Brief

It may be small but Ecuador easily competes with the other South American countries when it comes to nature, culture and wonders. There is a great diversity of landscapes from the Amazon Rainforest to the Andean Highlands and Coastal lowlands. Ecuador is home to Cotopaxi, the world's highest active volcano and the national parks offer fantastic trekking options. There will be plenty of opportunities to see unique wildlife as Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands are some of the most species rich places in the world.

Highlights

Walk around one of Ecuador's most staggering sights, the stunning volcanic crater lake of Laguna Quilotoa.

Integrate with local communities whilst undertaking orphanage, school or environmental based projects.

Experience breathtaking scenery and a challenging trek in Parque Nacional Cotopaxi.

Discover the incredible wildlife and scenery of the enchanting Galapagos Islands.

Remember, all our expeditions are created bespoke so you're not restricted by what you see here. If you're undecided about where to go, just call us, we love sharing ideas.
The world really is your oyster!

Call us for more details 01730 812742 or email us at support@true-adventure.co.uk

The Expedition

Phase 1: Acclimatisation

Arriving in Ecuador teams will spend a few days adjusting to the unique culture in Quito. At an elevation of 2,850 metres above sea level, it is the highest administrative capital city in the world and one of Latin America’s finest colonial centres. The city's crown jewel is its 'Old Town,' a Unesco World Heritage Site packed with colonial monuments and architectural treasures.For spectacular views over Quito’s mountainous landscape, you can travel on the Teleferico, the sky tram that takes you on a 2.5km ride up the flanks of the Volcan Pichincha to the top of Cruz Loma which sits at 4,100m.

Phase 2: Trek

The main trekking phase takes place high in the Andes, where there are many outstanding routes to pick from. Teams can also choose to trek the Quilotoa Loop, hiking between Andean villages and breath-taking crater lakes.

Phase 3: Project

This is the phase where teams assist in a variety of environmental or community based projects, which focus on organic agriculture including learning traditional farming methods. This also includes running and teaching art classes for the elderly people in the village. Other projects have included learning sustainable farming techniques that enrich the local environment. Ongoing projects include working to increase reforestation and bringing recycling into agriculture to help maintain the local environment.

Phase 4: Culture & Review

The Galapagos islands tour will give the team an amazing opportunity to get to know the friendly people and fascinating wildlife who inhabit the islands. There will be plenty of chances to spot iguanas, giant tortoises, sea lions and penguins, to name a few.

Expedition Grade

Our Ecuador adventure is graded as challenging or level 4. However we have many trek options from the more easy to difficult, giving an overall grade of 3 to 5. The fitter you are the more you will enjoy your expedition.

Expedition Type

Adventure

Project

Culture

Expedition Level

Easy

Moderate

Hard

Facts

Terrain

Mountains, coast, rainforest, jungle and volcanoes.

Weather

All climates, from tropical along the coast to cooler and dryer inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands. The dry season is from June to September.

Culture

There are multiple ethnicities in Ecuador with Christianity as the dominant religion.