Quito to Lima Itinerary - Gap Year - two weeks

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Research

Website (GAP YEAR) - http://www.gapadventures.com/tour/SLQM?utm_id=153

More detailed daily itinerary below:

Day 1 Arrive Quito
Arrive in Quito at any time. Accommodation: Hotel

Day 2-4 Amazon (3B,3L,3D)
Take a journey by boat deep into the Amazon jungle via Misahualli. Accommodation: Amazon Jungle Lodge (2nts) & Camping

Day 5-6 Baños (B,L)
With natural hot springs and abundant outdoor activities, Baños is an ideal place to enjoy the spectacular Andean scenery. Mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding are all options. A dip in the famous thermal hot springs offers a welcome end to the day. Accommodation: Hotel

Day 7-8 Cuenca (L)
Cuenca is a laid-back colonial gem filled with galleries and museums. Explore the town filled with interesting architecture, busy markets and cobblestone streets. Hiking in Cajas National Park and visiting the ruins of Ingapirca are possible day trips. Accommodation: Hotel

Day 9-10 Mancora (B,2L,2D)
Head south across the border to the relaxing beach town of Mancora. Accommodation: Camping

Day 11-12 Huanchaco (B,2L)
Continue to Trujillo, the largest city in northern Peru, known for the nearby Chan-Chan ruins and the resort town of Huanchaco where you will visit Lambayeque Museum. Accommodation: Hotel

Day 13 Lima (B)
Lima's museums are filled with cultural treasures, reflecting a long and varied history. Visit the colonial styled Plaza de Armas or stroll through the coastal districts of Miraflores, Barranco and San Isidro for the nightlife and cafes. Accommodation: Hotel

Day 14 Depart Lima

Day 1 Arrive Quito / Amazon
Accommodation: Hotel

Arrive Quito

There are no activities planned today, so check into our hotel and enjoy the city.

Ecuador is the smallest of the Andean countries, and in many ways it is the easiest and most pleasant to travel in. Colonial Quito, considered one of the most beautiful cities in the Western Hemisphere, has an astonishing location more than a kilometre and a half above sea level and almost directly on the equator, nestled in the Andes beneath the sparkling snow cone of Pichincha Volcano. Our exploration takes us from the Amazon lowlands, where we experience life with a Quichua community, to the heights of the Andes near mighty Chimborazo Volcano. At the end of our journey we also visit the coast for a completely different feel.

Ecuador is a country of great diversity and beauty. There are approximately 1,200,000 inhabitants in an area of 283,520 square km (177200 miles), similar in size to New Zealand. The country consists of three main regions: the coastal lowlands, the Andean Highlands, and the Eastern Amazonian jungle, all of which we discover on this journey.

Remember that although near the Equator, the higher altitude on some parts of the trip make for cool evenings and you will need warm clothing. It’s best to layer clothes rather than bring a heavy parka so that you can take layers off.

When you arrive in Quito, you will likely feel the effects of the altitude. Symptoms include shortness of breath, headaches, general lethargy and a reduced appetite. This is no cause for alarm; it is simply your body’s way of coping with the altitude. It may take a little time to acclimatize, but before long you probably will not even notice it. Take it easy for the first day or two, and reduce alcohol and cigarette consumption to minimize the effects. Be sure to drink plenty of water and do not attempt too much in any given day.

Located 2850m (9348 ft) above sea level, Quito, the Ecuadorian capital, enjoys a wonderful spring-like climate, despite the fact that it is only 22 km (14 miles) south of the Equator. It is in a valley flanked by mountains, and on a clear day, several snow-capped volcanoes are visible. As well as its beautiful location, it is rich in history and much of the Colonial Old Town is well preserved.

In 1978 UNESCO declared Quito a World Heritage site, and any new development in Quito's old town is now strictly controlled. Life in Quito tends to be peaceful, though the drivers are fond of using their car horns! There are approximately 2,000,000 inhabitants in the metropolitan area, but the pace is relaxed and the residents hospitable.

Quito is separated into two basic sections, the old and the new cities. The old city is full of interesting historical buildings and many churches. Some of the more interesting ones include the Catedral de Quito, located on the Plaza de la Independencia. Built between 1550 and 1562, it was one of the first neoclassical works in Quito. La Compañía de Jésus Church is considered one of the most beautiful in the Americas. The decorations in the Compañía contain approximately one and one-half tons of gold, and construction of the church took 170 years (1605-1775).

