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Mountain Biking in Ecuador - 13 Day Tour
important information
- Departure Day: upon request
- Price 13 Days: USD 3,543.-
- More prices
| Overview Itinerary |
| Day 01: |
Quito - Northern Highlands |
| Day 02: |
Otavalo Indio Market |
| Day 03: |
Imbarura Volcano - Hacienda Zuleta - Hacienda Guachala |
| Day 04: |
La Esperanza - Hacienda Chorlavi |
| Day 05: |
Chachimbiro hot springs |
| Day 06: |
Hosteria San Francisco – Yahuarcocha – Jurac Cruz - Ambuqui |
| Day 07: |
Cuicocha Lake |
| Day 08: |
Papllacta |
| Day 09: |
Cotoapaxi National Park |
| Day 10: |
Zumbahua – Quilotoa |
| Day 11: |
Saquisili - Quito |
| Day 12: |
free day |
| Day 13: |
international flight |
Detailed Itinerary:
Day 01: Quito - Northern Highlands - Hacienda Cusin
Arrival in Ecuador's capital city Quito. Transfer to the Northern Highlands along the Pan-American Highway with a green patchwork of fields rising up the slopes of extinct volcanoes. You will reach the beautiful and three hundred-year-old Hacienda Cusin, which is set in spacious landscaped grounds. This historic and delightful Country Inn will be the base in the North of Ecuador. You can relax in the afternoon walking through the gardens, riding horseback or walking into the nearby town of San Pablo del Lago. If you have brought your own Mountain Bike and want to ride arround the lake, you can do this in the afternoon. Dinner and accommodation at Hacienda Cusin. -/L/D
Day 02: Visit the Otavalo Indio Market by Mountain Bike
Visit of the Indio Market in Otavalo, which is one of the most famous of the country. The market takes place every day and especially Saturdays there are crowds of tourists from all over the world. The otavalean Indians who assemble in the city come from the surrounding villages of Peguche, Illuman, Quinchuqui, and San Pablo. Otavalo is a delightful 10-km bike from Cusin. You will have a picnic lunch near by the Peguche waterfall and spend the afternoon visiting artisans in the indigenous communities. Dinner and overnight at Hacienda Cusin. B/L/D
Day 03: Biking Tour to Imbambura - Zuleta - Hacienda Guachala
You will start the day early as you will begin the biking tour in direction to the Imbabura Volcano (4.600 m) with a nearly 500 m climb eastward to the saddle between Imbabura and Cerro Cusin. You will bike through Eucalyptus plantations, pass by small farms and large estates on the mountain slopes. Within the golden wheat fields you will be able to see cattle and sheep on the way. You will reach the Hacienda Zuleta for picnic lunch and in the afternoon you will head to the Hacienda Guachala. Dinner and accommodation. B/L/D
Day 04: Biking tour to La Esperanza - Hacienda Chorlavi
This valley to the east of Imbabura volcano was the traditional route of the Inca highway linking Quito with the northern indigenous tribes. Pre-Colombian burial mounds known as "tolas" are commonly seen. You will cycle north along cobblestone country roads. Descent on the mountain bike through the villages of la Rinconada and la Esperanza, the latter of which is well known for its fine embroidered cotton clothing. Overnight stay in Hosteria Chorlavi. Nearby is the town of San Antonio where you can purchase excellent wooden carvings. B/L/D
Day 05: Mountain Biking tour to Chachimbiro hot springs
The landscape and the people will change remarkably as you cycle north from Chorlavi with the backs to the Imbabura Volcano. You will explore country lanes in the Salinas Valley where sugar cane grows. Most of the people you will see are descendants of African slaves. The styles of the houses reflect the cultural differences from the highland groups you have seen until now. On the far side of the valley, you gradually ascend on the mountain bikes to the town of Tumbabiro, continuing upward to the beautiful Hosteria San Francisco. This is a covered country estate adjacent to the delightful natural hot springs of Chachimbiro. B/L/D
Day 06: Hosteria San Francisco – Yahuarcocha – Jurac Cruz - Ambuqui
Like all the previous days, with good weather you will enjoy the beautiful landscape. 
