Travel Ecuador

Antisana Ecological Reserve full day trekking

admin — Wed, 12 May 2010 17:37:47 +0000

Spend a day trekking on the slopes of snow capped, Antisana Volcano, the fourth highest peak in Ecuador.
Walk around the Antisana Ecological Reserve to take a look at the old glacier, and see the flowers covering the border of picturesque lakes.

Antisana

with the height of 5705 m asl Antisana features the large zone of snow, which starts about 5 000 m asl.
Within the zone there is an of glacier moraine, whit the age reaching 11 000 years.
The Ecological Reserve has been created mainly to protect the unique ecosystem called ‘paramo’ which exists in the Andes at the altitude between 3 600 m to the snow level. There are no trees in the zone, and the vegetation getting less dense with the gain of altitude.
In spite of tough weather conditions the fauna and flora of ‘paramo’ is rich in variety of species.
The relatively small but nice examples of flora include the lichens and paramo straw, gentians, red Indian paintbrush, orchids and chuquiraguas.
During the trekk you can spot varoius birds, like carunculated caracaras, black wing doves, cinereous conebills, brown speckled teal, Andean lapwings, endangered black-faced ibis, and with a bit of luck andean Condor.

The tour starts from Quito which is around 2 800 m asl. Within two hours you will ascend in an air-conditioned private car the Reserve at the altitude about 4 000 m asl. Depending on the needs and interests the trekking distance inside the reserve varies between one to five kilometres and takes about two hours time.
The trekking ends with the packet picnic lunch inside the reserve ( included in price).
After the luch you will be taken back to the hotel in Quito.

Included are also the entrance to Ecological Reserve of Antisana
and the services of an English-speaking guide.

Duration
7 hours

Tour commences
Daily

Start
08:00 pm

Price
from € 167.18

[photo courtesy of emmett.hume]

Cotopaxi National Park Full day Trekking

admin — Tue, 11 May 2010 19:01:05 +0000

Spend a day trekking on the slopes of snow covered, the highest active volcano in the world.
Walk around the glacier, or choose a picturesque lake surroundings. The tour leads into the area of Cotopaxi National Park, created to preserve the biosphere of volcano.

Cotopaxi

Surrounded by the mountains Quito is located in the area, called the alley of volcanoes, as along the road south to Riobamba
there is enormous number of high altitude volcanic peaks, and moreover most of them are the active ones.

The air-conditioned car takes you out of Quito ( 2 800 m ) for about two hours drive along the Volcano’s Valley to reach the altitude 4500 m, where the car stops, and the rest of the day is reserved for walking. After less then an hour ou will reach a Refuge at 4 800 m , from where you can do the optional walk into the glacier. Descending from the Refuge point your hike continues through the paramo highland vegetation towards Laguna Limpiopungo, a small picturesque lake, where will be the break for the picnic lunch, followed by the ( optional ) 30 minute walk around the lake.

After visiting the lake the car will take you back to Quito.

THe ecuatorial position of Ecuador and the high altitude of the Andes allows to observe different forms of plants changing with the altitude level.
The close area of Quito features orchids and tropical plants. The bottom part of the valleys is taken by the agricultural land of fertile volcanic soil, and some forests, where you can spot the freshly introduced Californian pine. Above 3000 , the landscape changes into the highland treeless vegetation of the Andean moorlands called ‘páramo’. Prepered for the colder climate he plants and bushes are the home of variety of animal species, including wild horses, white-tailed deer and Andean foxes.Among the birds one can spot Andean gull, ducks, hummingbirds and with some luck, the condor.

Duration
7 hours

Tour commences
Daily

Start
08:00 pm

Price
from € 167.18

[photo courtesy of caneladeurubu]

Valley of Mindo Tour

admin — Sun, 09 May 2010 22:37:11 +0000

a violet-tailed sylph from Mindo Vaalley

Ecuador has been a haven for many rare species, especially, birds as this country has a well-preserved nature and environment. This, perhaps, is the main reason why this country has been gaining much attention from many tourists around the globe. And with the many cheap flights to Ecuador, having an adventure here is now made even cheaper. The best thing about having holidays and tours here is the fact that the place itself, particularly, the Valley of Rio Mindo, allows its guests to be one with the nature. Know more about the wonders of this place by reading the text below.

