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Greetings from Cuzco,
The Otto's Tours Team
Experience exotic cultures
& fascinating landscapes
Experience exotic cultures & fascinating landscapes
The second smallest and most pristine country in South America, located directly on the equator, offers
magnificent landscapes, a countless variety of exotic animals and diverse flora, as well as inhabitants
who can look back on a rich indigenous heritage.
Nowhere else in the world can you find so many different natural areas and vegetation zones within such
short distances! Even Charles Darwin and Alexander von Humboldt loved this small country with its
enormous diversity!
We will visit exotic markets with their Andean flair and immerse ourselves in the breathtaking expanses
of the mountainous cloud forest and the Amazon jungle. Their Lagoons and volcanic craters can be hiked
in all the climate zones of the continent.
An exploration of the UNESCO World Heritage Cities Quito and Cuenca with their colonial old towns is
just as much part of our travel experience as a hike on Cotopaxi - the highest active volcano on earth.
We will get to know indigenous people in the highlands of the Andes, as well as the formerly feared
shrunken head hunters, who still live very traditionally to this day. In the Amazon jungle, we will
dive deep into the flora and fauna and pay a visit to the indigenous peoples.
We will also swing our hips with our first salsa dance steps, get authentic culinary insights while
cooking together with a local family and enjoy the many culinary delights of the country.
You will not only stay in a variety of stylish hotels, but also with a local indigenous family, as
well as in lovingly restored haciendas from the colonial times, where Alexander von Humboldt himself
as well as the freedom fighter Simón Bolívar once slept!
Arrive in the afternoon in the Ecuadorian capital of Quito, situated at 2,850m above sea level. It
is surrounded by the Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Antisana and Cayambe volcanoes, which form a truly majestic
backdrop. With over 100 churches, 55 monasteries, original streets and squares covered with many
tropical flowers and palm trees. It has retained the charm of colonial times like no other city in
Latin America. During a dinner together, our tour guide will give a detailed tour briefing.
Our overnight stay will be at the ***Ikala Quito Boutique Hotel or equivalent. (No meals are
included today.) Travel time: 0h40min (40km).
The charm of this colonial old town with its churches, convents and squares makes Quito a real gem.
The tour leads from the Plaza Grande, past the Cathedral and the Presidential Palace, to La
Compañía and the famous El Sagrario. We will climb the spires of the Basilica del
Voto, which boasts magnificent views over the city. From there we will be able to observe the hustle
and bustle of Plaza Grande and Plaza San Francisco. For lunch, we will make a stop at a small, local
restaurant.
In the evening, we will be cooking our own dinners! This way we can get to know even closer several
different Ecuadorian specialties.
Our overnight stay will be at ***Ikala Quito Boutique Hotel or equivalent. (Breakfast & Home-Cooked
Dinner included) Travel time: 0h40min (20km) / Walking time: 2h00 (4km)
Immediately after breakfast, we will go to the famous Equator Monument: La Mitad del Mundo. It was
here, during a French expedition in 1736, that Charles Marie de La Condamine was the first European
to determine the position of the equator, with an accuracy to within 240 meters. Of course, we will
also visit the anthropological Museo del Sitio Inti Ñan to carry out some practical experiments,
which will impressively prove that here you are truly standing at the equator.
After lunch, we will continue on to Pululahua Volcanic Crater, one of the two inhabited craters in
the world and a remnant of the volcano's last eruptions, some 2,300 years ago. It is almost 5km in
diameter and its sheltered inner slopes provide micro-habitats for a fascinating flora of orchids,
arum and bromeliads, with eager hummingbirds usually whirring between all the flowers. We will be
able to enjoy a three hour walk in this unique natural habitat.
In the late afternoon, we will drive over the western Cordillera to Mindo, where we will look out
for parrots, toucans and more hummingbirds. Here, we will experience a changes in vegetation zones,
from the paramo (highland vegetation), through to the cloud forest and on to the low tropical
mountain forest of the Andes.
