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 Ecuador Expedition
December 12 to 20, 2009
Experience the biodiversity of the Ecuadorian Andes and coast on this action-packed adventure tour. Join us on a journey from the rainforest to the ocean while enjoying the company of other gay and lesbian travelers in a small group. This trip is designed for the outdoor sports enthusiast who wants to participate in numerous adventure activities including kayaking, biking, and rafting.
Our expedition will take us from the cosmopolitan city of Quito through the rainforest to the coast of Ecuador.
During the trip, you will be provided with instruction to develop your skills in kayaking. In addition to learning new skills and participating in numerous adventure activities, you will have time to explore the historic city of Quito and relax by the sea.
While this trip involves some serious physical activity, it is suitable to those who have had no previous experience in kayaking or rafting.
Highlights
- Mountain bike through a tropical rainforest
- Raft the rapids of the Blanco and Toachi rivers
- Sea kayak around Salango Islet
- Encounter blue-footed boobies and sea lions on Isla de la Plata
- Hike through the Ayampe Humid Forest
Dates
December 12 to 20, 2009
Price
$ 2,295 USD
$500 deposit required to reserve your space for this trip. If reservations are made less than 60 days prior to the date of the start of the trip, full payment is due at the time of reservation. Final payment is due 60 days prior to commencement of the trip.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 Quito
Arrive at Quito’s Aeropuerto Internacional Mariscal Sucre . Transfer on your own to the Nu House Hotel, a boutique hotel in the Mariscal district of town. There are no scheduled activities today giving you time to explore Quito on your own or relax.
Tonight we will have a group welcome dinner at the hotel.
 Day 2 Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve
We will depart Quito in the morning and drive west across the magnificent Andes Mountains before arriving at Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve where our mountain biking adventure begins. This cloud forest is one of most diverse areas in the world for bird watching, with many species of trogons, toucans, and at least 18 different species of hummingbirds. We bike downhill, descending in altitude from 11,800 to 2,600 feet (3,600 to 800 meters), while the vegetation and wildlife around us changes as we pass from cloud forest to sub-tropical rainforest. The scenic dirt road snakes alongside an occasional small jungle town, while wildlife like flycatchers and kingfishers populate the rainforest canopy above us. While we explore this section of forest, a chase vehicle serves as backup and assures that we feel safe throughout our journey. In the late afternoon, we arrive at La Cascada, a jungle lodge near the Toachi River. La Cascada offers a number of welcome luxuries in the midst of a beautiful jungle setting, with a natural waterfall that is visible from almost all of its rooms, as well as spa complexes and services. This evening will be spent relaxing and dining at the lodge.
 Day 3 Blanco River Rafting
We depart the lodge after an early morning breakfast and drive to our put-in site along the Blanco River. The Blanco offers almost non-stop thrilling Class III+ rapids and a high volume of water. In between paddling furiously to get through the next rapid, we will enjoy the beautiful scenery and varied wildlife. After rafting for about 3-4 hours, we enjoy a delicious riverside lunch. In the afternoon, we will return to the La Cascada, where we will have dinner and spend another relaxing evening.
Day 4 Toachi River Rafting
This morning, we drive to our put-in site along the Toachi River. Our rafting journey takes us through about 30 kilometers of the best whitewater west of the Andes, with plenty of class III+ rapids to get our hearts racing. Throughout our river run we enjoy spectacular jungle scenery, encounter an abundance of bird life, and may even spot a southern river otter. Depending on water levels, our rafting time may vary between three to four hours. When we reach our take-out site later in the afternoon, a picnic lunch awaits us on the riverbanks. In the afternoon, we will drive west to the Canoa Beach area in Manabi Province, a stretch of beach that is famed for its excellent surfing and waves. We will have dinner and spend the evening at a comfortable beachfront hotel.
 Day 5 Machalilla National Park
After a traditional coastal-style breakfast, we drive along Ecuador's coast along the "route to the sun," enjoying sun-dappled ocean scenery and exploring tiny fishing villages and prosperous coastal towns until we arrive at Machalilla National Park. The park is the only one in Ecuador to include tropical dry forest, coastline, and islands. After arriving at the park, we will visit the local museum which showcases artifacts of the area’s ancient cultures, including the mysterious "venus" figurines of the Valdivia culture. In the afternoon, we practice sea kayaking skills to sharpen our paddling technique before tomorrow morning’s trip to Salango Islet. We spend the evening at a seaside lodge where we will also have dinner.
Day 6 Machalilla National Park
Today's destination is Salango, a small islet filled with cultural history and interesting wildlife, located approximately 3 km offshore. Once we reach the islet, we paddle around the shore to seek out coastal wildlife along pristine beaches, and then trade in our kayaks for snorkeling gear to explore the underwater wildlife of Salango. The islet is also the site of ancient burial grounds belonging to the Valdivia, Machalilla and Chorrera cultures, which date back to 5,000 years ago. We will explore some of this rich cultural heritage as we hike around Salango before departing to return to the mainland in the afternoon. The evening is spent in Alandaluz Eco Lodge, an award winning beach front lodge that recycles water and prepares meals from its own organic garden.
