Departure: September 26th, 2008 | November 25th, 2008

DAY 1: QUITO - COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK

Drive to the Cotopaxi National Park along the Pan-American Highway. Bike ride through the páramo (highlands) with its peculiar vegetation and fauna. The car will bring us up to the parking lot (4600m). Box lunch The last 200 meters to reach the Refuge will be done by foot. There is the possibility of walking along an easy path to the glacier. Return to the car. From here a spectacular down hill bike ride to the Gate of the National Park where the cycling trip ends. Dinner and night in Cabañas Quilotoa. (L)

DAY 2: QUILOTOA - URBINA

Starts with breakfast and an early view of Cotopaxi. Drive southwest to Zumbahua & Quilotoa Lake, a remote, still virgin Indian area. Mountain biking around this area to enjoy the nature. Then drive and bike direction south. Dinner and night in Posada de Urbina with magnificent views to Chimborazo. (B, L)

DAY 3: URBINA - CHIMBORAZO - QUITO

Drive to the Chimborazo Mountain (6310m) the highest and one of the most impressive volcanoes in Ecuador. We drive as far as the first refuge at 4800 meters, and continue on foot to the Edgar Whymper Refuge at 5000 meters. From the highest refuge in the world it’s all downhill – first on foot, and then by bike all the way to the town of San Juan at 2800 metres.

This is an amazing bike ride through paramo landscape to approximately 2600 m of altitude. Vicunas are the sole inhabitants of these wild stretches. Lunch.

After around 40 kilometers bike, we return to Quito by jeep.

PRICES INCLUDE: Meals as indicated (B=breakfast, L=lunch), 2 nights accommodation, 21-speed mountain bikes, transportation, guide-driver, all protections (helmet, elbow and knee pads).

NOT INCLUDED: Meals not mentioned above, entrance fees to National Parks Cotopaxi and Chimborazo (US$ 10.00 each), drinks, tips, personal expenses.

top