Biking Ecuador Volcanoes $1540

Departure Date

Every Sunday

Duration

8 days 7 nights

Views

111

Maximum Seats

16
Overview

Discover the Andes of Ecuador! It is mind blowing to think that you can see so many volcanoes, vastly different landscapes and experience such rich culture in such a small place! In Ecuador, anything is possible.

In this expedition you will mountain bike in carefully selected and off-the-beaten path locations. This is an active and educational exploration that takes place in the heart of the Avenue of Volcanoes, where you will visit culturally and ecologically significant areas such as crater lakes, snowcapped volcanoes, cloud forest reserves, giant waterfalls and indigenous markets.

There is also the likelihood of seeing wildlife such as hummingbirds, condors, deer, horses and vicuñas.

Accommodation is provided at charming eco-lodges and colonial Haciendas
mapas tours_biking volcanoes
  • Bike into a Volcanic Crater

  • Bike on the slopes of Imbabura Volcano

  • Explore the Otavalo Market

  • Bike single tracks next to remains of the last eruption of Cotopaxi Volcano

  • Bike the rim of Quilotoa Crater Lake

  • Bike exclusive single track around Chimborazo Volcano

  • Road biking in Llanganates National Park

  • The Swing of the End of the World

  • Hike to Pailon del Diablo Waterfall

  • Learn about the Culture of the Andes

  • Share time with the local indigenous people

  • View Vicuñas in the wild

  • Bath at the volcanic hot springs in Baños

  • Stay at unique places in every location

  • Be led by top Activexpedition experienced guides at every step you take

  • Support sustainable travel to preserve culture and nature

  • Biking

  • Hiking

  • Culture

  • Wildlife

Easy To Moderated
Skill Level 5 – Intermediate
Fitness Level 6

Day 2.- Biking into the Pululahua Crater

Day 3.- Biking to Otavalo Market

Day 4.- Biking Cotopaxi

Day 5.- Biking Quilotoa

Day 6.- Biking Chimborazo

Day 7.- Biking Llangatantes

  • Year around

  • 12 years old

Full Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival Day

There are no activities planned for your first day for you to be able to explore the beautiful city of Quito on your own terms, but if you feel like having a guided day tour at extra cost, do not hesitate in contacting us. We are always more than happy to send you with one of our expert guides to learn more about the city or the surrounded areas.

Please keep in mind that there is a meeting at 18:00 in the hotel’s lobby the first day to meet your guide and the rest of the group as well as learn about what’s in store for the days of your expedition!

Overnight: Wyndham Garden or similar.
Meals included: none.
Day 2

Biking into the Pululahua Crater

During our first day adventure, we will go by car to the entrance of the Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve where we will start biking on an old secondary dirt road surrounded by beautiful landscapes of colorful mountains. After descending for about two hours we will enter a lush forest. This area is generally cloudy as this is where the hot current coming from the Pacific reaches the cold altitudes of the sierra and condenses creating a hugely diverse ecosystem. We will have lunch at the roadside and then visit the Equator Solar Museum after which we will travel by car to the hotel.

Overnight: Wyndham Garden or similar.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.
Day 3

Biking to Otavalo Market

In the morning we will continue our biking expedition driving up to the foothills of Imbabura volcano. We will start descending on grass and dirt patched paths and roads that connect local indigenous people’s farms. Along the way, we will see corn and quinoa plantations--staples in the local diet.

Once at the base of the volcano we will continue riding along the side of San Pablo Lake, and later head over to Peguche Falls. There we will visit an indigenous family of artisans who will teach us how they weave and make their clothing. Our final stop will be the Otavalo Market, the largest indigenous market in Ecuador, where you can spend some time shopping for unique and colorful souvenirs.

Overnight: Wyndham Garden or similar.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.
Day 4

Biking Cotopaxi

After an early breakfast we will drive south down the Pan-American highway. Our ride will take place in Cotopaxi National Park named after one of the highest active volcanoes on earth, which at nineteen thousand feet, is the most beautiful volcano in Ecuador. We will bike next to the volcano’s base, on dirt roads and single tracks surrounded by an other-worldly landscape dotted by rocks strew about by the volcano during its last major eruption.

