Holiday Itinerary

Gentle Walking, Ecuador
Wonderful walking and all the highlights: isolated Inca ruins, the artists of Tigua and
Otavalo market.
Group trip prices from
£2,495 (flight inclusive) or £1,595 (land only)
See overleaf for departure dates and prices
Holiday overview
Style
Accommodation
Grade
Duration
Trekking / Walking days
Min/Max group size
Trip Leader
Land only
Max altitude
Walking
Hotels, Guesthouses, Haciendas, Lodges
Gentle / Moderate
15 days from London to London
Walks on: 7 days
2 / 12. Guaranteed to run for 2
Local Leader Ecuador
Joining in Quito, Ecuador
5,000m/16,405ft
Private Departures & Tailor Made itineraries available
tel: +44 (0)1453 844400 fax: +44 (0)1453 844422 [email protected] www.mountainkingdoms.com
Mountain Kingdoms Ltd, 20 Long Street, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire GL12 7BT UK
Managing Director: Steven Berry. Registered in England No. 2118433. VAT No. 496 6511 08
Mountain Kingdoms – distinctly different
Truly independent
In an age where many so-called ‘independent’ travel companies have in fact been bought out by multi-national
giants, we remain fiercely independent with all the benefits this offers our clients.
Value for money prices with an emphasis on quality
We are not in the business of cutting our itineraries and services to the bone to offer eye-catching cheap prices.
We use some of the best airlines, and typically 3 or 4 star hotels in cities. We include the majority of meals and
private transport for road travel. We use excellent equipment and appoint well-trained staff and leaders. In
2014 97% of our clients rated their Mountain Kingdoms holiday as ‘excellent’ or ‘good.’ We are members of AITO
and bound by their quality charter.
Complete financial security
You can book with us confident that your holiday has full financial protection. Flight inclusive holidays are
financially protected by the Civil Aviation Authority under ATOL licence number 2973 and ‘Land Only’ holidays
are covered by a bond secured with ABTOT.
Award winning Responsible Tourism
We feel strongly that all our holidays should benefit local communities, protect the environment and respect
local traditions, religion and heritage. You can read more about the charities we support and our Responsible
Tourism commitments and initiatives towards the end of this itinerary or at mountainkingdoms.com.
Genuine small group travel
Almost all of our holidays have a maximum group size of just 12, plus leader. This provides more contact with
your leader, readier access to off-the-beaten-path areas, greater interaction with local communities and a
reduced environmental impact.
Loyalty Discount
If you have previously travelled with us we recognise your loyalty with a discount on future trips.
Booking your holiday – it couldn’t be easier
Once you’ve chosen your Mountain Kingdoms holiday you can book online, call the office or complete and post a
booking form which can be found in our brochure or downloaded from our website. If you would like to a hold a
place on one of our trips, whilst you make up your mind, please give us a call to make a provisional booking.
This is a no-obligation, no-cost booking and we will hold your place until space comes under pressure or we need
your decision.
Comprehensive information
When we receive your booking we send you a full trip dossier which contains details of visas and vaccinations
required, a suggested gear and clothing list and lots of useful information. In fact, everything you need to know
to give you peace of mind and allow you to prepare for your trip of a lifetime.
Bookings and information: 01453 844400
[email protected] / www.mountainkingdoms.com
Page |2
Departures & prices
Group departures
2015 dates and prices:
Mon 25 May - Mon 08 Jun
Mon 24 Aug - Mon 07 Sep
Land only
£1,595
£1,595
With flights from
£2,495
£2,545
Please note: Prices include all internal flights and park fees
Optional single supplements
The price for single rooms throughout this trip is £395
Insurance
Available from £102 per person. Please contact us for details.
Tailor Made service
We pride ourselves on the level of quality and choice we provide for our clients who want a fully tailor made
holiday. A Tailor Made holiday will be created especially for you by one of our well-travelled experts, who will
have first-hand experience of the destination/s you want to visit. They will be able to advise on the
accommodation best suited to your needs, the sights you should visit (and those to avoid!) and the best walks
and activities matched to your ability. In short, we will work together with you to create your perfect holiday.
If you would like to explore the idea of a Tailor Made holiday with Mountain Kingdoms then please call us on +44
(0)1453 844400 or see the Tailor Made pages of our website for further inspiration.
Your guide
Your trip will be led by a fully trained English speaking local guide. In
Ecuador these guide are enthusiasts for their mountains and are normally
exceptionally highly educated, often in the States or in Europe and have lots
of mountaineering and trekking experience. They can provide a fascinating
insight into their country and an in-depth view of the area you are visiting.
Your trip may be led by Fabien Freire or Pablo Montalvo both of whom are
enthusiastic and popular leaders who have led this trip for us in the past.
Bookings and information: 01453 844400
[email protected] / www.mountainkingdoms.com
Page |3
Your trip highlights