Here in Mindo, a special spectacle awaits us after dinner - A Frog Concert with an Insect Dance.
And later, on a guided night hike, we will be able to discover some of the nocturnal animals living
here.
Our overnight stay will be at the ***Sisakuna Lodge, ***Coffee Lodge & Spa or equivalent. (Breakfast
included) Drive time: 4h40min (230km) / Walking time: 2h30 (4km)
On this morning, we will take a mini cable car, which will pass above the treetops of the tropical
cloud forest. After disembarking, we will then go on an extensive hike through the tropical
vegetation to hidden natural pools and waterfalls under which everyone will be able to refresh
themselves. Here, we will mainly be able to spot several varying species of hummingbirds and orchids
(there are about 120 different species of hummingbirds that call this place their home).
In the afternoon, we will visit a butterfly farm, where we will be able to marvel at the spectacular
butterfly Ojo de Buho (Owl's Eye).
Any chocoholics present will be excited by the next tour at a small chocolate factory, where we will
be able to witness the process of chocolate production live, all the way from the bean to the
chocolate bar.
First, we will take a look at the cocoa trees and taste some of the cocoa fruit directly in the
field. We'll then be able to see cocoa beans in various stages of drying and roasting. Afterwards,
we will get an insight into the processing of various cocoa products, before we move on to the most
interesting part: The chocolate tasting! We'll taste small pieces of chocolate with different cocoa
contents and flavors, as well as some homemade brownies, chocolate sauce with 100% cocoa content and
some hot cocoa tea.
In the evening, we will take a walk through the small town, where many hippies settled in the 60s
and nowadays offer various items, from their art goods to exotic cocktails, for sale.
Our overnight stay will be at the ***Sisakuna Lodge, ***Coffee Lodge & Spa or equivalent. (Breakfast
included) Drive time: 0h20min (10km) / Walking time: 2h30 (5km)
On this day right after breakfast, we will drive back to the Andean highlands, to the famous Otavalo
Market. There, indigenous women, proudly wearing their traditional costumes, display colorful cloths,
embroidered belts and handmade jewelry on the stalls. Bags full of spices, eggs, woven baskets and
fresh vegetables are usually stacked around them. The cloths on their backs are often filled with
fresh bread, fruit and fragrant herbs. A poncho market can be found in the midst of the adjacent
food market. It's followed by many clothing items, stacked high, and all sorts of odds and ends.
Small benches and stools line up in front of blue wooden stalls. Coffee, soups, roasted meat as well
as fresh juices are all offered for sale - no one leaves this market still hungry.
In the afternoon, we will already be expected by our indigenous host families. After we have been
assigned our rooms, help with the preparation of our dinner will be very welcome. Around a cozy
fireplace, we will get a first insight into the life and culture of the local people and we will
be introduced to the Andean calendar.
Our overnight stay will be with the indigenous families, in cozy, rustic beds, in Private Rooms
with own Showers / WC. (Breakfast & Dinner included) Travel time: 3h10min (190km) / Walking time:
1h30 (3km)
In the morning, we will together bake breakfast tortillas outside over an open fire, which will
require some practice to make them nice and round. After this, we will have a chance to feed guinea
pigs, rabbits and llamas before heading out to the emerald green, shimmering Crater Lake Cuicocha.
It is a sacred site and the forested islands in the middle of the lake are not allowed to be accessed
by humans. We will walk for about an hour directly along the crater rim and enjoy the magnificent
Paramo landscape of the highlands.
In the late afternoon, we will reach Cotopaxi National Park, where we will spend the night at the
park's edge, in a rustic but beautifully situated lodge. From there, we will be able to enjoy
breathtaking views of the Cotopaxi Volcano (5,897m high), which is one of the highest active
volcanoes in the world.
