Andes to Amazon

Name: Andes to Amazon
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4.8 (52 reviews)

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Award Winning Adventures

Nature First Adventures

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14 Days from

15 Days from

CAD 4,575

incl. Taxes

4.8/5 from

Culture

Ways to Travel :

Guided Group, Private Group Adventures

Activity :

Culture

Activity Levels :

2 out of 7 - Leisurely / Moderate

Group Size :

6 - 16

Ages :

16+

Trip Code :

AAX

The best of mainland Ecuador: wildlife, jungles, volcanoes and the coast

Stunning Andean scenery, colonial architecture, fascinating Indian markets and verdant cloud forests are just the start. Follow the Avenue of the Volcanoes with great views of snow-capped volcanoes such as Cayambe and Chimborazo. In the Amazon Rainforest we discover the jungle and its incredible biodiversity, before ending at the Pacific coast to discover the mangroves by boat and visit a cacao plantation.

Highlights

Visit colonial Quito, the Otavalo Indian market and Cuenca's UNESCO Heritage Reserve
Overnight in the peaceful Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve
Two nights to soak up the sounds of the Amazon Rainforest
Visit the ruins of Ingapirca and Cajas National Park
Take a mangrove boat trip by the Pacific Coast and visit a Cacao plantation

Key Information

11 nights comfortable hotels, haciendas and lodge and 2 nights standard lodge
Group normally 6 to 16, plus leader. Min age 16 yrs
Several areas visited are at high altitude
Travel by minibus and boat
Napo Wildlife Centre extension available

Countries visited: Ecuador

What's Included

13 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 3 dinners
All accommodation (see below)
All transport and listed activities
Tour leader throughout
Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)
Airport arrival transfers

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Single accommodation (available on request)
Visas or vaccinations

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips which improve life for the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Find out more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here, and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

The use of a local guide means our customers will be well informed about local traditions, and cultural and social sensitivities.
This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally-owned hotels and restaurants, the emphasis on eating locally produced food and support of other local enterprise.
On this trip we visit San Clemente - a small agricultural community consisting of a number of local families. We take a guided tour here and are introduced to native plants, taught traditional embroidery techniques and are taken through some day-to-day activities. The visit includes homemade lunch, prepared using produce grown in the village.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

By travelling in a small group, led by a local guide, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
We work with our partners on the ground to proactively eliminate or reduce waste, for example eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles and instead providing refills for re-usable bottles.
On this itinerary we visit both Chimborazo National Park and Cajas National Park - the entrance fees contribute towards conservation efforts in these areas.
We visit the Amazoonico Rescue Centre for animals in the Ecuadorian Amazon, which is dedicated to providing a safe and natural environment for animals that have been illegally captured or injured. As a result of the cruelty they have experienced, some animals suffer behavioural and physical effects which disallow them to live safely in the wild, whilst others are able to re-enter their original habitat. Here our entrance fees and purchasing of souvenirs go towards this valiant effort to stop animal poaching and trafficking.
Our Animal Welfare Policy ensures all our trips adhere to ABTA’s industry-leading animal welfare guidelines to ensure the best possible practices with regards to working animals and wildlife viewing.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

Through our Planet Promise, we have pledged to halve the carbon footprint of our trips by 2030 and made rewilding and carbon compensation commitments for every customer who travels.
This trip favours locally-owned and run accommodation.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish behind in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, we’d ask you to consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
Plastic waste reduction: Please bring your own re-usable water bottle on this trip; filtered water will be provided where tap water is not drinkable.

Itinerary

The group flight usually arrives into Quito this evening and clients will be met and transferred to the start hotel. Land Only clients can make use of our free airport transfer to the start hotel today - please read the joining information for more details.

Accommodation: Hotel Vieja Cuba (or similar)

This morning's short walking tour of Quito is the perfect opportunity to meet your guide and get to know your fellow travellers. The heart of old Quito is a colonial masterpiece and the capital is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in South America, as well as being a UNESCO site. Leaving Quito behind we drive towards the North-Western slopes of the Andes where Bellavista Cloud Forest is located. Situated at the top of the Tandayapa Valley, Bellavista is a private reserve bursting with orchids, bromeliads, toucans, tanagers and hummingbirds. The area is a paradise for naturalists with a vast network of hiking trails.

