1. Mysterious Quito and Exciting Surroundings in 7 days!
2. Adventure Package (Jungle, Horseback Riding and Rafting) 4 days / 3 night
3. Jungle trip (Exploring Cuyabeno) 5 days / 4 nights

1. Mysterious Quito and Exciting Surroundings in 7 days!

 The program of the tour:

• Transfer (airport - hotel in Quito, if necessary)
• city tour Quito and Equator line - 1 day
• Otavalo (option: Saquisili or Pujili) - 1 day
• Tulipe - 1 day
• Baños - 2 days
• Cotopaxi - 2 days. Return back to Quito.
• Transfer (hotel - airport in Quito, if necessary)

Day 1. Quito and Equator line (5 hours)

Our trip will start with an introduction to Quito. We invite you to explore the Andean capital and discover our diverse culture, history and welcoming people.

Quito was the first city to be awarded World Cultural Heritage (1978) status for its wealth of history and culture. As you walk around the old historic centre you will see beautiful colonial houses freshly repainted in traditional colours, fine churches with stunning interiors and old cobbled streets and plazas.

Spanish colonial period lasted from the XVI to the XVIII century. But before the Spaniards arrived, Quito was conquered by the Incas in the XV century. When the Incas came, they found an organized civilization, called Shyris. Recent discoveries of these sites tell us that Shyris had an impressive knowledge of the sun’s movements.
Quitsa-to, meaning “middle of the earth”, was the original name of the city. Quito is the only site on earth where the equatorial line crosses over highlands. On the rest of the earth’s surface it crosses through jungles or ocean. Our professional guides will tell you all these exciting stories while walking round the city and visiting the “Middle of the world” monument.

Day 2. Otavalo (8 hours)

Early in the morning we will pick you up at your hotel and start our trip to Otavalo. Otavalo is a small town with about 50.000 inhabitants. It lies between two extinct volcanoes – Imbabura and Cotacachi.

The most famous indigenous market of Ecuador is held here. Although the market is bigger on Saturdays, you can visit it on any day and find an impressive variety of all kinds of handicrafts. In the Plaza de Ponchos you will be able to buy real masterpieces made by the indigenous people at competitive prices.
Return to Quito at approx. 5 pm

Day 3. Tulipe trekking (4 hours walk)

We head northwest out of Quito, crossing the equator, and arrive at Tulipe Private Reserve. This is a special forest located on the equator between 900 to 1600 meters above sea level. Technically called Andean Humid Forest, it’s more commonly known as Cloud Forest. Hot equatorial air from the Pacific ocean hits the steeps slopes of the Andes, rises up and bathes the mountains with moisture and clouds. Because of this unique climate combination the forest houses plants and animals unknown in other parts of the world.

You will trek with your guide who will show you the most beautiful places. Admire the splendid heritage, listen to the birdsong, explore the flora and fauna and feel at one with nature.

Return to Quito at approx. 6 pm

Day 4 and 5. Baños (2 days trip)

This peaceful town is considered to be the “door” to the Amazon rain forest. It is surrounded by hills and volcanoes and has hot springs. Baños means “bath” and this is why the town is famous for. There are some baths that are fed by the thermal springs from the base of an active volcano Tungurahua. Others have melt water running from the volcano. Tungurahua in the quechua language means “little hell” and it’s not as dramatic as it was some time ago, but does frequently puff out ash and smoke.

Baños offers bicycles, motorcycles and horses for hire, as well as trekking, canyoning and rafting. Rafting is exciting as the river begins to widen on its way toward the great Amazonas River.

Day 6 and 7. Cotopaxi (2 day trip)

The beautiful snow-capped cone of Cotopaxi Volcano (5897 m) is at the heart of the lovely Cotopaxi National Park and is one of the prime tourist destinations in the country. If you climb just one of Ecuador’s many volcanoes, then this should be the one. As often claimed, as well as being the highest active volcano in the world, Cotopaxi is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful mountains in the world and the view down into the crater from the rim is unforgettable.

The tour also includes a visit to Limpiopungo lake and a hike to the refuge.

Back to Quito at approx. 5 pm

We can organize any tour to visit your special interests.

