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FEBRUARY 2 - 12, 2005
$1925
Mary Buschman-Kelly, Leader
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Tentative Itinerary
Day 1-Wednesday, February 2, 2005: Quito Fly to Quito, Ecuador. Transfer to the Hotel Rio Amazonas (4 star) in central Quito. The Hotel Rio Amazonas will always be our hotel while in Quito. Double occupancy. Each room has two queen size beds, and includes a full buffet breakfast. The hotel is close to banks, travel agencies, shops, restaurants, bars and nightlife. (Visit www.hotelrioamazonas.com for more information.) Day 2-Thursday, February 3, 2005: Quito Group meeting. Four hour city tour of "Old Town" Quito with a bilingual guide, in a private van. Lunch at a popular restaurant in Old Town. Later, prepare lunches for tomorrow's hike. Day 3-Friday, February 4, 2005: Pasachoa Travel one hour to the Pasachoa Forest Preserve. Hike, with mountain guides, to the summit of the mountain Pasachoa (13,794 feet) (approximately 8 hours roundtrip). Return to hotel in Quito. Later, prepare lunches for tomorrow's hike. Day 4-Saturday, February 5, 2005: Rucu Pichincha Travel one hour, in 4x4 vehicles, to Cruz Loma (hill overlooking Quito) to begin hike up Rucu Pichincha (15,706 feet). Hike, with mountain guides, to the summit of Rucu Pichincha (approximately 7 hours roundtrip). Return to hotel in Quito. Day 5-Sunday, February 6, 2005: Otavalo/Cotacachi Travel north 3 hours, with tourist guide, in a private van to the Indian market town of Otavalo. Shop in Otavalo and in the nearby town of Cotacachi (leather goods). Have lunch in Cotacachi. Visit Lake Cuicocha at the base of the 16,000 foot mountain, Cotacachi. Check into the 300-year-old Hosteria El Meson de las Flores in Cotacachi. Later, prepare lunches for tomorrow's hike. Day 6-Monday, February 7, 2005: Imbabura Travel one hour in 4x4 vehicles to the town of Esperanza near Otavalo. Continue driving up a dirt road to the trailhead for climb of the mountain Imbabura (15,203 feet). Hike, with mountain guides to the summit of Imbabura (approximately 8 hours roundtrip). Return to Hosteria El Meson de las Flores in Cotacachi. Day 7-Tuesday, February 8, 2005: Tambopaxi Travel south in a private van back through Quito, along the "Avenue of the Volcanoes" to Cotopaxi National Park (about 6 hours total travel time). Drive into the park to Tambopaxi, an upscale hikers' hut situated at about 13,000 feet near the mountain Cotopaxi (19,348 feet). Tambopaxi has comfortable beds (with warm down quilts) in a dormitory setting, hot showers, and excellent food, along with views of the mountains Cotopaxi, Rumiñahui and Sincholagua. Day 8-Wednesday, February 9, 2005: Rumiñahui/La Cienega Drive 30 minutes to the trailhead for our hike up Rumiñahui (15,460 feet). Hike, with mountain guides, to the summit of Rumiñahui (approximately 6 hours roundtrip). Drive from Tambopaxi, out of Cotopaxi National Park and on to the famous 400-year-old Hosteria La Cienega. La Cienega used to be the private estate of a very wealthy Ecuadorean family, the Lassos. It was converted into a hotel about 15 years ago. Day 9-Thursday, February 10, 2005: La Cienega/Baños Enjoy a leisurely morning at La Cienega. Travel 2 hours south to the town of Baños. Check into the Hotel Palace (3 stars). The Hotel Palace has indoor and outdoor swimming pools, sauna, jacuzzi, steam room, etc. Buffet breakfast is included. Afternoon free to visit local thermal hotsprings or explore the plazas, churches, shops, restaurants, etc. of Baños. Day 10-Friday, February 11, 2005: Baños Guided tour, in a private van, of area waterfalls. Optional activity: Day hike to alpine meadows high above Baños to view the nearby active volcano, Tungurahua (16,500 feet). Return to the Hotel Palace to pack our bags. Return to Quito (about 3 hours). Check back into the Hotel Rio Amazonas. Enjoy a farewell dinner at El Mare Nostrum, the finest seafood restaurant in Quito. Day 11-Saturday, February 12, 2005: USA Transfer to airport. Fly home. Return to Outing Description |