Accommodation: Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve & Lodge (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

An early start this morning to appreciate the diversity of Bellavista and spot some of its many bird species. The reserve has previously won awards for its high bird count - there are 20 different species of Hummingbird to look for! Following this morning's excursion we drive towards Northern Ecuador and the beautiful hacienda that will be our home for the next few nights.

Accommodation: Hosteria Pantavi (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast we travel towards the foothills of the Imbabura Volcano where the indigenous community of San Clemente is located at 2900m. The community consists of a number of local indigenous families whose main livelihood comes from farming and agriculture. We have a guided tour by one of the families, who will introduce us to a number of native and medicinal plants, explain traditional embroidery techniques, tell us about their culture and show us the day-to-day activities that take place within the community. A traditional lunch will be prepared using locally grown produce. This afternoon we drive back to our hacienda with the rest of the afternoon free to relax in the beautiful gardens of Pantavi.

Accommodation: Hosteria Pantavi (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Drive to Cuicocha Crater Lake at approximately 3250m. This beautiful caldera (volcanic crater) is about 2 miles/3km wide and was formed over 3000 years ago by a massive volcanic eruption. We start a scenic walk along one section of the lake (up to 3 hours duration) to take in the impressive scenery, before continuing our journey to Otavalo. Otavalo is situated in a valley at 2250m, the town is well known for its bustling Indian Market. There are many of stalls and locals wear traditional colourful clothes - a fantastic introduction to Andean life and a good place to pick up some souvenirs. We have some time to soak up the atmosphere before continuing our journey. Overnight in a 400-year old colonial hacienda.

Accommodation: Hacienda San José de Puembo (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

A short journey driving over the dramatic (and breathless at 4069m!) Papallacta Pass. Located east of Quito, the Papallacta Hot Springs are regarded as the nicest of all Ecuador. We have some time to bathe in both hot and cold pools as the snow-capped Antisana Volcano (5758m) looms over the horizon. We continue our journey, driving around the flanks of the Antisana Volcano before the descent into the Amazon Basin to our rainforest lodge. After a short briefing we take a night walk to discover our new surroundings - there are fantastic night-time sounds to listen out for, a wonderful experience amidst the humidity of the rainforest.

Accommodation: Liana Lodge (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Discover the Amazonian basin on foot. The incredible biodiversity of the rainforest environment will be explained by our indigenous guide, who will show us the most interesting and medicinal plants. There is a good chance of seeing kingfisher, parrot, oropendula and other bird species. Squirrel and Capuchin monkeys can be seen in this area, although other larger mammals are considerably more shy and harder to spot. The insect life is also fascinating, with beautiful butterflies flashing by and Army ants and Leaf-cutters on patrol. Visit the AmaZoonico Animal Rescue Centre where we can see some of the forest's larger inhabitants such as tapir, capibara, pecari and various species of monkey.

Accommodation: Liana Lodge (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Begin the wonderfully scenic drive west along the 'Road of the Waterfalls' with spectacular views of the upper Amazon Basin and the Andes towering above. The climb back to the highlands is mesmerising as we watch the ecology change and the many waterfalls cascade from the high peaks into the lush valley of the Pastaza River. There are good photo opportunities along the way, including a visit at the Pailon del Diablo (Devil's Cauldron) waterfall. Continue on to Banos, a picturesque hot spring and pilgrim town adjacent to the 5000m high volcano of Tungurahua. In the late afternoon, we’ll have a walking tour of Banos with option to visit local thermal baths.

Accommodation: La Floresta Hotel (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Drive to the region of Chimborazo for a short walk (around two hours) in Chimborazo National Park, located at approx. 5000m. Due to the equatorial bulge the summit of Chimborazo is the furthest place from the centre of the earth! In the national park there are good possibilities to observe vicuñas, a relative of the llama. This afternoon we continue south to Riobamba.

Accommodation: Hacienda Abraspungo (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

It is an early start today as we head to Cuenca. We’ll stop to visit the Balbanera church before continuing to Ingapirca, the largest Inca ruins in Ecuador. The Inca Empire stretched along the Andes north through Ecuador into Colombia and south through Peru and deep into Chile. Ingapirca has fine examples of their famed brickwork as well as a solar observatory. We descend from the highlands to colonial Cuenca where we stay for the next two nights.

Accommodation: Hotel Carvallo (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Like Quito's old centre, Cuenca is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a charming place to explore. A guided tour this morning takes in the remarkably intact old town, where many artisans have taken up residence amidst the narrow colonial streets and famous landmarks. The afternoon is free to discover the town at your own leisure.

