Hikes and Cultural Exploration from the Cloud Forest to the High Andes
Ecuador Private Journey
Overview
Discover the enchanting world of the cloud forest, the ancient haciendas of Ecuador's highlands, and hike on Cotopaxi, one of the highest active volcanoes on Earth! Celebrating Ecuador's phenomenal array of landscapes and cultures, our Private Journey immerses you in three totally distinct settings. In the lofty realm of the highlands, explore beguiling rural landscapes, centuries-old markets, and enjoy a warm welcome at an atmospheric 17th century hacienda. On the high páramo grasslands of Cotopaxi National Park, crowned by ice-draped Cotopaxi (19,347'), hike along high trails and enjoy fantastic stargazing in the night sky of the Southern Hemisphere. For a grand finale, enter Ecuador's pristine cloud forest, home to some of the richest biodiversity in the world, and walk through vine-draped forests and even take an aerial "sky bike" ride across the canopy. As you explore these three realms of Ecuador, dining will be a special part of the experience, with locally sourced meals inspired by the ingredients of Ecuador's natural bounty. Our handpicked accommodations, from a stunning nature lodge in the cloud forest to a 17th century hacienda and a cozy mountain lodge, will be as memorable as the journey itself.
Arrive: Quito, Ecuador
Depart: Quito, Ecuador
Highlights
- Visit the famous Otavalo market, with its world-famous crafts
- Enjoy the ambiance of Zuleta, a classic highland hacienda and working farm
- Explore Cotopaxi National Park, with a picnic at an Inca fortress
- Hike up to the glaciers on magnificent Volcano Cotopaxi
- Glide across a cloud forest, hike to a “healing” waterfall, hear the roar of howler monkeys
Itinerary
From Quito, set off for a drive into the green Ecuadorian highlands to Hacienda Zuleta, a stunning 17th century property and working farm set on 4,000 acres. Virtually everything gracing the table comes fresh from Zuleta's rich earth. Hike to the hacienda's Cóndor Huasi conservation program, where injured Andean condors are rehabilitated for release, visit Zuleta's artisan cheese production area, or hike the miles of trails. Enjoy a guided hike around Laguna Cuicocha, a spectacular crater lake set at 10,000 feet, and explore the famous market town of Otavalo (8,202'), a showplace for the textile arts of the Otalaveño and other indigenous Andean groups.
Move up to another Ecuadorian realm, magnificent Cotopaxi National Park and the high, green páramo landscape that surrounds Cotopaxi Volcano (19,347'), with its glowing mantle of snow. Enjoy a picnic at Pucará de Salitre, a semi-restored Inca fortress, hike the grassy páramo landscape, perhaps seeing some of the wild horses, deer, or llama that make the park their home, and from the climbers' refuge at 15,748 feet on the flanks of Cotopaxi, hike up to the volcano's glaciers. Overnights are at Chilcabamba Mountain Lodge, a family-owned accommodation with spectacular views of towering Cotopaxi.
Descend to the cloud forest realm of beautiful Mashpi Lodge at 3,117 feet, set in a private nature reserve that is a biodiversity hotspot of flora and avifauna. Join one of the lodge guides for forest hikes, ride on the "Dragonfly," the lodge's unique cable car system that crosses the forest canopy, spot birdlife from the 85-foot-high Observation Tower. The cuisine at Mashpi is inspired by the ingredients and flavors of the cloud forest. Guest rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows to allow immersion in the cloud forest. Return to Quito and depart on Day 8.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 3, Moderate, according to our trip grading system. Cultural explorations and day hikes are the focus of the trip, with hotel, hacienda, and lodge accommodations throughout. Much of the trip takes place at higher altitudes, ranging from 9,500 feet at Otavalo to over 15,000 feet in Cotopaxi National Park. Overland travel is by van. There are five days with optional hikes of about 2-4 hours each. For your enjoyment of the trip, we recommend you make a special effort to be in very good physical condition, and ready to hike on varied terrain (rock and sand), driving on mountain roads that can be rugged, and the hikes will often be cross country, not on developed trails. Please note that your Trip Leader may make adjustments to the itinerary and hiking routes, depending on local weather and trail conditions.
Because of Ecuador's location on the equator, the weather patterns don't change very much during the year. Altitudes are very much the determining factor in the temperatures. In Quito, temperatures are pleasant and spring-like much of the year, with highs around 75°F and lows around 50°F. The central highlands of Ecuador are crossed by the Andes, with snow line starting at altitudes of about 16,500 feet. Expect the daily high to be around 75°F. Nights and mornings are cold, dropping down to 50°F or even lower. In the cloud forest at Mashpi, expect daytime highs of around 80°F and much cooler evenings, possibly as low as the mid-50s, and higher humidity.
The summer season is June through September, and you will enjoy great views of the volcanoes and mountains. The rainy season is generally February-April, and while temperatures are comfortable, it is not an optimum time for hiking.
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Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.