Day 1 | Tumbaco (Quito)

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• Arrival and acclimatization day (Quito is at 2800 meters)!

• Organized airport pick-up and hotel check-in throughout the day.

• Welcome dinner: 6:30 pm

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Day 2 | Quito – Fuya Fuya – Otavalo

 

We start our day early and drive towards Imbabura Province. We take this day easy and start our adventure for the day driving towards the pristine Mojanda lagoon, a volcano that has been extinct for more than 200,000 years. We will start hiking to the short but steep summit of Fuya Fuya, perfect for acclimatization; from the top, we can observe the beautiful paramo landscapes of the surrounding Andes.

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• Distance 5 km/3 mi single trail. Optional adding 8km/5 miles on a gravel road

• Elevation +/- 500m/1640ft

• Route highest point at 4275m/14,000ft

• Estimated time 2 hours

• Sleeping altitude 2800m/9186ft

• Transfer to Mojanda Lagoon (1h50)

• Afternoon chill time with beautiful landscapes (needed for acclimatization!)

 

Day 3 | Otavalo – Cuicocha Lagoon

 

We begin our day with an Andean breakfast and then we will depart to Cotacachi volcano foothills where the beautiful Cuicocha lagoon is located. The lagoon is a large caldera of nearly 3 kilometers wide and is part of the Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve. This is one of the most beautiful lagoons in Ecuador. An undulating route at high altitude, with majestic views of different volcanoes such as Cayambe, Imbabura and Cotacachi, and of course the crater’s sapphire-blue waters and vivid flora. After a well-deserved lunch, we will enjoy the charm of Cotacachi town famous for its leather products. In the afternoon we return to our hacienda and enjoy a relaxing afternoon and dinner.

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• Distance 13km/8mi

• Elevation +/- 600m/1968ft

• Route highest point at 3485m/11433ft

• Estimated time 2.5 hours

• Sleeping altitude 2800m/9186ft

• Transfer to Cuicocha Lagoon (50 min)

• Afternoon chill time with beautiful landscapes

 

Day 4 | Mojanda – Imbabura  –  Machachi

 

Today we enjoy an early breakfast and we get ready to hike up to El Imbabura. We drive to the small village of La Esperanza – Chirihuasi where the trail starts. The long trekking to the summit will be one of the best souvenirs of the trip. It is a challenging route traversing polylepis forest and páramo terrain, if the weather allows the hike will offer fantastic views of the Imbabura province, Cayambe and Cotacahi volcanoes. Once we are back at Chirihuasi we have a well-deserved packed lunch and the North Andes are over with this challenging hike. We will drive towards the Central Andes to a small cozy hacienda privileged located on the Avenue of the Volcanoes our next base camp.

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• Distance 10km/6mi

• Elevation +/- 1250m/4101ft

• Route highest point at 4630m/15190ft

• Estimated time 5 hours

• Sleeping altitude 3100m/10170ft

• Transfer to La Esperanza (1h10 min)

• Transfer to the Central Andes from La Esperanza (3h30)

 

Day 5 | Machachi – Pasochoa

 

After breakfast, we drive towards Pasochoa. The zone is part of Ecuador's National System of Protected Areas. It has an extraordinary biological value as it holds several vegetation zones, but much of the plant life is an Andean forest with approximately 240 plant species, it is home to some 10 mammal species like deer, rabbits, pumas, skunks and bats, and 127 bird species, among them 16 hummingbird species, condors, huirac-churos, and more. The special shape of Pasochoa is the result of the eruption of the volcano some 100 000 years ago, creating as a consequence the large crater; as the mountain was difficult to access and is not suitable for agriculture the forest is relatively untouched and is one of the few remaining native forests of the Ecuadorian Andes. After the hike, we drive back to our base camp for a deserved rest and dinner.

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• Distance 8km/5mi

• Route highest point at 4275m/14000ft

• Elevation +/- 500m/1640ft

• Estimated time 4 hours

• Sleeping altitude 3100m/10170ft

• Transfer to Pasochoa (1h20)

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Day 6 | Machachi – Quilotoa Lagoon

 

After some early breakfast, we head towards the Quilotoa lagoon at 3800m/12467ft. One of the most beautiful and impressive lagoons in Ecuador, an azure-colored crater lake surrounded by steep shadowy mountains and (most likely) deep blue skies overhead. 

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• Distance 10km/6.2mi0-

• Route highest point at 3932m/12900ft

• Elevation +/- 465m/1526ft

• Estimated time 3 hours

• Sleeping altitude 3100m/10170ft

• Transfer to Quilotoa Lagoon (2h45)

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Day 7 | Machachi - Limpio Pungo Lagoon (Rumiñahui Central – Quito

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After having spent some days at altitude, we are ready to hike el Rumiñahui. This is one of our favorite routes, it offers a panoramic view of the Cotopaxi National Park, an encounter with Cotopaxi one of the highest active volcanoes on the planet. Close to reach the summit the sand becomes heavy on our feet and the Rumiñahui gets imposing. If we are lucky, we will be able to observe Andean Condors that live in the area. On the way down the sand makes you fly with an incredible feeling of joy. After the hike, we will have a well-deserved lunch and drive towards Quito.

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• Distance 11.5km/7.2mi

• Route highest point at 4620m/15157ft

• Elevation +/- 800m/2674ft

• Estimated time 4 hours

• Sleeping altitude 3100m/10170ft

• Transfer to Limpiopungo Lake Lagoon (1h)

• Transfer to Quito (Tumbaco) (2h)

 

Day 8 | Quito (Tumbaco)

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We enjoy a last breakfast together and then time to pack all the memories back home. 

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• Transfer to Mariscal Sucre International Airport (30 minutes)

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A note about fitness:  This adventure involves physical activity around 5 hours per day, some days have over 1000 m of ascent, at altitude up to 4,600 meters above sea level. To participate comfortably in the tour, you will require a certain level of fitness. To make a self-assessment of whether or not this is for you, you should consider yourself to be in good fitness, be accustomed to running/hiking, and be able to do it comfortably for at least 3 hours a day. Please consult a doctor if you feel that this might be a challenge before booking.

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The entire tour is done in English.

*We reserve the right to change the itinerary without previous notice due to weather conditions, National Parks regulations or notifications and unforeseeable circumstances

This tour is governed by the Terms and Condition

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