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Amazon and Beaches
Start in colonial Quito, high in the Andes. Explore the plazas and churches before the truck winds its way through lofty mountains then plunges into lush, green jungle. Journey deep into the Amazon by boat, relax in the famous hotsprings at Banos, shop for handicrafts at the wonderful markets in Otavalo. Descend along Peru's desert coastline, stop at Punta Sal's superb beaches, visit a wealth of ancient sites and tackle some adventure activities in the spectacular mountain town of Huaraz. All this in three amazing weeks! |
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| Price Includes |
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All meals whilst camping included |
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Fully escorted tour - Kumuka tour leader and driver |
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All activities, sightseeing and entrance fees as per itinerary |
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All national parks and reserve entrance fees as per itinerary |
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Amazon jungle trekking |
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All tolls and taxes |
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| Price Excludes |
| Local Payment 415 USD, Flights, Optional Excursions. |
| Countries
/ Places Visited |
| Ecuador, Peru'. |
| Suitability / Level |
Easy |
| Theme |
Small Group Travel
(Click to Search All) |
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Itinerary & Highlights
Day 1: Quito. Quito is the capital of Ecuador. It was once one of the main cities of the Inca Empire before the Spanish Conquest. The Spanish established Quito on the same site as the Inca city, and founded Quito in 1534. Quito is divided up into the old city and the new city. The Old City of Quito is very attractive with many churches, plazas, buildings with balconies and steep cobblestoned streets. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Markets and the Quechua Indians supply local colour. You can't help noticing that the Pichincha Volcano dominates the city. The new city, where our hotel is situated, is approximately half an hour walk from the Old City area. In the new city you will find many outdoor cafes, restaurants, night clubs, internet cafes and shops here. The Old City of Quito is unfortunately earning a reputation as a city with many pickpockets and muggings. Be especially careful with your belongings here. We strongly advise to not visit the Old city area after dark, and during the day wear your daypacks at the front, and your money securely put away. The new city has not got quite the same reputation, but it still pays to be cautious here too.
Days 2-7: Otavalo, Shaneri-La and The Amazon Jungle. We leave Quito and head north across the Equator to the famous market town of Otavalo. Otavalo has one of the best textile markets in Ecuador. You can easily spend an afternoon shopping in the Plaza de Ponchos, buying hammocks, blankets and Alpaca jumpers. And if you are all shopped out, the surroundings of Otavalo are great for hikes and bike rides also. From Otavalo your adventure begins as we journey into the Ecuadorian Amazon jungle. We travel through the Andes and down into the Amazon Basin to the remote jungle town of Tena. We stay at Shangri-La lodge, where you can relax and soak up views over the rainforest of clouds snaking across the jungle and fabulous sunsets. For the energetic this is the chance to do an optional tubing excursion downriver.
You're at the gateway of the Ecuadorian Amazon jungle and we set off on a 3-day jungle trip, exploring the jungle vegetation and searching for the local wildlife. The terrain is rich and lush, and alive with hundreds of species of plant and trees. Our local guides will inform you of the many medicinal uses for these plants and trees, which are practiced by the local people. As well as hikes through the jungle, you will also have the opportunity to swim in a lagoon and spot wildlife including early morning bird watching.
Days 8-10: Banos and Rio Verde. From the jungle we travel back into the Andes to the lovely resort town of Banos and the nearby village of Rio Verde, set in the mountains. The area is tucked into the foothills of the active volcano, Tungurahua, and affords spectacular views down the valley in both directions, with many waterfalls in the surrounding area. In such a setting, it is no wonder Banos is one of the adventure capitals of Ecuador. It's a great place for walking, white water rafting, canyoning, mountain biking and horse riding (optional). But Banos is most famous for the hot springs, which give the town its name. After a day exploring the area, a relaxing soak in the baths is a perfect end to the day.
Days 11-12: Cuenca. Our next destination is Cuenca. Cuenca is the third largest city in Ecuador, and considered to be the most attractive. It has many fine colonial churches, a lovely plaza and cobbled streets. Cuenca is also home to the Panama Hat. We will visit the factory for a tour to see how they are made, and then you have the opportunity of buying one of these famous hats from the factory shop.
Days 13-15: Punta Sal Beach. We travel from the Andes through the tropical lowlands, past banana plantations on the way to the Northern coast of Peru. Then get ready for a dramatic change in landscape when you cross the Peruvian border. The lush vegetation of Ecuador gives way to the deserts of Northern Peru. From the border we drive along the coast through many fishing villages, to the tiny beach resort of Punta Sal, where we will set up camp on the beach for the next 2 nights. Punta Sal is a fantastic place to relax and soak up the sun and play in the surf. A fishing trip is available here, as well as the chance to learn some of the local dance moves with some Salsa classes.
Days 16-17: Sechura Desert - Huanchaco - Chan Chan. From Punta Sal we then drive south
through the Sechura desert on our way to the Peruvian coastal resort of Huanchaco. The village is unique for its caballitos - "little horses". These are strangely shaped canoes that are lined up along the beach, and you will see the fishermen surf them onto the beach with their day's catch. While we're here we take a step back in time with a visit to the amazing archaeological site of Chan Chan. Chan Chan is the imperial city of the Chimu culture, and is the largest adobe city in the world, covering 28 square kilometres. The ruins contain the remains of palaces, temples, workshops, streets, houses, gardens and a canal. There are well-preserved moulded decorations showing small figures of fish, birds and geometric motifs. We take a guided tour of these fascinating ruins, as well as the huge pyramid temple of the Moon built by the Moche tribe nearby. The temple of the Moon has brightly coloured moulded decorations found on interior walls.
Days 18-19: Huaraz. The Andean town of Huaraz is sandwiched between the Cordillera Blanca ("White Mountain Range") and the Cordillera Negra ("Black Mountain Range"), two of the most spectacular mountain ranges in the Andes. The surrounding area is stunning and Huaraz sits against a backdrop of 6km high peaks with permanent glaciers, glacial lakes and hot springs. There are plenty of outdoor activities to try out: trekking or a visit to a glacier One great day out is a day trip to a glacier about 2 hours from Huaraz, and you can try your hand at ice climbing there if you're up for it.
Day 20: Lima. Our next stop is Lima, the capital city of Peru. Lima is a huge, sprawling and very busy city with a population of 8 million people one third of the population of Peru. After the conquest of the Incas, the leader of the Spanish Conquerors, Francisco Pizarro looked to establish a capital for the new Spanish colonies in South America. The Inca capital of Cuzco was not considered suitable as the Spanish were seafaring people, and so Lima was founded in 1535. It was originally known as the City of Kings. Lima became the seat of the Spanish Viceroyalty of South America.
Lima has some great colonial architecture and some of the best museums in Peru. The Plaza de Armas has the main Cathedral, which houses the remains of Francisco Pizarro as well as many beautiful monuments. Also on the Plaza is the Presidential Palace, where each morning the palace guards perform a changing of the guard ceremony. The fabulous Gold Museum houses a private collection of gold and weapons, and the Museo de la Nacion houses many exhibits and artifacts from the ancient cultures of Peru.
Day 21: Lima. Tour ends and the memories begin. |
Accommodation & Center
Details
-Hotel (12 Nights)
-Camping (5 Nights)
-Lodge (3 Nights)
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| Holiday Extras! |
Please click on the links below to book holiday
extras from Car Hire to Travel Insurance. |
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