Shared and Private Tours

COTOPAXI-QUILOTOA

Two day bike tour

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What to bring:

• warm clothes
• rain/wind jacket

Day 1)

At 08:00 AM we leave Quito and after driving south for 1,5 hours on the Pan-American highway we reach the park entrance of Cotopaxi National Park. We drive through pine forest and soon we arrive to the Visitors Center of the park. After visiting the Center, we continue the ascent in our 4-wheel drive vehicle until we reach the highest point of the tour, 4.800 meters (15.000 feet). The view from this point is stunning and on a clear day we are able to see 8 volcanoes.

We then put on helmets, gloves and protection pads and the bike adventure on the world’s highest active volcano can begin. The first 8 kilometers (5 miles) will take us down 700 meters (2300 feet) on dirt roads through volcanic ash and páramo landscape. At 3.800 meters (12.500 feet). you actually have to do some pedaling while we head down another 8 kilometers (5 miles) between volcanic rocks and wild horses to our lunch spot by a natural spring. Be prepared to refill your water bottle with the most delicious water as you see it coming out of the earth! In this area of the park, you will come across nobody as we are the only tour operator that brings its passengers here. You will be flabbergasted as to why, as this is the most beautiful area the park has to offer! With some luck we might see a condor or a caracara. We put the bikes back on the jeep and head for the lake of Limpiopungo at 3.800 meters (12.500 feet).

We then ascend by jeep in a Southwest direction into the western Cordillera arriving at Quilotoa to spend the night. The night’s retreat is a simple but clean inn located in Quilotoa run by an indigenous family.

DAY 2) Quilotoa

The next day, we start with an early hike down to the deep jade colored Quilotoa Crater Lake. The hike downhill to the Laguna takes about 30 minutes and about twice as long to climb back up. But, you can hire a mule or donkey for 10 dollars, to carry you back to the top, where your breakfast will be awaiting you to charge your batteries for this day’s adventure!

After breakfast we descend on mountain bikes to Zumbahua. Many years ago, an earthquake destroyed this area. The land has transformed into a rugged formation resembling what you might imagine as terrain from another planet. Lunch is a picnic at a location where we have the opportunity to intermingle with the Quechua Indians or test your artistic skills with the locals painting landscapes of the area.

After lunch, we enjoy a 30-minute drive until we reach 4,200 m (13.400 ft.) We switch then to human power and the downhill bike ride begins down a long and winding road all the way back to Latacunga located at 2400 m. (7,600 ft.) where the cycle trip ends. We then return by jeep to Quito.

Included: Support vehicle, lunch, mountain bikes, all transportation, all safety gear (helmet, hand gloves) and veteran bilingual guides.

Not included: Entrance fees (e.g.Quilotoa $2 per person), other drinks, personal expenses and tips.

MINDO AND ITS AMAZING ACTIVITIES

A combination of mountain bike tour and many thrilling optional activities

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What to bring:

• warm clothes
• rain/wind jacket

Day 1:

This is an ideal 2-day trip, which starts at 3200 and descends towards the coast into the Cloud Forest.

When the trip begins, passing a northern neighborhood of Quito, you’ll never dream what lies ahead!

We’ll drive for a while on the old road Quito-Nono, before riding our bike on a road void of traffic.

You’ll ascend on the jeep with Cayambe and Guagua Pichincha Volcanoes in clear view. We drive 20 Km until the highest point of the trip (3200 m of altitude). Then we switch to human power. You’ll descent on bike, surrounded by Andino flora experiencing the sudden changes to exotic, verdant tropical forest.

The exuberant cloud forest is full of bromeliads, palm trees and orchids. At your right there is a mountain stream which soothing sound mingles with the birds’ singing.

We’ll pass Nono (located at 2900 m) and ride all the way down to Tandayapa (located at 1800 m) where the picnic lunch will be served!

After lunch we continue to Mindo, a town Meca for all nature lovers!  Keep one eye on the road and the other peeled on the sky: there’s a good chance to see parrots, hummingbirds, toucans and caciques. At the end of the dirt road we can go to a hummingbird sancuary (optional) where you can have hummingbirds eat while resting in your hand, or be so close you can feel the buzz of their flaping wings on your finger tips!  We then ride down to Mindo cloudforest were we will spend the night.

Day 2:

We spend the night in a cozy little hostel in Mindo. The next morning we wake up early and hop on the truck to the beautiful Waterfalls of Mindo, we hike down for approximately 45 minutes, and then we stay in the waterfalls, swimming, relaxing and having lunch. After that we hike up, get our bikes and descend to the other side of the mountain. The road is beautiful and you can expect to see many hummingbirds, variation of flora and beautiful birds. Once finished you have the rest of your time free to choose what you would like to do! Mindo is one of the best spots in Ecuador for all types of adventure sports. Here you can hire many activities such as canopy, canyioning, tubing, ATV and motorcycle ride. This is all optional but highly recommended. It is not included in the price of the trip though, so if you also just wish to walk around Mindo and do some relaxing that is fine as well. Important to remember is that at 4  pm we meet again and head back to Quito!

