INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY, LAGUNA GRANDE & IGAPÓ

Enjoy an early morning walk through the forest to see wildlife, especially monkeys and birds. Return to the lodge for breakfast, then continue by motorized canoe along the «Turtle Path» to visit the Seoqueya community, where several families of the indigenous Siona group live. One of the family members will demonstrate traditional cooking techniques, including preparing the typical yucca bread, called casave. Try making bread under the family’s instruction as your guide explains local traditions and cultures. In the afternoon, continue by motorized canoe along the Cuyabeno River to Laguna Grande. Here, you’ll get to explore a unique rainforest ecosystem: flooded forest (Igapo), which is characterized by massive trees and lush greenery. After exploring the lagoon, cool off with a swim in the calm waters while taking in the sunset. Continue your adventure downriver to see more nocturnal wildlife, especially caimans, before returning to the lodge.

RETURN TO CIVILIZATION

This morning activity will be a short canoe trip to enjoy the sunrise in the jungle, where you will have a good opportunity to observe some different types of wild animals and enjoy another moment of peace in this wonderful natural paradise. After breakfast, you will have time to prepare your luggage for your return trip. You will navigate upriver to return to El Puente de Cuyabeno. After your box lunch, your bus will take you back to Lago Agrio, and from there you return to Quito, where your tour ends. Have a safe flight back home and visit us soon again in Ecuador!

FREE DAY IN QUITO TO REST

Today you’ll have the entire day to explore Quito at your own pace. Remember that the city’s is at an altitude of 9350 ft above sea level so try to take it easy! Founded in 1534, it makes the city the oldest capital in South America, and even declared by World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1978.
Quito is a city full of history, culture, and natural beauty. Spend a self-guided day at leisure exploring some of the attractions.
Explore La Floresta neighborhood: Known to be a neighborhood with lots of street art, artsy cafes, nice views, and a wide variety of restaurants and street food.
Carolina Park: The largest urban park in Quito. It has different areas such as an artificial lake, a running track, and even biking and skate parks.
There are some museums and cultural spots in the city that you can explore such as La Casa de La Cultura, MINDALAE museum, or el Museum of Contemporary Art.
Itchimbía Park is beautiful and home for the Crystal Palace where different cultural and art exhibitions are in rotation, aside from offering a fantastic view of the city. You can also explore nearby cafes with stunning views.
Teleferiqo Cable Car. You can get to one of the summits of the Pichincha Volcano which will bring you up to 10226ft above sea level to get the best view of the city. Here you can take a short hike, take some amazing pictures, and even have fun in one of the highest swings in existence! Keep your eyes peeled because sometimes you may see rabbits and other wildlife roaming the area.

PAPALLACTA HOT SPRINGS

Today you will enjoy the Termas de Papallacta resort and spa, you can relax and enjoy its pools, naturally heated by the volcanic hot springs. Also, if the weather is clear, you will be able to see the giant Antisana Volcano (reaching a height of 5,758 meters) looming above.

ALPACA ENCOUNTER AT QUILOTOA LAGOON

Wake up early in the morning and enjoy a delicious breakfast at your hotel. Then, accompanied by an expert guide, visit Quilotoa Lagoon—a blue-green volcanic crater lake that sits in the rugged Andean countryside south of Quito. Make stops at a quiet village and local markets along the way.
Once you arrive, you have the option to walk along the crater’s rim or hike for 45 minutes down a path to the lake, where you’ll get the chance to see the shimmering green waters up close and enjoy the beautiful weather from a kayak. If you wish, there is a jetty here that you can walk on, or you can just sit on the beach and take in the view. The return journey can be a bit longer, so you have the option to rent a mule for the uphill hike.

RECONNECTING WITH NATURE AT BAÑOS DE AGUA SANTA

Early in the morning, you will head towards the «Devil’s Cauldron» (In Spanish, Pailón del Diablo) which is located specifically 17 kilometers from the city of Baños de Agua Santa, on the road from Baños to Puyo. After a hike down towards the waterfall, you will be amazed at its height which is approximately 80 meters high and without a doubt one of the most important waterfalls in Ecuador, as it is awe-inspiring, in addition that its location on Rio Pastaza guarantees a constant water supply for the surrounding areas.

Afterwards, next on your agenda, you will visit, the most famous treehouse in the world, the Casa del Arbol, which is home to the Swing at the End of the World, a simple playground ride perched on the edge of a mountain overlooking Baños, Ecuador, you will have the chance to see all of this from the Swing at the End of the World is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK

Upon your arrival at Cotopaxi National Park, you will see the volcano towering at 5897 meters, whose peak boasts a perfectly symmetrical snow-capped cone, and picturesque surrounding parkland. Located south of Quito, the Cotopaxi volcano is the second highest summit in Ecuador (19,347 feet). But there is more than meets the eyes. It is one of the world’s most active volcanoes! Its dome, which form is almost perfect, is covered with eternal snow.
Once there, you will start at Lake Limpiopungo, here you may find a variety of birds, and occasionally even wild horses. A short walk around the lake will allow you to admire the Andean plant and animal life along the way. You will explore the rugged surroundings and stunning scenery of Cotopaxi National Park and Cotopaxi Volcano and enjoy heading ever-higher into this sky-high region, stopping at the 15,800-foot (4864-meter) Padre Rivas Refuge, here, you will have a spectacular view of Cotopaxi Volcano’s gigantic cone, The distance is short, and the hike presents no technical difficulty. but make sure to stay hydrated to avoid the effects of altitude, and bring warm clothes (hat, scarf, gloves, warm upper layers, wind/rainproof jacket).
This will be an excellent way to discover the mythical Andean landscapes in a truly unique way.

AROUND CUICOCHA LAGOON- OTAVALO

After a delicious breakfast, you will head to the famous Cuicocha Lagoon, a little bit North of Otavalo. On the trail around the crater lagoon, your guide will explain to you the high-altitude flora and fauna and the history of the once-active volcano (duration of hike: approx. 5 hours). Alternatively, if you don’t feel like hiking, you can just take a short walk and take some pictures, or ride in a boat around the two islands.
In the afternoon, you can make a stopover in the leather town of Cotacachi – maybe you find some souvenirs.

OTAVALO MARKET- PEGUCHE

Today, you will visit to the market of Otavalo. Otavalo features one of the most important traditional markets of South America. Here, the indigenous people of the surrounding areas gather to trade anything from animals over handicraft to fresh vegetables and fruits. Take a stroll through the streets and maybe try some of the local street food such as salted mango or fritada con mote, fried pork with cooked corn.
Afterwards, you will head to the small waterfall Peguche, formed by the river of the same name. This waterfall is considered as an indigenous ceremonial site. After visiting the waterfall, you could also stop by the local artisans who live and work in this area.
For your overnight stay, you return to Quito.

PRIVATE TRANSFER TO QUITO AIRPORT

At the designated time, your private driver will pick you up from your hotel to take you to Quito’s Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) for your scheduled flight.