Visit the old colonial centre of Quito

Take a spectacular walk round Laguna Cuicocha

Walk to the huts on the volcanoes of Cotopaxi and Chimborazo

Hike round the beautiful volcanic crater lake of Quilatoa and enjoy magnificent mountain landscapes

Relax in balmy Baños

Stay in comfortable hotels and characterful lodges all set in wonderful locations
At a glance: your itinerary
Days 1-2
Day 3
Days 4-5
Day 6-8
Days 9-10
Days 11-12
Day 13
Days 14-15
Fly to Quito. Explore the city with a guided tour of the sights including: Panecillo, San Francisco,
La Compania Church and Plaza Independencia.
Take a walk at Pululahua Crater, a volcanic caldera. Visit Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World),
which marks the equator.
Drive to Peguche. Visit pre Inca ruins at Cochasqui on the way. Hike around Cuicoha Lake.
Optional boat ride.
Spend the morning at the Otavalo craft market. Drive to Cotopaxi National Park. Walk to Limpio
Pungo lake and on to the glacier. Visit Inca ruins. Drive to Quilatoa, see Tigua painters en route.
Walk to Chugchilan Village. Explore the area, perhaps walk to the cheese factory or nearby Inca
ruins. Drive to Cuello de Luna.
Drive to Chimborazo and walk up to the Edward Whymper Hut. Option to drive part way for
those not wanting to walk all the way. Drive to Baños.
Spend the morning sightseeing in the charming spa town, Baños, before driving to Quito.
A day in Quito for further sightseeing, or souvenir shopping before returning to the UK.
Trip summary
In this itinerary there is plenty of wonderful walking and spectacular scenery, but also the opportunity to enjoy
some of the cultural highlights of the area.
Ecuador sits on the equator between Peru and Colombia and it is one of the smallest of the Andean countries.
However, despite its small size the country’s Andean highlands offer an ideal destination for a gentle walking
trip. There are so many delights and contrasts to enjoy in this area – the dramatic volcanoes and the rolling
moorland of the paramo, high altitude lakes and wonderful pastoral landscapes, quaint Spanish haciendas,
ancient Inca ruins, a flourishing indigenous artistic culture which thrives alongside 21st Century society, while
the vibrant modern capital sits alongside the architectural splendours of its colonial past.
After visiting Quito’s colonial Old Town and the large volcanic crater of Pululahua you will travel north to
Cuicocha for a walk right around this scenic crater-lake. On the way there you will visit the fine pre-Inca site of
Cochasqui. You then join the crowds at Otavalo’s Saturday Market, one of the finest markets in South America
before travelling on through pretty pastoral countryside alongside the Rio Pita and up into the highlands
surrounding Cotopaxi. Here you will stay in a thatched lodge set in open countryside with good views of the
surrounding volcanoes of Pasochoa, Ruminahui, Cotopaxi and Sicholagua. After visiting a mountain hut and
nearby glacier high on the slopes of Cotopaxi at 4,810m/15,781ft, you then cross to the west of the Pan
American Highway to visit one of the most remote and beautiful parts of the Ecuadorian Andes. Spectacular
Quilotoa, a crater lake famous for its emerald green waters, is still very much off the beaten tourist track. In
this area the steep hillsides are a multicoloured patchwork of vertiginously steep fields, not terraced as you
might see in other mountainous areas such as the Himalaya. You will also be able to visit the nearby village of
Tigua, famous for its school of indigenous painters. After some walks in this area, Chimborazo beckons and you
walk up to the mountain hut named after Edward Whymper who explored so much of this region.
A little light relaxation at the lower altitudes of Baños and it’s back to Quito for your flight home.
Bookings and information: 01453 844400
[email protected] / www.mountainkingdoms.com
Page |4
Your trip itinerary
Day 1:
FLY LONDON TO QUITO
Overnight: Hotel Cafe Cultura
Day 2:
AT LEISURE IN QUITO (2,850m/9,350ft)
You will spend the morning at leisure in Quito. Quito is a busy, vibrant city at an altitude of
2,850m/9,350ft and is the second highest capital in the world. The city is located just 20 miles
south of the equator, in a valley high in the Andes and is over-shadowed by the dramatic Pichincha
Volcano. Nowadays, Quito has two main sections, the old colonial town which is a UNESCO World
Heritage site and the new town where most hotels and tourist facilities are located.
In the afternoon, you will have a guided tour of the Old Town with its fabulous array of colonial
churches, monasteries and convents. Firstly, for orientation, you will visit El Panecillo a hill on the
southern edge of the old town topped by a huge statue of the Winged Virgin. From here there are
great views of the old city and the surrounding mountains. You will then take in some of the major
monuments from Quito's colonial legacy, including the vast cobbled square of San Francisco with its
adjoining church and monastery and the richly decorated, baroque confection of the church of La
Compañia. The streets of the Old Town throng with local people and there is much more of a feeling
of being in the real, vibrant, South America here than in the rather staid and less characterful
newer section of town.
Overnight: Hotel Cafe Cultura
Day 3:
(Meals: B)
PULULAHUA CRATER AND MITAD DEL MUNDO - 40 mins walk
Today will be spent in the environs of Quito city to help acclimatise to the altitude. After breakfast
