Sample Itineraries
These sample itineraries can be modified to fit all of your requirements.
Amazon
Day 1
Depart from Quito to Guango Lodge. Guango, not far from the town of Papallacta, offers a beautiful, high temperate cloud forest experience with a brisk climate. Forest trails, starting right from the lodge, are the prefect way to become acquainted with this wonderland of gnarled trees and picturesque, Andean landscapes. The hummingbird feeders, right on the front porch, have become famous with our visitors, touting such names as Sword-billed Hummingbird, Mountain Velvetbreast and Tourmaline Sunangel. Eight double rooms (all with private bath and hot water), a welcoming fireplace and plenty of forest trails – with habitats different from those found at San Isidro - make this spot a perfect complimentary visit.
After dinner you´ll enjoy a relaxing dip in the hot baths at “Termas de Papallacta”. Overnight at “Guango Lodge”.
Day 2
After breakfast at Guango, we´ll go hiking along the lodge´s trails to enjoy the forest near the river. You will also have the opportunity for more hummingbird observation before lunch… great for photography! After lunch we´ll continue our trip down-slope to Cabañas San Isidro, a lodge now famous in the birding world, and surrounded by some of the most accessible and extensive tracts of primary, subtropical Andean forest in Ecuador.
Cabañas San Isidro invites you to immerse yourself into a cloud forest environment where waterfalls still run clean and the wilderness still reins. We have been hard at work for over 20 years combining top-notch service with a conservation ethic that stands unrivaled on Ecuador’s east-slope; our private reserve (set at about 2,000 meters elevation) is the cornerstone of a forest corridor that links the expanse Antisana and Gran Sumaco reserves. This plus ten comfortable cabins, all with private bath and hot water, not to mention the world-class, fusion cuisine, have lured many guests time and again. If you’ve never tried quinua-breaded fish or black pepper ice cream, here is your chance!
Kilometers of trails spill out through a lush 1,300 hectare - about 3,000 acre - forest reserve through some of the most pristine and accessible primary forest in eastern Ecuador.
If nothing else, Cabañas San Isidro is also a great place to relax in comfort and take in the marvelous Andean scenery, such as from the observation deck near the cabins where the view is simply magnificent!
After a short introductory hike along one of the many trails at the lodge, we’ll have time to clean up and then enjoy what is sure to be a delectable dinner. Overnight at Cabañas San Isidro.
Day 3
Breakfast at San Isidro. Afterwards we´ll head out onto the trails for a hike down to the Cosanga River, enjoying the awesome primary forest, noisy and colorful birds, and with luck, an animal or two.
The scenery is nothing less than astonishing, especially if this is to be your first walk through a woodland of large tropical trees draped with moss and orchids. When the ‘hunger-bells’ start to ring, we’ll hike back to the main house and have lunch.
In the afternoon we´ll undertake another hike that has in store for us a spectacular waterfall where you could even take a magical and healing bath… simply exhilertaing in the cool mountain water! Back to the lodge and have yet another delicious dinner. Overnight at San Isidro.
Day 4
Breakfast at San Isidro and then depart with our belongings to the Quijos River, where some real action awaits us: rafting or kayaking. After a short stop along the river for some nice scenery and time to recharge over a box lunch, we’ll continue our rafting/kayaking adventure.
We’ll have dinner at our lodge for this evening, La Campina del Quijos. Overnight at La Campina del Quijos.
Day 5
Breakfast at La Campina del Quijos. Depart via Coca with a short stop at the roaring and magnificent San Rafael waterfall (Cascadas San Rafael). The easy hike to the falls offers an intimate look at the foothill forests with great view points… yet another perfect spot for a lunch in the field. After about a 3-4 hour drive through some of the more inhabited Amazonian lowlands, we will arrive at Cañon de los Monos Lodge near the oil-boom town of Coca.
