We visit the new and old town of Quito, including the Palace of Congress, Presidential Palace, Independence Square and the Churches of San Francisco, La Compania and La Catedral. After this we go to the Panecillo (a lookout point in the old town), which affords the best view of Quito, then return to the hotel. This trip takes about 3.5 - 4 hours and can depart everyday at anytime.

- Entrance fees for the churches and Panecillo are not included in the price and are about $4 pp.

- Cost: $25 pp, minimum 2 persons

After the city tour we go to The Equator line located 45 minutes away from Quito to visit the world monument and shops. Here we also visit the Inti an local museum where you can see different experiments to prove that you are at the Centre of the Earth. This trip takes about 5 hours and can depart everyday at anytime.

Optional visit to The Pululahua crater 10 minutes away from the monument.

- Entrances fees for City Tour (Churches): approx $4

- Equator line Museums Entrance fee: approx $9

- Cost: $35 pp, minimum 2 persons

This is a walking tour with a local guide who will take you to visit the San Fransisco Monastery, The Colonial Art Museum, Central Bank Museum, Museo de La Ciudad.

These museums are the most important in terms of representing the history of EcuadorÆs ancient cultures. The Archaeology Museum is one of the finest archaeological and gold artifact collections in the Americas, and part of the vast collection owned by the Central Bank of Ecuador.

This trip departs every day at 10:00AM except Mondays and takes about 4 to 5 hours.

- Entrances fees are $7 and are not included in the price.

- Cost $24 pp, minimum 2 persons

Saquisili is another important market close to Quito, located in the south of Quito. A wonderful scenic drive of approximately 3 hours gives you the opportunity for great views of the volcanoes.

Here, the local natives bring their products from over the highlands to sell, such as handicrafts from Salasaca, Otavalo and Chimborazo. You will also find an animal market.

This is an intensive day and leaves at 6AM every Thursday.

- Entrance fee to the National Park: $10

- Cost: $65 pp, minimum 2 persons

Otavalo market is considered one the biggest and best native markets in South America. Here you can find all the handicrafts that are made in Ecuador. We head north along the Pan-American highway for 2.5 hours. On the way we visit the village of Calderon to see the bread figures and Cayambe to taste the typical æbiscochosÆ (local biscuits). After you have explored the Otavalo market, we go to the leather market at Cotacachi or to Cuicocha Lake for a hike. The official Market Day is Saturday, but any other day is still interesting, and has less tourists. This is a full-day tour, leaving at approximately 8AM any day.

- Cost: $45 pp, minimum 2 persons

Your biking adventure begins as we drive south to the Coattail National Park along the Pan-American Highway. Within two hours we reach the trailhead (4600 m) at the base of the Cotopaxi Volcano. After donning our biking gear and catching our breath in the thin, high-altitude air, we begin our downward descent. Get ready for high-speed adventure and hang on tight, as the dirt road will take you on a wild ride. The road will whisk you past silvery smooth Limpiopungo Lake and eventually through a pine forest, until you reach the park's guard station, where you can see a corralled Llama herd. Our 4-wheel-drive vehicles will drive you to Inca ruins (tolas), where a box lunch will be served. After a snack we return to Quito by jeep, bikes loaded on top.

Departures daily at 7AM. We ride approximately 50 kilometres on bike (5 - 6 hours) and 4 hours in the jeep.

Included: box lunch, 21-speed mountain bikes, all transportation and veteran bilingual guides.

- Entrance fee to the National Park: $10

- Cost: $45 pp (pool services)

A spectacular 2-hour drive in private transport takes us to Cotopaxi Volcano, 5897m, the highest active volcano in the world. We visit a museum in the park and hike around a lagoon at the bottom of the volcano to learn about the flora and fauna found at this altitude. We then continue by car up the volcano to the parking lot, at over 4500m. Then we walk approximately 1.5hrs to the refuge at 4800m, and after a short break, continue to the glacier (if the weather holds out).

We head back to the Pan-American highway to have lunch somewhere near Latacunga, or buy a box lunch on the way to have more time in the park. Return to Quito in the afternoon.

