Haciendas & Volcanoes Trek | Trip Itinerary

Day 1:  Arrive Quito. Our local representative will meet you at the airport, and transfer you to your hotel in the city of Quito. Spend the night at your choice of charming boutique hotel (upgrades available)  Check-in for a two night stay.

Day 2:  Walking city tour of old colonial Quito.  Enjoy a leisurely tour through Colonial Quito taking place in the most important and famous sights, and a drive up to the famous Panecillo Hill for a tremendous view of the city and surrouding volcanoes. You will also visit the Plaza de Independencia overlooked by the Parliament Building, scene of many revolutions in Ecuador’s brief but dramatic history. Included in the itinerary is a visit to the Compañia and San Francisco churches with their impressive façades and gilt interiors that have changed little since the days of the Spanish. This walk will help you acclimatize to the altitude of the Andes, and also give you some free time to explore the city on your own.   (B)

Day 3:  Early morning pick up at your hotel and transfer to the historic train station for the scenic train ride from Quito to Tambillo.  You’ll depart at 8:15 AM, and arrive approximately 10:00 AM.  (NOTE:  the train runs only from Thursday to Sunday) Here you’ll begin your trek with a gradual uphill hike that takes about 2 hours. You’ll wind your way along a cobblestone road framed by large eucalyptus trees towards Hacienda “Sierra Alisos Hotel de Campo”.   http://www.sierra-alisos.com. Afternoon free to relax at Hacienda and explore the area. (B, L, D).

Day 4:  After a hearty hacienda breakfast, you’ll begin your trek at 3,100 m. (10, 170’).  As we gain altitude to 3,300m. (10, 825’) we observe the landscape of different colored patches resembling a huge natural carpet. Start our descent by crossing through a beautiful hacienda, followed by a lunch stop on route. Continue the trek towards Hacienda La Alegria, (www.haciendalaalegria.com ) (2,950 m. aprox). This day should be about 4 ½ hours to 5 max of hiking. Check-in to the hacienda, with the rest of the day to learn about the local history, visit their horses and enjoy the stunning scenery. (B,L,D)

Day 5:  Enjoy breakfast at the hacienda before an 8:30 AM start to today’s trek.  As we gain altitude, we cross through a small town that leads us to the crossroads of the train tracks and to the main road that heads to the coast, making this a safe site to walk through it. The trail gradually gains altitude facing the northern base of the Corazon Mt. As we head south, great views of mountains on opposite side of the valley such as Pasochoa, Sincholagua, Rumiñahui and Cotopaxi. We will have a picnic and then descend to Hosteria La Estacion (www.hosteriagranjalaestacion.com) (B, L, D).

Day 6: This day we will have an early start with breakfast followed by an 8:00 AM start to the trek.  Begin by following a trail through the train tracks for about 30 minutes, then start gradually gaining altitude towards a small mountain at the base of the Corazon Volcano reaching 3,600 m. (11, 811’). This is a beautiful trek through farmlands, grass fields with cattle and horses, stop at a nice plateau that overlooks the Machachi – Aloasi valley, from where, on clear days, we can see all the way to The Ilinisas mountains, as well as the southern side of Rumiñahui and breathtaking Cotopaxi. Straight ahead east and to the northeast, the massive Antisana, Sincholagua and Pasochoa. At this spectacular location, we will have a Buffet picnic lunch, after which we will descend through a magical mountain cloud forest to reach the dirt roads that lead us to the Hacienda Umbria (www.haciendaumbria.com)  (B, L, D).

Day 7:  Enjoy a relaxing (or optionally active!) morning at the Hacienda Umbria..
We'll depart mid-morning for the drive to Papallacta Hot Springs, enjoying lunch at a typical place en-route.
Mid-afternoon arrival to Papallacta Hot Springs spa, where you will spend the night.   Relax in the soothing pools, just steps from your front door. Massages and other spa treatments are available at an extra charge. **For those on a tight schedule, you can plan to depart late tonight from the Quito airport, which is about 45 minutes from Papallacta.  (B, L, D).

Day 8:  Transfer Papallacta – International Airport after breakfast. (depending on flight times, clients can extend their stay but will have to pay for extra meals) (B)

B=Breakfast; L=Lunch; D=Dinner