you will drive north of the city to the Pululahua crater, one of the largest volcanic calderas in the
world, with a diameter of 8km. Here, 40 minutes steep walk down a small path, will bring you to
the cultivated fields at the bottom of the crater and your first introduction to the rural landscape of
the Andes. By late morning clouds often blow up from the west and billow into the crater. Before
returning to Quito city you may visit the Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World). This is a rather
touristy complex marking the equator but it does also have an interesting museum and displays. In
the evening your guide will give you an introductory presentation on Ecuador.
Overnight: Hotel Cafe Cultura
Day 4:
(Meals: B)
DRIVE TO PEGUCHE (2,670m/8,760ft) WITH VISIT TO CHOCHASQUI
Today you set off north out of the city along the Pan American Highway. This road wends its way
along a beautiful cultivated valley toward the town of Cayambe. Nowadays this area is the centre of
Ecuador's flower growing industry which unfortunately means that a sea of plastic sheeted
greenhouses now somewhat mars the once verdant landscape.
Seventy kilometres north of Quito you will visit the ruins of Cochasqui, set beneath volcano Fuya
Fuya and one of Ecuador's most significant pre-Inca sites. Cochasqui, situated at 3,100m/10,171ft, is
thought to have been either a fortress or an observatory and was built by the Cara people around
the year 900 AD. There are 15 pyramids on the site, now grass-covered but originally built from
large blocks of volcanic material. On a clear day there are fine views of the surrounding countryside
and of the summit of Cayambe volcano to the east. There is also a breeding project for llamas here.
You will then continue north, passing the large lake of San Pablo and on through the town of
Otavalo, famous for its market. You leave the Pan American Highway and after a few minutes you
reach the village of Peguche. From here you may make a quick walk on to visit the sacred waterfall
of La Cascada de Peguche before you check into your accommodation at Hacienda Pinsaqui.
In the afternoon there may be time to visit the town of Cotacachi famous for its flourishing industry
in leatherwork.
Overnight: Hacienda Pinsaqui
(Meals: BLD)
Bookings and information: 01453 844400
[email protected] / www.mountainkingdoms.com
Page |5
Day 5:
WALK ROUND CUICOCHA LAKE (3,246m/10,650ft) 5-6 hours walk
After a good breakfast you drive from Peguche to Laguna Cuicocha (Guinea Pig Lake) a spectacular
crater lake situated in the collapsed crater of a volcano, at the foot of Volcán Cotacachi, at an
altitude of 3,350m/11,000ft. Here you can make a pleasant walk right around the Lake. You set off
in a clockwise direction firstly on the tarmac and then along a well-maintained trail which undulates
along the crater rim with good views over the lake with its two islands. From here, weather
permitting, it is possible to see eight volcanoes - Cotacachi, Cuicocha, Imbabura, Cayembe,
Antisana, Cotopaxi and Pichincha. You walk through lush vegetation and will see many native
Andean plants including bromeliads, orchids and puyas (a handsome plant with a tall flower-spike).
You will also see, among many other birds, humming birds, large thrushes (merlots) and down on
the lake coots and several species of duck. If you are lucky you may see an American kestrel and
perhaps even a condor. You reach a high viewpoint from where there are excellent views over the
lake. The trail then descends to some modern buildings, including an interpretation centre where
Indian ladies often gather to sell souvenirs. It might be possible to take an optional boat ride out
onto the lake from here if you wish.
You then return to the car park for the drive back to your hotel.
Overnight: Hacienda Pinsaqui
Day 6:
(Meals: BLD)
VISIT OTAVALO MARKET (2,633m/8,641ft), DRIVE TO C0TOPAXI REGION
Today after breakfast you will make the short drive to Otavalo to visit the famous Otavalo market.
The people of Otavalo have been famed for their artistic flair and as fine weavers since pre-colonial
times. The Otavalans are also great entrepreneurs and nowadays people from the town travel all
over the world selling their goods. The Saturday Market at Otavalo is one of the best and most
famous in South America and by early morning producers from far and wide flock to the town to set
up their stalls. As well as the local produce and animal markets there is a wonderful array of
handicrafts on sale - weavings, tapestry, rugs, bags, paintings and other artwork made by the local
indigenous community. There are handicrafts here to excite even the most hardened souvenir
shopper. From Otavalo you will drive south to rejoin the Pan American Highway and bypassing
Cayambe town turn south toward Quito. You approach the area immediately around Cotopaxi and
drive through a peaceful rural landscape with pretty farmland and small settlements along the way.
You drive along a cobbled road with the Rio Pita, which flows down from the slopes of Cotopaxi,
gurgling away down on your left. As you climb higher you emerge onto the rolling 'paramo' with fine
all round views and several volcanoes in sight. You arrive at the relatively newly built lodge of
Chilcapampa at around 3,600m/11,811ft. From here you can see the volcanoes of Pasachoa and
Sincholagua.
Overnight: Chilcapampa Lodge (Hacienda Porvenir Only If Not Available)
Day 7:
(Meals: BLD)
IN COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK
