Participants will arrive in Quito. After 2 days of knowing the city and its main attractions, you will be reaching the coast region; they will be based in Puerto Lopez. Participants will visit stunning beaches and vibrant towns. This is a fantastic opportunity to see the real Ecuador and marvel at its beauty.
Los Frailes: Viewed by many as the most beautiful beach in Ecuador, the surrounding area has a host more beaches, many of which are almost deserted.
Isla Del Plata: A jewel in Ecuador’s crown. Cheaper and less commercialized than the Galapagos Islands, you’ll have the chance to view red and blue-footed boobies up close along with a host of other rare animal and bird species
Beach Montañita: One of the best surf beaches in South America and the undisputed party capital of Ecuador, Montañita has only really been discovered by travelers in the last 10 years. The town itself has a funky bohemian feel and is packed with cafes, restaurants and bars – almost all done in native bamboo style.
Ecuador offers different adventure, cultural, historical and natural opportunities for you not to miss. It maintains a unique contact with its ancestral indigenous cultures and is one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world.
One of the most known areas of the Coast is Machalilla National Park. This park has abundant and exotic wildlife, exquisite unspoiled beaches and rich historical past. Within the Park, Isla de la Plata offers fantastic opportunities especially for bird lovers. At the island you can see blue-footed and masked boobies, frigate birds, pelicans, and giant albatross
Quito – Ecuador (Google Map)
Once you land in Quito, you will be met at the airport and taken to your hostel in Quito. You will be free for the remainder of the day to explore Ecuador’s capital city.
On Monday morning a member of the Lead Adventures staff will meet you at your hostel and accompany you to our office where you will receive a comprehensive orientation about Ecuador and the program itself. The rest of the afternoon, our personal guide will explore the city in the city tour arranged to you.
This comprehensive city tour includes visits to residential neighborhoods at the northern end of the city, continuing through the Gran Colombia Avenue up to the Basilica Church, where we will make a brief stop, next to the “San Juan Mirador” for a beautiful view of Colonial Quito. While walking through the colonial streets we will stop at the Independence Plaza with a chance to admire the Cathedral, the Government’s Palace, and the Archbishop’s palace. We then visit the stunning La Compañia Church with its adornments and gold altars. Finally we drive on to the “Panecillo Mirador” for a breathtaking view of Quito.
This will be a private tour with an English speaking guide in a private car.
In the morning we will visit the cable car. Quito Teleferico, is located in the Pichincha volcano, an area of 160 hectares. It has 18 comfortable cabins with panoramic windows that allow visitors to 6 each, take a trip of 8 minutes starting at a height of 3045 meters above sea level to climb to 4050 meters at the top. During this trip will enjoy a beautiful view of Quito, the valleys and mountains that surround it lovingly.
After this visit, we head to the monument of the Middle of the World, geographically located at 0 degrees and 0 minutes, 0 seconds and marks the division between northern and southern hemisphere as established by French Geodesic Mission in the eighteenth century, we will know the Ethnographic Museum in which you can observe all ethnic groups in Ecuador, plus the history of each of their lifestyles. This is an opportunity to be photographed with the feet on the northern and southern hemispheres at once. Also visit the resort, whose city is a replica of colonial Spanish architecture that provides a wide variety of tourist attractions including the main square, church, post office, bullring, cafeterias, restaurants and various craft centers.
The tour includes private transportation, entrance tickets and bilingual guide.
That night, we will arrange a taxi transfer to bring you to the bus terminal. At the bus station in Quito our driver will also assist you to get in the bus which will take you to the city of Manta after 9 hours traveling in a confortable bus, where our coordinator will wait you to start the Machalilla tour.
As son as you meet our guide, he will take you to visit the Malecon, handicraft mall centre, and many other attractions of the city. In the afternoon, you will be taken through the coast highway, until Puerto Lopez, where you will have your accommodation at our hotel.
Early in the morning, our guide will pick you from the hotel, and will take you by boat to the Salango island, where you will admire the fauna and flora of the region. Lots of different birds can be easily admired. The tour will end that day, doing the snorkeling activity in an specific spot near to the island.
This day, you will visit the beach of Los Frailes, considered by the National Geographic, as one of the ten most attractive beaches all around the world. A variety of fishes can be watched doing snorkeling.
In the morning, our guide will drive you to Montañita, one of the most touristic places for the foreign people that visit Ecuador. In this small town, you will spend a full day visiting some handicraft stores, knowing the culture of the different communities, etc
Our hotel will arrange a taxi for you to take you to the bus station in Guayaquil. During this day, you will be traveling from the coast into the Andes region for 9 hours. As soon as you arrive in Quito, our personal driver will take you to our hostel.
This day, you can relax in the beach and enjoy the beauty of the Ecuadorian coast region.
After breakfast, you can get the bus to Guayaquil. The trip takes 3 hours approx. As soon as you meet our driver at the bus station, you can make the check-in in our hotel, our guide will give you all the instructions for your city tour, the next day.
Early in the morning, our guide will take you in a private transportation to the city tour. This tour lasts 3 hours. During this time you will visit the main attractions of the second most important city in Ecuador.
Free morning to get ready for your international flight departure.
Our Hostel is a new arrival on the Quito hotel scene. Its refurbishment began on October 16th, 2008, in the heart of the La Mariscal neighborhood. It is a family-owned business, managed by professionals in the tourism and hospitality industry who have worked in some of the finest hotels in Ecuador and guarantee quality service. They work hard to make this hostel, one of the best places to stay in Quito.