Rio Mindo meanders down from western slopes of the Pichincha volcano forming the valley, densely covered with the unique ecosystem: the cloud forest.
The “Andean eyebrow” is basically similar to the rain forest, but as it is located on a slope, the sunrays are able to penetrate deeper within the trees enabling more vivid forms of fauna and flora, than the ones known from the rain forest.

Although the whole country feature enormous number of bird species, the Mindo Valley is a real paradise for bird watchers and ornithologists!
The birds met here include famous Andean Cock-of the Rock, the golden-headed quetzal, crimson-rumped toucanets, violet-tailed sylph and some other 300 species. Over 15,000 acres of rainforest are included in protected Mindo-Nambillo Reserve, which besides birds is also the home for at least 250 species of butterflies and moths,and a vivid variety of bromeliads and orchids.

The town Mindo is situated short two hours by car from centre of Quito. The tour commences in an air-conditioned private car with the service of an English-speaking guide, which on the way intriduce you to different aspects of cloud forest fauna and flora.
In Mindo you will visit the El Pahuma Orquid Reserve, where in the Botanical Garden you can find over 170 species of orchids as well as bromeliads, heliconias, ferns, vines, mosses and lichens.

Next is Mariposas de Mindo(Butterfly Vivarium) housing 25 varieties of butterflies.The interior of vivarium simulates the nature outside with water streams, orchids and other exotic flowers, plants and caterpillars to provide best flight conditions for preserved butterfiles.

After visiting vivarium you will have a lunch at the restaurant Mariposas de Mindo, included in price of the tour.

Along the route there are two other spots to stop ( if time permits )
Sachatamia, a private ecological reserve with the hundreds of bird species, and
Geobotanical Reserve with the panoramic view from the slopes of extincit volcano Pululahua.

Duration
7 hours

Tour commences
Daily

Start
07:00 am
Price
from £130.88
[photo courtesy of Michael Woodruff]

Quito Botanical Gardens Tour

admin — Sat, 08 May 2010 11:14:40 +0000

Situated in the Carolina Park, Quito’s Botanical Garden features showcase of almost every possible plant species in Ecuador.
The biodiversity found in the highlands of the country is followed by dry forest species, grassland and mountain shrubs.

The area of1,600 metres is filled with scenic walkways, trails and resting areas for contemplation, with a small lake fed by water falling from small cascades.

The plants are divided into the zones corresponding with different layers of ecosystems located on different altitudes.
There are the plants and bushes from the highest zone, Páramo the neotropical ecosystem, which reaches the level of permanent snow at 5 000 m above sea level.The area of high mountain wetland is followed by the trees from humid mountain forest. The area of succulents and other dry habitat species
is supported by the palm garden.

Two large greenhouses host the collection of over 1,200 species of orchids,variety ranges from high altitude flowers to orchids found in the tropical forest. The noisy hummingbirds give the unique flavour to the visit.

The tour includes

Pick-up and drop-off from selected Quito hotels/closest points
English-speaking guide
Transportation in a private air-conditioned vehicle

6 hours

Tour commences
Daily

Start
09:00 am or 01:00 pm

Price
from US $54.00

[photo courtesy of basile12]

Quito by Night Sightseeing Tour

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 19:21:14 +0000

night time in the old city of Quito

Night tour of Quito gives you the opportunity to have a look at most important historical sites in Quito, avoiding heat of sun and the day traffic, visitors and noisy spectators. The air-conditioned car takes you around the most important places of city center, while night illuminations give the new dimension to the old churches, monasteries and governmental buildings.

At the end of 16th century Spanish invaders made Quito the residence of Audiencia - the legal representatives in New World order in South America.
The city witnessed the development of royal palaces and state buildings, but first of all the enormous number of newly created churches and monasteries.
The new religion was to attract local opponents, so the churches were adorned with enormous number of gold and silver details. The local painters created in original way later became known as Quito School of Art. The enormous number of sites of both historic and artistic valour was the main reason that Quito has been enrolled on World Heritage List by UNESCO.

The highlights of the night tour include Plaza de la Independencia, the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Archbishop’s Palace.
The tour includes a service of an English-speaking guide.

Duration
2 hours

Tour commences
Daily

Start
08:00 pm

Price
from US $ 50

[photo courtesy of caneladeurubu]

Quito City Tour with Trip to the Equator

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 15:05:50 +0000

The Middle

This tour gives you a good glimpse of historic heritage of Colonial Quito and a possibility to visit two globe hemispheres in a single day.