The full-day trip has departures every morning at 8AM.

- Entrance fee to the National Park: $10

- Cost: $55 pp, minimum 2 persons (private services)

To see the cloud forest and to experience the changes in the temperature and vegetation, you have to go to Bellavista cloud forest.

Bellavista cloud forest reserve is located at 0,00,46 latitude in northwestern Ecuador, on the edge of Choco which is among the most diverse places in the word.Things to do:

a) Birds here are always active, from the joy of watching hummingbirds on your private balcony, to exploring in search of elusive forest species, 320 species of birds have been recorded in the Tandayapa valley.

b) Hikes through primary and secondary forest.

c) Naturalist guides and specialist birding guides available (extra cost)

This trip is a full day and starts at 7AM.

- Entrance fee to the reserve $10 pp

- Cost: $50 pp, minimum 2 persons

Day 1: Drive south towards the Cotopaxi Volcano. We head to the Pan-American highway to have lunch near Latacunga and then continue south, arriving in Riobamaba. We spend the night there in a basic hotel.

Day 2: Get up at 5:30am for breakfast. We need to be at the train station at 6:15am in order to get the best place on the roof of the train. The train takes approximately 5 hours to get to Alausi and the Devilæs Nose, once the train ride has finished, a car will be waiting for you with your bags to return to Quito.Note: This is a 2 day trip and starts at 9AM only on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays.

- Entrance fee to Cotopaxi Park: $10

- Train ticket $12

- Cost: $110 pp, minimum 2 persons

- The hotel in Riobamba is not included and costs around $15 pp

Two hours drive to the east are the Termas de Papallacta. They are located on the Cinnamon trail, (65km from Quito) which is the same route that Francisco de Orellana took in 1542 when he crossed the Andean mountain range in search of spices and gold, and discovered the Amazon River. We take a short cut, passing by the church of Guapulo and have a wonderful ride in the paramo (tundra). The highest point reached is 4150m; we descend to a spectacular setting at 3300m. Things to do:

a) Hot springs (different temperatures) big and small ones, while enjoying views of the Antisana volcano 5750m. Entrance $5.

b) Trekking up the river

c) Horseback rides

d) Relax in the new spa recently inaugurated (ask for details in the hotel).

Lunch at the restaurant offers typical dishes such as trout. Return to Quito in the afternoon.

This full-day trip departs daily at 8AM.

NOTE: Optional overnight at the hot spring resort $20 pp

- Cost: $50 pp, minimum 2 persons

The Ros Toachi and Blanco are fantastic introduction to the rivers of Ecuador. Flowing off the coastal side of the Andes they have some of the longest navigable sections of whitewater in the country. Combine this with the sights and sounds of the forest environment we pass through and you are guaranteed a day to remember.

We travel west down from Quito for about 3 hours through beautiful cloud forest to the bank of the river.

Rafting time approx 3 to 3.5 hrs. (NB. From March to May we usually run the upper Blanco river û 43km, approx. 4 hrs).

River Grading: III - IV (Depending on the time of year).

Includes: Professional guides, top of the line rafting equipment, lunch, transport to and from Quito.

- Departures: Daily with a minimum of 4 people

- Cost: $75 pp

Transport from Quito to the Green Horse Ranch, inside the National Reserve Pululahua, about 25 miles north from Quito. Quiet sure footed mountain horses will take us through the stunning landscape of this ancient volcanic crater, the biggest one on the whole American continent and one of only two inhabited craters in the world. With its constantly changing sceneries and bio-diversity it's a great day.

Guided day tours are available for all standards of riders - and if you've never ridden before what better place to start than in the Andes.

- Cost: $76 pp, minimum 2 persons

- Includes 2 Box Lunch,1D & 1B

- Departures: Daily with a minimum of 4 people

- Cost: $180 pp

NOTE: These prices are based on 2 clients but if you are a single traveler we can accommodate your trips as well. If there are more than 2 clients booking, the prices may be less than those quoted above.