Explore Ecuador - A Multi-Sport Andean Adventure

Ecuador, a country the size of Colorado, boasts both stunning natural beauty and biodiversity so varied that it exceeds that in all of North America combined! We invite you to join us on this amazing adventure in which we will explore Ecuador on foot, horseback, bicycle, and whitewater raft!

Starting from the charming colonial city of Quito (a UNESCO world heritage site), we'll venture down the Avenue of the Volcanoes, formed by parallel mountain ranges in the majestic Andes. Some travel writers call this the most amazing drive in the world. We'll spend time hiking Volcano Pasochoa, horseback riding in world- famous Cotopaxi National Park, hiking around Volcano Quilotoa (and around the emerald-green crater lake), white water rafting near Banos, and riding bikes through a cloud forest on the Avenida de Cascadas (Avenue of the waterfalls). We will also include some down time to shop, eat, hang out, and explore.

All nights will be spent in hotels or lodges and we will have an English-speaking guide.

Following the adventure, we will return to Quito. 

Detailed Itinerary:

Friday/Saturday, August 15/16

Arrive in Quito.  Each participant obtains his or her own lodging for one or two nights, depending on date of arrival.

  Sunday- Day 1

We will travel by vehicle to the starting point of our first hike in the Andes. We will hike 4-5 hours to Pasochoa Volcano (extinct and approximately 100,000 years old) at a very moderate rate. Total elevation gain will fall in the range of 300 -500 meters. We will then descend into Pedregal Valley, where we will stay in a rustic lodge with great views.

Lunch, dinner, lodge, and transportation to hike included. Participant is responsible for breakfast.

Photo is a view from the lodge in which we will stay.

Monday - Day 2

If you are tired from the hike on Day 1, have no fear - our horses will do the walking on Day 2. We will explore the slopes of Ruminahui (an extinct volcano named for an Incan warrior) and/or Sincholagua, both of which are located in Cotopaxi National Park. We'll enjoy enchanting views of Cotopaxi, considered one of the most beautiful mountains in the Ecuadorian Andes. We will have a local guide and stay at the same lodge as Day 1.

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, horses, and lodge included.

Tuesday - Day 3

Today we will travel approximately 3 hours by vehicle to Quilotoa Volcano, the most western volcano in the Ecuadorian Andes. The volcano has a 2 mile caldera and an 800+ foot deep green crater lake. While the volcano is not extinct, it is dormant, having last erupted over 800 years ago. Before that, it was dormant for 1400 years.

Our drive will follow the "Quilotoa Loop," a famous hike. We will hike down to the lake and back up, which takes about 2 hours. We will spend the night in a lodge.

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, transportation, and lodge included.

Wednesday - Day 4

We will spend more time hiking around Quilotoa and leave around noon to travel to Banos (approximately 2.5 hour drive). Upon arrival, we will have the afternoon and evening to rest, shop, dine, etc. We will stay in a hotel.

Breakfast, lunch, transportation, and hotel included. We are on our own for dinner.

Thursday - Day 5

Today we will whitewater raft the Class III Pastaza River. The river run takes about 3 hours. We will return to Banos at approximately 4 p.m., and have the remainder of the day to our own devices. We will stay in the same hotel as Day 4.

Breakfast, lunch, hotel, rafting, transportation to and from rafting included. Dinner is not included.

Friday - Day 6

We will enjoy a 5 hour bike ride down the Avenue of the Waterfalls in a cloud forest. The ride will be 85% down hill (you're welcome). We'll return to Banos around 2:00 p.m. and leave for Quito, arriving by 6:00 p.m.

Breakfast, lunch, bikes, and transportation included. Dinner and lodging in Quito are not included.

Photo credits: All photos courtesy of Freddy Ramirez

Optional Quito Layover (This is not part of the official AOC trip)

Saturday, August 23 through ??

Following our adventure, one or both of your trip leaders will likely remain in Ecuador for a few extra days to explore Quito and/or other parts of Ecuador. Additonal details will be provided once final plans have been made. While this is not part of the AOC event, all participants are invited to do the same. There is no planned daily itinerary, and the idea is that people can spend as little or as much time together as they choose. We will all be responsible for locating our own lodging and transportation for any extra time spent in Quito. Your TLs will provide you with their lodging choice once it is determined.

Registration Requirements

All registrants shall initially be placed on the wait list so that the TLs can evaluate the registrant’s fitness and experience level. If appropriate, the trip leaders will then move the registrant onto the active roster. Once placed on the active list, the registrant will have 5 days or until April 25, whichever comes later, to pay in full. Failure to pay will result in the registrant being returned to the waiting list. Payment must be made to the TLs, not the AOC. Please see instructions in the "Cost & Payment" section below.

Any registrant who does not have a recent resume of hikes in the AOC will be contacted by the TLs to ensure that the registrant has an appropriate fitness and experience level gained outside the Club. The TLs also reserve the right to consider any registrant’s social history within the AOC and to make the final determination as to whether the registrant is an appropriate candidate for this event.

1. Important note on lodging:  Our rates are based upon double occupancy at all hotels and lodges. Therefore, all participants will share a room. If we have an odd number of registrants, we will have to have one triple occupancy. The TLs will make final room assignments.

