Bike Ecuador Day 1 Sun Guayaquil For those travelling from NZ you can travel on LATAM Airlines direct to Santiago with a connection to Guayaquil , arriving there late evening . On arrival you will be transferred to your hotel . Accommodation: Grand Hotel www.grandhotelguayaquil.com Guayaquil is Ecuador's major commercial city, quite tropical , situated on the coast Day 2 Mon Guayaquil- Cuenca (B) Later this morning transfer to the bus station and travel by bus from the tropical lowlands through banana plantations and into the Andes climbing to 2500m to the lovely colonial city of Cuenca Accommodation: Hotel Victoria http://hotelvictoriaecuador.com.en Day 3 Tues Cuenca (B,L) Cuenca – Macas – first you have an hour and a half drive out of Cuenca through Gualeceo to the Virgin – start again at 4000m – it is a really interesting ride – mainly downhill (with some up and downs) from paramo to rainforest – so spectacular scenery changes. From the Virgin through Paute to Macas. Road is mostly paved and has much less traffic. Day 4 Wed Cuenca-Riobamba (B,L) Cuenca through to Quito is known as the Avenue of the Volcanoes - spectacular scenery Travel from Cuenca to Alausi – bike in the morning from Alausi towards Huigra – you drive about 10 to 15 minutes up out of Alausi – mountain bike along a paved road – little traffic – very scenic (farmland) – downhill – around 2 hours. Travel onto Riobamba for the night. Accommodation: Hacienda Abraspungo www.haciendaabraspungo.com Day 5 Thurs Riobamba- Patate (B,L) Drive up towards the Chimborazo Volcano and mountain bike down - downhill - again it is a paved road but there is little traffic – paramo, farmland and volcano scenery - again you bike along a river canyon to the town of Ambato , then travel onto our hacienda near Patate . Accommodation: Hacienda Leito Day 6 Fri Patate -Cotopaxi (B,L) This morning you mountain bike from Manteles region into Banos – around 2 hours – paved road with little traffic. Great views including Tungurahua Volcano. In the afternoon visit the waterfalls by bike .A fun time is certain to be had with this tour of the incredible Route of the Waterfalls! Begin with a 20 minute bike ride to the first waterfall, Agoyan, where we will stop to rest and take photos. The next stop is the spectacular Manto de la Novia. The cable car ride we will take over the booming Pastaza river will give us an up-close view of the crashing falls. The Ecuadorian landscapes will amaze you as we wind our way 18 km through the small village of Rio Verde and stop to stand in awe of the massive Pailon del Diablo waterfall. Afterward, we will ride to Machay falls, hike to its base and cool off in its powerful and refreshing waters. Travel onto Cotopaxi in the afternoon. Accommodation: Hacienda La Cienega www.haciendalacienega.com Day 7 Sat Cotopaxi - Quito (B,L) This morning we do the typical Cotopaxi mountain biking route – really great ride in the national park – around 3 hours.Start with 4km of uphill then flat and downhill with some single track. In the afternoon continue on to Quito. Accommodation: Hotel Las Plazas https://lasplazashotel.com Day 8 Sun Quito (B) Morning tour of Quito .Optional hike Tour to Teleferico & Guagua Pichincha You will be taken to the Teleférico, a gondola lift, running from the edge of the city up the east side of Pichincha Volcano. It’s one of the highest aerial lifts in the world, and the ascent takes about ten minutes. Hike from the summit of Cruz Loma toward Volcán Guagua Pichincha, a steady uphill trail which takes a couple of hours allowing for pauses to take in the extraordinary views of Quito and the surrounding volcanos Day 9 Mon Quito – Tumbaco – Otavalo (B,L) This morning we head to Tumbaco where we take a bike trail which follows the old railroad track through beautiful green countryside and down into the Chiche canyon rising up again through some original and interesting train tunnels. Box lunch included. We continue on to the pre-Incan ruins at Quito Loma and can get back on our bikes once again from here for a downhill, through the Andean communities of this region ending up on the Equator line in Cayambe. Visit to Quitsato museum.In the afternoon ride along old railway tracks from el Cajas. Continue by bus to Otavalo Accommodation: Hotel Dona Esther Day 10 Tues Otavalo - Salinas (B,L) Today we begin in Zuleta, a beautiful zone in the Northern Andes where the local villages are dedicated to producing colourful and intricate embroideries. From here we cycle through Andean farmlands, along the flanks of the Imbabura Volcano, with great views of the San Pablo Lake. From here we continue through Peguche and onto the indigenous handicraft market at Otavalo. Time to explore the markets and then by bus Salinas in the drier Chota region Accommodation: Hosteria Pantavi a superb country hotel with spa and wonderful art collection Day 11 Wed Salinas - Quito (B,L) Today we explore on foot the strange and mystical polylepis forests of the Angel Ecological Reserve . Then start a downhill ride towards San Isidro riding through highland haciendas, then down into the dry Chota canyon which offeres spectacular views.This afternoon return to our hotel near Quito Airport Acommodation: San Jose de Puembo Hotel Day 12 Thurs Depart Quito (B) Transfer to Quito Aiport For those joining our Bike Colombia Tour , we will organise your flight for you www.latinlink.co.nz/escorted-tours1/bike-colombia |
||
Dates & Prices: Guayaquil -Quito 12 Days
Price per person NZ$ 2025 Double / Twin 11 May $3400 Single room supplement $1050
Cost is subject to currency fluctuations & based on a minimum of 6 people travelling – there are no hidden costs. |
||