For lunch we will picnic within views of Incan ruins and then depending on how the group feels will continue on biking around for a couple of hours longer.

Overnight: Cuello de Luna or similar.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.
Day 5

Biking Quilotoa

In the morning we will travel to the nearby Ilinizas ecological reserve. This area is known for local art and we will have some time to visit some of the painting and handicraft galleries of the local people who dedicate themselves to their craft. At Quilotoa there is the option to enter into the crater hiking to take in the stunning views and infinite masterpiece of turquoises and blues. Later, we take an epic MTB ride around the rim of the magnificent crate lake. The first part of the ride is a single track that gives you 360 views of the reserve before descending on a narrow dirt road. Ending our day, we will have a picnic in the scenic and hilly town of San Pedro Guayama before driving back to the lodge.

Overnight: La Andaluza or similar.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.
Day 6

Biking Chimborazo

We will continue this amazing expedition driving south to the central Andes, passing Chimborazo Volcano. At over twenty thousand feet, Chimborazo is considered the highest peak in the world if measured from the center of the planet. We will take a short walk to the basecamp of the volcano at sixteen thousand feet and then start biking on an exclusive single track. Along the ride we will see wild vicunas; small relatives of the llama who make their home in the Andes and are very common at this reserve. We will have a picnic in front of the volcano and then drive to the town of Baños, a great place to go out to have a cocktail and dance salsa.

Overnight: La Floresta or similar.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
Day 7

Biking Llanganates

In the morning after breakfast we will go by car up the mountains of the Llanganates National Park. Legend has it there is a hidden Incan treasure in this area and although many explorers venture in trying to find it, it has yet to have been found. We will start biking on asphalt road a bit up the hill to warm up and then we will descend about five thousand feet. An impressive change from the heights of the majestic Andes to the entrance of the lush Amazon Basin. Afterwards we will visit Pailon del Diablo Waterfall so we can refresh a bit, have lunch and then drive to Quito.

Overnight: Wyndham Garden or similar.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.
Day 8

Departure

As you depart we thank you and wish you safe travels to wherever your final destination may be! If you wish to continue exploring more of Ecuador we can help you organize an extension trip to places you did not see during this trip. We thank you for choosing Activexpedition and hope to see you soon!

Meals included: Breakfast.

Let's design your adventure

    • Experienced & Certified English-Speaking Guide

    • Private Transport

    • Accommodation for seven nights

    • Meals as listed in the Itinerary

    • Water and snacks available whenever

    • Biking gear: (Trek quality bikes, front Rockshox suspention with hydraulic brakes, 1 x 10 speeds), certified helmets and gloves.

    • All fees to reserves and museums

    • International or domestic flights

    • Meals not mentioned in the itinerary

    • Upgraded biking gear (Trek Fuel EX5 full suspension with Hydraulic brakes, 1 x 10 speed / 200usd for the whole trip)

    • Tips for guides and drivers

    • Travel insurance (mandatory)

    • Itinerary Disclaimer: Even though we have a detailed itinerary, changes can be made by your guides, due to weather or safety reasons. Please also note that none of the wildlife sightings mentioned on the itinerary are guaranteed.

    • Visas and Passports: Make sure you check your visa and passport validity and requirements per country. It is important your passport is valid for at least 6 months before your travel.

    • Accommodation: We strive to use small and charming places that are unique and provide stellar service.

    • Single Supplement Costs: Generally this fee is not incurred as we match you with another person of the same gender in a twin room, but if you prefer not to share and have your own room, then there will be an associated fee

    • Transportation: Driving time can take more than expected in Ecuador, as it is a small country with roads meandering through the Andes mountains. We assure your comfort during transit no matter the size of the group.