Today you will have a full day in the Cotopaxi National Park. You drive to the base of the mountain
and then ascend on foot to the Jose F Ribas Refuge (4,810m/15,784ft). Cotopaxi summit now looms
overhead. At this hut you are at the same height as the summit of Mont Blanc. From the hut you can
walk out to the glacier coming down from Cotopaxi summit and explore the area around. The
glacier has been receding rapidly in recent years but is still pretty impressive with its seracs and
great broken slabs of ice. Look out round here for the 'lobos de paramo' which are sometimes seen
in the area - the locals call them 'lobos' or 'wolves' but they seem more likely to be a type of fox. It's
also worth watching out for condor and white-tailed deer. You will then visit the small lake called
Limpiopungo where you can see many Andean water birds - ducks, gulls, lapwings and waders. There
are also nearby Inca ruins that you may visit.
Overnight: Chilcapampa Lodge (Hacienda Porvenir Only If Not Available)
Day 8:
(Meals: BLD)
DRIVE TO TIGUA NEAR QUILATOA - 3-4 hours drive
Today you drive past Cotopaxi, through the beautiful Cotopaxi National Park and out through the
southern park gates. Watch out for white tailed deer. You descend to the town of Latacunga and
then start the long ascent toward Quilotoa. This area is much less visited and more remote than
places you have already visited and has maintained its distinctive Andean and indigenous character.
The steep hillsides are a colourful patchwork of fields. If a workman at the top of one of these fields
drops his tools he has a long climb down to retrieve them! Even animal corrals cling vertiginously to
the hillsides. As you drive higher the views become ever more stunning and the scenery is stark. You
Bookings and information: 01453 844400
[email protected] / www.mountainkingdoms.com
Page |6
will notice a drop in temperature as you ascend - the area round Tigua and Quilatoa is known to be
rather wild and desolate. You come to the village of Tigua at 3,300m/10,827ft, famous throughout
Ecuador for its naïve paintings on sheepskin. These paintings have a very distinctive style, showing
scenes of daily pastoral life, local legends and village festivals all set against a scenery of peaks and
fields and featuring native flora and fauna, including condors and humming birds. You will visit the
art gallery of the local co-operative where they sell the work of up to 35 artists including paintings
by various members of the most famous artistic family, the Toaquizas. The Posada de Tigua is
situated just below the village in a beautiful spot with great views of the surrounding countryside.
Posada de Tigua is a family run guest house and Marguerita Rodrigues who runs the Posada is
extremely welcoming and makes sure that guests feel so thoroughly at home that you will feel as if
you are staying with friends. Before major land distribution in the 1960s, the family were the largest
landowners in the area and their hacienda is still a working dairy farm. Here there are cows, llamas,
and even a donkey or two and you are encouraged to see the work of the farm. Rooms are very
comfortable and a wood burning stove in the sitting rooms makes the posada very cosy. The freshly
prepared food here is really excellent.
Overnight: Posada Tigua
Day 9:
(Meals: BLD)
WALK TO CHUGCHILAN (3,200m/10,499ft). 4-5 hours walk
After a good breakfast you will say farewell and drive up, out of Tigua and continue past the village
of Zambahua and up to the crater rim of Quilatoa lake (3,914m/12,841ft), a spectacular blue-green
lake set in the crater of an extinct volcano. Before you start your walk and time permitting you may
visit the viewpoint overlooking the lake to enjoy the views. You then set off on today's walk which
takes you part of the way around the crater rim, high above the waters of the lake with good views
in all directions. After completing a half circuit of the lake you then descend through farmland to
the village of Guayama. You walk through the village, possibly stopping for a cold drink at the
village shop, and continue towards the rim of a spectacular gorge. You can see the village of
Chugchilan, not very far away, across the gorge but to get there is a steep zig-zagging descent and
similar ascent on the other side to reach the village. Your accommodation here is at Mama Hilda's
Lodge, a real local institution. Approximately 4 -5 hours walking.
Overnight: Mama Hilda’s Lodge
Day 10:
(Meals: BLD)
WALKS NEAR CHUGCHILAN THEN DRIVE TO CUELLO DE LUNA. 2 hours
There are various walks in the area of Chugchilan - you may like to discuss the best walking options
for this morning. Above the village amidst farmland where cows are grazed, there is a small cheese
factory which is very interesting to visit and there are also some nearby Inca ruins. Or alternatively
you can just relax in the village or laze in hammocks at the lodge! After lunch you drive down from
Chugchilan to the Cuello de Luna Lodge within sight of Cotopaxi and the Illinizas.
Overnight: Cuello Da Luna Lodge
Day 11:
(Meals: BLD)
DRIVE TO CHIMBORAZO. 3-4 hours drive
You drive out to the Pan-American Highway and turn south to the town of Latacunga and then
continue to Ambato. You then drive up on to the lower slopes of Chimborazo to Urbina, the highest
railway station in Ecuador. The buildings of the railway station have now been converted into a
quirky mountain refuge. The railway lines still exist in front of the building, but scheduled train
services no longer run here. Llamas graze all around. You will have lunch at Urbina before
