UNIQUELY
ECUADOR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Ecuador, although relatively
small, offers
tourists an incredible range of tourist attractions and activities to
select from, from mountaineering, white water rafting, thermal hot
baths, indigenous markets, volcanic lagoons, volcanoes & lakes, the
Galapagos Islands, the white sandy beaches of the Pacific coast,
shopping, historic Colonial architecture, music and gastronomy, scenic
panoramas, lush rainforest and the list goes on and on an on!
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ECUADOR ADVENTURE TOURS
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ECUADOR NATURE &
WILDLIFE TOURS
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ECUADOR CULTURE / HISTORY TOURS
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(Galapagos Giant Tortoise)
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ECUADOR
NATURE & WILDLIFE TOURS
Ecuador offers visitors an extraordinary variety of wildlife, most of
which cannot be found in other places on the planet. The
Galapagos
Islands comes at the top of the list, with its Blue-footed Boobies,
Galapagos Giant Tortoises, Galapagos Penguin, Waved Albatross,
Hammerhead sharks, Marine & Land Iguanas .. to name just the tip of
the iceberg!
Along the Pacific Coast (mainly around Puerto Lopez) tourist can get up
close to the giant Humpbacked Whales (June through to Spetember).
The Cloudforest and the Amazon basin are other regions with an amazing
diversity of wildlife, including caiman, hummingbirds, monkeys, pink
dolphins, butterflies, insects ... again, to name just a few! |
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GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
Tours to the Galapagos Islands consist of
3, 4 and 7-night cruises aboard
motor, motor-sailers, catamarans or large capacity deluxe cruise
ships. Yachts fall into 5 classes: Economic, Tourist, Tourist
Superior, First & Deluxe classes. Islands visits include:
Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Plazas, San Cristobal, Isabela, Fernandina,
Genovesa, Española, Floreana, Santiago, Rabida, Sombrero Chino,
Bartolome.
Tours from $500 (3-nights)
/ $600 (4-nights) / US $1000 (7-nights)
(additional cost
not included).
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AMAZON RAINFOREST
Ecuador's
largest region, covering
over one third of the country, is the Amazon rainforest basin.
This is one of the most diverse regions of the world in terms of flora
and fauna. There are three principal regions: Lago Agrio, Coca & Tena/Misahualli.
Most Amazon Jungle lodges have fixed departures: Monday to Friday
(4-nights) or Friday to Monday (3-nights), although several have
flexible departure dates.
Tours from $160
(3-nights) / $225 (4-nights) (additional cost
not included).
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BELLAVISTA CLOUD FOREST
320 hummingbirds species are know to
science &
over 50% are found in Ecuador.
The best place to get up close to these beautiful creatures is at the
Bellavista Cloudforest Reserve.
The Bellavista Cloudforest Lodge operates every day of the week, with
the following options: (1) full day tour; (2) 1-night package; or (3)
2-night package. (more
details)
Tours from $73
(day trip) / $116 (1-night) / $149 (2-nights)
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COTOPAXI VOLCANO NATIONAL
PARK
The Cotopaxi National Park is located
about 90 minutes due south of Quito. Visitors have two basic tour
options: (1) a naturalist day trip; or (2) a 2 or 3 day climbing
package.
There is a US $10 per person National Park entrance fee (payable in US
cash only upon entering the Park).
Tours from $45
(day trip) (additional cost
not included).
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QUILOTOA VOLCANIC LAGOON
Quilotoa
lagoon is a
perfect example of one of the various extinct volcanoes that are now
volcanic lagoons. The crystalline water in this lagoon is said to
contain too many minerals to be purifiable.
Most visitors to this region stay overnight as such recommended places
at the Black Sheep Inn (located in Chugchilan), where you have an
opportunity to take in horse-back riding, hiking and/or mountain biking.
Tours from $45
(day trip) (additional cost
not included).