    • Gear: We always make sure our guests have top of the line gear from well-known and reputable international brands as we understand that the best gear gives extra confidence to our riders. For biking we use Trek Xcaliber, Trek Fuel EX5, and for protection we use Bontrager and Fox.

    • Level of Activity: This trip is considered as 3 out of 5, meaning you need to have a bit of experience, however your guides will teach you every day how to ride on the varying terrain. The whole trip involves a mix of trails and roads, some on dirt, grass and gravel. Every ride is about 20 miles, and the elevation gain can be 1000 feet a day, if people want to do more elevation gain, our guides will be happy to do longer rides. There will always be transport support in the case that someone wants to take a break or just wants to avoid the uphill. Our drivers will be happy to show you the landscapes from the car.

    • Weather and Elevation: In Ecuador the weather can be very variable depending on which side of the Andes you are traveling to, so it is highly recommended to come ready for all kinds of weather. When they say “Ecuador, All in One Place” they mean it! The altitude determines the temperature and the higher you go the colder it gets. Don’t let the geographic location of the country fool you. Even at a mere 15,000 feet the temperatures can feel like those of a winter in the northern United States. The coastal lowlands in the western part of Ecuador are typically warm with temperatures in the region of 25 °C (77 °F). Coastal areas are affected by ocean currents and between January and April are hot and rainy. The weather in Quito is consistent with that of a subtropical highland climate. The average temperature during the day is 70 °F (21 °C), which generally falls to an average of 50 °F (10 °C) at night. The average temperature annually is 64 °F (17.8 °C). There are only really two seasons in the city: dry and wet. The dry season runs from June to September and the wet season is from October to May.

    • Sustainability: We do our best to not produce any trash; we believe that recycling is not enough so we try to avoid using any plastic or materials that pollute our environment. Every day we work towards being a zero waste tour operator and our staff is well trained to leave the least impact possible in our service areas. We also work with local indigenous communities in the different regions. By doing so we are able to teach our guests about the rich culture Ecuador, all the while helping the people preserve their traditions and lands. By working directly with local peoples we are able to create a sustainable touristic income for the community.

    • Guides: All our guides have a professional background from the Tourism University, this means they have a degree in guiding, so their knowledge and skills when leading a group are top-notch. Each guide has many years of experience and they all have taken additional courses for other outdoor activities as well as have International First-Aid certifications. On top of all of this they are all extremely personable and strive to deliver travel experiences of a lifetime.

    • Heath Advisory: No vaccinations needed for this trip

    We do recommend travelling light for this expedition. A duffel bag of 50 litters for your luggage and a backpack of 20 litters for daily activities should be sufficient. In Ecuador, the weather can change drastically especially when you are moving from the Andes to the Amazon.

    • Passport

    • Credit card

    • Two pairs of lightweight hiking pants

    • Two pairs of shorts

    • Three pairs of biking shorts

    • One bathing suit

    • Four non-cotton T-shirts

    • One cotton T-shirts

    • One water T-shirt

    • One winter warm jacket

    • One fleece

    • One rain jacket

    • One pair of rain pants

    • Two buffs

    • One pair of tennis shoes

    • One pair of biking shoes

    • One cap or hat

    • Sunscreen

    • Sunglasses

    • Mosquito repellent

    • Camera

    • Head lamp

    • Optional binoculars

    • Weather bottle

    NOTE: Laundry is available almost at every location and it is cheap, this helps traveling light too.

    PRICE FOR SPECIFIC DEPARTURES:

    $1540/per person

    • All premium features

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    • 7 am - 4 pm Monday through Thursday.
    • 7 am to 1 pm Fridays (US central) toll free or by skype.
    Otherwise, email us anytime. On average we provide quotes within 6 hours during business hours and the next day during off business hours. Privately guided trips allow you to be in control of all the details of your trip - departure times, accommodations, extra nights, extra activities, extra experiences - what you want and how you want it. If you want to go private or customize this expedition, contact us.
    Phone

    US & CANADA: +1 (919) 400-5824 EC: +593 (09) 5955-5556

    Email

    christian@activexpedition.com