Ecuador

Upon your arrival at Quito airport (UIO), a Rahhalah representative will welcome you and drive you to the hotel, located in the picturesque historic center.
Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Driving distance:35 kms/ approx.45 minutes
Accommodation: Swissotel or similar

After a delicious breakfast, you will explore the bustling streets and squares of the largest historical city center in the Americas, visiting some of its most important churches such as the impressive Cathedral, majestic ¨La Compañía¨ and iconic San Francisco, guardians of a stunning multi-ethnic artistic and cultural heritage. A large part of their interiors, especially the altars and pulpits, are gilded in gold and house innumerable works of religious art.

You finish your visit of colonial history at the Panecillo hillside with its breathtaking views of both the ancient and modern parts of the city surrounded by the rolling Andean foothills and overshadowed by the mighty Pichincha Volcano.

After lunch at one of the best restaurants in the city, you will visit the impressive Middle of the World monument located at latitude 0º 0´ 0´´, which provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to straddle both hemispheres. Finally, you will go to the light-hearted “Intiñan” museum and have a chance to perform some intriguing experiments only possible on the true equatorial line.

Driving distance: 35 kms
Activity duration: 8 hours approximately

Accommodation: Quito-Swissotel or similar.

We will leave the hotel and head south along the famous “Avenue of the Volcanoes” until reaching Cotopaxi National Park. We will drive through the park from the north entrance until you drive to the lagoon Limpiopungo where you should have a spectacular view of the gigantic volcanic cone of the Cotopaxi Volcano, if the weather is clear. You will have time for a short walk around the lake, which is located at an elevation of 3,800 meters and if your physical conditions allow you there is the possibility to get the Jose Rivas refuge, there you have a spectacular view of the valley.
In the afternoon drive to and hacienda of the volcano area.

Driving distance: 150 kms
Activity duration: 8 hours approximately

Accommodation: Cotopaxi Pungo or similar.

After breakfast, we will drive to Laguna Quilotoa, one of the most impressive areas of Ecuador. Passing Zumbahua, a small colorful town consisting of few families. The trip through the villages of the area provides a fantastic chance to see one of the most authentic parts of the country. Ten kilometers farther lies the blue and green Quilotoa Crater Lake, one of the most beautiful volcano lakes in the Ecuadorian Andes. From the crater you can see various snow-topped volcanoes in the distance.

After a 1-1/2-to-2-hour hike down to the bank of the lake, you will enjoy a traditional lunch.

In the afternoon, later we will continue driving to Baños, where you will check in at your hotel for the night.

After breakfast, we will drive to Laguna Quilotoa, one of the most impressive areas of Ecuador. ( approx. 2 hrs drive).

Driving distance: 200 kms
Accommodation: Baños -Samari Spa or similar.

After breakfast, you will explore Baños town where you can see how people extract delicious juice from the sugar cane, production of traditional sweets, and you can buy beautiful handicrafts made by balsa and tagua. Visit to the Casa del Arbol and Swing of the End of the World. Then, you will visit the famous waterfall route where you can be close to beautiful waterfalls like Manto de la Novia waterfall, Pailon Del Diablo, Agoyán and others. After this visit, our guide will drive you to a local restaurant where a delicious lunch will be served. This afternoon you will drive to Misahualli .The road ends at Punta Ahuano, a tiny port town on the north bank of the Napo River, where canoes wait for a late-afternoon 15-minute ride downstream to La Casa del Suizo to our Jungle Hotel for overnight.

Driving distance: 167 kms

Accommodation: Casa del Suizo Hotel or similar.

Explore incredible primary forest in Misicocha or Cosano, La Casa del Suizo’s private reserve, reached by a short canoe ride. Here, there are several walks (with varying levels of difficulty) that can last anywhere from an hour-and-a- half all the way up to four hours, taking you through thick and humid jungle, crossing muddy paths and encountering all sorts of wildlife. All the while your local guide will introduce you to all the hidden secrets and wonders of the jungle.

Accommodation: Casa del Suizo Hotel or similar.

Follow in the footsteps of Francisco de Orellana – the Spanish discoverer of the River Amazon – himself as you build your own raft, known as a balsa, using the same technique indigenous communities have for centuries, and still use to this day. Once you’ve lashed together your ‘vessel’ of balsa wood logs and lengths of rope, it’s time to take it to the water, paddling leisurely downstream – and hopefully staying afloat. Your guides will accompany you each step of the adventure, along with your motorized canoe.

Then return to the hotel for lunch. In the afternoon, you can take a one hour walk along a totally flat river island, where you can observe a great variety of plants and insects. Later, you will go to Mariposario (butterfly house) and have the opportunity to see a variety of butterflies and their metamorphosis. After this visit return to the hotel and overnight

Accommodation: Casa del Suizo Hotel or similar.

After breakfast drive to Tena where our rafting program starts. Upper Rio Napo is also known locally as the Rio Jatunyacu, which means “BIG WATER” in Quichua. “Big” is probably the best word to describe this river – BIG WAVES and BIG FUN! A great trip for both beginners and experts alike, it has the perfect combination of exciting rapids, calm pools, and fabulous jungle scenery to delight everybody. Being the headwaters of one of the two rivers that form the mighty Amazon River, this is a rafting adventure that should not be passed up! After lunch you will return to Quito for overnight.

Driving distance: 245 kms
Accommodation: Quito-Swissotel or similar.

A culture-rich Andean village, Otavalo is home to one of the largest and most visited indigenous run markets in all of Latin America. While the market itself is bursting with a million colors, sounds and memorable characters, its surrounding area possesses breathtaking volcanoes, shimmering waterfalls and snow-capped Andean summits.
To reach this magical place, located just three hours north of Quito, you’ll first pass the towering Cayambe Mountain, which is a sacred place for the locals. With your guide, you’ll also stop for a moment in the town of Cayambe to sample traditional biscochos, a delectable local pastry prepared using a traditional technique in a wood-fired clay oven and covered with local cheese or caramel sauce (just don’t forget to pair these cookies with dulce de leche). The next stop is a viewpoint where you can enjoy the landscape of the Imbabura Volcano looming above the expansive San Pablo Lake.

Upon reaching Otavalo, you and your private guide will stroll through the world-renowned Plaza Poncho Market for a chance to absorb the feel of an authentic indigenous market and the talented craftspeople who make it possible. These Otavaleños (local villagers) form a prosperous community of skilled textile weavers who gather daily at the market to sell products and socialize, as has been done for centuries. The market is best known for its dazzling array of handicrafts that include embroidered Zuleta blouses and handmade shirts, as well as woven alpaca ponchos, colorful scarves, and woven belts (fajas). Of course, there’s much more than just textiles, as other popular handicrafts include paintings, “Panama hats,” ceramics, leather goods, carvings, and a huge variety of souvenirs for your friends and family back home.

You can spend a few hours wandering through this bustling handicraft market, taking pictures and pleasantly haggling with these vendors who are known for their bargaining skills. You’re sure to fall in love with the variety and quality of artisanal goods, and the palate of colors in every stall, which are why Otavalo is — without a doubt — a must-visit place in Ecuador.

Driving distance: 200 kms
Activity duration: 9 hours approximately.

Accommodation: Quito-Swissotel or similar.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your departure flights.