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Ecuador: From the Andes to the Amazon

10 Day Escorted Tour

Ecuador, Latin America
12 Meals Included
13 Excursions
Challenging Pace

Explore the astounding beauty of Ecuador on this captivating tour where you’ll meander through the cobbled streets of Quito, marvel at the wonders of the Incan sites at Canar, and bear witness to the mighty condor gliding over volcanic peaks in Cajas National Park. Whether you’re a seasoned traveller of South America, or new to this magnificent continent, you’re bound to be thrilled and amazed at the sights, scenes, and landscapes throughout the journey across this equatorial nation, and into ‘the sacred heart.’

Highlights

  • See the wondrous sights of Quito, a unique city nestled in the shadows of the Pichincha volcano
  • Visit the Basilica church where, in 1874, the nation was officially consecrated into ‘the sacred heart’ by the Archbishop of Quito and former president – Gabriel Garcia Moreno
  • Imagine the ancient Incas into life as your local guide walks you around the Ingapirca site
  • Pose for photos by the ‘Middle of the World’ monument, on the equatorial line of the planet
  • Witness the majestic landscapes in Cajas National Park, with their snowcapped peaks and enchanting lagoons
  • Be charmed by the vast, diverse array of avian wildlife seen through this epic journey

Map Key

Train
Coach
Boat
Airplane
Walking
1
Number of nights

Itinerary

Day 1
UK to Quito

Dinner

Depart the UK on your international flight to Quito. On arrival, you’ll be met by your local guide and transferred to your hotel where you’ll spend the rest of the day at leisure – relaxing and unwinding after your flight.

Day 2
Quito

Breakfast

After breakfast you’ll be met by your local guide and transferred to Quito for an exploratory tour around this stunning and unique capital city – a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nestled on the slopes of the Pichincha volcano, this beautifully preserved historic centre is adorned with cobbled streets and vast colonial-era churches – contrasted against the trendy, colourful Bohemian community to be found in Guapulo. Your first stop on the tour will be the Basilica Church, considered one of the most important pieces of neo-gothic architecture in Ecuador and built as a reminder of the consecration of the nation to ‘the sacred heart.’ You’ll then continue on to Plaza Grande and San Francisco de Quito Church, home to a gallery of masterpieces from indigenous artists of its famous Art School. Your last stop on the tour will be La Compania Church – a vast, Baroque masterpiece made of volcanic stone, with its interior fully adorned with gold!

Day 3
Quito

Breakfast

Today you’ll visit the ‘Middle of the World Monument’, then onto the Ethnographic Museum and planetarium. In the afternoon you’ll be taken to your lodge within the Septimo Paraiso Reserve. This cloud forest protects one of the largest bird counts in Ecuador as well as puma, white-tailed deer, sloth, spectacled bears, black howler monkeys, and armadillo.

Day 4
Quito to Mindo

Breakfast

Today explore Mindo, considered one of the most biodiverse places on earth. It's Protected Mindo Forest is home to many species of birds, mammals, reptiles, orchids, and butterflies. You can visit this natural reserve via ‘tarabita’ or cable car that will ride above breathtaking scenery. This afternoon has a visit to the Butterfly Garden, where you can observe all 4 stages of life. Later on, take a chocolate tour.

Day 5
Mindo to Cotopaxi

Breakfast & Lunch

Adventure into the Andes to witness the Cotopaxi volcano – one of the highest active volcanoes in the world. Impressively snow-capped, it stands proudly in the middle of this beautiful national park where you’ll be led around Limpiopungo Lake which sits in the middle of the ‘paramo’ grasslands and where you can find hummingbirds, lapwings, sandpipers, the caracara, and even wild horses.

Day 6
Cotopaxi to Riobamba

Breakfast & Lunch

Prepare to have your olfactory senses tantalised today on a discovery of the Nevado Rose Plantation in the small town of Salcedo. Here you’ll be able to see how Ecuador's exquisite floral exports are grown, treated, and harvested. The Chimborazo province's greatest asset is also one of Ecuador’s greatest national treasures: a perpetually snow-capped volcano, and the world's highest point when measured from the Earth's core. Arrive back at your hotel in the evening for a restful night’s sleep.

Day 7
Riobamba to Cuenca

Breakfast & Dinner

Today you’ll be travelling with your local guide to hear the history and bear witness to an incredible archaeological complex of the ancient Incas. The Ingapirca site is situated in the province of Canar and is the largest and best-preserved Incan site to be found anywhere in Ecuador. These ruins are considered unique because they present elements of both the Inca and the Canari culture in one place. The buildings of Ingapirca were shaped with artistically, asymmetrically sculpted stones and bound together with natural mortar creating a wondrous aesthetic effect – characteristic of the ancient peoples of South America. You’ll be able to imagine the site into life through time as your guide regales you with tales of how the indigenous people would live their daily lives.

Day 8
Cuenca

Breakfast

Once you’ve had breakfast at the hotel, you’ll be setting off to explore the local area of Cuenca – an area favoured by many foreigners for its mild climate, slow-paced atmosphere, and beautiful architecture. Cuenca is a colonial center which has been designated by UNESCO as a ‘Cultural Heritage site of Humanity.’ The aesthetic attraction of the city center is complemented perfectly by the friendliness of its people and its cozy atmosphere. During this half-day city tour, you’ll experience these architectural marvels up close and personal as well as from an elevated view at the Turi viewpoint where you can soak in the breathtaking panoramas over the entire city. You’ll also visit a Panama hat factory (despite what the name suggests, Panama hats are originally from Ecuador!). The rest of your day will be at leisure where you can explore the flower markets and cafes adorning the riverside here in Cuenca.

