Learn about conservation efforts in Maquipucuna, tour Otavalo and Cotopaxi Volcano
9 days / 8 nights
From $1,529 per person, double occupancy for 2009

Day 1: Quito
Airport reception and transfer to your hotel. Overnight Cafe Cultura.

Day 2: Cotopaxi Volcano Day Tour
Visit the highest active volcano on earth, located in Ecuador's first national park. You will explore the Andean paramo, and may have the opportunity to view up to 90 species of highlands birds, including the Andean condor. You may wish to hike up to the snowline at 4800 mts. Hotel Cafe Cultura. (B,L)

Day 3: Quito - Maquipucuna
Drive north of Quito to Nanegalito. Maquipucuna Reserve, a place of beauty and tranquility, is at the heart of the Ecuadorean rain forest. The Reserve has around 15,000 acres of primary and secondary forest and is located within the Choco Andean Bioregion, considered to be one of the 18th biodiversity "hotspots" in the planet, according to "Conservation International." More than 325 bird species and 45 species of mammals, including armadillo, agouti and spectacled bear make this reserve their home which encompasses three different life zones in this cloudforest. The Lodge is an open and comfortable construction, built in accordance with its natural surroundingsThe nearby Umachaca River can be heard from the rooms. The Reserve has a Research Station that provides basic laboratories and accommodation for 20 scientist, naturalists and volunteers. (B,L,D)

Day 4 – 5: Maquipucuna
While at the Reserve, enjoy birdwatching, swimming, mountain biking in surrounding areas, exploring archeologic sites and trails built by the Yumbos (pre-Incas), visit nearby sustainable communities and a sugar cane factory. Simply enjoying the orchids, tropical plants and organic gardens or relaxing in a hammock can take the better part of a day. (B,L,D)

Day 6: Maquipucuna - Otavalo
Transfer from Maquipucuna to the Ecuadorian Highlands to Otavalo. Along the way, stop at a small monument of the equator and the village of Calderon, where you may buy small figurines and ornaments made from colorfully painted bread dough. Today you'll enjoy an energetic day in the Andes. Take the ancient road to Ibarra, passing by spectacular landscapes close to the snow-capped Cayambe Stop in Cayambe for a snack of biscuits and cheese. Your overnight accommodations are at a typical hacienda. (B,L,D)

Day 7: Otavalo
You will find a bustling market full of bread dough figures, woodcarvings, hand-woven textiles and leather goods at the renowned market of the Otavalo Indian, industrious makers of the handicrafts for which Ecuador is famous. You'll have plenty of opportunities to bargain for your purchases. You will also be fascinated to see the food and produce that is traded among the "Otavaleños" themselves. Visit the villages of Peguche, where wool tapestries are made, and San Antonio de Ibarra, a center for fine woodcarvings. Your overnight accommodations are at a typical hacienda. (B,L,D)

Day 8: Otavalo - Quito
After breakfast, drive up to Cuicocha Lake for a hike around this flooded volcanic crater, Ecuador's deepest lake. Here you will observe a particular species of orchid that grows at this altitude (10,500ft.). Lunch is at a local hacienda. On the return trip to Quito, you will visit the town of Cotacachi, where fine leather goods are made, and where you may buy leather jackets, handbags, suitcases, wallets and clothing. You will also stop at Iluman, a town of witch doctors and family-run hat workshops. Overnight at Hotel Sebastian. (B,L)

Day 9: Int'l departure
Hotel pickup and transfer to the international airport. (B)