From the Andes to the Amazon and beyond by mountain bike
*12-day MTB tour, from $— per person [on a base of two people].
A WORD FROM ANTOINE ON THIS tour
This themed mountain biking trip will take you over 12 days through the Ecuador most beautiful regions. You will get on your mountain bikes to discover extraordinary natural sites thanks to 260 km spread over 8 days of stages. Due to its 6,000m of positive elevation at over 4,000m altitude, this trip is intended for enthusiasts and regulars of this sport.
After your arrival in Quito, -the capital and the best-preserved Historical Center of Latin America- you will go to test your mounts in the Pichincha volcano descent. Your mountain biking trip will then begin, first in the north of the country on the “land of the Indians”.
Close to Otavalo you will meet a Kichwa family. Then, there will be 4 stages between the Antisana and Illiniza reserves, after that the famous Cotopaxi park where two days of stages will be waiting for you. You will then leave for a difficult but fabulous day crossing the Chimborazo reserve. You will end your journey with a quieter stopover in the Amazon in the town of Tena.
| Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arrival and transfer to Quito | Quito visit | Pichincha volcan descent (5,5 km – 1000m/D-) > San Clemente community | San Clemente > San Pablo lake (35km – 700m/D+) |
| Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 |
| San Clemente > Antisana reserve(25km – 400m/D+) > Machachi | Machachi > Ilinizas national reserve (40km – 800m/D+) > Cotopaxi National Park | Cotopaxi National Park > Yanahurco (35km – 700m/D+) | Yanahurco > Huairapamba (35km – 700m/D+) > Calpi community |
| Day 9 | Day 10 | Day 11 | Day 12 |
| Calpi community > Hermano Carrel, Chimborazo volcano refuge (35km – 1500m/D+) > Calpi | Calpi > Baños > Tena > Amazon rainforest | Amazon rainforest (30km – 250/300m/D+) > Papallacta | Papallacta > Quito airport – departure |
Tour highlights :
– Fully private tour.
– English-speaking guidance 24/7
– Andes mountain range reserves or national parks visits (4)
– Total covered distance by mountain bike: around 260 kilometers
– Total elevation: about 6,000m
– 4 nights in indigenous communities
– Possibility to rent a mountain bike by our ITK travel agency.
Mountain Bike Features :
– Aluminum frame
– 100 mm Rock Shox Recon type fork or equivalent
– 29 ″ or 27.5 ″ wheels
– Shimano Deore group set (minimum) or equivalent
Explore in more detail :
– The rate decreases as the group size increases proportionally. The estimated price of this fantastic MTB tour is from $— to $—. The final cost of this trip depends on the way we personalize it specially for you. The exact price will be provided in your personalized quote.
Day 1 : Transfer-in to Quito
Transfer to a charming hotel in the modern part of Quito, the Mariscal. You will take the opportunity to rest before your trip.
Meal
No
Visit
No
VTT
No
transport
1h00
Day 2 : Quito visit
A Quito guided tour, the second highest capital in the world (2850m altitude). It is also the first world-wide city to be classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its superb preserved historic center. You will visit churches, squares, colonial streets or even El Panecillo. It is also possible to visit the modern district and the typical Guapulo district.
Meal
b
Visit
6h00
vtt
No
transport
0h30
Day 3 : Pichincha volcano descent (5,5km – 1000m/D-) > Otavalo > San Clemente
You will first join the Quito cable car for a 15-minute transport. Once you get to the top you will start to tame your mounts with a short but fairly technical descent. Once you have passed this first stage, you will reach the north part of the country, in Otavalo. You will sleep in a Kichwa community typical in this Ecuadorian Andes region.
Meal
b/d
Visit
1h00
vtt
1h00
transport
3h30
Day 4 : San Clemente > San Pablo lake (35km – 700m/D+)
This morning you will leave for your first “real” stage towards the San Pablo lake. This step is neither technically nor physically difficult but, for your first few days will surely feel lack of oxygen. Your second night will be spent with a welcoming community family.
Meal
b/l/d
Visit
0h00
vtt
4h00
transport
0h40
Day 5 : San Clemente > Antisana reserve(25km – 400m/D+) > Machachi
You will leave the Otavalo region early in the morning to reach the heart of the Antisana reserve. This reserve is home to the mysterious Antisana volcano, and it is one of the main places to observe the Andean condor. This will be a discovery reserve stage with little physical and technical difficulty. You will reach a very relaxing hostel in Machachi town.