The small, rounded hill that dominates the old town is called El Panecillo or 'the Little Bread Loaf', and is a major Quito landmark. Marvellous panoramic views of the entire city, as well as views of the surrounding volcanoes stretch out at your feet. You can take a trolley (streetcar) or a cab to the Old Town from the New Town.

Quito has a large population of foreigners and is a popular destination for travellers, resulting in a varied and vibrant nightlife where salsotecas and other dance clubs abound. For a real Ecuadorian experience though, be sure and drop by a peña if you can; these are great places for meeting locals and dancing, as well as enjoying local cooking.
Day 2 Tena (B,L,D)
Accommodation: Camping

Today we travel by bus from Quito to the Amazon jungle region. Notice the scenery and climate change dramatically as we leave the mountains and enter the lush tropical rainforest.

In the Ecuadorian jungle layers of exotic vegetation block the sky, and brown waters sweep beneath gargantuan foliage as hundreds of species of exotic birds and equally brilliant butterflies provide constant bursts of colour. Discover why this tropical rainforest is one of the richest and most complex ecosystems in the world.
Day 3, 4 Amazon (2B, 2L, 2D)
Accommodation: Amazon Jungle Lodge

Hike through the rainforest, plunge into waterfalls and learn the uses of tropical plants. Visit with a local shaman, experience local tradition, and learn about Quichua history and culture.

In the 16th century, Spanish conqueror Francisco de Orellana ventured from Quito into the eastern jungle, in search of El Dorado, a mythical stash of Inca gold hidden away in the jungle. While he didn't find gold, he did discover Ecuador's Rio Napo, which along with Peru’s Marañón, combines to create the mighty Amazon. He followed the Napo into the Amazon mainstream and travelled all the way through the dense jungle to the Atlantic Ocean on Brazil’s coast.

Consider the variety of mammals living in Ecuador's Amazon: armadillos, honey bears, sloth, 60 varieties of bats, tapirs, peccaries, jaguar, monkeys, manatees and much more. Birds are the richest group of Amazon vertebrates, at approximately 1000 species. Visitors will see hummingbirds, toucans, macaws and tanagers on land, and darters, herons and gulls on water. If fortunate, you may catch a glimpse of the prehistoric looking Hoatzin, with its brightly coloured feathers and sharp talons.

Over 500 species of trees per acre have been recorded in the jungles of the upper Amazon. If this doesn’t seem particularly astonishing, consider that this is ten times greater than either Europe or North America, and you will begin to appreciate the significance of the conservation of this area and others like it.

The rainforest is also the traditional home of many indigenous communities, whose traditional homelands and way of life are threatened by the encroachment of 20th century industries like mining, petroleum exploitation and large-scale cash-crop farming. Among the most representative are the Siona-Secoya, Cofan, Huaorani, Shuar, Ashuar and Quichua.
Day 5, 6 Baños (B,L)
Accommodation: Hotel

Baños means 'baths' and that is precisely what the town is famous for. Some thermal springs come from the base of Tungurahua Volcano; others have melt water running into them from the volcano’s glaciated flanks. The town is the perfect setting for outdoor pursuits, including horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking and climbing and rafting in the surrounding mountains and on the River Patate.

Baños is one of the most popular and important tourist spots in the country and you will find many Ecuadorian families vacationing here. One look at this delightfully green mountain town and you will know why. Surprisingly, it is pleasant and unspoiled. Baños means 'baths' and that is precisely what the town is famous for. Some are thermal springs from the base of Tungurahua Volcano, which means 'little hell' in Quichua. Other baths have melt water running into them from Tungurahua's glaciated flanks. Locals swear that the baths are good for your health; it’s definitely worth rising early to watch the dawn creep over the mountains from a hot spring vantage point. There will also be options for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding.
Day 7, 8 Cuenca (L)
Accommodation: Hotel

Ecuador's third largest town, Cuenca retains a pleasant provincial air with its colonial architecture, art galleries, and museums. The surrounding countryside is an outdoor playground. Visit National Parks, take walks in the beautiful countryside and see Ecuador’s only Inca ruin site.

Cuenca is considered the most beautiful city in Ecuador and has had an exciting history. Barely half a century before the arrival of the Spaniards, the powerful Inca Tupac Yupanqui was undertaking the difficult conquest of the local Cañari people, who struggled bravely to stem the expansion of the Inca Empire. After several years of bitter fighting, Tupac Yupanqui's forces prevailed.

