SUMMER & FALL 2012 - VOLUME 3 - Senior Tours Canada

TENTATIVE ITINERARY FOR ECUADOR ADVENTUREDAY 1DAY 2DAY 3DAY 4DAY 5DAY 6DAY 7DEPARTURE. We depart for Quito via Miami.Upon arrival we transfer to our hotel.QUITO. Our tour of Quito will include thecolonial center, the Compania Church (one ofthe richest in the Americas), IndependenceSquare, the Government Palace and the mainCathedral. We will also visit the EquatorialMuseum which depicts the culture of theindigenous groups around the world who livealong the Equator. At the museum you canstand with one foot in each hemisphere. At theend of the day we visit the Cacao ChocolateFactory to learn about this famous Ecuadorianproduct and enjoy a sampling.OTAVALO. Our first stop will be the town ofCalderón to visit the famous bread-doughhandicrafts workshop. Then we proceed throughchanging landscapes to Imbabura Province andthe city of Otavalo, where we’ll enjoy strollingthrough the famous colorful handicraft market.We will then visit a weaving workshop inPeguche before you continue to the city ofCotacachi to shop for fine leather goods.COTOPAXI. We’ll take the Pan-AmericanHighway through a series of small villages anddelightful landscapes as we head towards theCotopaxi Volcano. Its perfect conic shapehighlights the beauty of the legendary “Avenueof Volcanoes”, as this part of the EcuadorianAndes is known. A short easy hike will allow usto experience the impressive geology, flora andbirdlife that is protected by the National Park.BAÑOS. We proceed through the Avenue ofVolcanoes and stop at the Salasca indigenoushandicraft market before we continue down thewaterfall route into the Amazon Basin. A cablecar adventure and a hike down to the bottom ofthe Devil’s Caldron waterfall are optional. Laterwe’ll enjoy a panoramic tour in Baños.THE JUNGLE. We descend from the highlandsto the tropical forest and arrive at our junglelodge, Yacuma Lodge, for a 3-night stay. Thelodge sits on 260 acres of primary rainforest.JUNGLE. This day is one of the highlights of thetour. Our native guide will take us along the riverby canoe, and then a walk through therainforest. We will visit an Indian community and"shaman" (a native healer) who will give apresentation about traditional healingtechniques. We will also learn about the jungle’sincredible variety of flora, fauna and medicinalplants. Many of Ecuador's Amazonian plants,animals and insects were only discovered withinthe last few decades. Later we will pan for goldalong the banks of the river.DAY 8DAY 9DAY 10DAY 11DAY 12DAY 13DAY 14DAY 15JUNGLE. A day at leisure to enjoy the facilitiesof our jungle lodge, or spend more time with ournature guide watching the local exotic birds.RIOBAMBA. We travel to the city of Riobamba,perched up in the Andes and surrounded byvolcanoes. We will pass by Urbina where wecan learn more about the llamas and thealpacas, and enjoy the view from theChimborazo Volcano.RAIL TO CUENCA VIA INGAPIRCA. Anotherhighlight as we board a single gauge train thatwill take us through incredible mountain sceneryand into the “Devil’s Nose”, a geographicalformation that leads the train up switchbacks onthe cliffs of the Andes. After the train journey weproceed to Cuenca via Ingapirca, Ecuador’sbest preserved and most important Inca Site.CUENCA. Our tour of Cuenca begins with astroll through the cobbled streets of thisbeautiful World Cultural Heritage city. Thiscolonial jewel has many picturesque squares,balconies, churches, an incredible pink marblecathedral and people wearing traditionalcolourful costumes - a feast for thephotographer! We will also enjoy a museumvisit, a panoramic view of the city from Turi Hilland a visit to a factory that makes the traditonalEcuadorian hats - a symbol of the country.CUENCA. A free day to enjoy this wonderful cityor discover some of the surrounding villages.CHORDELEG / GUALACEO. We head for therural areas of Cuenca and the town ofChordeleg, where we’ll stroll the streets linedwith jewelry shops. Then we continue toGualaceo to visit the rich and traditional market,an orchid farm, an “ikat” weaving workshop anda tour of this beautiful green valley which enjoysspring-like weather year-round.EL CAJAS / GUAYAQUIL. We drive to El CajasNational Park, world renowned for its lakesystem of over 300 lakes. Here we will do aneasy hike on Llaviuco Lake and enjoy the birdwatching and beautiful landscapes. As we leavethe park we begin our descent towards sea leveland you’ll be amazed by the rapid andcontrasting change of landscape and weather.We will pass from the highlands, to thebiodiversity of the cloud forest and then throughbanana plantations. After a stop at a cacaoplantation we arrive at Ecuador’s main port andeconomical center, Guayaquil. Tonight is ourFarewell Dinner.HOME. We fly home via Miami.63.