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!  (SEE SAMPLE ITINERARY INCLUDING THE MAJORITY OF TOURIST HIGHLIGHTS) ECUADOR ADVENTURE TOURS Mountain biking White rafting Climbing & hiking Devil's Nose Train Surfing ECUADOR NATURE & WILDLIFE TOURS Galapagos Islands Amazon rainforest Bellavista Cloudforest Cotopaxi National Park Quilotoa Lagoon ECUADOR CULTURE / HISTORY TOURS Colonial Quito / Equator line Saquisili market (Thursdays) Otavalo market Cuenca / Ingapirca Jachigua Folkloric Ballet GALAPAGOS ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK HISTORIC COLONIAL QUITO OTAVALO INDIGENOUS ARTISAN MARKET SAQUISILI INDIGENOUS MARKET (Thursdays) AMAZON JUNGLE RAINFOREST COTOPAXI VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK BELLAVISTA CLOUDFOREST BAÑOS & surroundings CUENCA & INGAPIRCA CAFE GALLETTI COFFEE other interesting facts (Galapagos Giant Tortoise) 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! ECUADOR NATURE & WILDLIFE TOUR MENU GALAPAGOS ISLANDS TOURS | AMAZON JUNGLE TOURS BELLAVISTA CLOUDFOREST | COTOPAXI TOURS | QUILOTOA LAGOON 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). 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).  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) 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).  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). (Colonial Quito at Night) 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. ECUADOR HISTORY & CULTURE TOUR MENU COLONIAL QUITO | SAQUISILI MARKET | OTAVALO MARKET | CUENCA & INGAPIRCA | JACCHIGUA BALLET 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).  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).  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).  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).  JACHIGUA FOLKLORIC BALLET updating .... (additional cost not included).  (Jeep in the mist near Quilotoa) 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. 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).  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). 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). updating .... DEVIL'S NOSE TRAIN updating .... (Rates vary greatly depending on dates, guides etc).  updating .... SURFING updating .... (Rates vary greatly depending on dates, guides etc).  Other interesting facts & activities ... 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. 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). Named by 16th century missionaries in South America, symbolizing the death of Christ.  This woody vine climbs through the supporting vegetation using coiled tendrils. 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. 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. 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. 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. Shop for precious metal jewelry at the world-famous indigenous artisan market of Otavalo.  Items include necklaces, earings, bracelets, and rings. 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. 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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DAY	AM	PM	OVERNIGHT
Day 1		International Airport transfer to Quito hotel	Quito
Day 2	Old / Colonial Quito city tour	Mitad del Mundo (Equator line monument)	Quito
Day 3	Guayabamba, Cayambe & Otavalo market	Peguchi, Cotachaci & Cuicocha Lagoon	Quito
Day 4	Bellavista Cloudforest Reserve		Quito
Day 5	Flight out to Rainforest	Day 1 (Amazon)	Amazon
Day 6	Amazon rainforest		Amazon
Day 7	Amazon rainforest		Amazon
Day 8	Amazon rainforest	Return flight to Quito	Quito
Day 9	Flight to Galapagos	Day 1 in Galapagos	Galapagos
Day 10	Galapagos Islands		Galapagos
Day 11	Galapagos Isands		Galapagos
Day 12	Galapagos Islands		Galapagos
Day 13	Galapagos Isands		Galapagos
Day 14	Galapagos Isands		Galapagos
Day 15	Galapagos Islands		Galapagos
Day 16	Return flight back to Quito	free afternoon in Quito	Quito
Day 17	Saquisili market	Cotopaxi National Park	Lasso
Day 18	Quilotoa Lagoon	Baños	Baños
Day 19	Baños to Puyo mountain biking	Thermal baths	Baños
Day 20	free morning in Baños	transfer to Riobamba	Riobamba
Day 21	Devil's Nose Train (to Alausi)	Aluasi, via Ingapirca, to Cuenca	Cuenca
Day 22	Cuenca city tour	Cajas National Park	Cuenca
Day 23	Free morning in Cuenca	Flight back to Quito	Quito