After dinner we’ll hike around the trails of the property and enjoy any night critters that we can find of this secondary tropical forest. With luck we’ll encounter a Tropical Screech-Owl, a large and native bamboo rat (a fascinating, nocturnal rodent that calls throughout the night) or even a large tropical snake. Overnight at Cañon de los Monos.
Day 6
Breakfast in Cañon de los Monos. We´ll take a small canoe along the shores of the Coca & Napo Rivers. Here we’ll make stops to visit some native houses of the indigenous people. We´ll also have time to visit a cultural museum and even a zoo that houses some of the local wildlife that is so hard to see in their natural haunts. Back to Cañon de los Monos, have dinner and overnight.
Day 7
Breakfast at Cañon de los Monos. Today we’ll take a canoe trip along the Payamino River where you will have the chance to swim in this beautiful river, while taking in the surroundings of the Amazonian landscape that abounds.
Back to the lodge for lunch and free afternoon where you can enjoy the view from the 20 meter water tower, watch for the local troop of Black-mantled Tamarin Monkeys that pass through on occasion, or simply enjoy the sunset from the property’s dock.
Dinner at the lodge and overnight.
Day 8
Breakfast at Cañon de los Monos. Optional stop at Termas de Papallacta for a little relaxation after the long drive from Coca before our arrival back to Quito. Night in Quito.
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Highlands
Day 1
Depart from Quito to Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve. Bellavista offers its guests a unique stay above the forest canopy where its geodesic dome lodge – situated atop a narrow knoll - rises up through the surrounding trees! Some prefer the 4-story, thatch-roofed geodesic dome, while others prefer the unusual bamboo house, the half-timbered trailhead house, or the house in the woods.
And for the budget-minded, there is the Research Station / Hostel or camping options. The 360 degree view from the dome allows you to gaze upon the rugged peaks of Pichincha and Cotacachi in the distance. You can also sit out on your private balcony and observe the activity at your own hummingbird feeder. Much of the morning will be spent enjoying the trails and birdwatching. Lunch at Bellavista.
In the afternoon we will go hiking through sinuous trails that reach way into the forest and lead you to some beautiful waterfalls. We will probably even have time to take our bikes (provided at Bellavista) and go for a downhill ride to various interesting destinations nearby.
Dinner and overnight at Bellavista.
Day 2
Breakfast at Bellavista. Departure to the small, eco-touristic town of Mindo. On the way, however, we will stop near the small town of Nanegalito where we will enjoy a spot known as Tucanopy. Here a cable system, made up of 1200 mts. of 5 zip lines, crosses over a beautiful cloud forest for you to ride on. Be ready for a few shots of natural adrenaline!!!
We will lunch at this wonderful place that is surrounded by colorful hummingbirds and exotic nature.
After lunch we will continue our journey to lively Mindo. After a look around Mindo, we will round the home-stretch for the day and get to our stop for the night, Mariposas de Mindo Lodge, where we will enjoy the wonderful butterfly garden (where they raise butterflies) and the delicious, pure fruit juices made by the owner. Lunch in the lodge and afternoon rafting.
Dinner and overnight at Mariposas de Mindo Lodge.
Day 3
Depart from Mindo to Cuevas de Alvaro - Underground Lodge. This amazing lodge, located near the town of Pifo, only 45 minutes from Quito, is a system of caves that were dug-out by hand underneath a beautiful paramo knoll. Owned and run by well-known Quito local, Juan Simón Bustamante, it was once the home and farmhouse of his mentor (and eccentric uncle), Alvaro Bustamante. After years of disuse, Juan Simón took on the monstorous task of restoring this unique and historical master-work and converted it into one of the most original tourist lodges anywhere in the Andes… you have to see it for yourself to believe it.
After lunch, and a tour of the caves, we’ll do some horseback riding and climbing, enjoying the surroundings of the property that offer up some excellent views of the central valley below.
Dinner and ethereal night underground at the lodge.
