciendas Walking Tour “Cotopaxi”

8 days/7 nights

DAY 1.- SATURDAY, AUGUST 7: ARRIVAL TO QUITO, ECUADOR

Travel day to Quito. You will be met at the airport by our guide and transferred to Café Cultura Hotel to overnight

CAFÉ CULTURA HOTEL is a delightful mix of English tradition and contemporary trend. Some sixty years ago, the hotel was home to one of Quito's oldest families and it was carefully restored over a period of four years, with special detail given to maintaining the unique characteristics of the original interior. The house is hemmed by a beautiful garden, with secluded seating areas for relaxing.

DAY 2.- SUNDAY, AUGUST 8: QUITO – PASOCHOA

This day our guide will be waiting for you in order to travel to the south of Quito through the avenue of volcanoes to arrive to Pasochoa private reserve where you will start your acclimatize. You will walk along a path in the native Andean forest that will take us to the open "páramos" of Pasochoa where the straw grows high and from which a magnificent view of the volcanoes is possible. After 3 hours we reach the end of the forest and enter in its paramo region. From there it is another 3 hours climb to the peak at 4200 meters above sea level. Here you can enjoy of your box lunch and then you will be transferred to Hacienda Santa Rita where your transportation will be waiting for you in order to go to Hacienda El Porvenir, the main hacienda of Volcano Land where you will diner and overnight.

Volcano Land is one of the most beautiful and privileged places in Ecuador Highlands, it is surrounded by an amazing view where beautiful mountains stand out like Rumiñahui, Pasochoa and specially Cotopaxi volcano considered as the highest active volcano in the world.

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DAY 3.- MONDAY, AUGUST 9: HACIENDA EL PORVENIR

Early in the morning after breakfast you will hike to Rumiñahui Volcano along many trails where you can see wild bulls, local birds, wild fauna, and the marvelous landscape of the Ecuadorian highlands. You will arrive to the top of Rumiñahui volcano (4722 m / 15,492 ft) in 6 to 7 hours approximately. Return to the hacienda where a delicious lunch will be waiting for you. In the afternoon your horses will be waiting for you for a horseback riding trip visiting the surroundings of the hacienda, riding side by side with herds of wild horses and bulls. Return to the hacienda to diner and overnight.

(B.L.D)

DAY 4.- TUESDAY, AUGUST 10: HIKING TROUGH COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast you will depart to Cotopaxi National Park. You will hike on the high plateau at the foot of the volcano walking through wonderful landscapes of Andean "Páramo" with very beautiful views of all the surrounding peaks that reach 4800 and 4900 m (16,080 ft), such as the Sinchologua and Rumiñahui. Box lunch on route and in the afternoon you will arrive to Tambopaxi where you will have time to rest before the dinner. Overnight.

Tambopaxi Refuge. It is located under the majesty of the Cotopaxi Volcano and surrounded by an imposing frame of five other volcanoes of the Cordillera de los Andes. Tambopaxi is the only ecolodge and acclimatization center situated at an altitude of 3,750 meters above sea level which offers a pleasant restaurant, cabins with private bathroom and camping area.

(B.BL.D)

DAY 5.- WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11: COTOPAXI REFUGE AND GLACIERS

After breakfast you will depart to Limpiopungo a small picturesque lake, where you will have an optional 30 minute walk around the lake, this is a great place to spot some of the Park's abundant birdlife. After that you will continue to Cotopaxi refuge. You will have a short transfer by car on a dusty road that ends 200 m below the Cotopaxi refuge (4600 m / 15,092 ft). From there you will walk about 45 minutes on a sandy path to reach the refuge (4800 m / 15,748 ft). If time and conditions permit you can hike to the Cotopaxi glacier at about 5000 m (16,405 ft), then you will return to the Refuge where you will enjoy a delicious box lunch. Late in the afternoon you will go down to the base and then your guide will drive you to Hacienda San Agustín de Callo where you will diner and overnight.