continuing around Chimborazo to the bottom of an extremely scenic valley leading up to
Chimborazo summit. This is a lovely and remote spot. Your accommodation for tonight is here in the
attractive lodge, Chimborazo Basecamp Hillstar (4,000m/13,124ft), built on the site of the 'Tambo
de Totorillas', a former roadside inn on the old Inca royal road between Guayaquil and Quito. This
lodge is built in traditional vernacular style. The attractive dining room is located in a central
building and accommodation is in thatched buildings with twin rooms just across a small stream.
Overnight: Chimborazo Base Camp Hill Star Lodge
(Meals: BLD)
Bookings and information: 01453 844400
[email protected] / www.mountainkingdoms.com
Page |7
Day 12:
WALK OR DRIVE PART WAY AND THEN WALK UP TO WHYMPER HUT ON CHIMBORAZO
(5,000m/16405ft), DRIVE TO BANOS (1,815m/5,955ft) 2 hours
Chimborazo is a massive volcano and is thought to have last erupted 10,000 years ago. Its snowy
peak can be seen from ships on the Pacific, and it is arguably the tallest mountain in the world.
Mount Everest is highest if you use height above sea level but if you measure distance from the
centre of the earth, then Chimborazo is much higher - by around 2 miles - since the earth is not a
perfect sphere, but bulges considerably around the Equator.
You have two choices today - speak to your guide about what you would prefer to do:
The more energetic can walk all the way to the hut. You first take a little used trail up the very
attractive valley towards the summit of Chimborazo, perhaps passing grazing llamas as you go.
Vicuñas have been re-introduced onto Chimborazo and you may be lucky enough to see these
elegant animals as you ascend. Listen out for them as they whistle to each other (or at you!) across
the slopes. The route then becomes rougher underfoot and steeper and more rocky, and the
vegetation thins and the volcanic nature of the terrain becomes more evident. Higher still the
landscape becomes ever more lunar. Finally the refuge comes into view above you and you ascend
to it.
If you prefer something less energetic you can drive round the mountain to a parking place high on
the slopes of Chimborazo, below the hut, and then walk the few hundred metres up to the hut, an
easier but still quite energetic option.
From the refuge, if you still have a bit of puff left, you can climb further to the rocky outcrop,
known as Whymper Needles, for further stunning mountain views.
After your excursion to Chimborazo you will drive to Baños (1,815m/5,955ft). Baños is a charming
spa town, which enjoys a spectacular location with the volcano Tungurahua, which last erupted in
2009, looming overhead. After your days spent high in the mountains this town will seem positively
warm and sub-tropical and very busy! The town is named after its thermal springs, which you may
choose to sample. Baños also has many restaurants, bars and souvenir shops; with its relaxed
atmosphere you will be able to enjoy a bit of well-earned R&R after your exertions in the
mountains.
Overnight: Hotel Sangay
Day 13:
(Meals: BLD)
AT LEISURE IN BANOS AND DRIVE TO QUITO
You may spend some time in Baños to walk by the river, enjoy the hot springs or visit some nearby
picturesque spots before driving back to Quito.
You return to the Pan-American Highway at Ambato and then drive north. On a clear day this is a
spectacular drive with the high mountains facing each other across the highway.
There are many good restaurants near your hotel for a celebratory meal before you leave Ecuador.
Overnight: Hotel Cafe Cultura
Day 14:
(Meals: B)
FREE IN QUITO AND TRANSFER TO AIRPORT
You are free in Quito with time for some last minute sightseeing or shopping before you go to the
airport for your flight home. If you are looking for presents or souvenirs there are many stores
selling Ecuadorian handicrafts in Avenida Amazonas, the main street near your hotel. The classy
Galeria Latina just round the corner from the hotel is expensive but sells many beautiful things - at
a price.
(Meals: B)
Day 15:
ARRIVE LONDON
Arrive in the UK
Bookings and information: 01453 844400
[email protected] / www.mountainkingdoms.com
Page |8
Trek Altitude
IMPORTANT: Please be aware that this trip involves travel at altitude. Whilst all our itineraries are carefully
designed to optimise acclimatisation to high altitudes, participants on this trip are likely to experience some
symptoms of being at altitude. The Dossier pack we provide when you book your holiday includes comprehensive
advice on safe travel at altitude. If you require further information or advice on travel at altitude prior to
booking please contact the office to speak to an experienced member of our team. Alternatively we recommend
www.medex.org.uk as a good source of information.
What the price includes
Mountain Kingdoms aims to offer the best value for money. We do not charge extra for meal packages or apply
local charges and try to ensure that all the key elements of your holiday are included
Therefore, the price includes:
board basis
 A local English speaking leader
 Economy class return air fares from the UK & UK
Departure Tax (flight inclusive only)
 All road transport by private vehicles
 All meals except lunch & dinner in Quito & Baños
 All hotel/airport transfers
 Sightseeing where specified
 Good standard hotel accommodation (4 star) in
Quito and Baños on twin share, bed and
breakfast basis
 A free Mountain Kingdoms kitbag
 Best available hotels in outlying towns, on full
The