Day 4
After breakfast we will hike amongst the central valley hills for 2 hours and reach a wonderful waterfall set against a backdrop of native inter-montane vegetation.
We will return for a relaxing lunch at the lodge and a siesta, should you choose.
In the afternoon we will enjoy the activities right around the lodge, such as the giant penduline swing, the exciting zip-line cable-car that crosses the lake of the lodge, the small paddle-boats on the lake, and a short hike through a trail,lined by towering eucalyptus trees that ends up at a panoramic spot where, if you are lucky, you might even see a condor in flight. Assuming the weather cooperates, we should enjoy another transfixing sunset from one of the central valley’s best settings.
Dinner and overnight at Cuevas de Alvaro.
Day 5
Breakfast at Cuevas de Alvaro and morning departure to Hacienda El Porvenir (Machachi, Cotopaxi), which is located on the slopes of Volcán Rumiñahui. Here there is a tradicional adobe farmhouse for guest lodging, a fine restaurant and many fun and exciting outdoor activities and tours for your enjoyment. After a good night of sleep at the lodge, you’ll enjoy some horseback riding guided by a “chagra”, or Andean cowboy, through unimaginable spots that can only be reached by horse.
A sit-down lunch at the main house will make you feel like one of the locals and absorb you in the traditional life-style. In the afternoon we have in store for you an amazing hike through native forests that then spill out over the open paramo grasslands. Here, legends abound under the watchful eyes of the ancient and magestic mountains that tower above… your guide will certainly have some tales of his own.
Dinner and overnight at Hacienda El Porvenir.
Day 6
Post-breakfast departure for Hacienda Santa Rita, located on the slopes of Volcán Pasochoa. Beautiful Pasochoa is one of the few inter-montane volcanoes, with an extensive humid, temperate forest reserve, that still supports a wealth of native wildlife, such as Mountain Tapirs and Andean Guans. The plan for the morning is to launch right into the “Cañon del Salto” Canopy Tour, which is made up of 7 zip lines that cross over El Salto Canyon. The length of the cables range from 180 m (700 ft) to 400 m (1312 ft) in length, and are 40 m (130 ft) above the ground. Adrenaline, adrenaline, adrenaline!!!
After lunch here, we’ll go rappelling and climbing at a spot not far from the ‘canopy’ experience.
Dinner and camping under the stars at Hacienda Santa Rita.
Day 7
After eating breakfast you’ll go mountain biking down the flanks of the world’s highest active volcano, Cotopaxi, from the snowline at an altitude of 4,500 meters (14,760 ft) , down to 2,600 meters (14,760 ft.) to the “Los Chillos” valley at about 2.600 meters (14.760 ft). This experience will ‘literally’ take your breath away; we will enjoy lunch at a local and reputable restaurant, La Matilde.
From here, we can almost see our next destination in the distance across the high plateau of the central valley, Hacienda La Alegria, situated on the lower slopes of Volcán Corazon (4788m at its peak) in the heart of what we vernacularly call the "Avenue of the Volcanoes". This Hacienda is surrounded by fabulous horse-riding country, with cobbled tracks that wind through lush, pastoral farmland all the way up to the rolling paramos (high grasslands) and the rocky summit cones of the many extinct volcanoes that barracade both sides of the Machachi valley.
In the afternoon you’ll enjoy a 3-hour round trip hike to a local peak called “Viudita”, or old widow, (3760m). In the afteroon, we’ll return to the hacienda for a hot shower at the end of the day and dine in comfort. Overnight at Hacienda La Alegria.
Day 8
You’ll experience the amazing horseback-riding that this hacienda has to offer. After breakfast you will take a ride at the hacienda corral to make sure that you get the feel and are comfortable with the horse you will be riding. From here we will ride to the cloud forests to the west of the hacienda, where you will witness a completely different environment within the reserve, and will be able to observe an exciting zonal change of vegetation in just a short time. After 2 hours of riding up to 3.500 mts through a native tundra-like landscape, we will start to descend (in the direction of the coast) and experience an incredible sub-tropical vegetation that blankets the western mountain chain.
