VOLCANO MULTI ADVENTURE - Ecuador Cotopaxi National Park

THIS IS OUR NEW MULTISPORT ADVENTURE....INNOVATING FOR ACTIVE TRAVELERS IN THE COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK

Day 1 Horseback Riding

After a brief lesson to get acquainted with the horses and once outfitted in the typical "chagra" attire, we begin our ride from Hacienda El Porvenir taking the lower route towards Hacienda El Tambo Quilindaña and going by Pucará de Salitre, an Inca fortress. The group will ride in the shade of majestic Cotopaxi and will pass through impressive Andean landscapes. After 7 hours we reach Hacienda El Tambo Quilindaña were an excellent dinner in waiting for us.

Day 2 Trekking and Mountain Biking

On our second day we trek around Hacienda El Tambo Quilindaña going to Chirimachay canyon through the highlands of Cotopaxi. The scenery of this area is unique because of the Lava Rivers that flowed through here during Cotopaxi’s last eruption. This trek takes about 5 hours. At Chirimachay we start beautiful cross countries descend on mountain bikes through trails and roads. Biking time 2 hours approximately. We spent the night at Hacienda El Porvenir.

Day 3 Trekking Rumiñahui

Very early in the morning we begin climbing Rumiñahui Volcano, crossing vast highlands swept by the cold breath of the Andes. Form the peaks of Rumiñahui at 4712 m (15,455 ft) on a cloudless day; we can admire in the distance the peaks of Ilinizas and Chimborazo. Trekking time: 6 hours approximately. In the afternoon we trek back to El Porvenir farmhouse.

Days 4 & 5 Climbing Cotopaxi (No previous technical experience required) (or Biking and hiking if our client does not want to climb high altitude peaks)

Transfer to Cotopaxi National Park parking lot 4500 m (14,760 ft). We climb up-hill to the climbers' refuge at 4800 m (15748 ft). We have lunch and rest. During the afternoon we hike up to the glaciers to practice some basic ice climbing techniques. We rest for the rest of the day until midnight when we begin our climb to the summit. We reach the summit just as the sun is rising and take advantage of the early morning light at the summit. The descent takes two hours and afterwards we return by car to the Hacienda El Porvenir where we will take a delicious lunch then we can rest until the dinner and lodging.

We start the mountain biking adventure with an exciting downhill track from a parking lot located at 4500 m (14,760 ft) on the slopes of Cotopaxi Volcano. In addition to admiring the stunning landscape, descending from the volcano to Limpiopungo Valley is adrenaline filled, followed by a cross-country ride through the bed of an old landslide formed by lava and mud flows from past volcano eruptions. We will ride by old ruins dating back to the Inca Empire where we have a lunch break. The adventure resumes when we reach Hacienda El Porvenir or Santa Rita Private Reserve (depending on the program), biking trough the magical Andean forest filled with abundant flora and fauna, rivers, ravines and waterfalls, and we end our ride in Los Chillos Valley.

Day 6 The Canopy Tour

In the morning a great breakfast will be waiting for us, then we will travel (20 minutes), in a van, carrying our stuff to Hacienda Santa Rita, where one of the most exiting activities wait for us. El Cañon del Salto Canopy is a transportation system based on harnesses and pulleys attached to an inclined cable, taking advantage of gravity. This system was used by scientists who were doing research in the forest canopy. They avoided coming down to the ground and climbing up the next tree by using this system. El Cañón del Salto Canopy Tour is a safe way to enjoy high mountain forest from the upper part. This is an environmentally low-impact adventure; it gives people with few or no climbing techniques knowledge to live an exciting experience. All the will late 3 hour around, finally we will take a box lunch and comeback to Quito.

PRICES FOR A SINGLE PERSON:
• 6 DAYS TOUR WITH COTOPAXI CLIMB: 1502 USD
• 5 DAYS TOUR WITH COTOPAXI CLIMB: 1284 USD
FOR MORE THAN ONE TRAVELER, WE APPLY IMPORTANT DISCOUNTS!

Tour Includes
• Lodging (based on double machai room and refuge)
• 13 meals
• Described activities
• Guides (bilingual and local depending on the activity)
• Basic equipment for activities (chaps and poncho, bike and protection pads, climbing boots, crampons, mittens, ice axe, harness and goggles)
• Transportation from and back to Quito (on tour days)

Tour Does Not Include

• Cotopaxi National Park entrance fee (US$10 foreigners)
• Personal trekking and climbing equipment
• Bar and shop
• Tips

Josep Nebot
Sales Manager
PIONEER JOURNEYS
The Custom Adventure Travel Company of Ecuador
Web: www.pioneerjourneys.com
Skype user: pioneer.journeys
E-mail: jnebot@pioneerjourneys.com
Phone: from abroad (00593) 91334508
from Ecuador 091334508