Our overnight stay will be at the ***Chilcabamba Mountain Lodge or equivalent. (Breakfast included)
Travel time: 4h20min (210km) / Walking time: 1h30 (3km)
Our hike on this day takes us along the shore of the Laguna de Limpiopungo. With a bit of luck, we
will be able to also observe condors and eagles here, as well as wild ducks, coots, alpacas and the
largest hummingbird in the world: The Star of Chimborazo. Leaving the car park, we will climb to the
José-Rivas refuge at 4,800m, where we will be able to enjoy great views from up above. We will
also be able to fortify ourselves here with a hot soup and a cup of cocoa. There will also be the
option to climb further, up to the edge of the glacier.
Still in the afternoon, we will drive along the famous Avenue of the Volcanoes, along the Pan-American
Highway. It was named by Alexander von Humboldt, as nowhere else in the world are so many volcanoes
so close together. Our destination is a lively place of pilgrimage: Baños de Agua Santa (The
Holy Water Baths).
This place is known for its hot springs and a special sweet or candy (named "melcocha"), a kind of
sugar mass that is formed by throwing it several times over a hook attached to a door frame. The
atmosphere here is usually relaxed, the climate ideal and the tropical rainforest of eastern Ecuador
will be just a few kilometers away! This is an ideal starting point to see a permanently active
volcano, Tungurahua, in action.
If by the evening you're still yearning for more adventure, then you will find what you're looking
for in a local discotheque district. The nightlife of Baños awaits dance and party lovers from
all over the world with about 25 discos and bars. There is something here for every musical taste.
Our overnight stay will be at the **Hotel Selina Banos. (Breakfast included) Travel time: 4h40min
(200km) / Walking time: 2h00 (2km)
On this morning, we will leisurely cycle downhill through the picturesque Pastaza Valley, eastwards
down the Andes, past impressive gorges, rock crevices and waterfalls. On the way, a sensational
cable car ride over the deeply carved river valley will no doubt take our breath away. Afterwards,
we will undertake a hike to the gigantic waterfall el Pailón del Diablo - the Devil's Gorge - in
the middle of which, a stone in the shape of the Devil's head can be seen.
Still before lunch, we will continue our journey from the high Andes into the steaming Amazon
drainage basin. Here we will board a canoe and glide in it along the Rio Napo, which zigzags
through the jungle like a giant snake. This river is considered to be the primary system of the
"Pacha Mama" (the Mother Earth). Once we arrive at our jungle lodge, we will receive a short briefing
from our indigenous nature guide and be able to move into our simple rooms.
Right after dinner, equipped with torches and cameras, we will go on an exciting night hike deep into
the jungle. There, we will listen out for the nocturnal activity of bats, owls, various insects as
well as to toads and frogs.
Our overnight stay will be at the ***Itamandi EcoLodge or equivalent. (Breakfast & Dinner included)
Travel time van: 2h40min (160km) / Travel time by boat: 0h20 / Travel time bike: 2h00 (22km) /
Walking time: 1h30 (2km)
On this day before breakfast, we will canoe deeper into the jungle to a parrot salt lick. The parrots
and parakeets get the minerals they need to digest fruits and seeds here. Hundreds of parrots and
parakeets approach the treetops and then descend to the clay wall to ingest this mineral-rich soil.
After our breakfast, we will hike for 2-3 hours through the jungle with our nature guide. On the
way, we will cross small rivers and have many opportunities to discover a myriad of tropical animals
and plants. The Amazon drainage basin is one of the most biodiverse areas in the world - and is the
home to nature in its purest form!
An indigenous Kichwa community will welcome us in the afternoon with the famous Chicha, a fermented
yuca drink. We will participate in the preparation of this drink, taste some of the community's
traditional dishes and learn a lot about the daily life of this indigenous people in the jungle.
Our stay overnight will be at the ***Itamandi EcoLodge or equivalent. (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
included) Walking time: 1h30 (2km)
After breakfast and with everyone seated comfortably on rubber truck tires, we will float downstream
for a few kilometers. Here we will be able to enjoy the sounds of the jungle in peace. With a bit of
luck, we may be able to spot several exotic animals: Macaws and parrots, capybaras, monkeys, sloths,
butterflies, toucans and tropical birds in the brightest of colors.
