Ecuador – Walking Holiday

Gentle Walking,
Ecuador
Ecuador – Walking Holiday
Wonderful walking and all the highlights: isolated
Inca ruins, the artists of Tigua and Otavalo market
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
2014 dates and prices:
Land only
Mon 26 May - Mon 09 Jun £1,495
Mon 25 Aug - Mon 08 Sep £1,495
Accommodation:
Hotels/guesthouses
Flight inclusive from:
Grade:
Max altitude:
Gentle/Moderate
5,000m/16,405ft
For latest prices see www.mountainkingdoms.com
or call the office on +44 (0)1453 844400
Duration:
15 Days, London to London
Walks on:
7 days
£2,495
The price includes all internal flights, necessary
walking permits and park fees
Min/Max group size: 2/12
Guaranteed to run for 2
Trip Leader:
Local leader
Land only:
Joining in Quito
A walking holiday that showcases
the many highlights of Ecuador
including: colonial Quito, the
volcanic peaks of Cotopaxi and
Chimborazo, dazzling crater lakes,
verdant Andean landscapes
and the spa town of Baños
tel: +44 (0)1453 844400
fax: +44 (0)1453 844422
[email protected]
www.mountainkingdoms.com
Introduction
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
Optional extension to the Galapagos Islands
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.
Outline 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 Vvillage. 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.
2014 Gentle Walking Ecuador.doc Revised 12/08/13 RHC / Rev 13.11.13 AP
MK Responsible Tourism Policy
Award winners
Mountain Kingdoms has a top five star rating for sustainable tourism from the Association
of Independent Tour Operators' (AITO) and is a previous winner of the prestigious annual
AITO Responsible Tourism Award.
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), Beyond
Carbon, 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
approx $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 Beyond Carbon we offset the carbon emissions for every Mountain Kingdoms holiday booked by
clients that includes a flight. Beyond Carbon allocate this money to a school in Ladakh, India which Mountain
Kingdoms has supported for many years. Clients who book a Land Only trip with us may like to make their own
contribution via the Beyond Carbon website: http://beyond-carbon.com.
Further information:
When we receive your booking we send you a full trip dossier which contains details of visas and vaccinations
required, a suggested equipment and clothing list and lots of other useful information.
If you have any queries at this initial stage, feel free to give us a call on +44 (0)1453 844400 and we will be
pleased to offer advice.
Trip Leader:
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.
2014 Gentle Walking Ecuador.doc Revised 12/08/13 RHC / Rev 13.11.13 AP
Day-by-day Itinerary
DAY 1 – MONDAY:
DEPART LONDON
Fly from London to Quito. Transfer to hotel for immediate occupancy. Your hotel in Quito is the Hotel Café
Cultura, situated in Quito’s ‘new town’, and all around there are good restaurants and opportunities for
souvenir and handicraft shopping.
Overnight: Hotel Café Cultura or similar
DAY 2 – TUESDAY:
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 Café Cultura, or similar
(Meals: B)
DAY 3 – WEDNESDAY:
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 Café Cultura, or similar
(Meals: B)
DAY 4 – THURSDAY:
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 Hostal Aya Huma. This is a well-known local hotel and restaurant situated a few minutes
walk from the village. Accommodation is rustic but the welcome will be warm and the food here is good.
In the afternoon there may be time to visit the town of Cotacachi famous for its flourishing industry in
leatherwork.
Overnight: Hostal Aya Huma
2014 Gentle Walking Ecuador.doc Revised 12/08/13 RHC / Rev 13.11.13 AP
(Meals: B, L, D)
DAY 5 – FRIDAY:
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 short drive back to your hotel.
Overnight: Hostal Aya Huma
(Meals: B, L, D)
DAY 6 – SATURDAY:
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
(Meals: B,L,D)
DAY 7 – SUNDAY:
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
(Meals: B,L,D)
DAY 8 – MONDAY:
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!
2014 Gentle Walking Ecuador.doc Revised 12/08/13 RHC / Rev 13.11.13 AP
Even animal corrals cling vertiginously to the hillsides. As you drive higher the views become ever more stunning
and the scenery is stark. You 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 Marco and Marguerita Rodrigues who run the Posada are
extremely welcoming and make sure that their 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
(Meals: B,L,D)
DAY 9 – TUESDAY:
WALK TO CHUGCHILAN (3,200m/10,499ft). 4-5 hours walk
After a good breakfast you will say farwell to Marco and Marguerita 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 zigzagging 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
(Meals: B,L,D)
DAY 10 – WEDNESDAY:
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 de Luna
(Meals: B,L,D)
DAY 11 – THURSDAY:
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
2014 Gentle Walking Ecuador.doc Revised 12/08/13 RHC / Rev 13.11.13 AP
(Meals: B,L,D)
DAY 12 – FRIDAY:
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 Monte Selva or Hotel Sangay
(Meals: B,L,D)
DAY 13 – SATURDAY:
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 Café Cultura
(Meals: B)
DAY 14 – SUNDAY:
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.
Check in for your overnight flight home
DAY 15 – MONDAY:
Arrive in the UK
ARRIVE LONDON
2014 Gentle Walking Ecuador.doc Revised 12/08/13 RHC / Rev 13.11.13 AP
(Meals: B)
General Information
Climate
IMPORTANT: Please be aware that this trip involves travel above 4,000m/13,120ft. 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.
Flight Inclusive Price ‘From’
Our primary aim is to enable you to secure the cheapest possible flight for your chosen holiday. When making
your booking we will quote you the cheapest Flight Inclusive Price available. You then have the choice of
accepting our price, or finding a cheaper flight elsewhere. Remember if you take our Land Only option you are
still financially covered under our ABTOT bond. (If you are booking your own international flights please check
with us first to see whether your trip is up and running).
Our Flight Inclusive Price ‘from’ is an indication price only. The earlier you can make your booking the greater
your chance of securing the best possible price! Our ‘Early Bird’ discount also helps!
Be assured our Flights Department is dedicated to obtaining the best possible price for you. Please call us to
hold a space on your chosen tour and we will then provide you with our best possible flight quote. Ring +44
(0)1453 844400 and ask for the Flights Department.
2014 Gentle Walking Ecuador.doc Revised 12/08/13 RHC / Rev 13.11.13 AP
Trip Notes
Hotels:
Quito: Hotel Café 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.
Peguche: Hostal Aya Huma This is a well-known local restaurant and hotel in the village of
Peguche, not far from the town of Otavalo. It is a pleasant rustic place, very cosy and welcoming
and offering good food.
Cotopaxi: 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.
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.
Chugchilan: 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 de Luna: 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.
Chimborazo: 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.
Baños: Hotel Monte Selva or Hotel Sangay: The Hotel Sangay Spa was formerly known as the
Grand Hotel and is a spa hotel dating from the 1930s. It is situated a few minutes’ walk from the
centre of town opposite the thermal baths. The hotel has a swimming pool and rooms in either the
old building or the new wing are comfortable. Alternatively, you will stay at the Hotel Monte Selva
just a short walk from the town centre which has comfortable cabins set in gardens on the hillside
with lovely views over the town.
Meal plan:
Bed and breakfast in Quito and Baños hotels. All other hotels and lodges are full board.
Flights:
International flights: We will use a reputable IATA airline, such as, Iberia.
2014 Gentle Walking Ecuador.doc Revised 12/08/13 RHC / Rev 13.11.13 AP
Important Note:
Every effort will be made to keep to the above itinerary but as this is Adventure Travel, we cannot guarantee
it! By its very nature adventure travel involves an element of the unexpected, particularly in remote and/or
mountainous regions. A variety of factors such as adverse weather conditions, difficulties with transportation
and the health of group members can all contribute to the need to make changes, often at the very last
minute. Changes can affect any part of the itinerary including overnight stops, duration of walking days, choice
of accommodation and routing. 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.
Mountain Kingdoms aims to offer the best value for money. We do not charge extra for meal packages or local
charges and try to ensure that all the key elements of your holiday are included - you won't get any nasty
shocks!
Therefore the price includes:
 A local English speaking leader
 Economy class return air fares from the UK & UK
Departure Tax (flight inclusive only)
 All hotel/airport transfers
 Good standard hotel accommodation (4 star) in
Quito and Baños on twin share, bed and
breakfast basis
 Best available hotels or lodges in outlying towns,
full board
The