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(Colonial Quito at Night)
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ECUADOR CULTURE / HISTORY
TOURS
Ecuador is full of history, dating back to the pre-Spaniards. The
old, Colonial Quito is full of Colonial architecture, from its ornate
churches and plazas, to its cobblestone streets.
The Saquisili market, which
operates on Thursdays, is filled with local campesinos selling their local
products - mainly fruits and vegetables.
The world-famous Otavalo artisan
market operates every day of the week, with Saturday followed by
Wednesday being the busiest (most tourist).
Cuenca is considered the craft center of Ecuador, with excellent
ceramics and bronzework being produced by its craftsmen.
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COLONIAL QUITO / EQUATOR LINE
The historic sector of Quito is a wonder
of Colonial architecture, from its churches, plazas and palaces.
This is popularly combined with a visit to Mitad del Mundo (Equatorial
Line village).
(more
details)
Tours from $20 (additional cost
not included).
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SAQUISILI MARKET
This working Andean market is a feast for
your sense (sights, sounds, aromas). Opperating only on
Thursdays, the town is filled with local campesinos
selling their local products at the various markets scattered
throughout the town - mainly fruits and vegetables.
Tours from $45 (additional cost
not included).
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OTAVALO MARKET
Barter and trade for ceramics,
wood carvings, textiles, paintings, musical instruments, jewelry, to
name a few. This market operates every day of the week, with
Saturday followed by Wednesday being the busiest (most tourist).
Tours from $45 (additional cost
not included).
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CUENCA / INGAPIRCA
Cuenca is considered the craft center of
Ecuador, with excellent
ceramics and bronzework being produced by its craftsmen. Nearby,
a visit to Cajas National Park and Ingapirca ruins are worth the visit.
(Rates vary
greatly depending on dates, guides etc).
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JACHIGUA FOLKLORIC BALLET
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(additional cost
not included).
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(Jeep in the mist near Quilotoa)
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ECUADOR ADVENTURE TOURS
Ecuador boasts a wide range of adventures to be experienced, from
white-water rafting down Amazon rivers, mountaineering on snow-capped
volcanoes, mountian biking down volcanoes and past cascading waterfalls
or surfing along the Pacific coast.
Other increasingly popular adventure activities in Ecuador include
surfing & whale watching (June through to September) along the southern Pacific Coast near Puerto Lopez.
In reality, exploring any region of Ecuador is an adventure. From
snow-capped mountains and periodically erupting volcanoes, to the lush
Amazon rainforest, the tranquil Cloudforest, to the culturally rich and
diverse Andean Sierra.
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MOUNTAIN BIKING
Mountain
biking can be an arduous
but truly
satisfying way to experience Ecuador's countryside. The most
popular locations
(Cotopaxi and Baños) can be done as a
downhill trip. Another popular route is from Baños to Puyo.
Tours from $45
(1-day) (additional cost
not included).
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WHITE WATER
RAFTING
White
water kayaking &
rafting hardly gets any
better than in
Ecuador, with many kayakers claiming that it is the best the've seen
anywhere. Hours on class III & IV rapids await you!
Tours from $65
(1-day) (additional cost
not included).
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CLIMBING &
HIKING
Ecuador
offers an amazing
selection of mountaineering
& hiking,
from snow-capped
mountains to active volcanoes (Cotopaxi, Pasachoa, Sangay, Chimborazo,
to name a few). Cotopaxi is the most popularly chosen climb.
Tours from $180
(2-days) (additional cost
not included).
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DEVIL'S NOSE
TRAIN
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(Rates vary
greatly depending on dates, guides etc).
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SURFING
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(Rates vary
greatly depending on dates, guides etc).
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Other
interesting facts & activities ...
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Roses
are quickly becoming
one of Ecuador's major exports. Other flowers include: orchids
and bromeliads.
Ecuador is home to over 20,000 species of vascular
plants.