In some locations, there may be shared bathroom arrangements. I'm very happy with our accommodations, but we all have our own expectations. You can review the websites below and make your own determination if this trip is appropriate for you. If you are someone who can “roll with the punches,” understand that things in other countries may be different than in the U.S., and relish the opportunity to interact with many people from many cultures in a rustic environment, all while surrounded by incredible natural beauty, then you should be well- suited for this activity.

www.secretgardencotopaxi.com (2 nights)

www.alpacaquilotoa.com (1 night)

www.isladebanios.com (2 nights)

2. Our outfitter will have an informational meeting on the first day. We will also have a discussion each night about the following day's activities.

3. We will have a certified English-speaking guide at all times. If the group exceeds 10 persons, we will also have an additional assistant guide.

4. If you do not want to ride horses, bikes, or rafts, no problem! You can enjoy additional hiking on those days. However, there is no price reduction if you skip an event.

5. Meals. Vegetarian options are available, but we need to provide advance notice. Drinking water is supplied on a daily basis. According to the outfitter, breakfast typically includes coffee, tea, bread, marmalade, fruit, juice, eggs, and yogurt. Box lunches include a sandwich, snacks, and fruit. Dinner includes soup, a main course, and dessert.

6. Weather: We will be visiting Quito during its dry season. Nevertheless, it is not unusual to receive some rain in the afternoons. Quito averages 66 F highs and 48 F lows. However, it will be much colder at high altitudes. Therefore, it is important to prepare for varied weather conditions. You are advised to independently review weather reports as the time for departure approaches.

7. Exploratory nature of events: Please note that this event is exploratory in nature - your trip leaders have never been to Ecuador. However, we will have an English speaking guide for all activities. 

Additionally, the information used for this write-up has been compiled through internet research and our outfitter. Using internet research and reviews, the TLs have chosen the outfitter, but have never worked with the outfitter before, and cannot guarantee the outfitter's performance. While it should be noted that this is our first opportunity to work with this outfitter, we are pleased to see good reviews posted on the internet.

8. Health insurance:  Please check with your health insurance carrier in advance to confirm that your coverage is in effect while traveling abroad.  If you do not have coverage, please consider purchasing travel insurance – it is very inexpensive for such a short period of time.
 
DISCLAIMER BY AOC AND WAIVER BY REGISTRANT: The Trip Leader for this event has elected to personally collect the funds that event participants are required to pay. No funds will be paid to the Atlanta Outdoor Club for this event. Therefore, by registering for this event, you acknowledge and agree to the following: (1) the monies paid by registrants will not be monitored, managed, or otherwise accounted for by the Atlanta Outdoor Club; (2) that the Atlanta Outdoor Club bears no financial responsibility for this event; (3) you waive any and all claims against the Atlanta Outdoor Club, and hold the Atlanta Outdoor Club harmless for the loss of any monies you paid for this event; and (4) you acknowledge that the TLs have hired an outfitter and that the TLs cannot guarantee the performance of said outfitter. Thus, you waive any and all claims against your TLs based in any way related to the selection of the outfitter by the TLs and/or the performance of the outfitter, including any failure by the outfitter to provide a good or service promised, and you further agree that the TLs shall not be responsible for any refund other than those specifically provided for elsewhere in this event posting.

Certified English speaking guide for all events; transportation to and from all events; five nights lodging in lodges and hotels; breakfast for five mornings; a sack lunch for six days; dinner for three nights; all entrance fees into any national partk; horse rentals; whitewater rafting trip; drinking water; bike rentals.

Cost does not include: Airfare; transportation from airport to your personal lodging or from your personal lodging to the airport; breakfast on Day 1; dinner on Day 4, Day 5 or Day 6; accommodations for Day 6 or before Day 1; alcohol; personal items; tips; any activities during optional Quito portion of trip.

Additional Payment Information: Please do not make a payment until you have been moved from the waiting list onto the event list. Once you are moved onto the event list, make your check payable to Clay M. White, and hand-deliver it to Clay White or Lisa Maldonada, or mail to:

Clay M. White

33325 Deer Trail

Alpharetta, Georgia 30004

Full payment is due on or before April 25, 2014, or five days after you are added to the list, whichever is later. You will be moved to the waiting list if you fail to meet these deadlines.

Payment may be made via cash or check. It is your responsibility to get the payment to the TLs by the due date. Allow adequate time if you mail a check.

Note : If we have an excellent turnout, the outfitter has agreed to lower the event cost. In such a circumstance, you will receive a rebate!

This trip requires a minimum number of participants. Additionally, the TLs will forward advances to the outfitter. Therefore, there will be no refunds for cancellations after April 30, 2014, except as hereinafter described. If there are 6 or fewer registrants, no refunds will be provided after May 1, 2014. If there are 7 or more registrants, you can receive a partial refund for any amounts the TLs have not transferred to the outfitter (thus, if all the deposit has been transferred, there is no refund under this exception) or a full refund if someone (approved by the trip leaders) replaces you from the wait list and pays in full. If you are replaced, you will receive a full refund less a any transaction fees incurred (if any). There is no partial payment for partial attendance.