expand@altavista.net   

Andean Highlands Cultural Trek

The ANDEAN HIGHLANDS Cultural Trek is a 17 day tour which will immerse its participants in the fabulous Ecuadorian culture while providing extensive coverage of some of the country's most interesting trekking destinations.

This tour combines travel in our bus with easy trekking designed for all ages and allows our guests the opportunity to experience Ecuador's fascinating culture hands on.   This trip will begin in Quito and then take you North to the Province of Imbabura, Chota Valley, Peguche, Otavalo, Mojanda Lakes, Cochasqui Archeological Park and then continue south to Cotopaxi National Park, the Chimborazo and Carihuairazo Wildlife Reserve, Chimborazo Base Camp, the city of Riobamba, Ingapirca (Ecuador's main Incan ruins), Cajas National Park, and the colonial city of Cuenca.  All in all, an overwhelming combination of Ecuador's most breathtaking scenery and interesting culture.

ITINERARY  1

DAY 1: ARRIVAL
Arrival at the Quito international airport located at 2,800 m. above sea level.   Assistance with immigrations and customs.  Dinner and accommodations at first class hotel.

DAY 2: QUITO
Full day in Ecuador's capital city.  Enjoy a guided tour of colonial Quito, its beautiful parks and plazas, the narrow streets of La Ronda, the San Francisco Square and a panoramic view of the city from Panecillo Hill. Depending on the day of the week, visit the archaeological museum of the Central Bank, which houses beautiful pre-Colombian ceramics, gold ornaments and pottery, or the Ethnographic Museum of the Middle of the World.  Overnight in a Quito hotel.

DAY 3: IMBABURA
We will drive to the province of Imbabura, stopping along the way at the town of Calderón, a small community where "bread dolls" are made.  Bread dolls are figurines made out of dough which are traditionally placed on graves to honor the dead during All Souls Day celebrations.  We continue past the picturesque lakeside village of San Pablo to hike along he slopes of the Imbabura Volcano.  We will pass by settlements from Incan times as we trek to Zuleta, a fascinating indian village where women still wear intricately embroidered blouses and skirts.  Picnic lunch.  Overnight at a converted hacienda with old-world charm.

DAY 4: CHOTA VALLEY/PEGUCHE/OTAVALO
We will drive from Ibarra to the Chota Valley where an interesting community of black Ecuadorians of African descent constitute the only population of blacks living in the Andes.  In the 17th century, after the indigenous population disappeared, Jesuits brought black slaves into the area to farm their estates.  In pre-Colombian times, the Chota Valley was inhabited by the Caranqui, whose ruins are still found in the area today.

In the afternoon, we visit the traditional indian village of Peguche, where master weavers were at their looms long before the Spaniards, or even the Incas, arrived.    Learn how the indians make weavings on traditional floor looms using only natural dyes and products.   Next, stop in Otavalo, where there will be more opportunities to visit the local craftsmen.  Then, depending on the time available, explore other fine arts centers near Otavalo, such as San Antonio de Ibarra, famous for its wood carvings, and Cotacachi, which has beautiful leather accessories and clothing.  Overnight in converted hacienda.

DAY 5: MOJANDA/LAGUNA GRANDE
Drive to the collapsed volcano Mojanda, one of the "knots" between the East and West Andes ranges.  From here you may choose to ride to Laguna Grande or hike through easy rolling Andean farmland to Laguna Grande crater lake (approximately 4 hours).   Overnight in tended camp by the lake.  Box lunch on hike.

DAY 6: COCHASQUI
Hike through Mojanda caldera to the South flank of the mountain to Cochasqui, one of the biggest ceremonial sites of the Caranquis.  There are thought to be 15 pyramids among the ruins of the Cochasqui, all built before the Incan conquest at the end of the 15th century.  The area, which covers nearly 15 hectares of land, was declared a national archaeological site in 1977 and is currently being excavated.   Box lunch on hike.   Overnight in tended camp near the ruins.

DAY 7: TUMBACO/LOS CHILLOS
Drive from Cochasqui down the Avenue of the volcanoes and through the valleys of Tumbaco and Los Chillos surrounding Quito.  The area is dominated by archaeological sites and active volcanoes.  Overnight at the charming hacienda La Ciénega.  Once a farm in the 17th century, the hotel sits at the foot of Cotopaxi, the highest active volcano in the world and Ecuador's second highest peak.

DAY 8: LATACUNGA
Latacunga translates from Indian to "Land of my Choice".  It is an important center for the Panzaleo Indians who lived here before the Incas, and fertile ground for growing "sisal", an important plant in the life and local economy of the surrounding villagers.  You'll have the day to hike by country roads in Cotopaxi province and visit local handcraft centers.  Box lunch.

Cotopaxi is in clear view throughout much of your hike, though 29 kilometers away.   In fact, provided that they are not hidden in the clouds, as many as nine volcanic cones can be seen from Latacunga.  Drive to Riobamba.  Overnight at Hotel Abraspungo.

