Teachers' Travel        HF Holidays
Guided Walking and Sightseeing
Worldwide Holidays

ECUADOR 2010
Andes, Amazon & Galapagos 

Ecuador is a small country with a remarkable variety of scenery and culture.  Travel past perfectly conical snow-capped peaks and rolling meadows to small Andean villages untouched by time. 

Dates:  May 06 (16 nights)    Oct 07 -  (16 nights) 

2010 Prices:      3190.00 GBP    (High Season)  See brochure for all prices.                      Prices are per person for 16 nights based on double occupancy without airfare.                Single room supplement   650.00 GBP  

Guided Walks: A selection of part day walks ranging from 2 to 7 miles.  The most challenging walk is a 4 mile walk on Cotopaxi volcano, at altitude where other options are available.  In the Amazon and Galapagos, walks are short but are taken at a very leisurely pace due to the terrain and we stop numerous times to see the wildlife and study the ecology of each area. 

Hotels:  A selection of 3 and 4-star hotels and haciendas.  In the Amazon we stay in the Huaorani Ecolodge, a small lodge designed to be in harmony with the natural surroundings with traditionally built palm thatched cabins with en-suite facilities. Included: 16 nights accommodation in en-suite rooms. All meals except 3 dinners.  A full program of guided walks, local tour director, expert naturalist guides and an HF Holidays leader.  Sightseeing, entrance fees and travel by air conditioned coach.
Itinerary:
 
Days 1  Quito - 1 night.
Arrival in Quito (1 night) . 

Days 2-3 :
Head north, stopping at the equator line, to Otavalo (2 nights) a region of strong Andean culture and we stay in a traditional hacienda.  Our walks in the verdant and rolling hills include a circuit of the spectacular Cuicocha crater lake.

Days 4: Quito 1 night
Return to Quito (1 night) and explore the recently restored  historic centre, a World Heritage Site.

Days 5 - 6:   2 nights
Travel south along the Avenue of Volcanoes and continue to our mountain lodge, Hacienda el Porvenir (2 nights).  We walk in the Antisana ecological reserve, one of the most ecologically diverse areas in the world and one of the best places to see the Andean condor.  We also hike on the flanks of Cotopaxi volcano and walk around the extinct Quilotoa crater. 

Days  7: 1 night
After a day at Cotopaxi we return to Quito (1 night).

Days 8 - 11:  4 nights
A journey by road, air and dugout canoe takes us deep into the Amazon rainforest (4 nights) where we stay at the Huaorani Ecolodge.  The lodge is owned in a cooperativeby the Huaorani tribe who will take  us on walks through the rainforest to discover the amazing plant and animal life, demonstrate traditional hunting methods and crafts, and take us on canoe journeys on the Amazon headwaters.  We take jungle tours at sunrise to hear the extraordinary dawn chorus, in the stillness of the afternoon and at night to see nocturnal wildlife.  Our final night in the jungle is in a comfortable camp, for an amazing wilderness experience in this vast rainforest.

Day 12:   1 night
We journey to the town of Coca and fly to Quito  (1 night).

Days 13 - 15   3 nights
Fly to the Galapagos Islands (3 nights) and stay at a small beachfront hotel on Isabela, a large unspoilt island with no major developments.  Walking is an excellent low impact way to visit the Galapagos and will take us to see flamingos, giant tortoises, seabirds and the opportunity to swim and snorkel close to sea lions, penguins and marine turtles.  We'll also walk to the huge Sierra Negra crater, follow a wetlands trail in the mangroves and visit the tiny Tintoreras Islands.  The national park and trails are strictly controlled and this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be able to walk on this stark but ecologically diverse and important island.

Day 16: 1 nights
Fly to Quito (1 night ) for a farewell dinner.

Day 17: return flight
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