price does not include:
Travel insurance
Visa fees
Lunch and evening meals in Quito and Baños
Airport departure taxes, except UK Departure
Tax
 All road transport by private vehicles
 All meals except lunch and dinner in Quito and
Baños
 Sightseeing where specified
 Carbon offset for clients taking our flightinclusive option
 A Mountain Kingdoms kit bag


Optional trips
Tips
Optional single supplements - available for solo travellers who would prefer not to share accommodation
Single room:
£345
Insurance:
From: £102
Please contact the office on 01454 844400 for details
Optional Extensions
Before or after your trip to Ecuador why not add on an exciting Galapagos island
cruise.
Cruise boats in the Galapagos are quite small and tend to get booked
up well in advance. If you wish to travel to the Galapagos we would check out
available boats in various classes for your dates and could then offer you a
choice of boat and itinerary. Request the extension leaflet or contact our office
to discuss your options.
Will the trip run?
This trip is guaranteed to run for 2 people. In the rare event that we cancel a holiday we will refund you in full
and give you at least 6 weeks warning. During 2013 many trips were full therefore if you want to secure a
place(s) on the dates of your choice we do advise you to book early.
2014 Gentle Walking Ecuador.doc Revised 12/08/13 RHC / Rev 13.11.13 AP
Chimborazo Basecamp
Walking to Cotopaxi
Cuicocha Lake
Walk to Quilotoa crater
2014 Gentle Walking Ecuador.doc Revised 12/08/13 RHC / Rev 13.11.13 AP
What our clients say about this trip:
“This was our 2nd trip with MK – repeat Clients know what to expect – well done! Very well put
together trip” - Mr & Mrs M - Edinburgh
“We are very happy with the standard you offer: small groups; knowledgeable 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
“This was one of the best holidays I’ve had – great walks, stunning scenery and an excellent guide” Mr P - Colchester
Reasons to 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. If you have any questions about this trip, please
contact Ann Sainsbury at the MK office. She is familiar with the walks and journeys included in
this trip and should be able to answer any queries you may have.

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. We pay special attention on trip to
environmental issues such as waste management. We also pay a contribution to Beyond Carbon
for every client who books international flights with us.

No hidden costs. 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.
Mountain Kingdoms Ltd, 20 Long Street, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, GL12 7BT
Tel: +44 (0)1453 844400
Fax: +44(0)1453 844422
Email: [email protected]
mountainkingdoms
www.
.com
2014 Gentle Walking Ecuador.doc Revised 12/08/13 RHC / Rev 13.11.13 AP