Our hotel is located in the heart of the Amazon, in the beautiful town of Tena, in the best tourist and business sectors. Offering comfortable accommodation and modern facilities, complemented by excellent service.
It is the perfect place to relax, have fun and enjoy great family vacations. The property is surrounded by beautiful landscaping and has a beautiful panoramic view that allows guests to sit in the middle of the Amazon paradise.
This hotel represents a new concept in the hospitality industry in South America, providing high comfort, a fantastic location, a safe environment, amazing facilities, friendly staff and a long-experienced family-run management.
Since 2009 the hostel is the perfect choice for both backpackers and boutique hotel lovers, a unique combination of laid-back atmosphere and top quality services; highly recommended and favourably reviewed by hundreds of guests and the most important travel guides.
Quito: formally San Francisco de Quito, is the capital city of Ecuador, and at an elevation of 9,350 feet (2,800 meters above sea level), it is the highest official capital city in the world. It is located in north-central Ecuador in the Guayllabamba river basin, on the eastern slopes of Pichincha, an active stratovolcano in the Andes mountains. With a population of 2,671,191 according to the last census (2014), Quito is the second most populous city in Ecuador, after Guayaquil. It is also the capital of the Pichincha province and the seat of the Metropolitan District of Quito. The canton recorded a population of 2,239,191 residents in the 2010 national census. In 2008, the city was designated as the headquarters of the Union of South American Nations.
Puerto Lopez: Puerto López (16,000 inhabitants) is a small fishing village set in an arched bay on the Pacific coast in the Ecuadorian Manabí Province. Puerto Lopéz is the Machalilla National Park headquarters. The main industries include fishing and ecotourism. The street closest to the beach has many restaurants, cabanas that provide drinks, and some nightclubs.
Montañita: is a small coastal town located in the Parrish of Manglaralto in the province of Santa Elena about 180 kilometers northwest of Guayaquil. Translated as “little hill”, it became famous very slowly, decades ago, as a place only for surfing, with only a few rustic fishermen houses and one or two surfers tent on summer time. In 1960, Montañita was the place where many foreign people linked with the hippie movement became enamored and decided to settle permanently. A popular destination for surfers from around the world and considered one of the best beaches in Ecuador’s south coast, Montañita is a town located on the Peninsula of Santa Elena.
Guayaquil: officially Santiago de Guayaquil, is the largest and the most populous city in Ecuador, with around 3.75 million people in the metropolitan area, as well as the nation’s main port. The city is the capital of the Ecuadorian province of Guayas and the seat of the namesake canton. Guayaquil is located on the western bank of the Guayas River, which flows into the Pacific Ocean at the Gulf of Guayaquil.
Currency
The currency of Ecuador is the United States dollar, accepted as the national currency of Ecuador in January 2000. The money that is circulated includes notes and coins. Notes are of the denominations of US 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 while the coins are in denominations of US$1 and 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 cent. Please note that most shops and restaurants will not accept bills over $20, so it is worth having small currency denominations on you.
ATMs are also available in almost all parts of the country. Credit cards, mainly Visa and MasterCard, are also accepted in Ecuador. Additionally, you may use traveler’s checks; in Quito there are traveler check exchange bureaus that are easily accessible.
Passport and Visa Requirements
All tourists need a valid passport and an entry form-tourist card which is provided by your air carrier. This will be available at either the ticket counter when checking in for your flight to Ecuador or once on-board.
Citizens of Canada, UK and USA do not need to obtain a visa for stays up to 90 days. If you are of a different nationality, please check with Lead Adventures staff and your local Ecuadorian Embassy. For stays longer than 90 days, you must obtain a 6-month Tourist visa (12-IX) at your local Ecuadorian Embassy. Lead Adventures will provide you with more information about visas and immigration if needed.
Health and Vaccinations
When traveling abroad it is important to seek advice on the potential hazards, understand how best to protect your health, and minimize the risk of harm and disease. Planning ahead and taking preventive measures will reduce the risk of accident and of acquiring disease. We are not qualified to assess individuals health, therefore we highly recommend that you seek the attention of a medical professional regarding specific vaccinations and medications.
You can visit http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/ for additional helpful information.
Lead Adventure Support
Ensuring our volunteer´s safety is of the utmost importance. Prior to your departure, our program coordinators will work with you to plan and prepare for your trip with us. Upon your arrival to Quito, you will receive a detailed orientation and last minute questions will be addressed. Additionally, you will be given a 24 hours emergency contact number for our on-call Ecuadorian based coordinators.
Weather
Ecuador’s climate varies with its regions. This area has an altitude of about 7550 ft (2300 m) above sea level and because of this, the temperature is comfortable, and does not get too hot. The climate is mild, often warm and dry, with an 18°C average temperature during day and 11°C at night.
Ecuador Time Zone
Standard time zone: UTC/GMT -5 hours
Electrical Standards
Ecuador’s electrical current is 120/60 (volts/hz) Type A and Type B Electrical Outlet (same as North America)
FAQs
The program accepts departures from 2 passengers and on.
Yes, we have received participants since 2004
There are not any special requirements.
It is recommended to bring and/or purchase the following items:
-Long sleeved clothing for cool nights
– Repellent in the Amazon region
-Good flashlight or headlamp with spare batteries (if you are staying at the center it might be helpful but not necessary)
-Reading material, playing cards, travel games, or other forms of entertainment as you will have some down time.
– Internet cafes are available in Quito.
Transportation
All our tours are privates with personal bilingual guides and transportation.
Public buses during the trips to the Amazon region.