Day 7 Machalilla National Park
This morning, we head out on a motorboat to reach Isla de la Plata (Silver Island), another island a short distance off the coast of Machalilla. Isla de la Plata is renowned for its marine and bird life, which is very similar to that found on the Galápagos Islands - and can be equally as fearless. During our hike around the island, we encounter birds such as blue- and red-footed boobies, frigates, pelicans, and albatross. We may also run across playful sea lions lounging on picturesque beaches. Lunchtime brings us to Puerto Lopez, a small fishing town with plenty of delicious seafood to indulge our appetites. In the afternoon, we will put on our bathing suits and snorkeling gear and explore the marine life in the waters around the island. In the late afternoon, we return to Machalilla to spend the evening and relax at our seaside lodge.
 Day 8 Machalilla National Park
After breakfast, we begin our hike through the Ayampe Humid Forest of Machalilla, a great place to observe ocean and continental bird life. This is the habitat of at least 230 different bird species, including a breeding site for the rare Esmeraldas Woodstar. After our hike, we visit the Agua Blanca Community where there is a well-maintained archeological site and an "in situ" museum containing the ruins of the many cultures that have inhabited these shores over the years. A main attraction amongst these intriguing artifacts is a solar calendar that was once used to celebrate the rites of the winter and summer solstices. In the early afternoon, we drive to Manta to catch our return flight to Quito, where we will be staying at the Nu House Hotel.
Day 9 Quito
Today you are free to explore Quito until your departure time.
Important Trip Information
Group Size:
Minimum of 6, maximum of 12
Arrival & Depart Information:
Trip starts and ends in Quito.
Price Includes:
- 8 nights accommodations in double occupancy rooms
- All ground transportation except transfer from airport to Nu House Hotel at beginning of trip and from Nu House Hotel to airport at the end of the trip
- Equipment usage (rafting safety equipment, bikes and gear, and kayaks)
- Local guides and instructors
- Support of Big Wolf Expeditions tour leader
- 8 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches, 7 Dinners
Not Included:
- Transportation to and from Quito
- Flight from Manta to Quito
- Meals not specified as included
- Personal items
- International health insurance
- Soft drinks or beer/wine
- Gratuities
Passports and Visas:
It is the responsibility of the traveler to be in possession of a valid passport with at least 6 months of validity remaining. Visas are not required for residents of the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, France, or Germany.
Single Travelers:
In order to keep our prices reasonable, our group tours are based on shared accommodations. Single travelers will be matched up to share twin bed accommodations with other members of the same sex for the tour.
Travel Insurance:
Travel insurance is required to participate in any of our tours. The policy must include personal accident, medical expense, and emergency evacuation coverage. When purchasing insurance, clients should ensure that there are no exclusion clauses limiting protection for the type of activities in their trip. We recommend that you purchase insurance that includes cancellation coverage so that you are covered in certain circumstances if you need to cancel your trip. A copy of your insurance policy must be provided to Big Wolf Expeditions prior to the departure date of the tour.
If you do not currently have travel insurance, we can provide you with some options.
Physical Condition:
This trip involves engaging in some serious physical activities. While you do not need prior experience in the activities offered, you should be in reasonable shape to enjoy the trip.
Conduct:
All travelers are expected to obey the laws of the countries we visit. Possession of illegal drugs is prohibited on all our trips. Possessing and using illegal drugs puts the entire group at risk. We reserve the right to ask a traveler to leave the trip if drugs are found in their possession.
Pre-Departure Information:
In advance of you trip, we will send you the final trip details and a Release From Liability Agreement which must be signed and returned. Additionally, we will provide suggestions about clothing and equipment to bring with you and other travel advice.
Final Note:
Due to the nature of travel, we sometimes need to make changes to the itinerary. We will make every effort to keep you informed of any changes, but cannot be held liable for any alterations made to the itinerary.
How to Book
We are excited to have you join us on one of our expeditions and look forward to providing you with a great adventure. Please take a few minutes to read our Terms and Conditions prior to reserving your trip. Once you are ready, you can reserve directly with us or through your travel agent.
Reserve
Send us an e-mail or give us a call to check on availability. Or if you prefer, contact your travel agent.
Deposit
If you choose to reserve directly with us, you can send us your deposit via check or we can send you an invoice via e-mail for online credit card payment.
Final Payment
Final payment can be made by check or online credit card payment.
Reservations: +1-617-792-5569
E-Mail: info@bigwolfexpeditions.com
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