DAY 9: AMBATO/CHIMBORAZO
Drive to Ambato for lunch.  Continue to Chimborazo, to the village of Totorillas, the highest indian community in Ecuador (4,100 m) and meet the local indian shepherds.  Camp overnight.

DAY 10: CHIMBORAZO TREK
Drive one hour to Puna to begin your hike (4-5 hours traveling SW to NE) around Chimborazo to the Vicuñas Reserve (with a government donated stock of 600 wild vicuñas) on the Northeast side of Chimborazo Volcano. Hike through the preserve to camp in the Abraspungo Valley between impressive peaks of Chimborazo and Carihuairazo.  Overnight at camp.

DAY 11: VOLCANOES AND GLACIERS
Enjoy a free day to explore the Andean highlands.  Hike to massive glaciers and make short climbs under the leadership of our expert guides.  If you don't want to climb, there are many points near camp affording commanding views of surrounding valleys and mountain peaks.  Overnight at camp.

DAY 12: ABRASPUNGO
Trek between Chimborazo and Carihuairazo through the rolling glacial valley of Abraspungo.   Enjoy panoramic views in all directions throughout your hike.  Box lunch.   On a clear day, you'll see distant Sangay, considered South America's most continually active volcano, and Altar, a jagged, snow-covered crater two miles in diameter.  Return to Riobamba.  Overnight at Hotel Abraspungo.

DAY 13: RIOBAMBA
Riobamba sits right beneath snow-clad Chimborazo, offering dramatic backdrop for your explorations around the capital of the Chimborazo Province.  Depending on the day of the week, drive to one of the many nearby indian markets, including Zalarón, one of the most original markets of Ecuador (Friday only); or equally colorful Guamote (Thursday only).  Visit the little chapel of La Balvanera, built on the site of the earliest church in Ecuador.

DAY 14: INGAPIRCA/BAÑOS DE CUENCA
Today we explore the massive fortifications of Ingapirca, the main Incan ruin in Ecuador, and the only remaining monument of the Inca empire.  Box lunch in route.  We will stop at the ruins of Incahuayco and continue then to Baños de Cuenca, where sulfur baths await.  Overnight at the beautiful colonial-style Hosteria Duran.

DAY 15: LAS CAJAS NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
We will hike among the ruggedly beautiful mountains and lakes of Cajas National Park.   Much of the trail we will use is part of the old horse trail linking the city of Cuenca and Guayaquil.  Glacial activities over land of volcanic origin make this very dramatic landscape.  Typical lunch in the countryside.  Overnight at the Hosteria Duran.

DAY 16: CUENCA/QUITO
Spend the morning exploring Cuenca.  The site of a once important settlement along the Inca highway, Cuenca joined Cuzco to Quito during the last pre-Colombian empire.   Today, Inca ruins have been found on the banks of the Tomebamba River, and some houses are now undergoing restoration.  Cobblestone streets, ironwork balconies and religious art treasures found in Cuenca recall a long association with Spain.  In the afternoon we will fly to Quito for a farewell dinner at La Ronda.  Overnight in hotel.

DAY 17: FLY HOME
Transfer to Airport to catch your flight back.

UNDER THE SHADOWS OF THE VOLCANOES trek is a 19 day tour which will allow you the opportunity to summit the Carihuairazo and Tunguragua volcanoes, canoe down the Napo and Arajuno rivers in the amazon basin and trek through the surrounding rainforest.   Also, you will visit Chimborazo, Baños, Guano, Otavalo and many other interesting destinations.

ITINERARY  2

DAY 1:
Arrival at the Quito international airport located at 2,800 m. above sea level.   Assistance with immigrations and customs.  Dinner and accommodations at first class hotel.

DAY 2:
In the morning you will enjoy a guided tour of colonial Quito, with impressive colonial architecture of the XVII and XVIII century like the Cathedral, Government Palace, the baroque church of La Compañía, San Francisco and the cloisters of La Merced and Saint Augustine.

After lunch at on of Quito's best traditional restaurants, we will fly to Guayaquil, Ecuador's main port Dinner and
accommodations at a first class hotel.

DAY 3:
We will take a boat across the Guayas river where we will board a steam train to continue along the coastal flatlands and then climb the slopes of the Andes through the deep gorge of the Chanchan river.  Before arriving at Alausí, where our trip will end, passengers will have the opportunity to travel in the locomotive as well as on the roof of the wagons.  In Aluasí we will take the vehicles to Riobamba located at 2,750 meters.  Dinner and accommodations at Abraspungo Hotel.

DAY 4:
After breakfast we will travel by vehicle to the valley of Totoras at the southern foot of Chimborazo.  We will arrive at the Estrella del Chimborazo base camp nestled in this valley at 4,000 meters.  Afternoon acclimatization excursion along the high part of the valley.  Tea and dinner at the hut and overnight in tents.

DAY 5:
After breakfast we will cross the Great Sand Pit by vehicle toward the Carihuairazo, and along is "puna" by foot to the North and West of Chimborazo.  The Carihuairazo camp is located at 4,200 meters in the vicuña reserve area.  Tea, dinner and overnight in tents.

