Day 1 Rafting Activity on the Rio Toachi (L,D)

Depart Quito at 7am for a 3-hour journey north west of Quito down the outer slopes of the Andes through beautiful cloud forest to the shores of the river.

The Río Toachi is a fantastic introduction to the rivers of Ecuador. Flowing off the coastal side of the Andes it has some of the longest navigable sections of white-water in the country. Combine this with the sights and sounds of the forest environment we pass through and you are guaranteed a day to remember.

Before setting off on our rafting experience you will be fitted with life jackets and helmets, given a comprehensive safety briefing and be trained in the paddling techniques needed to navigate your way down the river.

The rafting activity takes around 3 hours. During the trip we’ll stop by the side of the river for a delicious picnic lunch.

At the end of the day you will be dropped off in the local town of Mindo.

Dinner and overnight in local lodge with breakfast included.

Day 2 Cloud Forest Hike & Canopy Zip-Lining Activity (B,L)

This morning, your private naturalist guide will meet you in your Mindo lodge. Enjoy a hike through the local cloud forest reserve. The area of Mindo in Ecuador is a biodiversity hot spot, which boasts a huge variety of colourful birdlife. Look out for hummingbirds, tanagers and toucans.

Lunch included in local lodge

In the afternoon take part in the exhilarating canopy activity at the near-by zip lining centre, where there are 10 different zip lines ranging from 20m to 400m, taking you on a thrilling ride over the canopy of the beautiful cloud forest. Later return to Quito.

Overnight in boutique hotel with breakfast included.

Day 3 Cotopaxi National Park Mountain Biking (B,L)

At 7am we leave Quito on our shared biking tour. After driving south for 1 and a half hours on the Pan-American highway we reach the entrance of Cotopaxi National Park. We drive through pine forests and soon reach the Visitor’s centre of the park. We then continue the ascent in our 4-wheel drive vehicle until we reach the highest point of the tour at 4500m The view from this point is stunning and on a clear day we are able to see up to 8 volcanoes.

We then put on helmets, gloves and protective pads and our bike adventure on the world’s highest active volcano can begin. The first 8km will take us down 700m on dirt roads through volcanic ash and tundra landscapes. At 3800 we have to do some pedalling while we head down another 8km between volcanic rocks and wild horses to our lunch spot by an Inca ruin at 3700m.With some luck we might see a condor or a caracara.

This is the standard itinerary that we always try to respect. Please keep in mind that due to the nature of this tour we sometimes have to be flexible because of weather conditions, or biking skills of other participants. What to bring: warm clothes & waterproof jacket.

After the activity drop off at our mountain lodge.

Overnight in mountain lodge with breakfast included.

Day 4 Cotopaxi National Park Hike (B,L)

This morning our private guide will pick us up for our hiking experience.

Today’s walk is a circular route which takes us through striking & bleak Andean landscapes, in the ever-present shadow of the snow-capped, perfectly cone-shaped Cotopaxi Volcano.

Beginning at 3800m, the first part of the hike is flat as we follow the edge of the Limpiopungo lake for around 20 minutes.

From here we start a gradual ascent up towards the Rumiñahui Volcano. After around half an hour of climbing we reach 4000m, then follow the trail around the slopes of the volcano’s foothills for a further 40 minutes until we reach the Valley of Silence.

The hike takes us through this valley, which offers fantastic views and paramo scenery, before we begin to loop back around and down to the Limpiopungo Lake.

Great opportunities to see Andean Condor, Andean fox, White-tailed deer and wild ponies. Picnic lunch included. (12km – 4 hours)

Later we continue with our private guide and vehicle to the mountain spa town of Baños.

Overnight in a local hotel with breakfast included.

Day 5 Canyoning Activity & Swing at the End of the World (B,L)

The Rio Blanco presents us with a group of waterfalls, surrounded by an abundance of nature, a habitat for countless birds. Look closely and you may spot the mystical and elusive cock of the rock, a magnificent orange bird found only in this type of environment. Enjoy the clear waters originating from the Llanganates National Park while you abseil down rock walls and waterfalls.

Our day begins in the town of Baños where you will be fitted with the appropriate gear. From there you can enjoy the scenic ride to the Rio Blanco. After a short trek into the canyon your guide will give you a comprehensive safety briefing, followed by an opportunity to practice abseiling down a dry rock wall. The fun begins at our first waterfall of 15m high. The challenge and thrills continue with subsequent waterfalls of 18m and 25m, and the grand finale is a 35m high waterfall!

This shared activity takes around 4 hours and includes canyoning gear (maximum shoe size 44), professional and experienced bilingual guides, transportation and lunch.

What to Bring
Bathing suit, towel, insect repellent, sunscreen, change of clothes, USB (to take home digital photos)
In the afternoon our private guide will take us to visit the infamous “Swing at the End of the World” where you can swing from the local treehouse out over the valley below with the smoking Tungurahua Volcano as a back drop. Great photo opportunity.

Overnight in a local hotel with breakfast included.

Day 6 Biking Tour along the Route of the Waterfalls (B,L)

Take in the beautiful countryside as you make your way along 15 km of waterfalls and stunning vistas. This very aptly named route, known as the Route of the Waterfalls, winds its way through the mountains, overlooking and stopping by multiple breathtaking waterfalls, not least of which is the famous Pailon de Diablo. A fun time is certain to be had with this tour!

What to bring
Sunscreen, sunglasses & water bottle

Our day begins with a 20 minute bike ride from Baños town to the first waterfall, Agoyan, where we will stop to rest and take photos. The next stop is the spectacular Manto de la Novia.

The cable car ride we will take over the booming Pastaza river will give us an up-close view of the crashing falls. The Ecuadorian landscapes will amaze you as we wind our way 15 km through the small village of Rio Verde and stop to stand in awe of the massive Pailon del Diablo waterfall.

Afterward, we will ride to Machay falls, hike to its base and cool off in its powerful and refreshing waters. Having worked up an appetite we will be glad to have lunch back in Rio Verde, and relax and take in the scenery as we travel by car back to Baños.

In the afternoon we return to Quito with our private vehicle and guide.