Adventures Within Reach Blog

Entries categorized as ‘Ecuador’

Multisport Cotopaxi Adventure

March 14, 2009 · Leave a Comment

AWR is offering a new 3-day multisport tour near Cotopaxi National Park in Ecuador.  This is a great extension after a Galapagos trip and is great for families!

Starting at $370/person

DAY 1: El Cañón del Salto Canopy Tour

Your bilingual guide will pick you up at your hotel in Quito for the 2 hour drive to the Hacienda Santa Rita. El Cañon del Salto Canopy is a transportation system based on harnesses and pulleys attached to an inclined cable, taking advantage of gravity. This system was used by scientists who were doing research in the forest canopy. This is an environmentally low-impact adventure, and it gives people with no climbing experience a safe way to enjoy high mountain forest from a unique point of view. After 3 hours, transfer to Hacienda El Porvenir for lunch, and enjoy the afternoon at this traditional Andean farm. (LD)

DAY 2: Horseback riding and hiking

A brief lesson is given in the morning at Hacienda El Porvenir teaching how to ride and get acquainted with the horses. Wearing the typical “Chagra” attire, you will ride to the foothills of the Rumiñahui volcano side by side with herds of wild horses and bulls. ­­The ride takes about 3 hours. Afterwards, enjoy a delicious lunch of local dishes at the farmhouse. In the afternoon, hike to Manto Blanco waterfall. (BLD)

DAY 3: Cotopaxi National Park

Drive 20 minutes to Cotopaxi National Park and begin with a visit to the interpretation center where descriptions of the local flora and fauna as well as the history of the major eruptions of the world’s highest active volcano are provided. Drive up to the refuge (4,800 m /15,744 ft.) where climber begin their summit attempt and enjoy the views. Next, drive on to Limpiopungo Lake for a leisurely hike passing streams and large rocks where volcanic remains are still evident. You will also see Pucará del Salitre, a strategic military fortress of the Inca Empire. In the afternoon we will return to the farmhouse in Hacienda El Porvenir and then drive back to Quito. (BL)

  • Included: Lodging, transportation, driver/guide, meals as detailed, equipment, national park fees, activities as detailed.
  • Not included: Cotopaxi entrance fee ($10/person), drinks and meals not specified, tips, personal expenses.

3-day Multisport Cotopaxi Adventure >>

Categories: Ecuador

Travel Calendar

October 1, 2008 · Leave a Comment

Here is a great calendar for planning your trip at just the right time!

JANUARY

  • Tanzania: Peak migration in southern Serengeti
  • Galapagos: Green sea turtles begin egg laying

FEBRUARY

  • Tanzania: Sauti za Busara Swahili Music and Cultural Festival in Zanzibar
  • Peru: Inca Trail closed for cleanup
  • Peru: Carnaval (Festival)
  • Ecuador: Carnaval (Festival)

MARCH

  • Bhutan: Paro Tshechu (Festival)
  • Tibet: Butter Lamp Festival
  • Peru: Inca Trail permits sell out for July and August

APRIL

  • Tanzania: Low season discounts
  • Peru: Semanta Santa (Holy Week) Celebrations
  • Galapagos: Massive arrival of waved albatrosses to Española Island with amazing courtship, green sea turtles begin to hatch

MAY

  • Tibet/Nepal: Peak season for Everest Base Camp

JUNE

  • Peru: Inti Raymi Festival
  • Tibet: Saka Dawa Festival
  • Elbrus: Climbing season begins (June-September)
  • Ecuador: Cotopaxi summer climbing season begins (June-August)

JULY

  • Tanzania: Peak migration in western Serengeti
  • Ecuador: Founding of Guayaquil Celebration
  • Galapagos: Whales and dolphins can be seen

AUGUST

  • Peru: Santa Rosa de Lima Celebration

SEPTEMBER

  • Tibet: Shoton (Yogurt) Festival
  • Ecuador: Fiesta del Yamor and Colla Raymi

OCTOBER

  • Kenya: Peak migration in Masai Mara
  • Bhutan: Thimphu Tshechu (Festival)

NOVEMBER

  • Aconcagua: Climbing season begins (November-February)
  • Bhutan: Black-necked cranes arrival and festival
  • Ecuador: Cotopaxi winter climbing season begins (November-February)

DECEMBER

  • Peru: Chocolatada Festival in Cusco (hot chocolate and gifts to city needy and rural villagers)
  • Ecuador: Founding of Quito Celebration
  • Galapagos: Giant tortoises begin to hatch

Categories: Bhutan · Ecuador · Galapagos · Inca Trail · Kenya · Kilimanjaro · Machu Picchu · Nepal · Peru · Safari · Tanzania · Tibet

Adventure Trips Under $1000

May 30, 2008 · Leave a Comment

Adventure travel doesn’t have to break the bank! These trips are all under $1000/person land-only with camping or 3-star hotels based on the group size listed below.

Orchids on Inca TrailPeru

7 Days Machu Picchu, Cusco, and Sacred Valley

  • $765 (4 people minimum)

5 Day trekking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

  • $995 (join a group)

4-day Cordillera Blanca Trek

  • $550 (4 people minimum)

5-day Best of the Huayhuash Trek

  • $890 (join a group)

Galapagos

4 day Galapagos cruise on the Darwin, Rumba, or Yolita yachts

  • $620-$900 (2 people minimum)

Ecuador

4-day Deep Amazon Experience

  • $770 (2 people minimum)

Volcano Multisport

  • $635 (4 people minimum)

Tanzania

5-day camping safari

  • $900 (4 people minimum)

4 nights in a LUXURY hotel on Zanzibar

  • $995 (2 people minimum)

4-day Mt. Meru trek

  • $685 (2 people minimum)

Kenya

5-day camping safari

  • $900 (join a group)

4-day Mt. Kenya trek on the Naro Moru or Sirimon routes

  • $620 (4 people minimum)

Nepal

12 Days trekking to Everest Base Camp in Teahouses

  • $875 (2 people minimum)

4 Days at Chitwan Jungle Lodge

  • $630 (2 people minimum)

Tibet

6 Days of cultural tours in Lhasa

  • $930 (2 people minimum)

ADVENTURE TRIPS UNDER $1000 >>

Categories: Bhutan · Ecuador · Galapagos · Inca Trail · Kenya · Machu Picchu · Nepal · Peru · Safari · Tanzania · Tibet

New Galapagos and Ecuador Fees

April 2, 2008 · Leave a Comment

Galapagos Fuel Surcharge
All Galapagos cruise bookings for 2008 will have a fuel surcharge of $100/person for 3-4 night itineraries and $200/person for 7-night itineraries.

Pay in full by April 30 for any cruise in 2008, and the fuel surcharge is waived!

Galapagos Tourist Card
All tourists visiting the Galapagos are also now required to have a $10 tourist card. This card will help control the number of visitors to the islands and also reduce the amount of paperwork visitors have to fill out. AWR will combine this fee with the national park tax for a total of $130/adult and $70/child.

Quito Hotel Tax
Starting April 1, 2008, all Quito hotels will be charging a new tourism tax to all visitors. This tax is $1/room/night for first-class hotels and $2/room/night for deluxe hotels. Visitors will have to pay this tax directly to the hotel upon check-out. This tax only applies to hotels in Quito.

Categories: Ecuador · Galapagos