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Adventure Tours |
 PP2 CASCADING WEST On this seven day adventure tour we explore the western slope of the Andean Cordillera, moving from the Quito valley down to the tropical coastal plains. This trip is suitable for anybody in good physical shape and leads through some of the most exciting countryside of the country. We practice horseback riding, mountain biking, tubing, whiter water rafting and jungle trekking to explore rain- and cloud forests and visit some exciting waterfalls, hence the name of this adventure trip. Day 1 We start our adventure with downhill mountain biking into the Pululahua crater. This old and extinct volcanic crater (? some scientists still consider it active) is one of the largest in the world with a diameter of up to 8 km and where people actually live and farm. The descent to the crater bottom will be rapid on a curving gravel road passing from 3100m to 2500m. From there passing through the crater and leaving it, we descend another 700m more cycling alone a huge gorge. At the end of the path, you will be picked up and brought to the Finca Colibri, where we spend the night. (B,L,D) Day 2 In the morning we change horses, from the mechanical one to the real thing and start exploring the volcanic crater on horseback. We take the path by Pan de Azucar and ride behind Pondoņa, the hill in the middle of the crater. We leave then the crater and move down an impressive canyon along an forested path, from where we have great views into the same river gorge, we biked the day before on the other side. Later on we return to the crater and to the farm, where we spend the second night. (B,L,D) Day 3 After breakfast we leave Pululahua and drive by jeep to Pahuma, which is a private subtropical cloud forest reserve located in range of 2000m -3000m. Hiking on muddy trails we explore this beautiful nature region with its many flowering plants like orchids and bromeliads. The steep jungle trails also lead us to various waterfalls cascading down the steep rock faces. After that exciting time we drive to Mindo, where we spend the next night. (B) Day 4 Early in the morning we start on another jungle hike through the lower lying and thus more luxuriant vegetation of the cloud forest of Mindo. Most of the time we hike along or in a mountain creek, moving towards a high waterfall deep inside the forest. On the way there we have to climb through a smaller cascade to reach our final destination. We return by the same way and spend the second night in Mindo. (L) Day 5 At 4 am at night we get up and start our hike in the dark forest to a lek (or spot) where the cock-of-the-rocks meet at dawn. The males of those larger birds with the bright red head gather there and squeal their lungs out to attract the drabber looking females. A spectacle, especially if females are around, not to be missed. Returning then for some breakfast we have some fun on the river by tubing down the currents. After lunch then we leave Mindo by car and continue descending down the Andes till we reach the coastal plains. There in the afternoon we visit the small but interesting La Perla rainforest reserve. Hiking through it you feel like being in the Amazon. We spend the night in the Valle Hermosa. Day 6 Today we begin our two-day whitewater rafting adventure on the river Toachi. Before we put the rafts in, the rafting guide gives us a safety talk and instructions. Commands are practiced so we know what to do once on the wild river. On this day we navigate 3 1/2 hours downriver on this Level III rafting river and halfway we take a break and have a lunch on the shore. The night is spent in the hostel located along the river so that you are reminded by the smoothing noise of the river. (L) Day 7 We continue our rafting expedition, floating down the river Blanco. Depending on the water levels we are in Grade III to IV on the rafting scale. At the end of the run, we return by jeep to Quito taking the Santo Domingo - Aloag highway. We arrive late afternoon in Quito and end our travel adventure excursion there. (L)
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