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Tours for Independent Travellers
Essential Ecuador
10 Days from £875 (excludes flights)
COLOMBIA
Highlights Include * Discover Ecuador's historical capital Quito * View the impressive Mount Chimborazo, Ecuador's highest peak * Travel through the magnificent Avenue of the Volcanoes * Admire the famous Inca ruins of Ingapirca * Ride the Chiva Express through remote villages and majestic scenery * Travel by rail down 'The Devil's Nose' * Enjoy one night in the beautiful city of Cuenca * Spend three nights in the unspoilt wilderness of the Ecuadorian Amazon
Departures: Mon & Wed (daily departures are available but may alter the order of the itinerary) Day 1: Arrive Quito On arrival at Quito Airport you will be met and transferred to your chosen hotel for a two-night stay. Standard: Dann Carlton Deluxe: Swissôtel Quito Day 2: Quito City & The Middle of the Earth This morning explore this fascinating city on a guided tour. Start with the main square, La Plaza de la Independencia, and marvel at its impressive colonial buildings. Continue through the cobbled streets of the old town and visit the Monastery of San Francisco. Later, drive to the Equatorial Monument and have your photograph taken with one foot in each hemisphere.(B) Day 3: Quito Riobamba From Quito you will travel on the Chiva Express (a bus that runs on metal wheels along the train tracks); ride on the roof and enjoy the ever-changing scenery and breathtaking views of the Andes. The Chiva advances along the Avenue of Volcanoes, up and down the slopes of Cotopaxi Volcano and through the fertile Valley of Latacunga. Continue by road to Riobamba, located at the foot of the impressive Mount Chimborazo, Ecuador's highest peak. Visit a Tagua workshop and see artisans carving jewellery and figurines from the Tagua nut.(BLD) Standard & Deluxe: Local hotel in the Riobamba area Day 4: The Devil's Nose - Cuenca Transfer to the Chiva Express for an exhilarating ride through remote villages and majestic scenery. Short stop at the Indigenous town of Guamote before you reach Alausi where the Chiva will zigzag its way down The Devil's Nose' switch backs, one of the most impressive feats of rail engineering in the world. Transfer by road to the famous Inca ruins of Ingapirca. Explore the ruins and enjoy a picnic lunch before continuing to your chosen hotel in Cuenca for dinner and an overnight stay.(BLD) Standard: Hotel Santa Lucia Deluxe: Mansion Alcazar
Equator Quito 45mins
4
40mins
3
²
²
² Volcano Chimborazo
1
Volcano Cotopaxi El Boliche Riobamba
Coca
Alausi
ECUADOR
Cuenca 1
1
No. of nights stayed Air Land Rail
PERU
Sacha Lodge
Day 5: Cuenca Quito Today enjoy a guided walking tour of the city and discover the beauty and charm for which Cuenca has been recognised as a World Cultural Heritage Site. Visit parks, colonial plazas and religious monuments, and learn about Cuenca's fascinating history. Lunch will be served at a charming local restaurant. In the afternoon, take a transfer to the airport for your flight (not included) to Quito.(BL) Standard: Dann Carlton Deluxe: Swissôtel Quito Day 6: Quito The Amazon A 40-minute scenic flight (not included) from Quito will take you over the Andes and into the port town Coca. Here you will be met by a guide and transferred to the dock where you board a motorized canoe for a 1.5 hour trip down the River Napo. Short hike through the jungle before boarding a dug-out canoe to be paddled across Pilchicocha Lake to the 5000 acre private, ecological reserve of Sacha Lodge situated deep in the Amazon basin. Your Amazon adventure awaits!(BLD) Standard & Deluxe: Sacha Lodge Days 7-8: The Amazon, Sacha Lodge Venture out into the forests escorted by a bilingual naturalist and a native of the region. Marvel at the noises and smells of the dense jungle as your indigenous guide enlightens you as to the ways of the forest and the people that live in it. Likely encounters include monkeys, sloths, caimans and anacondas, any of nearly 600 different species of birds, and even piranhas. You can also explore the
canopy from the exclusive Canopy Walkway, climb the Kapok Observation Tower, walk through the Butterfly House and explore the forest at night!(BLD) Day 9: The Amazon Quito Today, depart the tranquillity of the Amazon for your return flight (not included) to Quito.(B) Standard: Dann Carlton Deluxe: Swissôtel Quito Day 10: Depart Quito Transfer back to the airport for your onward flight.(B)
Galápagos Islands Optional Extension
A trip to Ecuador is not complete without visiting one of the world's greatest wildlife locations. Extend your stay and experience the unique and enchanting Galápagos Islands.
For more information on our Galápagos trips see pages 54-58.
3, 4 & 7 night cruises are available from £665 based on a twin share cabin (excluding flights and fuel surcharge).
Prices Include
* 9 nights accommodation as shown * Meals as detailed (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner) * Transfers and tours as specified in the itinerary * Activities at Sacha Lodge (see page 53 for details)
Prices Exclude
* Airfares and local airport taxes * Meals and sightseeing not specified * Drinks, gratuities and items of a personal nature
Tour Prices
Prices per person, in £'s from
Standard 01Jan09-31Mar09 01Apr09-31Mar10 Twin 949 875 Single 1169 1195
Essential Ecuador
Deluxe Twin 1009 1075 Single 1389 1469
Brochure prices may change. See booking conditions. 51
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