Hacienda San Agustin de Callo which was purchased by General Leonidas Plaza, leader of the liberal Revolution. The different and influential inhabitants of San Agustin de Callo have contributed to the unique blend of architecture which creates the individual character of the house. In the main courtyard it is possible to see three distinct styles, Inca (15th century Imperial style), Spanish Colonial (16th century) and Republican (19th century). San Agustin is one of the most beautiful Haciendas in Ecuador.

(B.BL.D)

DAY 6.- THURSDAY, AUGUST 12: COTOPAXI – BAÑOS

Early in the morning after breakfast you will depart to Quilotoa Lake on route you will stop in Saquisilí that is located at 10 minutes from Latacunga, this is one of the biggest indigenous markets in the Ecuadorian highlands, time to visit this market and take photos. After that you will continue to Quilotoa that is a water-filled caldera of 3 kilometers (2 miles) wide caldera. This caldera was formed by the collapse of the volcano in an eruption that took place approximately 800 years ago. The caldera has since accumulated a 250 m (820 ft) deep crater lake, which has an extraordinary turquoise color as a result of dissolved minerals. You descend on a small trail down to the bottom of the volcano and to the lake shore. You will have time down to rest and then you will return to the crater rim after a 1 hour climb. Arrival to the top and you will take the Pan-American Highway to continue with your trip to the south of Ecuador to arrive to Baños city. Overnight in Hacienda Leito located close to Baños.

Hacienda Leito is located, between majestic and enigmatic mountains to the entrance of the National Park of the LLANGANATES. Where centuries ago the Incas hid his more valuable treasures of the Spanish conquerors. Hacienda Leito was the residence of the Jesuits in the days of the Colony, the rooms still keep perfumes from Ecuador of long ago. History passed through its runners and halls leaving us vestiges its presence, which today only the privileged guests can enjoy them.

(B.D)

DAY 7.- FRIDAY, AUGUST 13: THE WATERFALLS' ROUTE

After breakfast you will visit Baños city where you can see how people extract a delicious juice from the sugar cane, production of melcochas, and you can buy beautiful handicrafts made by balsa and tagua. From Baños you begin to go down to the famous waterfall route, first you will find Manto de la Novia hanging for more than 200 mts above the river, here you will cross the Pastaza River by a rustic lift, then you can hike down to admire the "Manto de la Novia" Waterfall from the base, return to the top, this hike take you about 1hour. The most important waterfall is El Pailón del Diablo, before to arrive to this waterfall you can find some small ones along the way. Finally you will arrive to Pailón del Diablo known as the most impressive waterfall in the area as well as for being the world's 10th highest water drops in the region. You will follow the trail until the waterfall and it takes you about 20 minutes, time to enjoy of this place and then you will return to the top (it takes you about 1hours). After this full morning of activity your guide will drive you to Luna Runtún where a delicious lunch will be waiting for you. Late afternoon you will return to Quito to your hotel where you will overnight.

(B.L)

DAY 8.- SATURDAY, AUGUST 14: HOME FLIGHT

After an early breakfast our guide will pick you up to transfer you to the airport to catch your international flight.

(B)

END OF THE SERVICES

A NOTE ON THE ORDER OF THE ITINERARY: Itinerary subject to change based on local conditions. It could be flexible according to the client's interests.

B- Breakfast; L-Lunch; BL- Box Lunch; D-Dinner

PRICE PER PERSON

PRICE INCLUDES: Private transportation, bilingual naturalist guide, accommodation based on double room in all the hotels and haciendas detailed in the itinerary (single supplement under request); meals as described on the itinerary, entrance fees to: Pasochoa Reserve, Cotopaxi National Park, Horseback riding, Quilotoa Lake, Baños Waterfalls.

NOT INCLUDED: International departure taxes (US$ 41.00), meals not specified, soft and alcoholic drinks, tips, and personal expenses.