The program includes:

• All visits and excursions in Quito and Equator line, Otavalo, Tulipe, Baños and Cotopaxi
• Entrances to Equator line Museums
• Transfers from airport to hotel and from hotel to airport
• English speaking guide
• Private transportation
• Lodging in hotels *** (in Baños and Cotopaxi)
• All local taxes

The program does not include:

• Any other service not specified in the package
• Tips
• Personal expenses
• Entrance to Cotopaxi National Park (10 USD per person) and entrance to refuge in Cotopaxi National park (10 USD per person)

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2. Adventure Package (Jungle, Horse Riding and Rafting)

4 days / 3 nights

Day 1: Arrival at Hakuna Matata at 1 pm or earlier by taxi (included) from Archidona.

Lunch in our famous Restaurant Pangaea. After lunch you can choose between two options for your jungle excursion:

Option 1:

HORSEBACK RIDING WITH GUIDE(S)

This unforgettable excursion is suited for both beginners and experienced riders. Accompanied by our professional guide and on well trained horses you'll take a very varied ride of about three hours.

The trip goes through rivers and streams, along sloping hills and amongst rich flora.

Option 2:

HIKE WITH GUIDE(S)

An experience in itself is the guided (bilingual naturalist guide) walk. The medicinal properties of plants and trees, insects and age-old customs are explained by our professional guide. Walking through private jungle, secondary forest and fields, you’ll get closer step by step to that unique wisdom that distinguishes the indigenous people of the area from the non-natives.

Dinner in Restaurant Pangaea.

Overnight stay in cabaña for 2 persons with private bathroom and hot shower.

Day 2:  INTRODUCTION TO THE ECUADORIAN AMAZON JUNGLE DAY TRIP

Early in the morning after breakfast you’ll leave Hakuna Matata for a two hour drive. In a small native village on the banks of the Río Arajuno, you’ll board a ‘motor canoe’ and navigate the Arajuno, Napo and other rivers. Unlike the traditional tours that are organized in this area we’ve designed an extra value alternative! During this Amazon excursion a whole range of activities are offered. Depending on weather conditions, number of participants and specific interests of the group. Your guide will put together the program.

Rich flora, in both primary and secondary forest, and fauna, in the form of birds, insects, amphibians and reptiles, will be introduced by our professional guide(s) during walks and canoe trips. You’ll be given explanations of the use of medicinal plants, trees and herbs by the native people. Tubing on one of the quiet rivers through primary forest is a spectacular experience.

Lunch will be served on the trip.

Return to the hacienda at about 6 pm. Dinner in Restaurant Pangaea.

Overnight stay in cabaña for 2 persons with private bathroom and hot shower.

Day 3: RAFTING CLASS III - III+

Early morning breakfast in Restaurant Pangaea. Afterwards, a 25 minute drive to Tena and then into the jungle takes us to the start of our rafting adventure on the Upper Napo river also known as the Jatuyacu river, which means “Big Water” in quechua. BIG is probably the best word to describe this river: big waves and tons of fun! This jungle river shows no signs of contamination as it flows from the Llanganates National Park – an extremely rugged and uninhabited mountain range believed by some to be the hiding place of Inca gold.

On arrival at the river we’ll receive a brief explanation about the trip and important safety measures. An amazing journey for beginner and expert rafters awaits; a perfect combination of exciting rapids and calm natural pools, not to mention the wonderful surrounding jungle scenery.

At noon, we’ll have a freshly prepared picnic lunch on the river bank, and then continue our tour.

Return to Hakuna Matata Lodge. Dinner in Restaurant Pangaea.

Overnight stay in cabaña for 2 persons with private bathroom and hot shower.

Day 4: BEACH AND RIVER

After breakfast you can visit the Pre-Columbian rock carvings (petroglyphs) and natural pools that are located only a few steps away from your cabaña! There are also marked trails with different levels of difficulty where you can do a short hike or just relax on the white sandy beach which invites sun worshippers and enjoy the crystal clear water of the Rio Inchillaqui.

Lunch in Restaurant Pangaea. After lunch, transfer to Archidona for return journey to Quito.

The program includes:

• Lodging in cabin with private bathroom and hot water
• All visits and excursions as detailed
• English speaking guide
• All meals during program as specified
• Full day rafting excursion with professional rafting guide(s), specialised rafting equipment, safety kayak, transport from/to the Lodge, picnic lunch by the river and all safety measures.
• All local taxes   

The program does not include:

• Transportation Quito / Archidona / Quito (by public transport $ 6 per passenger/one way)
• Drinks
• Tips
• Personal expenses. Any other service not specified in the program
• Minimum 4 people

NOTE: This package is subject to availability

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3. Jungle trip (Exploring Cuyabeno!)