A typical Ecuadorian meal will be waiting for us at a farm located in the exuberant cloud forest where we will have the opportunity to appreciate the exotic ecosystem. We will see a great variety of orchids while we are riding through the primary forest, as well as giant gunneras (large leaves also known as poor man’s umbrella), tall tree ferns, moss-covered and bromeliad laden trees and large stands of high altitude bamboo… all of which offer amazing scenery. We will also have the chance to listen to the fascinating tales of the farmer’s remote life-styles (more than 25 years in the forest!) and learn about medicinal plants and trees. In the afternoon we will ride back to Hacienda La Alegria where we will overnight and have dinner.
Day 9
Breakfast at Hacienda La Alegria; back to Quito for international flights home.
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Galápagos
Day 1
Arrival into Quito and transfer to El Arupo Hostel. Located in a central neighborhood of the city, El Arupo offers comfort and charm for a very reasonable cost. You can also find plenty of tourist information just a few steps away, such as tour operator agencies, banks, museums, restaurants, cyber coffee-bars & discos, and Spanish & dancing schools, and so much more.
Dinner at “La Ronda” restaurant famous for its many, typical Ecuadorian dishes. After what will have certainly been a delicious and even educational dinner, we’ll enjoy an after-dinner cocktail at La Guaragua Bar Restaurant. Night at El Arupo Hostel.
Day 2
Early breakfast and transfer to the airport for our flight to the Galápagos Islands – remember to set your watches back one hour - where we should arrive in time for a sit-down lunch at La Garrapata Restaurant in the town of Puerto Ayora, Galápagos’ largest – and very lively - town. The food here is excellent and will delight your senses. In the afternoon we will visit the Darwin Station where we will take a tour of the tortoise rearing station and get a taste of some of our first natural habitats of the islands. We will also see some of our first Galápagos finches, famous for their role in helping Darwin devise his theory of natural selection.
During the tour you'll learn first hand what is going on with the conservation and research efforts in the islands. You will also see the tortoise hatchlings and better understand how the breeding program has saved several races of these magnificent creatures from impending extinction. For most, this may be your only opportunity to see some fine, living specimens of the giant Galápagos tortoise.
Dinner at Angermeyer Point; overnight at Casa Arupo’s Galápagos branch.
Day 3
After our first breakfast in the islands, we will have an 8:00 am pick-up, and take a tour of the surrounding bay that includes some real hot-spots on Santa Cruz Island. “Las Grietas”, one of our stops, was formed by fissures in the old lava flows, and is a great place to snorkel. Another spot, Punta Estrada, is perfect for swimming, and snorkeling.
Loberia is located a short 10 minute by motor boat ride south from Puerto Ayora; here you will have some great snorkeling opportunities. Traveler's frequently note the unusual color of the plants as they near the beach.
La Lobería is home to a large sea lion colony and nursery. There are frequently dozens of sea lions visible at any time. Low tide is one of the best times to visit since it is when the mother's bring the pups into the tide pools for swimming lessons.
This afternoon we’ll have lunch at Trattoria de Pippo in Puerto Ayora. After lunch we’ll visit Tortuga Bay. About a one hour walk (five km) west of Puerto Ayora on a well-marked and cobbled path, the sunsets here are dream-like and the sand like flour!!!
Dinner at Pizzeria Media Luna; overnight at Casa Arupo - Galapagos.
Day 4
After another soothing island breakfast, we’ll be on our way.
Today’s day tour (box lunch included) will start with an 8:00 am pick-up for a cruise to North Seymour and Bachas Islands. North Seymour is an uplifted (as opposed to volcanic) island plateau, and is thus generally flat and strewn with rocks and boulders, surrounded by low, litoral vegetation. The island has abundant nesting sites for both Magnificent and Great Frigatebirds.
