We start hiking towards Cotopaxi National Park visiting spectacular waterfalls and graceful haciendas along the way. During your hike the scenery will change from the humid Andean forests to the wonderful “paramo” where you will walk through the grassland, feel the wind and enjoy sightings of wild horses. The scenery will change again, entering the rugged Quilotoa region with its lovely traditional villages. You will visit the colourful market of Saquisili and enjoy a short, windy drive to the mountains above the small village of Insilivi. The Quilotoa region is a highly remote area, famous for its impressive crater lake, with its aquamarine colored waters, shimmering in the clear Andean light. On the last part of our trek we visit the Chimborazo reserve, concluding with the Baños region. We will encounter small indigenous settlements along the way and learn about their traditional way of life and customs.

Trekking in Ecuador not only offers you breath taking views, diverse and unusual fauna, interactions with friendly locals, but also you will enjoy staying in some historical, colonial haciendas in between the hikes. These magnificent haciendas are large Spanish farm houses converted into lodges. We have included some of these gems in this itinerary, which will give you a great feeling for the rural life in our country and at the same time enjoy a luxurious rest while getting the taste of Ecuadorian hospitality!

This is a Easy level trip, with 4-6 hours of trekking per day, including hiking / trekking, wildlife & natural history, cultural exploration.

Want more adventure?  Check out our option to climb Cotopaxi with a professional mountain guide!  No prior experience required, we'll teach you the fundamentals of glacier travel with crampons, ice axe, and in a rope team.  Nothing beats the view at the top!

Monday, 9 December is the day to arrive in Quito.  You hotel room will be ready in the mid afternoon.  Relax and start acclimatizing as you'll be above 9,000 feet in Quito!

Tuesday, 10 December we continue to acclimatize and have time to explore Quito.  For those doing Cotopaxi and/or Chimborazo, you have the chance to rent mountaineering gear.  Note it's expensive to rent gear in Ecuador, so bring it from home if possible.

Wednesday, 11 December - Monday, 16 December: Trekking!

Tuesday, 17 December: Fly home

Day to day details with lodging and included meals (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)

Day 1 Arrival. Night at Illatoa Lodge B

Day 2: Free day. Meet Andeanface. Night at Ilatoa Lodge B
Day 3: Hike to Rio Pita water falls and hike to Cotopaxipungo 10,300ft B/L/D. Day 4: Hike to Hacienda Los Mortinios Night at Los Mortinios 11,300ft B/L/D
Day 5: Hike to Tambopaxi Lodge 12,300ft B/L/D
Day 6 Hike to Ruminiahui 15,088ft m. Night at Tambopaxi Lodge 12,300ft B/L/D
Day 7: Hike to Cotopaxi refuge 15,700ft (climbers refuge) and transfer to Tigua. Night at Posada Tigua. B/L/D

Day 8 Quilotoa lake hike and return to Quito, Ilatoa Lodge B/L

Day 9 Fly out B

If climbing Cotopaxi, same itinerary until 15 December.  We depart the trekking group and head to Illiniza Norte area.  We trek up to the Refugio there.  On 16 December we summit and descend, and travel to the Cotopaxi region.  17 Dec we hike to the Refugio, and on 18 Dec summit Cotopaxi and descend.  Depart Quito for home on 19 December. See the "Add-On" option for additional details, and to select this option.