5 days / 4 nights

Day 1: Lago Agrio - Laguna Cocha Grande - Green Planet Camp

Our rainforest experience begins in the oil town of Lago Agrio in the north of Ecuador, where we arrive either by bus or by plane. In Lago Agrio we meet our professional and expert jungle guide and travel by road for about 3 hours to “El Puente”, the entrance to the Cuyabeno Reserve. Then we enter the amazing jungle, board our canoe and travel down the river, admiring the wide variety of flora and fauna. On this first afternoon we already get a glimpse of the natural beauty of this area where we will spend the next few days. When we reach GREEN PLANET CAMP near the spectacular Cocha Grande Lagoon we have a good dinner, and our guide tells us about the following day’s itinerary. Then we fall asleep, lying under our mosquito nets and listening to the strange sounds of the jungle.

Day 2: Laguna Cocha Grande

Today, we wake up to a good breakfast, ready to explore the natural secrets of this part of the world. Rowing silently upstream, we reach the point where we start our hike. Our guide will lead us through the dense primary forest, telling us about the animals and insects of the rainforest, and explaining about the use of the many plants for survival that grow in this vast jungle. After the hike, we return to our camp to eat lunch and to relax in the comfortable hammocks. Later in the afternoon we get our fishing equipment ready to try our luck at catching piranha (eco fishing). When we get back to the camp we can enjoy a delicious meal of fresh fish and piranha. In the evening our guide invites you to join him on a fascinating night time river tour to experience the nocturnal sounds of the jungle. We search for night birds and insects and with flash lights catch a glimpse of the red gleaming eyes of caimans (alligators).

Day 3: Laguna Cocha Grande - Cuyabeno River

After a good night’s sleep we have breakfast, and then glide in our canoe downstream on the beautiful black waters of the Río Cuyabeno. During the trip on the river we observe the abundant wildlife and with a little luck, we see the legendary fresh water dolphin playing in the surrounding waters. After a delicious picnic lunch on the river bank, we take a short walk until we reach a community of the indigenous Siona people. Our guide will introduce us and we can get to know some of their traditions, and learn about the preparation of “Casabe”, the bread the Sionas make. The guide explains their fascinating way of living, and we return to the camp with many new impressions. In the evening we have dinner and the guide runs through our activities for the next day.

Day 4: Laguna Cocha Grande – Flooded Forest

Dawn breaks early on the equator and you may wish to rise with the sun and accompany our guide on a bird watching expedition. With new energy and after a good breakfast, we take the canoe to a place where we begin our walk and are able to see monkeys, toucans, parrots, and many different species of plants. Then we return to the camp to have lunch and take a rest. In the afternoon, we embark on an exciting tour into the flooded forest and its unique flora and fauna. Later, we visit the lagoons, where the water is black, yet quite clear and perfect for a refreshing swim. Back at the camp we spend our last evening in the jungle enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of surrounding nature and the company of our new friends.

Day 5: Laguna Cocha Grande – Lago Agrio

Today, we wake up early with the sun, and get ready to leave the jungle and return to civilization. After eating breakfast, we board the canoe to travel back upstream on the Río Cuyabeno. This is a last chance for us to see the animals and insects of this part of the jungle, and to ask our guide about exciting stories of life in the rainforest. At “El Puente” we have to say goodbye to the jungle, but having had a great time we can take a lot of magnificent memories with us. We are picked up and transferred to Lago Agrio, from where we can take the bus or go by plane back to Quito.

The program includes:

• Professional bilingual jungle guide, certified by the Ministry of Tourism
• Native guide
• • Complete camping equipment, including: rain poncho, rubber boots (up to size 44), motorized canoe, tents and / or mosquito nets, mattress, bed sheets, blankets.
• 3 daily meals in the camp (also vegetarian food, if reserved)
• Transport from Lago Agrio to Cuyabeno and back to Lago Agrio
• Drinking water during the whole trip

The program does not include:

• Transportation Quito – Lago Agrio – Quito (bus or plane)
• Accommodation and meals in Lago Agrio
• Entrance fee to Cuyabeno Reserve of US$ 20,oo
• Entrance to the Indian community of US$ 1,oo