ECUADOR, FOUR WORLDS OF ADVENTURE AND TRADITIONS, explore it WITH YOUR INSTINCTS

Mountains, glaciers, volcanoes, jungle, micro-environments, large rivers, ocean islands, cities, indigenous nations, cultures, etc. Located in a privileged place, in northwestern South America and crossed by latitude 0 which divides this place between the two hemispheres, this is the small country called Ecuador.
In his small size (270 670 square kilometers) Ecuador contains wonderful and great natural contrasts, making it a tourist destination full of fascinating experiences and adventures for the visitor. He is considered one of the 17 countries containing more biodiversity. Its territory consists of four worlds (four regions), firmly united by a single cultural heritage.
In the high Andes volcano rising more than five thousand feet high with snow and glaciers of ancient ice. This place is typically known as the Avenue of the Volcanoes, wide avenue, which runs light striking wilderness, rain forests, valleys, towns, cities and colonial history, ponds and lakes and large mythical giants such as Cotopaxi (5897 m) volcano, the highest active one in the world, striking Antisana (5704 meters), the "daddy" Chimborazo (6310 m), Cayambe (5790 m) among others.
The rainforest, a deep green mystery, is a totally different region and make you think being in another country, but you are still in Ecuador, however, has entered into another world: the eastern or Amazonian jungle. From the exuberant and intense vegetation of this region are discovered volcanoes like Sangay and El Altar. Here we can find many reserves and national parks, including: The Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, an ideal place where they live reptiles, mammals, pink dolphins, etc. Biological Reserve Limoncocha perfect place to see black caimans. Yasuni National Park, declared by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve is one of the most biodiverse in the world.
We can watch the highest Mangroves in the world in Cayapas Ecological Reserve - Mataje. We are now in the coastal region. Beautiful beaches are found along the route of the coastal zone of Ecuador (Route Spondylus). Sightings of breeding humpback whales during their season (June to October) in the area of Puerto Lopez, a visit to the Isla de la Plata, a place known as the "small Galapagos" by the presence of birds found only in Archipelago is one of several alternatives for visitors to enjoy your exploration. Here we can also add sports such as surfing, scuba diving.
Undoubtedly one of the most famous in the world to observe nature in its purest form, are the Galapagos Islands, one of the most important National Parks in the world. Visitors tell wonderful stories about flightless birds, marine iguanas, blue footed boobies danced in their rituals during the mating season, and what about penguins who live at latitude zero, flamingos, finches, frigate birds, hawks. And we must not forget the giant tortoises that give the name to the Islands. If the flora and fauna that can be seen in the island surface full of emotions and leave the traveler impressed, we should mention that the Navy Reserve as the archipelago was declared a World Heritage Site, is one of the seven world's most important sites for snorkeling and diving. Explorers in their dives are accompanied by whales, rays, manta rays, colorful fish, hammerhead sharks, iguanas, sea lions, etc.
Do not underestimate Ecuador for its size, is a country that offers more adventures and places I know four worlds concentrated to optimize your time. Ecuador, experience it!

THE AMAZING AND WILD SANGAY NATIONAL PARK

It is the largest park in Ecuador’s central Andes, connecting three provinces, Morona Santiago, Tungurahua and Chimborazo. For Pioneer Journeys this National Park is a very special destination because it contains three of Ecuador’s best climbing options: Tungurahua Volcano, the sharp Altar and the mysterious Sangay volcano.
It was in 1979 that the Ecuadorian authorities decided to protect 270,000 hectares of pristine landscapes and astonishing biodiversity. A few years later, UNESCO declared that reserve a World Heritatge Site, and then the government doubled the protected area to more than half a million hectares.
Pioneer Journeys adventurers and guides like so much Sangay National Park because of its enormous backcountry that remains pristine and hard to reach…a lot of true adventure possibilities.
Doing a trekking on it one can find 10 different life zones through its 4,400 meter altitude range: wetlands, lowland rainforest, alpine tundra, midrange woods, etc. That condition creates a huge diversity of flora and fauna: anteaters, jaguars, monkeys, and more than 500 different bird species. The Andean Tapir is one of the most precious animals of that territory, sometimes seen near the Sangay Volcano. There we can also see one of the most rare deer species, the Pudu Deer, one of the smallest of the world and in critic danger of survival.
Also the Sangay National Park contains two different indigenous groups: the Canalos Quechua and the Shuar. This is also the place of ancient Indian archeological discoveries, dated as far back as 500 B.C.

Sangay Volcano
You must know that Sangay Volcano is the most active one in Ecuador! Emerging above the Amazon Jungle on the edge of the eastern Andes, the smoky Sangay (5230 m above sea level) has always been an untouched mysterious jewel for adventurers and climbers.
Its name was taken from the Quechua word “samak” which means “frighten”. Its reputation is certainly true: when is well active, one can see rock falls, easily feel the tremors and the sulfur…if you climb it you might be able to say you’ve climbed perhaps the most thrilling climb in all South America.
The first recorded success ascent was in 1929! The main problem of climbing it has always been the tremendous volcanic activity…only when the volcano is quiet one can attempt to climb its slopes, and that doesn’t happens often. The mountain’s continual activity quickly makes any detailed route description obsolete because the peak and surroundings are being continually transformed. That’s why hiring a guide is so important, besides the fact that in order to reach the slopes of the volcano one have to do a long, difficult hike. Te best time to climb it is from October to February on the driest time in the area. July and August are usually sodden and the hike to the base usually takes two or more days.
This adventure gives you also the opportunity to see and literally walk over some geologically marvels! La Playa, for instance, is a flat lava platform at the very base of the volcano, from where one can admire enormous lava rocks, see and hear explosions several times per minute. From there the climber faces lava and snow slopes (not steeper than 35 degrees) and on the top one can see three perfect craters, usually with fog moving in and out. 6 hours for the ascent and 4 for the descent, a gift for our souls full of feelings and nature!
See http://www.pioneerjourneys.com/sangay-trekking.html for all Santay Trekking details.
See http://www.pioneerjourneys.com/trekking.html for all trekking option in Ecuador.

Josep Nebot
Sales Manager
PIONEER JOURNEYS
The Custom Adventure Travel Company of Ecuador
Web: www.pioneerjourneys.com
Skype user: pioneer.journeys
E-mail: jnebot@pioneerjourneys.com
Cell phone: from abroad (00593) 91334508
from Ecuador 091334508
Office: from abroad: (00593).2.3332687
from Ecuador: (02)6042278