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Tagua
"vegetable ivory" is
the ivory palm (Phytelephas aequatorialis) nut. Originally this
material was used as buttons but today many other uses have been found
(figurines, toys, massagers and other small ornaments).
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Named by
16th century missionaries
in South America, symbolizing the death of Christ. This woody
vine climbs through the
supporting vegetation using coiled tendrils.
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Ecuador is
one the globe's top 17
most biologically diverse countries and has about 10% of all plant
species. Orchids alone amount to over 3,500
species! An ideal place in Quito to enjoy these precious flowers
is in the Botanical Garden. |
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Ecuador's
geography is one of the
most diverse and can be divided into five distinct regions: Amazon
rainforest, Andean Sierra, Pacific Coast, Cloudforest and
the Galapagos
Islands. |
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Andean
music groups from
Ecuador can
be heard playing in many international cities. Pre-hispanic vocal
& instrumental music was based on the pentatonic (five-note) scale,
giving its
haunting, melodic sounds. |
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One of
Ecuador's most famous
artisan products is the Panama Hat, which originated in
Montecristi. Contrary to popular belief these hats do not come
from Panama. |
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Shop for precious
metal jewelry
at
the world-famous indigenous artisan market of Otavalo. Items
include necklaces, earings, bracelets, and rings.
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Ecuador's
insect species number
more than a million, including 4,500
species of butterflies.
They can be found in the Amazon rainforest, Cloudforest, Sierra, Coast
and in Galapagos. |
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Cayambe,
just to the north of
Quito, is famous for the short bread style biscuits known as bizcochos.
These delicious pastries are usually accompanied by the local
cheese (queso). |
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SAMPLE ITINERARY COVERING THE MAJORITY OF
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN ECUADOR
DAY
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AM
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PM
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OVERNIGHT
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Day 1
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International
Airport transfer to Quito
hotel
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Quito
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Day 2
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Old / Colonial Quito city
tour
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Mitad del Mundo (Equator
line monument) |
Quito
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Day 3
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Guayabamba, Cayambe &
Otavalo market
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Peguchi, Cotachaci &
Cuicocha Lagoon
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Quito
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Day 4
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Bellavista Cloudforest
Reserve
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Quito |
Day 5
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Flight out
to Rainforest
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Day 1 (Amazon)
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Amazon
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Day 6
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Amazon
rainforest
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Amazon |
Day 7
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Amazon rainforest
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Amazon |
Day 8
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Amazon
rainforest
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Return flight to
Quito
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Quito
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Day 9
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Flight to
Galapagos
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Day 1 in
Galapagos
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Galapagos
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Day 10
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Galapagos
Islands
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Galapagos |
Day 11
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Galapagos
Isands
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Galapagos |
Day 12
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Galapagos
Islands
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Galapagos |
Day 13
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Galapagos
Isands
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Galapagos |
Day 14
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Galapagos
Isands
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Galapagos |
Day 15
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Galapagos
Islands
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Galapagos |
Day 16
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Return
flight back to Quito
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free afternoon in Quito
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Quito
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Day 17
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Saquisili
market
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Cotopaxi National Park
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Lasso
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Day 18
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Quilotoa Lagoon
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Baños
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Baños
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Day 19
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Baños to Puyo
mountain biking
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Thermal baths
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Baños |
Day 20
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free morning in
Baños
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transfer to Riobamba
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Riobamba
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Day 21
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Devil's Nose Train (to
Alausi)
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Aluasi, via Ingapirca, to
Cuenca
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Cuenca
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Day 22
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Cuenca city tour
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Cajas National Park
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Cuenca
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Day 23
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Free morning in Cuenca
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Flight back to
Quito
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Quito
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Note: this is just a sample itinerary
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Sangay Touring © All Rights
Reserved.
Luis Cordero E4-358 y Cordero
Quito, Ecuador - South
America.
1-800-408-5513
(USA/CANADA)
Site
design: Robin Slater
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