price does not include:
Travel insurance
Visa fees
Lunch and evening meals in Quito and Baños
Airport departure taxes, except UK Departure
Tax


Optional trips
Tips
Will the trip run?
This trip is guaranteed to run for 2 people and for a maximum of 12. In the rare event that we cancel a holiday,
we will refund you in full and give you at least 6 weeks warning. Many treks do fill up quickly – we advise you to
book early if you want to secure a place(s) on the dates of your choice.
Bookings and information: 01453 844400
[email protected] / www.mountainkingdoms.com
Page |9
Your accommodation
Hotel Cafe Cultura
This hotel, located in the Mariscal sector of downtown Quito, was formerly an old
family home. It has been lovingly converted and restored with whitewashed walls
and a traditional terracotta tiled roof and is surrounded by a beautiful garden.
There are cosy log fires in the public areas and the walls are painted with
frescoes.
The Café Cultura is quite small and has limited accommodation and if rooms are
not available you will stay at the nearby Hotel Reina Isabel, a modern tourist class
hotel.
Hacienda Pinsaqui
For three hundred years the Hacienda Pinsaqui has been part of Ecuadorian
history. It is one of Ecuador's oldest haciendas - Simon Bolivar stayed there! Now a
charming hosteria the Pinsaqui is set in beautiful gardens, surrounded by lovely
countryside. It is a friendly pace with rustic but comfortable accommodation and
food and service are good.
Chilcapampa Lodge (Hacienda Porvenir Only If Not Available)
Chilcapampa Lodge: This lodge was newly constructed in 2006. The central lodge is
made of adobe and is thatched and there is a log fire in the dining room. The
rooms are set in newly landscaped grounds.
If Chilcapampa is unavailable you will stay at Hacienda Porvenir: This is a
traditional Ecuadorian hacienda, at the foothills of Rumiñahui Volcano, which
features simple but comfortable accommodation.
Posada Tigua
Posada de Tigua: This is a family run guest house and you will feel as if you are
staying with friends. Rooms are very comfortable and a wood burning stove in the
sitting room makes the posada really cosy. The freshly prepared food here is really
excellent.
Mama Hilda's Lodge
Mama Hilda’s Lodge is an institution in this area and famed for the warm welcome
given to visitors by the owner, Doña Hilda, a hospitable Ecuadorian lady. Rooms
are simple but comfortable, and most have en-suite facilities. There are
hammocks available to relax in on the shady verandas.
Cuello Da Luna Lodge
Situated at 3,300m/10,827ft this is a comfortable lodge enjoying good views of
Cotopaxi and Illiniza South volcanoes. Rooms have en-suite bathrooms and many
have fireplaces.
Bookings and information: 01453 844400
[email protected] / www.mountainkingdoms.com
P a g e | 10
Chimborazo Base Camp Hill Star Lodge
Chimborazo Base Camp Hillstar: This lodge is built on the site of the ‘Tambo de
Totorillas’, a former roadside inn on the old Inca royal road between Guayaquil
and Quito. Built in traditional vernacular style, the attractive dining room,
located in a central building, is thatched, as are the buildings containing twin
rooms located just across a small stream. If Chimborazo Base Camp is unavailable
you will stay in a nice hotel in the town of Riobamba.
Hotel Sangay
The Hotel Sangay Spa, formerly known as the Grand Hotel, is a spa hotel dating
from the 1930s. It is situated a few minutes’ walk from the centre of town
opposite the town's thermal baths. The hotel has a swimming pool and rooms in
either the old building or the new wing are comfortable.
Extension ideas
Galapagos Islands Extension
A cruise amongst the Galapagos Islands is an unforgettable experience.
You can join a cruise that best matches your interests and budget. We
work with a variety of different sizes of boat, with cruises typically of
four to eight days duration.
You
can
download
extension
information
sheets
from
www.mountainkingdoms.com. Alternatively please contact the office on
01453 844400.
Please note: If you want to extend your stay it is essential we are
informed as soon as possible after your booking. This is due to the high
demand for flights.
Bookings and information: 01453 844400
[email protected] / www.mountainkingdoms.com
P a g e | 11
Meal arrangements
Bed and breakfast in Quito and Baños hotels. All other hotels and lodges are full board.
Flight arrangements
Flight-inclusive prices
We use reputable IATA airlines for all our international flights and the flight-inclusive price for this holiday is