This is also a good spot to see Blue-footed Boobies perform their entertaining courtship dances – sometimes right on the trail - and the elegant Swallow-tailed Gulls as they perch and swoop at close range. Despite the tremendous surf that pounds the outer shores, sea lions haul themselves out onto the beach and can even be seen bodysurfing amongst the protruding fins of the White-tipped Reef-Sharks. Bachas island, where you will hike among colonies of frigatebirds and land iguanas, is made up of decomposed coral, that make its sands white and soft… and a favorite site for nesting sea turtles.
The Sally Lightfoot crabs, willing to eat anything they can get their claws on, are abundant on the lava rocks along the water's edge; you may even catch a glimpse of one skittering across the water, which is the behavior that gives them their name.
In the afternoon we’ll visit El Garrapatero beach, located on the northern side of the island of Santa Cruz - this after a picturesque crossing (in bus) of the highland farmlands and small villages. El Garrapatero is a wide bay with many pristine, sandy beaches. A short hike behind the beach, there is an area with a brakish-water lake where you will likely see pink flamingos, herons, grebes, stilts and other waterbirds. The beaches here are an excellent place for swimming and relaxation.
Dinner at The Red Mangrove Inn and overnight at Casa Arupo - Galápagos.
Day 5
After breakfast, we’ll travel by boat to Isabela Island (3 hours). Isabela is by far the largest island in the Galápagos archepelago—bigger than all of the other islands combined. Some of the possible activities that we can enjoy are hiking, horseback riding, surfing, swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving, After a visit to Beto´s House for lunch, we’ll have time to relax on the beach in the afternoon.
Dinner at El Encanto de la Pepa restaurant and overnight at Casa Marita.
Day 6
Breakfast, and 8:00 AM pick-up, for kayaking to “La Tintorera” with a hike along the trails here. “La Tintorera” lagoon is located 5 minutes from Puerto Villamil and affords visitors the opportunity to observe White-tipped Reef-Sharks and a variety of waterbirds, all surrounded by large stands of button wood trees and other native vegetation.
We’ll lunch at “El Encanto de la Pepa” restaurant.
After lunch we will do some horseback riding at the volcano “Sierra Negra”, which rises to an elevation of nearly 1,500 meters (4,890 feet), and is the largest and one of most active volcanoes in the archipelago. The scenery here is magnificent, with staggering views of the lush caldera and surroundings below.
We will return for dinner to the El Encanto de la Pepa restaurant and overnight again at Casa Marita.
Day 7
Breakfast.
After our 7:00 AM pick-up, we will travel back to Santa Cruz Island (Puerto Ayora) where we will have lunch at Angermeyer Point and then enjoy a free afternoon of some island-life exploration; dinner at La Garrapata Restaurant. Overnight at Casa Arupo - Galápagos
Day 8
Breakfast and transfer to the airport on Baltra, flight back to Quito. We should make it back to Quito by mid-late afternoon for some shopping should you desire… remember to set your watches ahead one hour!
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Coast
Day 1
Arrival into Quito and transfer to El Arupo Hostel. Located in a central neighborhood of the city, El Arupo offers comfort and charm for a very reasonable cost. You can also find plenty of tourist information just a few steps away, such as tour operator agencies, banks, museums, restaurants, cyber coffee-bars & discos, and Spanish & dancing schools, and so much more.
Dinner at “La Ronda” restaurant, famous for its many, typical Ecuadorian dishes. After what will have certainly been a delicious and even educational dinner, we’ll enjoy an after-dinner cocktail at Bongo Café Bar. Night at El Arupo Hostel.
Day 2
Depart from Quito at 8:00 AM after breakfast and head to Hostal El Gabeal in Mompiche. Our trip by car, to the northern coast of Ecuador, will take us about 7 hours. Get ready for a journey that drops 3,000 meters in elevation, from the high and cool Andean plains to the hot and humid western lowlands, on a crossing that dramatically plummets down the Andes, where you will experience an amazing change in weather and vegetation in a very short period of time.