The Inca began the construction of a major city whose splendour and importance was to rival that of the imperial capital of Cuzco. Stories of sun temples covered with gold sheets and palaces built using the finest skill of Cuzqueño stonemasons abound. What happened to Tomebamba, as the city was called, is however, a complete mystery. By the time the Spanish chronicler Cieza de Léon passed through in 1547, Tomebamba lay in ruins, although well-stocked storehouses indicated how great it had recently been.

The Tomebamba River divides Cuenca in half, and south of the river lie fairly recent suburbs and the modern university. To the north is the heart of the colonial city. Although Cuenca has expanded to become Ecuador's third largest city with 165,000 inhabitants, it still retains a pleasantly provincial air and the old centre has churches dating from the 16th and 17th centuries. The earliest building is the original Cathedral, construction of which began in 1557, the year Cuenca was founded by the Spanish conquerors.

Explore the city’s sights including cobbled streets, red-tiled roofs, art galleries, flower markets, shady plazas and museums. The villagers in the surrounding areas are expert milliners, creating beautiful and useful Panama hats (which should perhaps more accurately be called Ecuador hats). The ruins of Ingapirca lie approximately an hour and a half drive north of Cuenca, through some of Ecuador's most beautiful countryside. Although it is a major Inca site, not a lot is known about its history

Yet another nearby attraction is Area Nacional de Recreacion Cajas, a protected area of 28,000 ha, about 30 km (19 miles) northwest of the city of Cuenca. The terrain is quite stark, mostly above 4000m (13120 ft) in the páramo (grassy highlands), with many clear lakes and a great variety of bird life, beautiful scenery and good hiking possibilities.
Day 9, 10 Mancora (B,2L,2D)
Accommodation: Camping

The adventure continues as we travel from Cuenca through the busy border town of Huaquillas and across the Peruvian border into Mancora. Enjoy the relaxing beach atmosphere before heading south along the coast to Trujillo, the largest city in northern Peru. It is known for its beautiful colonial structures and nearby attractions of Chan-Chan ruins and the resort town of Huanchaco.

The border crossing into Peru through Huaquillas is one of the busiest in South America and definitely an experience you won’t soon forget. We follow the Pan-American Highway south to the seaside town of Mancora, a village populated by fishermen and surfers from around Peru and the world. Next we head further south through the Sechuara Desert, one of the driest places on the continent despite infrequent torrential rains brought on by El Niño. The entire Pacific coastline of South America, encompassing Peru and Chile is washed by the cold Humboldt Current, which travels north from the frigid Antarctic waters. Though the land is fairly devoid of life, the ocean waters are rich with shoals of fish and both the Peruvian and Japanese fishing fleets are well represented along the coast.
Day 11, 12 Huanchaco (B,2L)
Accommodation: Hotel

Trujillo is the capital of the Department of La Libertad and is well known for its colonial buildings, proximity to the Chimu ruins of Chan-Chan and the resort of Huanchaco, where the fishermen’s boats are constructed of buoyant reeds and the seafood is both tasty and abundant.
Day 13 (L)
Accommodation: Hotel

Founded by Francisco Pizarro, on the Day of the Three Kings (Epiphany) in 1535, Lima is known as the City of Kings. It is Peru’s capital city and as such, deserves a visit. The Plaza de Armas is the heart of old Lima and you’ll find the Cathedral, Government Palace and Archbishop’s Palace. The Cathedral dates back to the 1700s and houses the remains of the conquistador Pizarro.

To get a feel for colonial Lima, take a cab to the Plaza de Armas and watch the changing of the Palace Guard in the afternoon. Walk around the streets surrounding the Jirón de la Unión for great examples of Spanish-colonial architecture and to experience life in a large South American city. There are many fine museums in and around the city, including the Museo Rafael Larco Herrera, which houses an equally impressive collection of pottery, mummies and textiles from the Paracas and Nazca cultures. An optional city tour visits many of the cities highlights.

The more affluent coastal districts of Miraflores, Barranco and San Isidro offer good nightlife and cafés. The Limeños are friendly and the city’s many interesting museums, churches, markets, restaurants and nightlife will surely entice you. Seafood lovers should be sure and try a ceviche, for which Lima is well known.
Day 14 Depart Lima

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