In the afternoon, a minibus will take us on a jungle track on to Río Upano, with continuous
views of the mighty volcanoes of the Andes range during the journey.
Our overnight stay will be directly at the Río Upano in the **Hosteria Arrayan & Piedra near
Macas or equivalent. (Breakfast included) Travel time: 2h40min (170km) / Walking time: 1h00 (2km)
In Amazonia, the Shuar, the formerly feared shrunken head hunters, form the largest indigenous group.
Tzamarenda, the chief of a Shuar village, or another community member, will pick us up at our Hosteria
after breakfast. We will walk through the dense jungle to his village, where we will be welcomed with
traditional Shuar welcoming rituals consisting of dances and rhythmic music. We will be able to learn
more about the Shuar culture, listen to their centuries-old stories and traditional instrumental
music. The chief will show us self-healing and cleansing rituals and will offer to perform energetic
treatments with medicinal plants on us (massages with natural oils are optional).
After lunch in the village, we will hike to the sacred waterfalls where Tzamarenda will perform a
ceremonial ritual.
Our overnight stay will be at the **Hosteria Arrayan & Piedra near Macas or equivalent. (Breakfast
& Lunch included) Travel time: 1h10 (70km) / Walking time: 2h50min (5km)
A colonial jewel of Ecuador awaits us! Cuenca - a city with a lot of charm - preserves its provincial
character despite its size, and for this reason was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999.
On a city tour we will get to view several colonial stately buildings, cobblestone alleys and
flower-filled squares. We will visit the historic center with its Calderon Park, the imposing local
cathedral, the historic bridge over the Tomebamba River as well as a famous Panama hat factory.
The Panama hat (Jipijapa) is a hand-woven straw hat from Ecuador. It is made from the fine, so-called
toquilla straw - toquilla being a palm like plant. Incidentally, these hats, which were also made
famous by the novelist Ernest Hemingway, owe their name to their export route through the Panama Canal.
Here, you will stay in a villa from the 19th century, which is located in the middle of the historic
city center of Santa Ana de los Ríos.
Our overnight stay will be at the ***Hotel Boutique Carvallo or equivalent. (Breakfast included) Travel
time: 4h40 (230km) / Walking time: 1h30min (3km)
About 35km from Cuenca is the El Cajas National Park, which covers an area of 28,808 hectares. More
than 230 lagoons, numerous rivers and extraordinarily beautiful flora and fauna are among the
features of this nature park.
We will drive to the highest point of the national park, stop at Laguna Toreadora and enjoy an
incredible view over the beautiful lake-landscape. Here we will also have the opportunity to marvel
at the famous paramo plant, among other things. During a short hike around the beautiful lagoon, we
will be able to observe numerous bird species and experience the atmosphere of a typical Andean Forest.
From an altitude of 2,500 meters, we will drive up over a pass at 4,000 meters, past cocoa plantations,
and towards the coast. After only a short time on this drive we will discover Ecuador's most important
export, lining the edges of the road: From these lush green banana groves, many millions of tons of
bananas are shipped to Europe every year. We will visit one of these plantations and have the
cultivation of cacao and local fruit explained to us.
In the evening, we will reach the vibrant port city of Guayaquil. What a contrast to the Andean
highlands and the Amazon jungle! Here we will spend our last evening together with a cozy dinner
at the Malecón, the riverside promenade of the Guayas River, which is popular with the locals.
Our overnight stay will be at the ***Grand Hotel Guayaquil or equivalent. (Breakfast & Farewell Dinner
included) Travel time: 4h30 (250km) / Walking time: 2h50min (4km)
On this day it will be time to say goodbye to South America. After breakfast, we will travel to the airport, where our flight to Europe will be waiting for us. (Breakfast included) Travel time: 0h30 (20km)
On this day, we are off to see the wonders of Charles Darwin's Galapagos Islands! Arriving at the
airport on Baltra Island, we will take the ferry across the Itabaca Channel to Santa Cruz Island.