After lunch at Hostal El Gabeal, we’ll soon reach our destination at the beaches of Mompiche that, around 4 years ago, rapidly earned acclaim as one of the best new destinations for surfers. Where you will find one of the most beautiful and easy breaks to surf in Ecuador.
We’ll enjoy a seafood dinner delight at Hostal El Gabeal and then we will relax and have some evening fun – with music and partying - next to a beach, bonfire. Night at Hostal El Gabeal.
Day 3
After breakfast we will travel half an hour by car and boat to “Portete Island”. This is a magic island full of palms that holds within its shores a small town with a very different and cozy atmosphere. Because of the island’s remotness, few toursists find their way here, so if you’re looking for a little bit of isolation, this is the spot to visit.
After a morning spent getting to know the town and exploring the beach, we’ll then return to Mompiche for lunch at Hostal El Gabeal where you can take advantage of some relaxtion time and surf.
We will then travel by car - about a 3 hour trip - to Hotel Bambu, located along the shores of beautiful Canoa Beach. Dinner and night at Bambu Hotel.
Day 4
Beach-side breakfast at Bambu Hotel, from where we will then travel by car to Tauro Organic Farm in the Rio Muchacho Valley next to the river of the same name, just north of Bahia de Caraquez along the central coast of Ecuador.
The trip to Rio Muchacho is a nice example of the rich interaction between environment and culture to be found in many spots in Ecuador. Here you can share, learn, and participate in different and interesting culture.
Lunch at Bambu Hotel, and in the afternoon you will have another opportunity to go surfing on your own. Later you can relax on the beach and even amble along the small streets through the town of Canoa.
Dinner at Bambu Hotel and, if you feel so inclined, enjoy the upbeat party atmosphere around Canoa. Night at Bambu Hotel.
Day 5
Breakfast at Bambu Hotel and travel by car to Hosteria Alandaluz in the small town of Salango. Lunch at Alandaluz and travel to “ Playa de los Frailes”, considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Ecuador and also surrounded by a national park that protects some of the finest examples of the coastal, native vegetation. Here you can enjoy the extensive clean beaches and hike the trails to some fascinating rock formations right on the coast. We will spend the entire afternoon here and then make the short trip back to Hosteria Alandaluz for dinner and a relaxing evening at this original spot on the beach.
Day 6
Breakfast at Hosteria Alandaluz and travel by car to the sleepy fishing village of Puerto Lopez. From here we will charter a motor boat to Ïsla de la Plata to watch – at close range, we hope - the magnificent humpback whales, diving Blue-footed Boobies, nesting frigatebirds and much more.
We’ll return to Puerto Lopez for lunch at “El Delfin Magico Restaurant”, where some spectacular and fresh seafood is to be had, and then continue by car to Montañita Beach. Second only to the breaks of San Cristóbal island in the Galápagos, Montañita is the best place to surf within Ecuador’s borders. Montañita is a small town with a lot of cozy hotels and some very entertaining nightlife. The beachside Montañita Hotel will be our stop for the night. Here we will spend the rest of the afternoon on the beach before heading out for dinner at one of the local restaurants. Afterwards, some fun partying awiats us in town.
Day 7
Today will be a full day of surfing, and after breakfast at the Hostal Pakalolo, we will rent surfboards and head to the beach at Montañita.
Dinner and night in Montañita.
Day 8
Back to Quito by car - around 10 hours - or flight back to Quito from Guayaquil; lunch in the city of Guayaquil should we be traveling by air.
Once in Quito, we will go directly to the Hostal El Arupo.
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Contact Us
Wirak Tour Designer
Lizardo Garcia E545 y Juan Leon Mera
(005932) 2523528 / (005939) 9479373 / (005939) 8023659 www.wiraktours.com / cbustamante@wiraktours.com, epita@wiraktours.com
Quito-Ecuador