based upon flights from London. The flight-inclusive prices shown in this itinerary are based upon our preferred
airlines and the lowest priced economy class fares available at time of booking. To secure the very best flightinclusive holiday price we strongly recommend that you book as far in advance of your planned trip as possible
but please be aware that a flight supplement may be required. Please check our website for the most up-todate 'flight-inclusive from' prices. As a result of changes to availability or flight taxes, airfares can increase at
any time.
Flight upgrades
If you would like to upgrade your flights from Economy Class, please contact our Flights Manager, April Palmer,
who will be happy to provide you with a quote.
Price supplements & surcharges
Prices in this itinerary are correct at time of publication. All trip prices may be subject to change due to
external factors, such as availability of services or the introduction of new taxes or fees. The prices for each
individual departure may therefore vary slightly from those published. The supplementary cost of any changes to
the price of an individual trip will be advised before your booking is confirmed.
Further information
When we receive your booking, we send you a full Trip Dossier which contains details of any visas and
vaccinations required, a suggested gear and clothing list and lots of useful information. If you do have queries at
this initial stage do call us on 01453 844400 and we will be pleased to offer advice.
The nature of adventure travel
Every effort will be made to keep to this itinerary but we cannot guarantee that things may not change, either
before you travel or while you are away. By its very nature, adventure travel involves an element of the
unexpected, particularly in more remote areas. A variety of factors such as adverse weather conditions, changes
to local schedules and difficulties with transportation can all contribute to the need to make changes to the
itinerary, often at the very last minute. Our Operations Manager and your Trip Leader will make every effort to
maintain the integrity of the original itinerary and minimise the impact of any changes, but an easy-going and
flexible nature is a real asset! Please note that all timings and distances given are approximate.
Bookings and information: 01453 844400
[email protected] / www.mountainkingdoms.com
P a g e | 12
Climate information
Mountain Kingdoms & Responsible Tourism
Our commitment
Mountain Kingdoms is committed to responsible tourism, through policies and practices which permeate all
aspects of its business. Our policies aim to ensure that we and our clients act in a way which is socially,
environmentally and culturally sound. We feel strongly that all Mountain Kingdoms holidays should benefit local
communities, protect the environment by minimising pollution, and respect local traditions, religion and
heritage. We tread lightly - low volume, low impact trekking/touring is the best way of preserving the beautiful
and fragile places we visit.
We work with organisations such as Tourism Concern, International Porter Protection Group (IPPG), Ecoan, AITO
and various charities, to help achieve our responsible tourism goals.
Our initiatives
We support a number of Responsible Tourism initiatives and organisations in
many of the destinations we visit. Our main initiative is funding English lessons
for our sherpas and local guides in Nepal where we contribute approximately
$1500 per year. We are also very active in raising funds for the Shiva Charity’s
Ginette Harrison School in Nepal and to date we have raised over £15,300 for
Shiva Charity’s schools. Other examples of our recent ongoing work are the
Simien Mountains Mobile Medical Service, the Bridge Project in Zanskar and
support for the Village Education Project in Kilimanjaro. Further details of all
our Responsible Tourism initiatives can be found at www.mountainkingdoms.com.
Porter Protection
In the countries where we use porters such as Nepal and Peru, we feel that the issue of porter
protection is immensely important. We support the work and the aims of the IPPG (International
Porter Protection Group) and as such we have a set of guidelines to adhere to and which we apply
worldwide.
Carbon off-setting
Working with Ecoan tree-planting project in Southern Peru, and the Druk White Lotus School in Ladakh’s solar
energy project, we offset the carbon emissions for every Mountain Kingdoms holiday sold that includes an
international flight.
Bookings and information: 01453 844400
[email protected] / www.mountainkingdoms.com
P a g e | 13
Why book this holiday with Mountain Kingdoms?

