Adventure in wheelchairs

This is truly the trip of a lifetime! On this wheelchair accessible travel adventure to the Amazon and Highland Andes, you’ll experience this beautiful corner of the world with trained, bilingual staff. The stunning landscapes and endless opportunities for adventure are waiting for you at the center of the world.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Stay at Huasquila Amazon Lodge, the only accessible destination in the Ecuadorian Amazon
• Embark on an interpretative hike through the Amazon using our off-road wheelchairs
• Go on a rafting adventure through the Amazon
• Engage, dance, and eat with an indigenous community
• Tour Quito´s Colonial Center, declared a World Culture Heritage site by UNESCO
• Visit the middle of the world and straddle the line separating the northern and southern hemispheres at the “Mitad del Mundo” monument

ITINERARY

Specification of meals included: B: Breakfast / L: Lunch / D: DinnerDay 1: Arrive in Quito

Welcome to Ecuador! Your guide will pick you up from the airport and drive to your hotel. Once settled in, you will enjoy dinner in Quito and have a briefing about the tour to prepare for the adventure ahead. DDay 2: Mitad del Mundo-Otavalo

After breakfast we will visit the ¨Mitad del Mundo¨ (Middle of the World) monument, located on the Equator. Be sure to take a picture as you straddle the line separating the northern and southern hemispheres. We will also visit the Inti-Ñan Museum and partake in some science experiments that prove we truly are standing in the middle of the world. We will continue our trip to Otavalo, and arrive to the hotel in the late afternoon. Rest time and dinner. B-L-DDay 3:Otavalo

This morning we will visit the most famous handicraft market in Ecuador, Otavalo´s Market. You will be stunned by the hundreds of colors, designs, and styles of handicrafts as well as by the magic of interacting with the kind indigenous artisans. After a few hours in the market, we will have lunch and drive towards Ibarra city, a small colonial city. We will visit the most representative plazas and squares, but a visit to Ibarra would not complete without a few scoops of their famous ice cream to enjoy while we wander around the park. B-L-DDay 4: Cuicocha

This morning, our group will visit the Cuicocha Crater Lake, located at the foot of the Cotacachi Volcano. We will take a boat ride around this beautiful lagoon and have lunch after a picturesque tour.

Note: For transfer in and out of the boat, we manually assist the guest. In the afternoon, we will visit the town of Cotacachi -famous for its leather products made by indigenous people. B-L-DDay 5: Otavalo – Amazon

After breakfast, we will drive to the Amazon and on our way, cross two mountain chains and seven different climate floors. Depending on the weather, we might even see some volcanoes. Along the way, we will have several stops which include a visit to a hummingbird hotspot where we will have some coffee while watching these beautiful, vibrant birds.

We will arrive at the 100% accessible Huasquila Amazon Lodge in the afternoon and enjoy a welcome cocktail. After the check in, we will visit an indigenous community and have the opportunity to interact with natives, learn about their customs, traditions, and how they prepare their meals. At the end of the visit, a shaman (medicinal doctor) will perform a native ritual for those interested in participating.

Later that evening, we will return back to Huasquila Lodge for dinner. B-L-DDay 6: Amazon

Prepare to go off-roading! This morning, with the use of an off-road wheelchair, we will go hiking through the secondary rainforest and learn about medicinal plants from a native guide. The path into the rainforest is less than a ¼ mile and usually takes approximately 30 minutes, as it includes stops along the way.

Note: If for any reason we cannot do the activity, a native guide will bring the medicinal plants from the hike to the lodge area and demonstrate the different uses of these local plants.

After lunch, we will visit an animal rescue center, where you will see many different species of animals of the amazon region. Then we will visit the two towns closest to Huasquila: Archidona and Tena. The purpose of this visit is to share time with locals as well as learn and experience a typical afternoon in this Amazon town. Along the way, we will pop into stores, restaurants, shops, and also spend some time at the main plazas and parks. B-L-DDay 7: Amazon

Today, we will visit an association called Kallari, which is famous for producing, processing, and selling cacao-chocolate bars. What makes Kallari unique is the fact that they produce cacao within the Amazon Region and all of its members produce the beans in order to have a source of income as well as serve as a long-term, sustainable alternative to traditional cacao farming. We will start the day by visiting Kallari offices, then head out to visit a couple of plantations to see firsthand the social, financial, and cultural role of the cacao production. Finally, we will visit the collection center where the beans are received, fermented, and dried. Throughout the process, we will have the chance to sample these delicious beans. B-L-DDay 8: Rafting

We will start the day with a 1.5 hour drive to the Anzu River. There, we will raft down the calm river, giving us the chance to admire the surrounding flora and fauna; truly one of the best ways to experience the magnificence of Amazonia.

Note: Even though the river is very calm, for safety reasons, we will raft down the river with a security kayaker at all times. Additionally, each traveler will wear a safety jacket, helmet, and all safety equipment. For the transfer in and out of the boat, we manually assist the guest by using a sliding board and/or manually lifting the guest into the boat.

We will finish our journey around 3:00 pm and head back to the lodge. Dinner and the rest of the evening are for relaxing and chatting at the lodge (play games) while enjoying delicious tropical juice or wine. B-L-DDay 9: Amazon – Baños

After breakfast, we will take a 2-hour drive to the city of Baños. Nested in the border between the Andes and the Amazon, Baños is very tourist-friendly with lots of activities to offer. It also lies at the bottom of the Tungurahua volcano which is currently active and has been erupting ashes for the last 7 years. In the afternoon, we will take a cable-car ride over the Pastaza River ravines and admire beautiful waterfalls and Andean landscape before enjoying a traditional dinner.Day 10: Baños

Today we will enjoy ourselves in the beautiful city of Baños. In the morning, we will begin with a spa treatment. We will try the famous “baños de cajon” (similar to a steam bath), a portion of fruit and medicinal water as well as access to outdoor path in a spa facility (included). After this we have free time for you to choose if you wish to enjoy more spa treatments (not included) or just wonder around town, visit some of the shops, etc. We can make a city tour to learn about its vibrant history and appreciate the stunning vistas. B-L-DDay 11: Baños – Quito

After breakfast, we will drive through the Andes towards Quito. Once back in the country´s capital, we will make a city tour in the historical center where you will visit different churches and plazas. We will also have one final chance to buy local handicrafts and have our farewell dinner. B-L-D

Day 12: Quito – Fly home Transfer to airport and depart Ecuador. B

ABOUT THE TOUR

• The Highland Andes & Amazon program is a tour that combines adventure, culture, nature, and leisure.
• It is an all-inclusive tour, meaning that all meals, transportation, guide, accommodation, and activities are included.
• Hotels throughout the Highlands and Amazon present a good level of accessibility. Some have grab bars and roll in showers, some have a small step (5 inches) to get into showers, but in general, they adapt their facilities to host guests using wheelchairs.
• South America for All can provide an accessible van and/or a bus. Individual or assisted manual transfer into seats is required.
• South America for All provides bilingual certified guides for all activities throughout the tour.
• We recommend clients to use a manual chair since the entire country is not 100% accessible. We will provide assistance to handle the wheelchair when needed. This will only occur during tours and activities, NOT for personal activities or duties.

INQUIRE NOW!

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