Multi Sport Tour Ecuador

Upon arrival at Quito airport you will be picked up and taken to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure.

In the morning, you will be taken on a tour of Quito’s old town and get to know the Plaza Grande as well as the churches La Compañía and San Francisco. In the afternoon you will visit the Equatorial Monument. There you can stand on the southern and northern hemispheres at the same time and marvel at the many museums, craft shops and try out different experiments on the force of gravity.

Optionally you can get to know the capital in the morning in a sporty way and take the city tour on a bike. There are two options to choose from. (Surcharge for group tour: 55 USD p.p.)

Option 1: Cultural Bike Tour This tour starts in the cool, artistic quarter La Floresta. There you will follow in the footsteps of the street artists who make up this district. Then you will go to the Mariscal, where you will see the great parks and the real life in the fruit and vegetable markets. A detour to El Ejido Park, one of the oldest handicraft markets in Quito, is not to be missed before you get to know the oldest observatory in the city in the oldest park in the city. After the many new impressions we return to the Floresta where we end the trip with a coffee in the café La Cleta Bici.

Option 2: Urban Bike Tour This tour starts in the cool, artistic quarter La Floresta. There you will follow in the footsteps of the street artists who make up this district. We continue along the Avenida Amazonas, one of the main arteries of the city, to the La Carolina Park, where we visit the botanical garden. You will explore the huge La Carolina Park before you get to know modern Quito. Afterwards you will make your way to the Inaquito Market. This colourful and lively market, which has existed since the 70s, is a must before you finish your tour with a coffee and a piece of chocolate in the Cafè La Cleta Bici.

In the morning you will visit the famous market of Otavalo and may already be able to buy a souvenir! Afterwards you will visit the crater lagoon Cuicocha. If you want to walk around the lagoon completely (about 3-3,5h) the market visit will be a little shorter.

In the morning you leave Quito in a southerly direction and explore the 34,000ha Cotopaxi National Park with the volcano of the same name, which you can climb up to a refuge at 4,800m. Today you will stay overnight in Sigchos, where you can end the day in the pool.

Tip: You can also book a downhill biking or horseback riding tour.

From Sigchos you will set off today to the breathtaking crater lake Quilotoa. After your descent to the green shimmering water you have the possibility to rent a kayak (not included) and paddle on the lake for a while. The more difficult ascent can be done on a donkey (approx. 8 US$ per person). Alternatively you can walk around the crater lagoon (approx. 6h). Afterwards you will go to the small town of Machachi, where you will spend the night.

Today’s drive takes you to the idyllic health resort of Papallacta, which is famous for its thermal springs. After this relaxed morning program we continue towards Oriente, the rainforest region. Here you will reach the small Hakuna Matata Lodge, hidden in the rainforest, where you can comfortably end the day.

Today you have the choice between two itineraries:

Option 1: Jungle hike – Animal rescue station – Indigenous community In the morning you will visit the local market in the provincial capital Tena before you will go on a motorized canoe trip on the Rio Napo and do an educational hike of about 2 hours through the rainforest. You will reach the animal sanctuary “amaZOOnico” with its more than 500 animals. Afterwards you will visit a small indigenous community and immerse yourself in their everyday life for an afternoon!

2nd option: Parrot Lick – indigenous community – jungle hike Today you start before sunrise to the parrot lick to watch birds. Afterwards you will drive to the community of Santa Barbara where you will immerse yourself in the culture of the indigenous families and share a unique jungle buffet with them. Afterwards you will go for a hike to explore the flora of the jungle before you can enjoy a typical “almuerzo” lunch in the small jungle town of Misahualli where you can watch capuchin monkeys.

Today you can explore Baños on your own and especially take advantage of the wide range of sports activities on offer. For example, you could cycle along the waterfall route to reach the Pailon del Diablo of the Devil’s Pan, the largest waterfall. Or visit the Casa de Arbol, where you can swing over a precipice. Other activities can be ziplining, canyoning and much more. In the afternoon you drive to Riobamba, capital of the province of Chimborazo Tip: If you wish to explore this outdoor town longer, you can add an extra day.

Today you can explore Baños on your own and especially take advantage of the wide range of sports activities on offer. For example, you could cycle along the waterfall route to reach the Pailon del Diablo of the Devil’s Pan, the largest waterfall. Or visit the Casa de Arbol, where you can swing over a precipice. Other activities can be ziplining, canyoning and much more. In the afternoon you drive to Riobamba, capital of the province of Chimborazo Tip: If you wish to explore this outdoor town longer, you can add an extra day.

Today you will leave Riobamba around 8:30 am and head for the Chimborazo Reserve. You leave the car at about 4800 m and have the possibility to climb up to the refuge at 5060 m. After that you start the first descent on the mountain bike (about 8 km). Then you get back into the car to cover the 10 minute distance to the next starting point. On this descent you will cover about 46 km, through breathtaking panoramic landscapes, green valleys, spectacular rock formations until you arrive in Amabato, the capital of Tungurahua province. From there you will go by car back to Riobamba.

You leave Riobamba at 9.00 am and head south into the highlands, to the village of Tzalaron. On Fridays you can visit a small but very authentic market here. This is a great opportunity to get to know the traditional products of the Andes and the customs of the colorfully dressed indigenous people. Just outside the village you will start the 4-hour hike in the mountains. During this hike you will descend from 3560 m to 3300 m. If the weather is clear, you will enjoy an excellent view of the volcanoes Tungurahua, Altar and Chimborazo. You will pass small indigenous communities and traditional farms. With a bit of luck you can observe hummingbirds and other birds. This hike ends at Lake Colta. In the nearby village we visit Balbanera, which was built in 1534 by the Spaniards as the first Catholic church in Ecuador. From here we continue to Alausi in the afternoon.

In the morning you will take the train ride “Nariz del Diablo” (Devil’s Nose) from Alausi through spectacular mountain landscapes. In the afternoon, the pre-Columbian Inca ruins of Ingapirca form an exciting stopover on the way to Cuenca, where you will stay overnight.

Today you will spend the day in the colonial city of Cuenca with its old town, declared a World Heritage Site in 1999, and its colourful markets. If you like you can visit the Panama hat factory on the Rio Tomebamba and admire the great colonial architecture of the city. Or you can choose one of the optional excursions (extra charge).

Option 1: Bike tour to Ingapirca Ruins In the morning you drive with your guide north on the Panamericana to Molobog. There you change to a bike and cover the last 35 km through small villages, corn and potato fields. Before you return to Cuenca, you will visit the most important Inca ruins in Ecuador and learn a few things about history, culture and tradition from your guide.

Option 2: Horseback ride In the morning you will drive half an hour by car from Cuenca to Totorillas, where you will meet and saddle up with the gentle and professionally trained horses at the original farm. On old paths, e.g. of the Incas or from the colonial times, you will ride through forests and villages. During your lunch break you will also have the opportunity to participate in traditional agricultural tasks or simply enjoy the landscape.

Before we reach Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city, in the afternoon, nature is on the program again in the morning: In the Cajas National Park, forests and lakes form an impressive backdrop for today’s hike (approx. 3h). On the way to Guayaquil, you will pass impressive banana and cocoa plantations.

The morning is at your leisure before you are taken to the airport for your return or onward journey. Depending on your departure time, you can visit the port city of Guayaquil on your own. You can visit the Parque Bolivar, the historical quarter Las Peñas or the 3 km long promenade along the Rio Guayas. Tip: In the morning you can optionally book a guided city tour in Guayaquil.