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Ecuador - Itinerary

To tread the fine line between a rigidly inflexible schedule and an anarchical cluster-fail, I've booked accommodation for the first week of the trip.  After that we can organise accommodation as we go.  Awareness of weekend availability needs to be considered as Ecuadorians exit the cities for short breaks.

Sat. 6 Aug: Quito

Arrive Quito Airport at 11:40pm.  Taxi organised by Hotel David to pick us up.

Staying at Hotel David, three rooms pre-booked for three nights, breakfast included.

Sun. 7 Aug: Quito

Staying at Hotel David.

Things to do:

  • Get over jet lag

  • Acclimatise to altitude

  • Organise SIMs for phones

  • Visit the Old Town (walking distance)

  • ​Climb the tower of the Basilica del Voto Nacional (500m from hotel).

  • Visit Parque Carolina, in August on Sunday's there are outdoor concerts. In the park is a Vivarium with live reptiles etc. and also a Botanico.

Mon. 8 Aug: Quito

Staying at Hotel David.

Things to do:

  • Perhaps hire a taxi/guide for the day?

  • Go up the TeleferiQo cable car, opens 9:30am (don't do on the Sunday as you need to acclimatise for a day as climes another 3,000ft.)

  • Visit Ecuador Bike Rental - get as much prep and paperwork done as possible

  • Buy some maps that show off-road routes

  • Organise helmet comms

Tues. 9 Aug: Quito - Papallacta - Puerto Misahuallí

Wed. 10 Aug: Puerto Misahuallí

  • Staying at Suchipakari Amazon Lodge & Spa. Breafast and dinner included.

  • Waterfall, communities and jungle tour booked for us by Ecuador Bike Rentals.

  • Any spare time we should take the bikes into the jungle as far as we dare.

Thu. 11 Aug: Puerto Misahuallí - Banos

  • Route: Start altitude 1,700ft, end 6,000ft,  160km, 3.5hrs.

  • Looks to be some options to head west into the jungle for some dirt road riding, but essentially there is only one route.

  • 10km before Banos is the Pailon del Diablo Waterfall, a must see, plus plenty of others to explore.

  • Staying at La Posada Del Arte for two nights, breakfast included, has a very highly rated restaurant. 

  • Worth organising activities for Friday, plenty to chose from (white water rafting, abseil waterfalls, bungees, swings etc). 

Fri. 12 Aug: Banos

  • Staying at La Posada Del Arte for two nights, breakfast included.

  • A day to explore and engage.

Sat. 13 Aug: Banos - Chimborazo - Ingapirca

  • Route: Start altitude: 6,000ft, climb to 14,500ft, end 10,500ft, 329km, 6.5hrs.

  • Need to get away as early as possible to get to Chimborazo before the clouds come in.

  • Leg 1:  Banos to Chimborazo - highest point in the world (further from the centre of the earth than Mt. Everest). 124km, 2.5hrs.  Looks like we can cut cross-country on dirt roads.​

  • Leg 2: Climb Chimborazo - dirt road up the volcano as far as we dare, return the same way. 8km, 25 min.​

  • Leg 3: Chimborazo to Ingapirca, 220km, 4hrs.

  • Staying at Posada Ingapirca, which has a restaurant and breakfast is included.

Sun. 14 - Mon. 15 Aug: Ingapirca - Cuenca?

  • Visit the Ingapirca ruins as early as possible (to beat the crowds) with an English guide.

  • Haven't booked any further accommodation, Cuenca could be worth seeing, or we decide based on what we have leaerned so far.

​

Mon. 16 - Sat. 20 Aug: Montanita - Galera

  • Ride the Ruta Spondylus, 500km along the Ecuadors tropical coastline, including:

    • Wale watching / fishing / snorkeling out of Puerto Lopez.​

    • Off-road riding along the beach and into the jungle to visit tribes

    • Lots of fresh seafood!!

Sun. 21 - Thu. 25 Aug: Galera - Mindo - Otavalo - Quito

  • Head back to into the mountains to explore the cloud forests and villages.

  • Return bikes on Thursday and fly out that night.

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