This specially researched itinerary is unique to Mountain Kingdoms. We routinely research and make
a reconnaissance of our walks ourselves.

We use English speaking Ecuadorian leaders who have a wealth of enthusiasm and knowledge about
their country and its wonderful landscapes.

Accommodation includes comfortable hotels in Quito and Baños, and several quirky and characterful
lodges all set in wonderful locations with spectacular views.

Unlike many of our competitors we impose a maximum group size of 12. As our minimum group size
is 2 the trip is extremely likely to get up and running. Some of our competitors have larger minimum
group sizes and may cancel under-subscribed trips.

We care about the Andes and their people and support responsible tourism. Mountain Kingdoms has
an award winning Responsible Tourism Policy, and we work hard to ensure all our local agents
adhere to our standards and procedures.

No hidden costs. We don’t impose surcharges for small groups. Please see our booking conditions
for further information.

We are an IATA credited agent and work directly with some of the world’s major airlines. If you wish
to fly with a specific airline or on alternative dates to the main group we would be happy to arrange
this for you
If we’ve tempted you to take your next holiday with us, we advise you to check availability and you can do
this via our website: www.mountainkingdoms.com or by calling the team on +44 (0)1453 844400. Bookings
can be made online, by phone or by completing a booking form and returning it to us. We can also
provisionally hold places if you need time to consider your options.
Bookings and information: 01453 844400
[email protected] / www.mountainkingdoms.com
P a g e | 14
What our clients say
It was an extremely well put together trek with a great variety of things
to see. Ecuador has such a range of scenery, ethnic groups and culture in
a relatively small country.
-Miss K, Hampshire
We are very happy with the standard you offer: small groups;
knowledgable guides; excellent organisation and finally, you are an
accessible company with straight answers to telephone enquiries.
-Mr & Mrs S, Bath
Last week we returned from a wonderful journey in Ecuador. We were
once again full of admiration for Mountain Kingdoms! We had a great
time.
-Miss L, Devon
Bookings and information: 01453 844400
[email protected] / www.mountainkingdoms.com
P a g e | 15
Bookings and information: 01453 844400
[email protected] / www.mountainkingdoms.com
P a g e | 16