When Spanish conquistadors came to Quito they have destroyed the old Inca buildings and replace them with the symbols of the new order.
Numerous churches built in monumental Baroque style, followed Old World’s fashion, jet they became even more elaborated with golden and silver ornaments.
The local artists after a period of copying western design, developed their own, personal way of expression forming the world famous Quito School of Art.

The sightseeing tour covers the most important places of Old ‘Colonial’ Quito with Independence Square and surrounding area.
The part of the tour is reserved for entrance to buildings of monastery of Santo Domingo, which has the best exhibition of architectural and religious art in the colonial city. The visit inside of Iglesia de Santo Domingo allows to encounter the times of conqistadors and the power of Christian religion in in Latin America. The Chapels of El Rosario and Pompeya feature the nicests masterpieces commissioned by the founding artists of Quito School of Art.

The tour breaks then, by the lunch in the local restaurant ( included in price ).

After the lunch you will be taken several miless outside of the city to visit the museum and monument La Mitad Del Mundo (Middle of the World).
The red line of Equator marks the astronomical Latitude 0´0´0´´ dividing the globe into southern and northern hemispheres.
You will be able to stay on both hemispheres at the same time, and while watching ( carefully) the sun you will observe almost no shade, as the sun is exactly above.

The beginning and the end of the tour are near your hotel, you will be taken by the air-conditioned private car with an English speaking guide.

Duration
6 hours

Tour commences
Daily

Start
09:00 am or 01:00 pm

Price
from US $165.00

[photo courtesy of jmage]

Fine Crafts Shopping Tour in Quito

admin — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 19:54:52 +0000

textiles made by Otavalo indians

The craftship of everyday’s products in Ecuador reached the level of art masterpieces,many of the items made of high quality materials are commissioned by the big international resellers, and sold worldwide for enormous prices.
Here in Quito you can buy the real bargain directly from the artist.

The second ( after a girl ) object of boy’s dream - Panama hat has origins in Ecuador, and you can buy here the best Montecristi hats, and panama’s from other Sierra provinces.

The ladies will have to make serious choices surrounded by macanas - colorful textiles used almost for everything.
The Area of Cuenca is famous for hand woven woolen champas - pullovers, chacelos - jackets and gorros - hats.
Many of textiles are manufactured by Otavalo indians, the markets are filled with inexpensive tapices - goblins, balsas - bags and cojines - cushion linen.

There are leather items, wooden sculptures, and even small fugures made of dyed bread.

Also the jewelry shops offer cheap gold and silver products crafted by the descendants of Inca art culture.

The tour starts from your hotel, the air-conditioned private car takes you straight to the biggest artisan market of the city, Mercado Artesanal La Mariscal.
Here amongst the other goods on sale are balsa wood birds, local Indian textiles, silver, Panama hats, and native paintings.
Several vendor shops are located at García Moreno (in front of the Palacio Presidencial).
street stalls selling crafts run by Otavalo Indians on
Amazonas avenue (northeast of the Hilton Colón hotel) features
The other shopping venues are Galeria Latina and the Galeria Olga Fisch.

The places above cover the whole range of various Ecuadorian craftsman items , but there schedule of the tour is adjustable for your particular needs.
The English-speaking guide will help you with shopping and suggest the suitable places according to particular demand.

You will return to the hotel ( or to nearby place ) after shopping

Duration
3 hours

Tour commences
Daily

Start
09:00 am or 03:00 pm

Price
from $ 57.50

[ photo courtesy of Adalbertop]

Quito Archaeological Museum Tour

admin — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 17:34:27 +0000

some 3 000 years old God of Sun mask

THe legendary Inca gold hidden somewhere deep in Amazonian Forest still awaits for its discoverer.
But the vast territories of South Africa hide much more artefacts of unknown origins.

With the time archaeologists uncover new advanced civilizations, which thousands years ago inhabited the area of present Ecuador and surrounding countries.

The Archeological Museum, a part of Ecuadorian House of Culture in Quito displays over 1800 pieces created by the cultures that developed in Ecuador in pre-Columbian times.

The oldest items in the collection are ceramic pieces almost six thousand years old from the settlements of culture called Valdivia stretching along the Ecuadorial coast.
About four thousand years ago the settlement located near present Cuenca, called Cerro Narro became the important trade centre.

The impressive golden mask of God Sun [photo above], which is today a symbol of Banco Central is the work of culture La Tolita from the shore between Ecuador and Columbia.

Several other following tribes also left the important artefacts, but their existence has been broken by Inca’s expansion in the mid 15th century.

