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Andes and Amazon with Cotococha lodge 5 days

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1
We leave Quito early in the morning and start with a drive up the Eastern Cordillera, where a 4065 m. high mountain pass has to be passed. It can be foggy up here but when the weather is clear we'll be surprised by the magnificent views at the Antizana volcano and the surrounding paramo wetlands. In a few hours we will reach las Termas de Papallacta, Ecuador's most beautifully situated thermal hot springs Resort and Spa. After an hour we continue our journey to the village of Baeza. There we will have a lunch at Gina's, where we can enjoy the most delicious trout of the world. After lunch we will continue through the last hills of the Cordillera to the Cotococha Amazon Lodge, where we will be welcomed with a té guayusa, a local drink. We will have diner at the lodge, and after diner there is the opportunity to enjoy a drink in the cozy lounge with fireplace.

Day 2
The second day we can make a choice out of a great variety of excursions. The excursions are all accompanied by a local guide. We can pay a visit to AmaZOOnico, an animal rescue center where many native species from the jungle can be found, such as monkeys, toucans, agoutis, snakes, caimans, tapirs and many more. We could visit a Quichua community, where you will learn about their local traditions and customs. Practice the blowpipe, see how the local fermented drink 'chicha' is elaborated and hear the many stories they can tell us about the jungle. There are good swimming and fishing opportunities or what about being taken downstream by an authentic balsa raft!

Day 3
After our breakfast at the lodge we will leave for Baños. On our way will stop in Puyo, where we can have lunch and visit a Casa de balsa. In a Casa de balsa, local inhabitants will show us how they make souvenirs of balsa wood. They will also give you the opportunity to buy some of their hand made souvenirs. We also have the opportunity to visit a Molienda, a sugar-cane factory, where we can see how the Ecuadorians make alcoholic drinks out of sugar-cane. After Puyo we can enjoy spectacular views of the Pastaza gorge, the surrounding cloud forest and the many waterfalls on both sides of the road. We can also visit el Paillon del Diablo. This is a waterfall that falls down in a kind of bowl, when you take a good look at this bowl you can see the face of the devil in it. At the end of the afternoon we will reach Baños, where we will stay in a beautiful hotel.

Day 4
Day 4 we will spend in Baños. Baños is famous because of its thermal hot springs with its healing powers, but has much more to offer. You can walk around the city to visit the church, go mountain biking, horseback riding and there is also the possibility to go to a viewpoint from where you can see the Tungurahua, one of the active volcanoes of Ecuador.

Day 5
In the early morning of the fifth day we are leaving to climb the Cotopaxi, the world´s highest snowcapped active volcano. On our way we will come along the Salasaca indigenous community, where we will have a look at the many tapestries and other woven products made by the local Indians. Afterwards we continue to the park where we will pay first a short visit to the little museum which tells about the park; its nature, geology, history and eruptions of the centerpiece of the park; the Cotopaxi volcano of 5897 mts. high. We continue our way into the park and stop at the Limpiopungo lake at 3800 mts. Here we can make an acclimatizing walk while observing semi-wild horses, a variety of ducks and hummingbirds and the Andean gull and lapwing. Afterwards we drive to the parking lot at 4600 mts. from where it's a strenuous 45 minute walk up to the José Ribas refuge at 4800 mts, a mountain cabin halfway the volcano. Here we will enjoy a short break at the refuge and if we feel fit enough we will continue to the nearby glacier, where we have some incredible picture opportunities and the spectacular scenery at the immense ice walls and deep crevasses Before returning to Quito we can have lunch on the slopes of the Cotopaxi.

Includes:

• All private transport with driver and driver´s expenses
• English speaking guide throughout the journey
• Entrance fee to Termas de Papallacta & Cotopaxi NP
• Hotel nights based on double room accommodation with breakfast
  (except for first class version diner also included in Baños)
• All meals at the lodge from diner on day 1 till breakfast on day 3
• 3d/2n Jungle lodge with native guide & excursions

Not included:

• Other meals
• Optional excursions and any other entrance fees
• Personal expenses, Tips & Extras
  

Hotels in Baños:

• Tourist Class: Hotel Monteselva
• Superior Class: Hospedaje La Florestra
• First Class: Hotel Luna Runtun

TOUR OPERATORS OFFERING THIS TOUR: