Ecuador

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As you know, Andy and I are going to Ecuador in 2013 to volunteer at a sanctuary for orphaned and injured monkeys that have been rescued from lab experiments and the South American pet trade. The sanctuary, El Paseo de los Monos, is located in the jungles of Puyo, Ecuador where they rehabilitate monkeys (spider, wooly, white capuchin, black capuchin, squirrel, tamarin and saki) and reintroduce those that can live on their own back into the wild.

So far, our itinerary is as follows:

Saturday, 2/23/13

-Arrive in Quito

-Spend the night at a hotel in the historic district ("Old Town")



Sunday, 2/24/13

-Explore Old Town Quito

-Go see the Iglesia de la Compania de Jesus (Company of Jesus Church) which is encased in gold leaf

-Take a cable car up Pinchincha volcano (dormant)

-Make our way northwest to Pululahua volcano (extinct) where we'll be staying in a hotel on the lip of the crater



Monday, 2/25/13

-Hike Pululahua volcano crater

-Visit la Mitad del Mundo, the Middle of the World monument located at 0'0'0' on the equator

-Hike to the nearby Templo del Sol (sun temple)

-Bus to Puyo (approximately 5-6 hours)

-Arrive at El Paseo de los Monos (the monkey sanctuary)



Monday 2/25/13 to Saturday 3/2/13

-Work at El Paseo de los Monos daily from 8am-6pm.





Saturday 3/2/13

-Bus to Banos (approximately 1 1/2 hours)

-Visit El Manto de la Novia waterfall on way to Banos and take a cable car over Pastaza River

-Rent ATVs and explore Banos and its surrounding waterfalls



-Party!

-Night hike of Tungurahua Volcano if it's active

-Stay at La Posada del Arte, a lovely hotel at the foot of the volcano



Sunday 3/3/13

-Visit the thermal springs, namely Las Piscinas de la Virgen

-Bus to Quito (approximately 4-5 hours)

-Eat dinner and relax on La Ronda street, the nightlife area of historic Quito

-Spend the night at a hotel near Old Town



Monday 3/4/13

-Taxi to the airport approximately 3am to catch our very early morning flights

-Fly home!

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