Day 1 Cotopaxi National Park At 07:00 AM we leave Quito and after driving south for 1,5 hours on the Pan-American highway we reach the park entrance of Cotopaxi National Park. We will drive through the pine forest and soon we arrived at the Visitors Center of the park. After visiting the Center, we continue the ascent in our 4-wheel drive vehicle until we reach the highest point of the tour, 4.500 meters/15.000 feet. The view from this point is stunning and on a clear day, we are able to see 8 volcanoes. We then put on helmets, gloves and protection pads and the bike adventure on the world’s highest active volcano can begin. The first 8 km will take us down 700 m. on dirt roads through volcanic ash and páramo landscape. At 3.800 m. you actually have to do some pedaling while we head down another 8 km between volcanic rocks and wild horses to our lunch spot by an Inca ruin at 3.700 m. With some luck, we might see a condor or a caracara. We put the bikes back on the jeep and headed for the lake of Limpiopungo at 3.800 m. We then ascend by jeep in a Southwest direction into the western Cordillera arriving at Quilotoa to spend the night. The night's retreat is a simple but clean inn located in Quilotoa run by an indigenous family.
Day 2 Quilotoa Lake The next day, we start with an early hike down to the deep jade-colored Quilotoa Crater Lake. The hike downhill to the Laguna takes about 30 minutes and about twice as long to climb back up. But, you can hire a mule or donkey for 10 dollars, to carry you back to the top, where your breakfast will be awaiting you to charge your batteries for this day's adventure!
After breakfast, we descend on mountain bikes to Zumbahua. Many years ago, an earthquake destroyed this area. The land has been transformed into a rugged formation resembling what you might imagine as terrain from another planet. Lunch is a picnic at a location where we have the opportunity to intermingle with the Quechua Indians or test your artistic skills with the locals painting landscapes of the area. After lunch, we enjoy a 30-minute drive until we reach 4,200 m (13.400 ft.) We switch to human power and the downhill bike ride begins down a long and winding road all the way back to Saquisili located at 2800 m. (9000 ft.) where the cycle trip ends. We will drive back to Quito.
Day 1 Cotopaxi National Park At 07:00 AM we leave Quito and after driving south for 1,5 hours on the Pan-American highway we reach the park entrance of Cotopaxi National Park. We will drive through the pine forest and soon we arrived at the Visitors Center of the park. After visiting the Center, we continue the ascent in our 4-wheel drive vehicle until we reach the highest point of the tour, 4.500 meters/15.000 feet. The view from this point is stunning and on a clear day, we are able to see 8 volcanoes. We then put on helmets, gloves and protection pads and the bike adventure on the world’s highest active volcano can begin. The first 8 km will take us down 700 m. on dirt roads through volcanic ash and páramo landscape. At 3.800 m. you actually have to do some pedaling while we head down another 8 km between volcanic rocks and wild horses to our lunch spot by an Inca ruin at 3.700 m. With some luck, we might see a condor or a caracara. We put the bikes back on the jeep and headed for the lake of Limpiopungo at 3.800 m. We then ascend by jeep in a Southwest direction into the western Cordillera arriving at Quilotoa to spend the night. The night's retreat is a simple but clean inn located in Quilotoa run by an indigenous family.
Day 2 Quilotoa Lake The next day, we start with an early hike down to the deep jade-colored Quilotoa Crater Lake. The hike downhill to the Laguna takes about 30 minutes and about twice as long to climb back up. But, you can hire a mule or donkey for 10 dollars, to carry you back to the top, where your breakfast will be awaiting you to charge your batteries for this day's adventure!
After breakfast, we descend on mountain bikes to Zumbahua. Many years ago, an earthquake destroyed this area. The land has been transformed into a rugged formation resembling what you might imagine as terrain from another planet. Lunch is a picnic at a location where we have the opportunity to intermingle with the Quechua Indians or test your artistic skills with the locals painting landscapes of the area. After lunch, we enjoy a 30-minute drive until we reach 4,200 m (13.400 ft.) We switch to human power and the downhill bike ride begins down a long and winding road all the way back to Saquisili located at 2800 m. (9000 ft.) where the cycle trip ends. We will drive back to Quito.
Ecuador.2 days $280.00