Accommodation: Hotel Carvallo (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

A short drive this morning brings us to Cajas National Park, otherwise known as the 'Gateway to the Snowy Mountains' in local Quichua. This is a stunning area of lofty peaks, lagoons, lakes and rivers amidst pristine paramo vegetation. During a walk of around 2 hours we may encounter some of the 125 bird species recorded here, such as Yellow-billed pintails, Ecuadorean hillstar or Violet-throated metaltail. With good weather we are rewarded with stunning views of this well-preserved national park during our walk. We stay in a hotel close to Cajas National Park for our last night in the Andean Highlands before we descend towards the coast.

Accommodation: Hosteria Dos Chorreras (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today we descend towards the Pacific and visit the Manglares Churute Ecological Reserve where we take a boat excursion through the incredible mangrove forest. This important eco-system has both Red and Black mangrove species and provides opportunities for seeing a number of aquatic birds and other wildlife along the many small river inlets. In the afternoon we visit a cacao plantation to learn about the production of one of Ecuador's biggest exports. After this we travel to Guayaquil, the main port town in Ecuador, for our final evening together.

Accommodation: Grand Hotel Guayaquil (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

The trip comes to an end today after breakfast and it's time to bid Ecuador and the rest of the group goodbye. Free transfers to Guayaquil airport are available to all clients today. Those on group flights will fly this evening and arrive in the UK the following day.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Visa

Ecuador

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Ecuador. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Vaccination

Ecuador

There are no required vaccinations. However, recommended vaccinations include tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, tuberculosis, typhoid and yellow fever. Please check all vaccination recommendations with your doctor or travel clinic.
You will also require a yellow fever vaccination certificate if arriving from Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda or if you have transited through those same three countries for more than 12 hours.

If you plan to visit the Amazon Rainforest, we recommend a yellow fever vaccination. Malaria is also a risk in some areas of the country (including the Amazon Rainforest) so we suggest you consult a doctor for more advice. Additionally, dengue, chikungunya and zika, all viral diseases spread by mosquitoes, are known risks in places visited. There are currently no vaccines or prophylaxes available, so take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Please note: All visitors to Ecuador will be required to show valid medical insurance on arrival and cannot enter the country without it.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts, 5 lunches and 3 dinners are included.

Hotel breakfasts are normally buffet style with toast, cereal, eggs, fruits and tea/coffee all available.

For lunch and dinner, the tour leader will recommend various options in convenient locations, usually booking restaurants and eating with the group. Vegetarians can be catered for but please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests.

Weather

In Quito and the highlands it should be warm by day and generally dry. Maximum daytime temperatures are almost constant throughout the year at 20ºC, nights 8ºC. Some rain can be expected in February to May and October to November but storms, though heavy, are generally short. Quito and in general the highlands, are considered to have quite a pleasant climate, although the evenings can be chilly. In the jungle regions it will be hot with high humidity. There is always a possibility of rain at any time, but not to the extent of spoiling your enjoyment. The driest time in the jungle (in terms of rainfall levels, not number of rainy days) is October to January. On the coast at Guayaquil, the climate is tropical. Between December and April, it is sunny, hot and humid, with daytime temperatures often reaching the mid-30s. As the Humboldt Current moves north, the city tends to be cloudier and cooler between May and November, but temperatures rarely dip below 29ºC.

Weather Charts

Is this trip for you?

This trip has been graded 2: Leisurely/Moderate

It will appeal to those interested in the astonishing variety of mainland Ecuador - Spanish and Inca history, Paramo highland, mangrove systems, rainforest, cloud forest and volcanoes. It is a busy trip, taking in a huge amount of scenery, flora, fauna and history in two weeks. Many of the areas visited on the trip are at high altitude and some short walks (normally one to three hours) are planned. A reasonable level of fitness is required for this trip.

Please see our COVID Travel Guide for Ecuador (including the Galapagos Islands) for more information on current guidelines for travel in Ecuador.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Gill Morriss

Reviewed November 2019

Excellent trip with great variety

Covid-19 refund commitment

You will get a refund if you have to cancel your trip due to COVID-19.

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Availability

This departure is guaranteed to go ahead and is now fully booked, although we may have people holding spaces without payment. Please contact our Sales team for further information.

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Availability

This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

View Trip Notes