Your Typical Itinerary
Week 1 - Arrival in Quito
We start with the introduction meeting, followed by a small exam to test your Spanish level. After that, we will explore the Mariscal area of Quito with its bars and Internet cafes, just around the corner from our school. We stay at a hostel this week. In the evenings we cook by ourselves or go to a restaurant. We visit the old part of Quito and Mitad del Mundo (The Equator). This week you will have Spanish classes for four hours, salsa lessons and a cocktail evening. We also visit the tallest active volcano in the world, Cotopaxi (5897m), where you will walk from about 4500m to 4800m, as high as the top of the Mont Blanc! You will mountain bike most of the way down, and drive the remainder in off road vehicles.
Week 2 - Otavalo
You will be exploring the Andes on horseback or visiting the local "Otavalos". There is also time to relax and shop at the wonderful local markets. This week you will also visit the Indian market in Sacasilli and go on a spectacular canopy tour. At the weekend we spend time in the little tropical village of Mindo in the heart of the cloud forest in the west of the country.
Week 3 – Puerto Quito
Our next destination in Ecuador is Cabañas del Rio in Puerto Quito, a little 'village' situated at 140km northwest of Quito, a 3.5 hour bus ride away from the capital. The region is a tropical cloud forest in the valley of Puerto Quito where you will find over 200 species of tropical birds. Cabañas del Rio is situated at the border of the Caoni-river. Relaxing, learning about nature and Spanish lessons are the main ingredients of a stay in Puerto Quito.
You will sleep in wooden-cabins and there are two swimming pools. You have four hours of Spanish classes in the morning (or afternoon), and relax in the afternoon (or morning) and enjoy a different excursion every day. The excursions will take you, for example, to the waterfalls, the primary rainforest, and the tropical fruit farms where you can taste a variety of tropical fruits (arashá, zapote, papaya, pipa, cacao, oranges, pineapple and a lot more).
Cabañas del Rio also organises a 'chocolate party', where you make your own chocolate from cacao-beans, and eat it with bananas. Cabañas del Rio is located in a tropical zone, so expect high temperatures (30ºC) and a lot of humidity (rain in the evenings!).
Week 4 - Tena
Time for some jungle adventure with kayaking, rafting, canoeing and discovery of the ancient Indian tribes and jungle wildlife.
Week 5- Baños
This week we combine the full on action adventure that Baños is famous for with honing your new and improved Spanish skills. Over four days you will have four hours of Spanish classes a day, with the other half of the day set aside for adventure sports. Take a mountain bike tour of the area, where you can optionally take a swing jump (extra cost); go rafting down the Pastaza river and take amazing cannoning tour from some waterfalls.
You will have two half days to do whatever you like. In the evenings you will have a lot of time for entertainment. Check out one of the many salsa clubs and practice your Latin America dance with the locals!
Week 6- Guamote and Cuenca
We visit Riobamba, from where the train will take us from the Devil's Nose up to Guamote. We will spend two nights in Guamote, a small and remote place in the middle of beautiful mountain scenery. Here we have a spectacular mountain-bike tour. Then we go to Cuenca, which is regarded by the Ecuadorians as the most beautiful city of Ecuador. Here we will visit the Inca-Ruins from Inca Pirca and have plenty of time to explore the colonial city
Week 7 – The coast
From Cuenca we will drive to the Ecadorian coast to a small (but very lively) surf village called Montañita. Montañita is one of Ecuadors most famous surfing hotspots with great waves and loads of sun, fun and parties. You will stay in a nice hostel (with cabins) at the border of Montañita. Included in the stay are four surf lessons. There is also an opportunity to take your PADI Open Water Qualification (extra cost.)
Week 8 – Trekking Highlands
You will have two days in Quito to acclimatize to the altitude, as Quito is the second highest capital in the world. The first day is a free day where you can explore the city and the second day you help take poor elderly people who have lived on the streets out on a day trip in Quito.
After this you will embark on a tough four days’ trekking through the Andes. The trekking starts in Latacunga and goes to the amazing Quilotoa Crater Lake. You will pass through an incredible landscape of volcanoes, mountains, lakes and several small indigenous villages where you will stay the night. A tip for this trip: pack light because you will carry your own backpack!
Weeks 9-12 - Volunteer Placement
This month is optional and only for those enrolled in the 12-week expedition. There are several different projects on the Galapagos Islands that you can get involved with and you will decide when you arrive on the islands. This is a great opportunity to see parts of the Galapagos that regular tourists do not see!
Types of volunteer projects include:
- Helping national parks with beach cleanups
- Working in Primary schools
- Helping in Day Care Centres
- Recycling projects in schools
Further information about these volunteer placements is available on request. You will select your placement once you are in Ecuador.
Please Note: This itinerary is provided as an example and details, particularly the order of travel, may be subject to change.
