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Dates and prices are subject to change. For booking, availability, and detailed itineraries, consult your travel agent or check online. SOUTH AMERICA › AMAZON, ECUADOR The Ecuador Experience CLASSIC Highlights › Feel like a local at an Amazon homestay › Relax on Ecuador's beaches › Witness Andean scenery › Ride by train to the Devil's Nose › Learn from the locals at an indigenous community › Shop the Otavalo Market What's Included Amazon Jungle homestay and cooking demonstrations (2 nts). Baños stay. Train excursion to Devil's Nose. Machalilla National Park stay. Indigenous community homestay (San Clemente). Otavalo Market visit. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities. ACCOMMODATIONS Simple hotels (12 nts), Amazon community stay (2 nts), overnight bus (1 nt), indigenous community homestay (2 nts, multi-share) TRANSPORT Public bus, truck, train GROUP LEADER CEO throughout, local guides MEALS 7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners. Allow USD335-435 for meals not included. ITINERARY If you want to sample the region's highlights without sacrificing some of its lesser-known gems, there's no better way to experience Ecuador's dramatic scenery and colourful people. Visit the Amazon and a shaman for an incredible introduction to indigenous culture and the exotic wildlife of the jungle. Staying in simple hotels and homestays and using public transport will keep you grounded in the local customs and culture. We'll travel from the Avenue of the Volcanoes to relaxing Pacific beaches and mountain hot springs. This adventure offers up a great combination of must-see highlights and free time to explore on your own. DAY 1 QUITO Arrive at any time. DAY 2 TENA Head down winding roads to the Amazon Basin and spend the night in Tena. ( 1B ) DAYS 3-4 TENA/ AMAZON JUNGLE Travel into the Amazon Jungle. Spend two nights with a local Quichua family at a homestay in a small village. Enjoy cooking demonstrations and hiking to nearby waterfalls. ( 2B, 2L, 2D ) DAYS 5-6 BAÑOS Travel to Baños and enjoy numerous outdoor optional activities available like hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, or soaking in the hot springs. DAY 7 ALAUSÍ Travel to Alausí via Riobamba and take in the architecture of this local town. DAY 8 GUAYAQUIL Board the train for an included excursion bound for the Devil's Nose. After, continue by bus to Guayaquil, the largest city in Ecuador. DAYS 9-12 PUERTO LOPEZ/MACHALILLA NP Head to the beach town Puerto Lopez and Machalilla National Park. Over the next few days explore the area, opt to take a day trip to Isla de La Plata, go hiking in the national park, visit a local community reforestation project, snorkelling, or relax on the beach. Head to Quito on an overnight bus. DAY 13 QUITO Arrive in the morning and enjoy a free day in Quito. Opt to take a city tour, ride the cable car up the nearby volcano, or relax in one of the city's many cafés and restaurants. DAYS 14-15 SAN CLEMENTE Travel to a homestay within the indigenous community of San Clemente. Opt to enjoy a cultural evening and show with typical local food. Optional hikes available to learn about the area's medicinal plants or trek up the Imbabura Mountain. ( 2B, 2L, 2D ) DAYS 16-17 OTAVALO/QUITO Take a public bus to Otavalo, famous for its handicraft market. Optional activities include a visit to Peguche Waterfall, Cotacachi leather market, or hike around Cuicocha Lake. The following day, travel back to Quito in the afternoon for a final night out in the capital city. ( 1B ) DAY 18 QUITO Depart at any time. ( 1B ) Guaranteed Departures Number of IF YOU'RE BOOKED, YOU'RE GOING | departures / month. 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ J F M A M J J A S O N D 18 DAYS—QUITO TO QUITO FROM $ 1399 OPTIONAL MY OWN ROOM: $ 499 TOUR CODE: REE IS THIS TOUR FOR ME? See back foldout. TYPE: SMALL GROUP – MAX 16, AVG 12 SERVICE LEVEL: BASIC PHYSICAL DEMAND: AVERAGE E C U A D O R Quito Tena/ Amazon Baños Otavalo San Clemente Riobamba Alausí Guayaquil Machalilla NP 283