The astonishing Inca Gold is displayed in the separate section - Hall of Gold.

On display are the religious symbols and upper class jewelry :masks, nose pendants, rings, earrings and ornaments in gold and platinum,
as well as artefacts of everyday use such as golden needles, fish hooks and depilatory tweezers.

The tour starts from the pick-up from your hotel ( or nearby place ) and you will be taken to the museum in a private air-conditioned vehicle.
After a guided tour with an English-speaking guide you will be dropped back at your hotel.

Duration

3 hours

Tour commences
Daily ( Tue-Sun )

Start
09:00 am or 03:00 pm

Price
from $ 62.50

Quito Sightseeing Tour

admin — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 14:40:38 +0000

panorama of Quito

The sightseeing tour in an air-conditioned coach is a comfortable way of discovery the old history and modern life in the capital of Ecuador.

Numerous towers of baroque churches and monasteries overlook the white houses covered with red roof tails in casco colonial - the old city of Quito.
The architectonic importance of old buildings and the artistic valour of interiors of the churches is the main reason, that Quito as the first city in the world enrolled World Heritage List of UNESCO in 1978.
The vivid life on the cobbled streets still goes on, but the citizens move to the northern part of the town, the modern area with banks, embassies, business centers and shopping malls.

During the tour you will be able to see different faces of Quito, and the most significant buildings of both old historical and modern parts of the town.

A special focus is given to the Church and Convent of Santo Domingo.

The visit inside of Iglesia de Santo Domingo brings back the times of conqistadors and the power of Christian religion in in Latin America.
The church preserves most of its original interior from the past, slightly modernised by the new monks at the end of 19th century.
The colorful cassetone wooden ceiling is designed in the local Mudéjar style.
The side chapels feature walls and columns are decorated in gold, and the most impressive here is the separate chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary.
The walls of the chapel are lavished with gold surrounding roccoco altar with golden figures against a scarlet background. The carvings and paintings were made by the ingenious monk
Fray Pedro Bedón, one of the founders of world famous Quito School of Art.
Other impressive sculptures belong to the collection of Virgen del Rosario donated by the Spanish king Charles I.
The Convent of Santo Domingo displays colossal doors and ceilings covered with oil paintings and gold leaf; it takes us back in time and dazzled us with its supreme beauty.

At the end of the tour, if time permits,
you will go to the Cerro Panecillo, which offers a splendour panoramic view of the city.

Duration
3 hours

Tour commences
Daily

Start
09:00 am or 03:00 pm

Price
from $ 58

[photo courtesy of waldopics]

Adventure Cruise in the Galapagos Islands

admin — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 11:45:49 +0000

Despite all possible effort the wildlife of Galapagos shrinks slowly with the time.
The cruise on My Coral allows to see all the famous endemic species, and there is plenty of time for snorkeling , trekking through lava tunnels or making photographs.
The famous sea water blowhole on Floreana Island is a part of the tour.

sleeping sea lion, Galapagos

My Coral is a beautifully designed, spacious motor yacht, with its entire interior made of teak wood and is fully carpeted. Each cabin has its own full private bath and is handsomely decorated with wooden fixtures.

Your stay on My Coral includes all meals on the cruise from dinner on first day of the cruise to breakfast on the last day of the cruise.

The tour includes 2 nights in a first-class hotel in Quito with breakfast and
4-day cruise on board the My Coral in the Galapagos Islands
All necessary transportation from first pick-up at Quito airport to the last drop-off in Quito.

The travel spots during the cruise include:

Santa Cruz (Highlands) - reserve of famous giant tortoises
Española (Suarez Point) - nesting grounds and bird watching of waved albatross hooded mocking bird and red billed tropic
Española (Gardner Bay) - sea lions,endemic species Galapagos hawks, doves, Darwin finches and yellow warblers, lava lizards, marine iguanas
Floreana (Cormorant Point) - flamingos , endemic plants, including Galapagos millwork, passion flower, and unique button mangrove
Floreana(Post office, Mirador de la Baronesa) - mocking bird of Galapagos, some species of Darwin’s finches, yellow warblers and lava lizards
North Seymour - swallow-tailed gulls and sea lions, various birds nesting sities, the marine iguanas and land iguanas.

The detailed schedule of the trip is available after pressing the button at the bottom of this page

Duration
6 Days/5 Nights

Tour commences
Saturdays

Price
from € 1222.11

[photo courtesy of cdorobek]