Day 1
Leave Baton Rouge
We will arrive in Quito and spend the night in the beautiful Villa San Francisco hotel. This is the courtyard:
Day 2
City Tour, Afternoon Lecture and Salsa Lessons
We will begin with a tour of the beautiful city of Quito. Quito is rich in culture and history. The city was named a Cultural Heritage Site for its classic colonial architecture and 16th-century religious art work. There are numerous vista points throughout the city that provide breath-taking views of the Andes. The tour will include a cable car ride to the Pichincha volcano.
We will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in plaza de San Francisco
and then head back to the Villa for an afternoon lecture followed by salsa lessons. We will conclude the day with a New Years Eve party.
Day 3
Afternoon Lecture & Salsa Lessons
We will ease into the day with an afternoon lecture. In the evening, we will head back to the dance floor for more salsa lessons.
Day 4
Mountain Bike Ride, Afternoon Lecture, & Salsa Lessons
Day four will begin with a mountain bike ride through the Interandean valley, along the old railroad runway.
The trail descends into the Chiche river canyon and through numerous tunnels. This is one of the local’s favorite day trips because of its spectacular scenery. We will head back to the villa for lunch and an afternoon lecture. And then its back to the dance floor for one last night of salsa lessons.
Day 5
Lecture & and PM Activity
Day five will consist of a lecture and some stimulating activities.
Day 6
Flower Plantation and Cuicocha Lake Hike in Otavalo
On the morning of the 4th, we will head to the Otavalo area, also known as “the province of the lakes”. The area is named after the Otavalo Indians who are famous for their weaving. Since roses are Ecuador’s most well known export, we will begin with a tour of a local flower plantation. We will have lunch by the Cuicocha Crater Lake
and then hike along a portion of the crater’s rim. Later that day, we will check into the hotel, freshen up, and reconvene for a cozy dinner by the San Pablo Lake.
Day 7
Otavalo Market Day
We will enjoy a day of shopping at the famous Otavalo market.
The market is renowned for its exotic selection of meats, vegetables, and ponchos. It will take you several hours to see it all! We will have lunch in the near-by town of Cotacachi followed by more shopping. Cotacachi is well known for its leather crafts. At the end of the day, we will head back to Quito and have dinner in the Villa.
Day 8
Rafting the Blanco River
An early, hardy breakfast will prepare us for the highlight of the day: whitewater rafting down the Río Blanco River! The river winds along the western slopes of the Andes and into the coastal tropical region of Ecuador. Prepare to get wet!
The day will end with dinner at the Villa.
Day 9
Morning Lecture, Flight to the Beach & Alandaluz
After a morning lecture, we will fly to Manta, located along the central coast of Ecuador. A bus will be waiting to taxi us to the exquisite Alandaluz Eco Hotel, located right on the beach.
We will arrive in plenty of time to enjoy a little sand and surf. Then it’s back to the hotel to cheer for the Tigers in the BCS Championship.
Day 10
Morning Presentation, Los Frailes Beach
Our day will begin with a presentation from a local business owner. Then we will head to the Los Frailes beach for more fun in the sun. The beach is part of the Machalilla National Park.
At the end of the day, we will drive back to the hotel for dinner.
Day 11
Isla de La Plata
We will begin this action-packed day with an early departure to the town Puerto Lopez. Upon arrival, we will board a fleet of motorized boats and embark on a two-hour tour along the coast. Our destination is Isla de La Plata, a unique island paradise that supports a healthy colony of exotic birds.
Once we reach the island, we will take a hike and even do a little snorkeling! In the afternoon we will head back to the hotel.
Day 12
Afternoon Lecture & Farwell Dinner
After breakfast, we will drive to Manta’s airport to catch the flight back to Quito. In Quito, we will do some last minute shopping and then return to the Villa for our farewell dinner.
Day 13
Papallacta Hot Springs
The day begins with a drive up the Eastern slopes of the Andes. Once we reach an elevation of 13,200 ft, we will begin the decent down to the natural springs of Papallacta, located at the entrance of the Amazon basin. The rest of the day will be spent soaking and relaxing in the hot springs. We will spend the night at a resort near the springs.
Day 14
Papallacta Hot Springs and Back to Quito
We will enjoy our last morning in Ecuador with a second dip in the hot springs before heading back to Quito. We will have lunch at a local restaurant in the Villa and then prepare to leave.
Day 15
Arrive in Baton Rouge Read more!
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