On the way to Puerto Ayora, we will stop at the twin craters of Los Gemelos. With a bit of luck,
we will be able to spot short-eared owls, Darwin's finches, ruby-throated tyrants, Galapagos rails,
golden-billed moorhens as well as golden warblers.
After lunch at El Chato Ranch, and a first up-close encounter with their giant tortoises, we will
visit a 100-metre-long and very impressive lava tunnel. Afterwards and after a short drive, we
will reach the pretty and lively tourist town of Puerto Ayora.
Our overnight stay will be at the ***Hotel Casa de Judy or equivalent in Puerto Ayora. (Breakfast
included) Travel time: 1h30 (70km) / Walking time: 1h30min (2km)
In the morning, a speedboat will take us to the largest island of the archipelago: Isla Isabela.
The Island will amaze us with its picturesque beaches and turquoise water. It will be a truly
Caribbean feeling - but also a dream come true for every volcanologist and nature lover!
After lunch in the village, we will head out to the south, to the offshore island of Las Tintoreras,
where sea turtles, sea lizards, rays and sea lions as well as the white-tipped reef sharks, the
Tintoreras, can be observed. The seabirds Nazca boobies, blue-footed boobies and red-footed boobies
often breed here on a steep cliff. We will walk over broken lava; over white and black sand beaches
and we'll also have time to snorkel in the small bay.
Back in Puerto Villamil, you will be able to walk to Laguna Villamil, where many endemic wading birds,
but also pink flamingos, stalk around in the shallow water and look for food. Later, we'll be able to
enjoy the glowing red sunset with our bare feet in the warm sand in a quaint beach bar.
Our overnight stay will be at the ***Hotel Cally or equivalent on Isla Isabela. (Breakfast included)
Travel time by boat: 2h30 (30km) / Walking time: 2h30min (3km)
After breakfast, we will ride in an open off-road vehicle (a pick-up) into the green highlands of
Isabela Island. There, a hike will offer us a stunning view from the crater rim into the imposing
cauldron. It is, after all, the second largest volcanic cone in the world. The young lava flow from
the eruption in August 2005 is still clearly visible to this day. On the walk along this huge 30km²
crater, Darwin's finches, short-eared owls, flycatchers and Galapagos buzzards can often be spotted.
And we may even be able to observe active fumaroles (steam emission points).
Our overnight stay will be at the ***Hotel Cally or equivalent on Isla Isabela. (Breakfast & Packed
Lunch included) Travel time: 1h10 (20km) / Walking time: 3h00min (6km)
Early on this morning, we will set off for one of the most biodiverse islands, Isla Roca Union. Here,
from our boat and with a bit of luck we will be able to spot pelicans, blue-footed boobies and Nazca
boobies, as well as sea lions on nearby rocks.
After two more hours we will reach Cabo Rosa (Los Tuneles), an uninhabited island where the lava
formations resemble tunnels. In the crystal clear and shallow water, we will be able to snorkel with
sea turtles, albatrosses, flamingos, sea lizards and sea lions, manta rays and maybe also orcas as
well as Galapagos penguins, giant seahorses and white tip sharks or observe them well from the boat.
Our overnight stay will be at ***Hotel Cally or equivalent on Isla Isabela. (Breakfast & Packed Lunch
included) Travel time by Boat: 4h00 / Walking time: 0h30min (1km)
Early in the morning, we will take the speedboat to Puerto Ayora, catch a bus and then ferry to the
airport on Isla Baltra. From there we will fly from the archipelago back to the Ecuadorian mainland,
to Quito or Guayaquil. After a short stop at the airport, your planes will be ready for the
transatlantic flight back home.
On this day a packed breakfast is included.