What yesterday was green and comfortable now becomes dry hot and arid. In the first part you will go up-hill about 15 km, then continue with cross country to end up with more or less 25 km of downhill. We consider this day medium to difficult level. The ride will finish in Ambuquí at the Oasis Spa. Then you will continue to the Hacienda Pinsaqui where you will spend the night. B/L/D
Day 07: Biking Tour to Cuicocha Crater Lake
You will cycle southward, crossing the eastern slopes of the western cordillera. You will be passing through the towns of Imantag and Cotacachi and climb on a paved road to the Cuicocha Crater Lake, which is situated at 3.100 m in the crater of a subsidiary peak of the Cotacachi Volcano. The slopes of Cotacachi are part of the Cotacachi - Cayapas National Park and offer excellent hiking possibilities. Picnic lunch on route. In the afternoon you cycle back to Hacienda Pinsaqui for dinner and accommodation. B/L/D
Day 08: Papallacta Hot Springs
In the morning you will go to Papallacta a small village that is famous for its hot springs. In the afternoon you will discover this paradise in the cloud forest at a height of 3.000 m. You will spend the night at the hotel Termas de Papallacta. B/L/D
Day 09: Mountain Biking tour at the Cotopaxi National Park
After breakfast you will head back to the Pan-Americana and drive to the South, passing Machachi. From here you will drive into the Cotopaxi National Park. You will cycle for a few hours at nearly 4.000 m to the foot of Cotopaxi, which is the world's highest active volcano. Picnic lunch on route. Finally you will drive to the charming Hacienda la Cienega where you will stay overnight. B/L/D
Day 10: Zumbahua – Quilotoa
You will drive to Zumbahua and from here you will cycle for a few hours passing the Quilotoa Crater Lake to Chugchilan along spectacular views. Lunch on route. In the afternoon you will drive back to La Cienega for dinner and accommodation. If the weather is nice you will be able to see wonderful and amazing scenery. B/L/D
Day 11: Saquisili – Quito
In the morning you will visit the town of Saquisili. This is the place of one of the most colourful Ecuadorian markets. Livestock, woven baskets, loads of vegetables and fruits, clothing and textiles fill all eight of Saquisili's plazas. Shopping on a market is a wonderful and interesting experience. After the market you will head north to Quito and visit the city's colonial downtown section which has been declared by the UNESCO as a „World Cultural Heritage“. You will visit the colonial Churches of San Francisco, la Compañia and Santo Domingo. Overnight at the Hotel Mercure Alameda. B/L/-
NB This day should be a Thursday to visit the market of Saquisili but there are also some smaller not so traditional markets on Sundays and Wednesdays in Pujili or on Saturday in Latacunga. Nevertheless the order of itinerary can be changed to adopt to the market days.
Day 12: Quito
Free day in Quito for shopping and the last sightseeing! We will be glad to inform you about the important points to visit! B
Day 13: Flight back
Transfer to the airport and return flight home. B
B: Breakfast / L: Lunch / D: Dinner
| Prices per Person for 2012 |
| Minimum 4 people |
USD 2,743.- |
| Minimum 2 people |
USD 3,543.- |
| 1 person |
USD 6,377.- |
| Single supplement |
USD 462.- |
The price includes:
All transfers, accommodation in the mentioned hotels and haciendas or hotels/haciendas of the same category (double room with private bathroom), complete mountain bike equipment with all the international requirements, meals as mentioned above, non alcoholic beverages, National Park entrance fees, English speaking mountain bike guide
Not included:
Single accommodation, alcoholic beverages, tips, personal items and travel insurance, international airport tax Quito USD 41.-
If you need any additional information please write us:
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