PARKS AND TRIBES

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TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN ECUADOR [COMBINED IN ONE TOUR!]

1. Cuicocha Crater Lake in Cotacachi - Cayapas Ecological Reserve;

2. Pecuche Community Reserve;

3. Otavalo;

4. El Angel Ecological Reserve;

5. Machalilla National Park;

6. Guayaquil;

7. Churute Ecologica Reserve;

8. Cuenca;

9. Ingapirca;

10. Chimborazo Fauna Reserve;

11. Cotopaxi National Park.

Top 10 Things to do in Ecuador

When studying the Amazon of Ecuador, world famous botanist, Dr. Gentry, discovered the greatest number of plant species per hectare in the world, which made Ecuador the country with the highest biodiversity in the world. Ecuador has worked hard at the conservation of its biodiversity and currently it has 50 protected areas, that together make up about 20% of the territory of the country. Spread across the country, these areas are found in totally different climate zones and elevations, protecting breath taking landscapes, fascinating wildlife, cloud forests in the Andes, rainforests in the Amazon, and at the coast, mangroves and cactus-clad dry forests. While Ecuador has various different types of areas, in reality, all these areas are equally important, and we consider them all national parks.

Many of those areas are only hours away from Ecuador's main cities, and yet.......... very few of those jewels of nature are ever visited. World traveler of 80+ countries and renowned national parks adviser of the World Bank and United Nations, Dr. Daan Vreugdenhil, developed the “ECUADOR NATIONAL PARKS TOUR” which takes you to 8 protected areas in 10 days. Having been part of the United Nations team that selected the majority of the protected areas of Ecuador between 1974 and 1976, nobody knows the ecology and protected areas system of Ecuador better that Dr. Daan Vreugdenhil.

In fact, the National Parks Tour takes you to all cultural highlights of the country - Otavalo, Guayaquil, Cuenca and Ingapirca - while at the same taking you on a journey of discovery of a fabulous representation of all major ecosystems of the Andes and the Coast, thus combining the top 10 things to do in Ecuador in one tour.

As tours to the Galapagos Islands and the Amazon are amply offered to the public, we decided not to include those destinations, thus facilitating a modular approach allowing visitors to compose their overall Ecuador visit by combining one's modules of choice. A visit to the Amazon has now become within reach of many visitors. Particularly, the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve has now become one of the world's highest valued Amazon parks for (1) its incredible biodiversity, (2) its convenient access and (3) its reasonable pricing. We also left out a visit to the highest and most beautiful capital of the Americas, Quito, as there is enough opportunity to see it between modules. So, when combining all three modules, one gets a selection of most ecosystems of the entire continent of South America as well as all cultural mayor highlights of Ecuador!

Our National Parks tours have been designed to complete existing national parks programs to Galapagos and/or Amazon national parks, like Cuyabeno and Yasuní. They can start from different places, particularly Quito, Guayaquil and Cuenca. While the full program lasts as many as 11 days, it is possible to make a limited selection of parks. For instance, a 6 days' module "Andes and Coast" from Quito. 5-6 days' modules are available from Cuenca and Guyaquil. According to your wishes, these modules can be be combined with your Galapagos and/or Amazon program(s). IF you buy our national parks module together with a Galapagos and/or Cuyabeno module from us, we can give you significant discounts.

For those who want to complete their Ecuador visit with a guided tour to Lima, Cusco and Machu Picchu, we even offer a 5 – 7 days module, with which you get the most spectacular highlights of nature and culture of South America in one epic journey! We first present the full tour, while at the end of the page you get several modular options on how to break it up into shorter modules.

Itinerary 10 days' National Parks Tour

Day 1: Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve and Peguche Waterfall community reserve

1. Pick up from hotel in Quito to travel to Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve to visit the Cuicocha Caldera with the incredibly blue Cuicocha Crater Lake. Mammalian wildlife is not commonly seen, but several species of ducks and grebes are usually found on the lake;

2. Visit the Peguche Forest Reserve of Otavalo with the famous Peguche Waterfall. A trail through an old grove eucalyptus forest usually gives sightings of song birds and several species of hummingbirds;

3. Visit the Otavalo Indian market;

4. Spend the night in Ibarra.

WHAT IS INCLUDED?

Amazon Tours

1. Lodging;

2. Excursions with professional nature guides;

3. All Amazon programs include all meals, and fruit juices served with the meals. Our restaurants serve a mix of international cuisine and occasionally, the Cofan Lodge offers  a sample meal of traditional Cofan dishes.

4. Meals include coffee, tea and bottled water, while additional bottled drinks and alcoholic beverages can be bought.

5. Transportation between Lagoagrio and the access rivers.

National Parks Tours

1. All hotels and lodges;

2. Transportation: All ground transportation on the National Parks tours;

3. In-country flights where included in the national parks tour program, but NOT to/fro Galapagos or Lagoagrio;

4. An English speaking naturalist guide. A German or French speaking guide may also be available, but can't be guaranteed.

5. All entry fees.

COMBI-DISCOUNTS

Depending on the program you selected, we always try to give you a discount on combined modules. Groups above 4 passengers will receive discounts, depending on group size.

HOW TO BOOK A TOUR?

Our programs are rather customized and we try to accommodate the travel needs of our customers. To avoid misunderstandings, we don't offer a prepaid travel option. Just send an email to or contact us through our contact data below. 

From Abroad:

Sending money from abroad is rather costly and we try to minimize money going to bank transfers. Once your schedule has been worked out, we kindly request you to make a reservation guarantee transfer of only $100 by Western Union or Moneygram. The balance you pay in CASH in Quito upon arrival (we don't take credit cards!) This way you don't lose a lot of money sending money. The $100 is NOT recoverable upon cancelation.

Why we don't accept credit cards in Ecuador either? The credit card services charge 7%! We would have to charge you for that, making your trip more expensive. We do everything to make your trip as cost effective as possible.

Already in Ecuador?

You can pay in our office mentioned below. We apply a cancelation fee of $100.

WHAT IS ESSENTIAL TO BRING?

For this question we link to our special vacation packing list.

2017 PARKS AND TRIBES PRICES

Prices are based on a minimum of 2 passengers and apply to EACH passenger.

Individual bookings are WELCOME

Prices are based on a minimum of 2 passengers and apply to EACH passenger.

Prices are based on a minimum of 2 passengers and apply to EACH passenger.

Prices are based on a minimum of 2 passengers and apply to EACH passenger.

Prices are based on a minimum of 2 passengers and apply to EACH passenger.

Individual bookings are WELCOME