Day 9
El Cajas National Park to Guayaquil

Breakfast

Today you’ll be travelling to Cajas National Park, an astoundingly beautiful area of over 70,000 acres, where various types of ecosystems can be found; from misty, clouded forests to rocky, lunar-like landscapes. This protected region contains almost 200 lagoons which the mighty condor watches over, gliding high at an altitude over 4,000 meters above sea level. The higher elevations of the park are really impressive, showcasing the moorlands down below which are perfectly contrasted against the reflections of the mighty, snow-capped peaks resting above. You’ll be watching the park transform in front of your eyes as the light of the sun shifts through the day, and the shadows of the clouds project onto the tree canopies below. Warm clothing is advised here as the temperatures can drop to 12 degrees on occasion. In the evening you’ll be taking a transfer to Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city, ready for your departure in the morning.

Day 10
Guayaquil to UK

After breakfast you’ll be transferred to the airport to catch your flight back to the UK or continue on to your chosen extension.

View Full Itinerary

Accommodation

The hotels listed below are provided for guidance only and final confirmation of your accommodation will be sent to you approximately 10 days before you travel
Hilton Colon Quito Hotel
3 nights
Quito, Ecuador
More details
Septimo Paraiso Lodge
1 nights
Mindo, Ecuador
More details
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Extend Your Tour

Ecuador: From the Andes to the Amazon with Santa Elena Beach Stay

5 Day Extension
from

£3,098

pp

Ecuador: From the Andes to the Amazon with Galapagos Island Hopping Extension

6 Day Extension
from

£3,948

pp

Important Information

The order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. For this reason, we have indicated approximate times only. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. The driving times listed are point to point and do not include the duration of excursions or stops en route. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions.

If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.

A visa is not required for entry into Ecuador for UK passport holders. Further advice should be sought from the applicable tourist authority for other nationalities & for general queries. We strongly advise you check with your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding required passport validity.

Please note that final flight details will be confirmed on your final documentation which will be sent to you approximately 21 days before departure. Check in baggage is included with your flight. A printed E-ticket is no longer required at check-in, all you need to do is present your passport to the staff at the desk and your boarding pass will be given to you.

We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras. To arrange your travel insurance with Holiday Extras, please call 0800 781 4237 and quote 'WK830' for preferential rates. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24-hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.

It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.

This tour is accessible to most people with an average level of fitness and normal mobility. It involves moderate days of walking on uneven paths and small hills, and getting on and off coaches and boats. This tour is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties.

The currency in Ecuador is the US Dollar. Cash machines are available in Quito and Guayaquil. We recommend that you exchange your currency before you leave the UK. It is important that you budget carefully and ensure you have the right form of currency before you arrive in the country. Cash machines will also be available in the bigger towns and cities but may not be available in smaller towns and villages.

As normal practice you may be asked for your Credit / Debit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels as well as American Express.

You will need to take money with you to cover any personal purchases such as souvenirs, laundry, any meals not included in the itinerary as well as drinks and any additional snacks. Approximately £500- £600 per person will be sufficient for the duration of the tour. It is a good idea to try and maintain a supply of small notes and change in the local currency for tipping or small purchases.

Tipping

It is at your customary / discretion to tip both your driver and guide. We would recommend to tip approximately USD$5.00 per person per day. This is a total of USD$90 per person to budget for tips on your trip. Tips will be collected at the beginning/end of your tour. Tips are accepted in the local currency.

The minimum number of travellers in your group will be 10, and the maximum will be 30. If in the unlikely event there are less than 10 people booked on your tour date, we will endeavour to reduce any disruption to your holiday and try to operate your tour with lower passenger numbers. If we are not able to operate your departure date, then you may be asked to change to a different date and a full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.

This is a fully escorted tour, meaning that you will be met on arrival by your national guide who will remain with you for the duration of your trip. You will also be joined by a local guide in each of the cities which you visit, ensuring that you have first-hand knowledge at all times. Should the tour not meet minimum numbers, then it will be operated with local guides only.

Private Tour: If you have booked a private tour then you will be accompanied by a Driver Guide or a Driver and Local Guides. These will be available to you during all scheduled sightseeing. Private Tours can depart on any day of the week depending on flight and train schedules and the opening days of the attractions. They will follow the itinerary as described in the brochure unless you have been advised otherwise and you will still have all of the same meals, sightseeing and local excursions included.

Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist between the UK and Canada. All group tours hotels have private bathroom facilities and air-conditioning, where needed. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs.

Meals will be provided as per the detailed itinerary. When included Breakfast will be of western style and served in the hotel each morning. Lunch and dinner are not included in the tour so you will be able to choose where you dine for these meals. Your guide will be able to offer recommendations if you wish

Vegetarian and Vegan meals can be catered for. Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information.

It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed counties water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way as the UK. Bottled Water will be available to purchase at Shops, Hotels & Lodges.

On your arrival in Quito you will be met by a representative from our local agent, Pure! Ecuador, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays/Pure! Ecuador representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. Your representative available 24 hours a day should you have any queries.

If you need to contact Pure! Ecuador during your stay the details are: Pure! Ecuador Calle Isla Santa Fe N-43-106 entre Thomas de Berlanga y Río Coca. Quito - Ecuador Contact number: 00593 2 2441721 E-mail: info@pure-ecuador.com/marcia@pure-ecuador.com

Emergency contact information: Please find below the emergency contact details for Pure! Ecuador 24 hour contact number: 00593-9 84484148 24 hour e-mail: info@pure-ecuador.com