Blue Elite
18 days from the highest peaks of the Andes to the genuine indigenous community of Sarayaku in the Ecuadorian rainforest. An unforgettable community-based tourism.
Do you have the adventure in your blood? Do you want to exceed your own limits? Then Blue Elite is the right tour for you. For this tour, a very good physical condition is required as you will ascent volcanoes between 4,000 and 6,000 m high. This tour is also designed for people who want to combine the adventure and the experience of living with the members of a genuine community of the Ecuadorian Amazon.
The tour offers the ascent of 4 volcanoes included the most popular and highest volcanoes of Ecuador, the Cotopaxi (5,897 m) and Chimborazo (6,276 m) volcanoes. A program of acclimatization in the beautiful landscapes of the highland of Ecuador. You will visit cities and know about the culture of the country. You will also have the wonderful opportunity to live together with a genuine indigenous community of the Amazon rainforest (The Kichwa Sarayaku Community) and to do expeditions together with indigenous hunters and guides in the Amazon jungle.
Blue Elite
Travel Package
MAXIMUM HEIGHT: 5.897 m
TYPE: Small group trip with max. 6 participants
REQUIREMENT: Good physical condition
DIFFICULTY: BW-1 to BW-4
Day 1: Arrival in Quito
At the airport, our driver will pick you up and take you to the hotel.
Day 2: City tour Quito / Monument Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World monument)
After breakfast, transportation will be waiting for you at the hotel to take you to visit the historic center of Quito, which is the best preserved and largest historical center in Latin America and has been named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. You will visit beautiful churches that keep in your walls the history of the city of Quito and artistic sculptures. Churches like San Francisco church, and the Sagrado Corazón de Jesus church. In the colonial center of Quito, there is also a wide variety of monuments, and historical sites such as El Panecillo, Plaza de la Independencia and beautiful buildings from the colonial era. After visiting the colonial center of Quito, you will head to the equator line that divides the earth into two hemispheres (Middle of the World Monument). Then, you will visit the Intiñan interactive museum and experiment with the uniqueness of the place, such as: observe how the water flows to the right or to the left by the drain, or try to balance the egg with the head of a nail. Finally, I return to the hotel.
Day 3: Pasochoa Volcano (4,200 m)
Early in the morning, you will have breakfast and then start the adventure to the National Park Pasochoa. The volcano is surrounded by lush forests and landscapes of Páramo. The summit of Pasochoa is at 4,200 m. During the ascent and descent of the volcano, you can enjoy the natural beauty of the place. In the afternoon you will return to the hotel.
Day 4: Illiniza Norte Volcano (5,216 m)
Start the day with breakfast at the hotel. So far you have walked the “easy“ volcanoes, but on this day the adventure will take you to the ascent of the Illiniza Norte volcano, it has an average degree of difficulty due to two main factors. First, the terrain in a part of the journey is very sandy and makes the walk a bit difficult. Second, the lack of oxygen when reaching the summit may be demanding, but it is a good acclimatization training for the ascent of the famous Cotopaxi volcano which is the next and ultimate goal. The ascent lasts approximately 6 hours and leads to an altitude of 5,126 m. Once reached the summit, you will descent and go to the hotel.
Day 5: Free Day
This day has as objective, that you recover from the physical effort of having climbed 3 volcanoes, so you can rest and recharge your batteries, for the ascension of one of the highest and most famous volcanoes in Ecuador, the Cotopaxi volcano.
Day 6: Cotopaxi Volcano – José Ribas Mountain Refuge (4,800 m)
After breakfast, the car will be waiting for you in the hotel to go for your next adventure, which is to reach the summit of the Cotopaxi volcano. We drive to the Cotopaxi National Park. The track leads to the car park at about 4,500 m. Then walk to the José Ribas refuge (4,800 m). After a fortifying dinner, you will go to bed early at 6:30 p.m., as you will start your ascent to the top early at 11 p.m.
Day 7: Cotopaxi Volcano- summit day (5,897 m)
After a good breakfast, the challenge begins, you will start to ascent the fascinating summit of Cotopaxi. After approximately 1.5 hours you will reach the glacier entrance (approximately 5,100 m). At this point, you have to put on your crampons. The route to the summit is not too difficult, but the route through the glacier changes from one year to the next. The most outstanding challenge of climbing the Cotopaxi volcano is to lead with the lack of oxygen. The reward for the sweat of the ascent efforts is the magnificent panorama of the summit and the impressive view of the 300-meter-deep crater. The descent back to the refuge lasts approximately 4 hours on the same route. Once at the refuge you will take a short break, and continue to the parking lot, where the driver is already waiting for you to return to the hotel.
Day 8: Free Day – Trip to town of Baños
After breakfast, you will start the trip to Baños, a colorful town at 1,820 m. This day is free, so you can rest and recharge your batteries for the ascent to the next volcano, which is the largest volcano in Ecuador, the Chimborazo volcano. Baños is a town that offers many adventure activities, but also natural hot springs, where you can relax your muscles and rest better.
Day 9: Chimborazo Volcano – Hermanos Carrel Mountain Refuge (4,850 m)
After breakfast, the car will be waiting for you in the hotel to go for your next adventure. First, we go to the Hermanos Carell refuge/shelter, which is located at 4,850 m. Once at the shelter, you will have free time, and you can walk a little for the surroundings of the shelter or reserve your energy for the climb to the Chimborazo´s summit. Them, after a fortifying dinner, you will go to sleep at 18:30 in the afternoon. Finally, you will start climbing to the summit of the Chimborazo volcano at 10:00 at night.
