ECUADOR COMMUNITY TOUR
19 days at - including flights
Tripcode: AAS
Spend time with traditional local communities while exploring the highlights of the Ecuadorian Andes
Ecuador's unique indigenous cultures make it a fascinating country to visit, and on this trip our time is spent staying with local families in villages which are working as part of a nationwide community tourism initiative. There are opportunities to get involved in their daily activities as well as experiencing the traditional way of life in sometimes remote Andean communities. The initiative aids the development of these communities not only through financial means, but also through the valuable cultural interchange which this carefully-managed form of tourism promotes. The trip also takes in some of the major attractions of the highlands of Ecuador, including the historic colonial district of Quito, the impressive Inca ruins at Ingapirca and the relaxing and artistic city of Cuenca. There is stunning scenery throughout, topped off with an exhilarating train ride on the famous 'Devil's Nose'.
| Day 1 | Depart London. |
| Day 2 | Arrive Quito; afternoon sightseeing tour of colonial city. |
| Day 3 | To San Clemente in the north; afternoon visit to local artisan workshops; overnight in village homestay. |
| Day 4 | Full day of activities, including participation in village sporting and domestic activities, trekking or horseback riding. |
| Day 5 | Visit salt mines; to Chachimbiro Hot Springs, a sustainable development project. |
| Day 6 | See huge condors and other Andean birds of prey at Parque Condor Protection and Rehabilitation Centre; afternoon cloud forest walk; continue to Yunguilla community for homestay. |
| Day 7 | Visit and assist in community projects, which include small-scale handicraft manufacture, agriculture and communal work; continue via the archaeological sites of Tulipe to Quito. |
| Day 8 | To Cotopaxi; hike to Quilotoa Crater Lake. |
| Day 9 | Day walk through beautiful scenery to the small village of Chugchilan. |
| Day 10 | Another day walk in the Andes to Isinlivi. |
| Day 11 | To Lasso; overnight in hacienda overlooking Cotopaxi. |
| Day 12 | Visit local market or rose plantation; lunch at the base of Chimborazo; overnight in Riobamba. |
| Day 13 | Train ride from Riobamba to the 'Devil's Nose'; continue to Ingapirca. |
| Day 14 | Morning visit to Inca ruins; free afternoon in colonial Cuenca. |
| Day 15 | To Totorabamba to see community-run cheese factory; free afternoon. |
| Day 16 | Short hikes amongst the jagged volcanic peaks of El Cajas N.P.; drive to Guayaquil on the Pacific Coast. |
| Day 17 | Full day to relax on a nearby beach. |
| Day 18 | Depart. |
| Day 19 | Arrive London. |
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