Meal
b/l/d
Visit
0h00
vtt
3h00
transport
2h30
Day 6 : Machachi > Ilinizas national reserve (40km – 800m/D+) > Cotopaxi National Park
This 4th stage will allow you to discover your second nature reserve, the Illinizas reserve. During this stage you will have a permanent view of the famous Cotopaxi volcano and the surrounding volcanoes such as Illinizas, El Corazón or Rumiñahui. You will then go to your superb hacienda at the Cotopaxi Park entrance where you will spend a warm evening before tackling the Cotopaxi stage the next day.
Meal
b/d
Visit
0h00
vtt
4h30
transport
1h30
Day 7 : Cotopaxi National Park > Yanahurco (35km – 700m/D+)
This morning you will return to the famous Cotopaxi National Park. You will pass by the 5,897m-high volcano on reaching Yanahurco, where a beautiful hacienda isolated from everything will await you. During this stage you should expect temperatures that can be cold due to the altitude of around 4000m.
Meal
b/l/d
Visit
0h00
vtt
4h30
transport
0h00
Day 8 : Yanahurco > Huairapamba (35km – 700m/D+) > Chimborazo region (Calpi)
You will continue your journey through Cotopaxi Park, joining Huairapamba. today’s route will be similar to yesterday’s, completing the loop around the highest active volcano in the world. You will then join a Chimborazo region typical Andean community. You will share their daily life and above all you will take the opportunity to rest before the hardest stage of this Ecuador mountain biking trip.
Meal
b/d
Visit
0h00
vtt
4h30
transport
2h30
Day 9 :Calpi > Hermanos Carrel refuge in Chimborazo(35km – 1500m/D+)
Today you will begin the hardest stages of this trip. Indeed, you will attempt a 35km climb to reach the 4,800m Chimborazo refuge. You will have a following vehicle if you do not feel able to complete the entire stage. You will spend another night in the Calpi community.
Meal
b/l/d
Visit
0h00
vtt
4h30
transport
0h45
Day 10 :Calpi > Baños > Tena > Amazon rainforest
You will have your well-deserved day off on this day. After the hardest part, you will go to relax in Baños terms and visit the famous Pailon del Diablo before heading to the Amazon to beautiful and luxurious lodge with swimming pool. You will have a total rest evening.
Meal
b
Visit
0h00
vtt
0h00
transport
5h30
Day 11 : Amazon rainforest (30km – 300m/D+) > Papallacta
You will set off on your mountain bike for the easiest stage. You will go to the heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest with your mounts to discover this haven of peace and tranquillity. You will reach Papallacta in the afternoon to enjoy your last evening with the thermal baths and other jacuzzis.
Meal
b
Visit
0h00
vtt
2h30
transport
3h30
Day 12 : Papallacta > Quito airport- departure
On your last day you will enjoy the Papallacta thermal baths one last time before heading to the airport to catch your international back flight.
Meal
b
Visit
0h00
vtt
0h00
transport
1h00
Rate Includes
– All transfers, vehicles, drivers and their costs and fees.
– Hardtail Mountain Bike.
– Accommodation
– National-licensed guides as indicated in the guidance part.
– Meals.
– Entrances to sites, museums and national parks specified in the program.
– Licenses (ITK travel agency and our guides and drivers).
Rate Doesn’t include
– International flights.
– Individual equipment.
– Visits indicated as “Optional” or “at an additional cost.
– Drinks in bars, hotels, restaurants or villages.
– Not indicated meals
– Tips
Comfort » category : charming and comfortable accommodation 2/3*** category. Clean and offering an adapted-to-European and American customer service.
« Superior » category : charming accommodation 3/4**** category. Top of the range quality infrastructure and personalized service. Spacious and tasteful rooms.
« Luxe » category: top of the range accommodations 4/5***** categoryoffering an irreproachable quality of service. The rooms are luxurious and spacious. .
An English-speaking private driver will accompany you on all visits. It will serve as a following car on the cycling stages. When the car cannot follow you, an ATV guide will show you the way.
– Your all-weathers specific mountain bike equipment. Make sure you have clothes for hot, cold (very cold especially in Cotopaxi Park where temperatures can drop in bad weather and rain).
– Helmet
– MTB shoes. ITK voyage Ecuador offers flat pedals or Shimano SPD type automatic pedals. You can bring your own pedals according to your habits.
– Warm and comfortable clothes for the evenings which can be chilly specially in the Andes.
– Transfers and visits times are indicative.
– Foresee between $ 5 and $ 30 per meal not included, per person.