Day 10: Chimborazo Volcano – Summit day (6,276 m)
After breakfast, the challenge begins, you will start to ascent the highest peak in Ecuador. After about an hour we reach the ridge, which leads to the rock “El Castillo” (5,200 m). The ascent is approached through the longest but safest route. And after about 8 hours you will reach the highest point of Ecuador, the top of the Chimborazo volcano called Veintimilla (6,267 m). If the weather conditions are good, the participants still have strength, and time is still enough, you can reach the main summit called Whymper (6.276 m), which is slightly higher. Once at the top of the volcano, and after enjoying the incredible view, you will begin the descent. Then, you will return to the hotel in Baños.
Day 11: Free Day – Trip to Puyo (Amazon Rainforest)
After breakfast we drive to Puyo. Puyo is a small town in the Amazon rainforest. The main goal of this day is to rest and prepare for the next adventure. Please note that in Puyo you have the last chance to go shopping (in a pharmacy, shop, etc.). Please notice you will be in the middle of the jungle for the next 5 days. Please, buy in Puyo, all you need for the next 5 days. The overnight stay is in Puyo.
Day 12: Journey to Quichua Sarayaku Community
After breakfast, a member of the Sarayaku community will go to the hotel to escort you to the river where you will take a canoe to the Quichua Sarayaku community. The journey from the embarkation of the canoe to the community lasts approximately 6 hours and a stop is made (in the bank of the Bobonaza River) to receive a box lunch. When you arrive in the community you will receive lunch with typical food. Afterward, you will take a tour of the community trails to get to know the central points of the community. Later, the host family will welcome you. Remember that you will be living with a family of the community.
Day 13: Sarayaku Community / Expedition further in the jungle – camping day
Early morning (4:00 a.m.) you will experience a bath with Chiricaspi Plant (it is a ritual where the jungle accepts and welcomes the traveler, likewise the traveler accepts and integrates with respect to the Jungle System). Afterward, you will drink a Guayusa tea (it is a medicinal plant), and take a breakfast. On this day you will leave in search of more adventure and will go further into the jungle together with the guides, and native hunters until you reach a place that the natives known as Mulchi. In Mulchi, you will set up camp, lunch, and take a canoe trip to observe animals and fish. Later, you will prepare dinner together with the guides and hunters of the community.
Day 14: Departure to the Laguna (expedition in the jungle) – camping day
After breakfast, you will leave for an exciting expedition to a lagoon, on the way you will see different kinds of animals, and if you are lucky you will see the Jaguar, The King of the Amazon. The walk to the lagoon lasts approximately 5 hours. Upon returning to the camp the guides and hunters will show you and offer you medicinal plant drinks for the pain and tiredness of the walk.
Day 15: Return to Sarayacu Community
This is the last day of the camp. After breakfast, you will leave for the community of Sarayaku. Once in Sarakayu, you will have free time to rest and/or interact with the members of the community. More in the afternoon The Elder (an elderly woman) of the community will tell her anecdotes and experiences of her way of life.
Day 16: Farewell and return to the city of Puyo and then to Quito
After breakfast, the host family will say goodbye to you. Then, you will embark on the canoe to the city of Puyo, where a car will be waiting to take you to the city of Quito.
1Day 17: Free day in Quito
This is the last day of your adventure in Ecuador. You will have free this day. You can rest, prepare suitcases, buy a souvenir, etc. Quito is a city that offers a lot like museums, historical sites, cultural events, different types of restaurants, etc.
Day 18: Back home
After breakfast, the car will be waiting for you in front of the hotel to take you to the international airport of Quito.
Included
Not Included
Recommended equipment (not included) for the Amazon Rainforest
Empfohlene Ausrüstung für den Regenwald (nicht inklusive)
BW-1 (gentle walk)
The simplest form of hiking uses only wide and well-developed roads. Mainly on flat terrain and little inclined, without descents and exposed stairs. Usually well marked trails. No special equipment is required, it is recommended to wear comfortable walking shoes. More comfort and less physical activity. Cultural walks with contact with people. No prior knowledge required.
BW-2 (challenging walks / activities)
Activities partially challenging or longer than BW-1 (hiking and cycling). Partially difficult terrain (very steep terrain). Good health and good physical condition are required. Availability to light physical efforts, such as cycling and hiking.
BW-3 (mountains tours / outdoors activities)
Activities or hikes that are often demanding and / or extensive. Trails with considerable slopes, narrow, and not always well marked. For mountaineering an acclimatization process is required (heights more than 4.000 m). Safety when walking. Predisposition for heights. It requires very good health and good physical condition. Adventurous spirit.
BW-4 (Heavy Mountain Tour / outdoors activities)
In this category, mountaineering begins on a high alpine landscape (heights more than 5,000 m). For mountaineering, an acclimatization process is required. Use of crampons, ice axes, harnesses, and helmets are required. It requires excellent general health and physical condition. A sporting spirit and predisposition for demanding weather conditions.
BW-5 (extremely heavy mountain tour / outdoors activities)
Very serious mountain tours that demand a high level of risk-taking even for experienced mountaineers. Routes over very steep, and very exposed rock. As a rule, these alpine excursions are unmarked. The knowledge of the use of the equipment is extremely important. Technical mountains are climbed on this type of tour.
Our active trips are generally not suitable for people with reduced mobility. Do not hesitate to contact us, we will be glad to advise you.
Booking Request
[contact-form-7 id=”2323″ title=”Inquiry Blue Elite_en”]
Ask for this offer or contact us for further details and queries. Of course, we can tailor your dream trip to your individual needs.
Please fill out the form, with your information, the planned travel date and the number of participants. Of course we also advise you by phone or directly by email at the following contact options:
