Price: From USD 274 Days: 4 days Trip Rating: Moderate Place: Andes and Amazon Basin
Detailed Itinerary
DAY 1: QUITO - COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK
At 07:00 AM we leave Quito and after driving south for 1,5 hours on the Pan-American highway we reach the park entrance of Cotopaxi National Park. We drive through pine forest and soon reach the museum of the park. After visiting the museum and savoring a cup of ginger tee we continue the ascent in our 4-wheel drive vehicle until we reach the highest point of the tour, 4.500 meters/15.000 feet. The view from this point is stunning and on a clear day we are able to see 8 volcanoes.
We then put on helmets, gloves and protection pads and the bike adventure on the world’s highest active volcano can begin. The first 8 km will take us down 700 m. on dirt roads through volcanic ash and páramo landscape. At 3.800 m. you actually have to do some pedaling heading down another 8 km between volcanic rocks and wild horses to our lunch spot by an Inca ruin at 3.700 m. With some luck we might see a condor or a caracara. We put the bikes back on the jeep and head for the lake of Limpiopungo at 3.800 m. where we start the 16 km downhill biking on dirt roads. After another 2 km on a beautiful single track the bike adventure is over for this time.
We then ascend by jeep in a northwest direction into the western Cordillera arriving at Quilotoa to spend the night. The night's retreat is a simple but clean inn located in Quilotoa (L)
DAY 2: QUILOTOA - URBINA
The next day, we start with an early hike down to the deep jade colored Quilotoa Crater Lake. The hike downhill to the Laguna takes about 30 minutes and about twice as long to climb back up. But, you can hire a mule or donkey for about US$2-3 to carry you back to the top, where your breakfast will be awaiting you to charge your batteries for this day's adventure!
After breakfast we descend on mountain bikes to Zumbahua. Many years ago, an earthquake destroyed this area. The land has transformed into a rugged formation resembling what you might imagine as terrain from another planet. Lunch is a picnic at a location where we have the opportunity to intermingle with the Quechua Indians or test your artistic skills with the locals painting landscapes of the area. After lunch, we enjoy a 30-minute drive until we reach 4,200 m. (13.400 ft.) We switch then to human power and the downhill bike ride begins down a long and winding road all the way back to Latacunga located at 2400 m. (7,600 ft.) where the cycle trip ends. We then continue by jeep to Urbina. (B,L)
DAY 3: URBINA - CHIMBORAZO
Drive to the Chimborazo Mountain (6310m) the highest and one of the most impressive volcanoes in Ecuador. We drive as far as the first refuge at 4800 meters, and continue on foot to the Edgar Whymper Refuge at 5000 meters. From the highest refuge in the world it’s all downhill – first on foot, and then by bike all the way to the town of San Juan at 2800 metres.
This is an amazing bike ride through paramo landscape to approximately 2600 m of altitude. Vicunas are the sole inhabitants of these wild stretches. Lunch.
After around 40 kilometers bike, we load the bikes on the jeep roof and drive to Baños, a small town famous for its hot springs, and spend the night there. (B,L)
DAY 4: BAÑOS-PUYO and the Avenue of the Orchids-QUITO
We take a pre-breakfast dip in the thermal baths of Baños before pedaling east toward Puyo. You'll notice the dramatic temperature and vegetation changes as we descend into the steamy Amazon basin. Bike along the famous. Avenue of the Orchids to the Amazonian frontier town of Puyo. Lunch.
Return by jeep to Quito.
PRICE (USD)
TOUR
PAX
PRICE (USD) per person
4 Days / 3 Nights
2-4
$ 432
5 or more
$ 368
Single Supplement: $ 60
◊ PRICE INCLUDES
Professional bilingual Guides,
fully equipped 4x4 back up vehicle,
mountain bikes, with v-brakes and front suspension,
all protective gear (helmet, gloves, knee&elbow pads),
3 nights accommodation,
breakfast & lunch every day,
purified water
◊ PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
• Meals not mentioned above (D=dinner)
• Entrance fees (e.g Cotopaxi and Chimborazo US$ 10,00 each one, • Papallacta US$7)
• Drinks
• Tips
• Personal expenses.
At 07:00 AM we leave Quito and after driving south for 1,5 hours on the Pan-American highway we reach the park entrance of Cotopaxi National Park. We drive through pine forest and soon reach the museum of the park. After visiting the museum and savoring a cup of ginger tee we continue the ascent in our 4-wheel drive vehicle until we reach the highest point of the tour, 4.500 meters/15.000 feet. The view from this point is stunning and on a clear day we are able to see 8 volcanoes.
We then put on helmets, gloves and protection pads and the bike adventure on the world’s highest active volcano can begin. The first 8 km will take us down 700 m. on dirt roads through volcanic ash and páramo landscape. At 3.800 m. you actually have to do some pedaling heading down another 8 km between volcanic rocks and wild horses to our lunch spot by an Inca ruin at 3.700 m. With some luck we might see a condor or a caracara. We put the bikes back on the jeep and head for the lake of Limpiopungo at 3.800 m. where we start the 16 km downhill biking on dirt roads. After another 2 km on a beautiful single track the bike adventure is over for this time.
The next day, we start with an early hike down to the deep jade colored Quilotoa Crater Lake. The hike downhill to the Laguna takes about 30 minutes and about twice as long to climb back up. But, you can hire a mule or donkey for about US$2-3 to carry you back to the top, where your breakfast will be awaiting you to charge your batteries for this day's adventure!
This is an amazing bike ride through paramo landscape to approximately 2600 m of altitude. Vicunas are the sole inhabitants of these wild stretches. Lunch.