DAY 6:
Breakfast at the camp.  Excursions to the glaciers of the Carihuairazo, at 5,020 meters high, which is a collapsed volcano covered with eternal snow.  Box lunch.   Tea and dinner at the hut and overnight in tents.

DAY 7:
Early breakfast at camp.  Ascension to the summit of the Carihuairazo.  In the last stages before the summit, fix cords will be installed to facilitate this part of the climb and provide security for the participants.  Box lunch for the ascension, dinner and tea at the camp, overnight in tents.

DAY 8:
After breakfast, we will begin a trek through the vicuña reserve, along the glacier through the valley of Abraspungo, a valley which separates the Chimborazo from the Carihuairazo and where Chimborazo's largest glaciers are found. We continue on to Chuquipogyo on the old Pan-American highway where we will meet the vehicles to return to Riobamba.  Box lunch on trek, dinner and accommodations at Abraspungo Hotel.

DAY 9:
Breakfast at the hotel.  Visit of the city of Riobamba, including the Museum of Religious Art.  It is possible to visit indian markets on Sundays, Thursdays and Saturdays.  Lunch at Marco Cruz's home (local food of the province of Chimborazo).   Afternoon visit to the handcraft center of Guano, where tapestries and rugs are woven.  Dinner and accommodations at the hotel.

DAY 10:
Breakfast at the hotel.  Departure by vehicle to the valley of the Puela river at the foot of the Tunguragua.  Ascension on foot on the northern slope, where the first camp will be made.  Box lunch en route.  Tea and dinner at the camp.   Overnight in tents.  The cargo and equipment will be carried by beasts of burden (horses and mules).

DAY 11:
Breakfast at camp.  Trekking through a humid andean forest to arrive at the foot of the volcano where the second camp is set at 4,000 meters.  Box lunch en-route.   Tea, dinner and overnight at camp.

DAY 12:
Early breakfast.  Easy climb to the glaciers and snow to the summit of Tungurahua at 5,087 meters. Tungurahua is one of the most active volcanoes in Ecuador.  Box lunch en-route.  Tea, dinner and overnight at camp.

DAY 13:
Breakfast at camp.  Descent on foot to the Paula river where we will take the vehicles again to the town of Baños, located at 1,800 meters.  Baños is the gateway to the Amazon jungle open by the Pastaza river with important geological phenomenon like cascades, deep gorges and fountains of thermal waters, where its name comes from. It is a religious center for the Indians and a place for popular religious Pilgrimage.  Box lunch.  Dinner and accommodations at a first class hotel.

DAY 14:
Breakfast at the hotel (before breakfast, for those who desire, bath in thermal waters).   Visit to the gorge of Saint Martin and to the Church of the Lady of Holy Water.   After lunch we continue the trip following the Pastaza river to the city of Puyo, at the other side of the Andes.  Dinner and accommodations at the hotel.

DAY 15:
Breakfast at the hotel.  From Puyo we will take an overland trip along a narrow road that crosses the jungle to arrive to the Napo river.  In Misahuallí, a small river port on the Napo river, we will leave the vehicles and will take canoes with outboard motors downriver to the Anaconda island, where the Anaconda lodge is located in the middle of the jungle.  Lunch at the lodge.

Afternoon excursion on foot and by canoe on the Arajuno river.  At the end of the walk we can swim in the fresh waters of the river, amidst the tropical jungle where the silence is broken only by the cries of animals and the songs of birds.  Dinner and accommodations at the lodge.

DAY 16:
Full day excursions in the jungle, by foot and canoe, to observe the impressive tropical Amazon rain forest, one of the most extraordinary ecosystems in the world, where plants, animals and people live in a symbolic harmony.  There is also the possibility to visit the homes of the Indians who inhabit the jungle.  Box lunch.  Dinner and accommodations at the hotel.

DAY 17:
After a very early breakfast, we proceed upriver by canoe to Misahuallí to take the vehicles and start the return trip overland to Quito, passing by Tena, Archidona and Baeza.  This road runs along mountain rain forests.  From Baeza we climb the slopes of the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes to cross a mountain pass at 4,100 meters, to descend again to the valley between the Andes ranges and the city of Quito.   Overnight in a first class hotel.

DAY 18:
Visit to the valley of Otavalo where one of the Indian groups with the most profound cultural tradition has lived since pre-hispanic times, dedicated to agricultural and handcrafts in the high mountains.  If it is a Saturday, we can visit the market that takes place every week.  After lunch at the hotel, return to Quito, stopping on the way at Guayllabamba and Calderón where bread dough dolls are made, a reminiscence of popular art and Indian religious beliefs, relating to the rites of death.

DAY 19:
In Quito.  Visit the Archaeological Museum of the Central Bank which houses ceramics from ancient cultures of Ecuador dating back 6,000 years.  Afternoon dedicated to shopping for Ecuadorian handcrafts in various stores.  Farewell dinner will be held at a traditional restaurant in Quito.

DAY 20:
After breakfast, transfer to airport to catch you flight back.