Included: Support vehicle, lunch, mountain bikes, all transportation, all safety gear (helmet, hand gloves) and veteran bilingual guides.

Not included: Entrance fees (hummingbird feeding, butterfly farm), other drinks, optional acyivities in Mindo offreded by third parties, personal expenses and tips.

COTOPAXI-QUILOTOA-CHIMBORAZO

Three day bike and hike tour

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What to bring:

• warm clothes
• rain/wind jacket
• Extra Clothes

DAY 1: QUITO – COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK   

At 08:00 AM we leave Quito and after driving south for 1,5 hours on the Pan-American highway we reach the park entrance of Cotopaxi National Park. We drive through pine forest and soon we arrive to the Visitors Center of the park. After visiting the Center, we continue the ascent in our 4-wheel drive vehicle until we reach the highest point of the tour, 4.800 meters (15.000 feet). The view from this point is stunning and on a clear day we are able to see 8 volcanoes.

We then put on helmets, gloves and protection pads and the bike adventure on the world’s highest active volcano can begin. The first 8 kilometers (5 miles) will take us down 700 meters (2300 feet) on dirt roads through volcanic ash and páramo landscape. At 3.800 meters (12.500 feet). you actually have to do some pedaling while we head down another 8 kilometers (5 miles) between volcanic rocks and wild horses to our lunch spot by a natural spring. Be prepared to refill your water bottle with the most delicious water as you see it coming out of the earth! In this area of the park, you will come across nobody as we are the only tour operator that brings its passengers here. You will be flabbergasted as to why, as this is the most beautiful area the park has to offer! With some luck we might see a condor or a caracara. We put the bikes back on the jeep and head for the lake of Limpiopungo at 3.800 meters (12.500 feet).

We then ascend by jeep in a northwest direction into the western Cordillera arriving at Quilotoa to spend the night. The night’s retreat is a simple but clean inn located in Quilotoa run by an indigenous family.

DAY 2: QUILOTOA

The next day, we start with an early hike down to the deep, jade-colored Quilotoa Crater Lake. The hike downhill to the lake takes about 30 minutes, and about twice as long to climb back up. But, you can hire a mule or donkey to carry you back to the top, where breakfast will be awaiting you to charge your batteries for the day’s adventure! After breakfast, we descend on mountain bikes to Zumbahua. Many years ago, an earthquake destroyed this area. The land has transformed into a rugged formation resembling the terrain from another planet. Lunch is a picnic at a location where we have the opportunity to intermingle with the Quechua Indians or test your artistic skills with the locals painting landscapes of the area.

After lunch, we enjoy a 30-minute drive until we reach 4,200 m (13.400 ft). We switch then to human power and the downhill bike ride begins down a long and winding road all the way back to Latacunga, located at 2400 m. (7,600 ft.).

DAY 3: CHIMBORAZO

We drive for just over an hour to Mount Chimborazo (6310meters (20.700 feet)), the highest and most impressive of Ecuador’s volcanoes.  We park at the lower refuge (4800 meters (15.750 feet)) and continue on foot to the Edgar Whymper Refuge. Located at 5000 meters this is the highest refuge in the world!  From here, it’s all downhill-first on foot and then by bike we descend all the way to Ambato (2800 meters (9.800 feet)). This is an amazing bike ride through the highlands, with vicuñas being the sole inhabitants of these wild stretches.   On this tour, cyclists enjoy a breathtaking 70 kilometers (44 miles) ride through varying landscapes in just one day. This trip is by far a customer favorite. Seldom does one have the chance to ride from the snow line of a volcano, through rural Andean patchwork fields, picnic with vicuñas and at the end of the ride arrive in a modern city.  In Ambato, we load up the bikes and return to Quito by jeep.

Included: Support vehicle, lunch, mountain bikes, all transportation, all safety gear (helmet, hand gloves) and veteran bilingual guides.

Not included: Entrance fees (e.g. Quilotoa $2 per person), other drinks, personal expenses and tips.

COTOPAXI-CHIMBORAZO-BAÑOS-PUYO

Four day bike and hike tour

Click Anywhere to Hide This Content

What to bring:

• warm clothes
• rain/wind jacket
• Extra Clothes

DAY 1: QUITO – COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK   

At 08:00 AM we leave Quito and after driving south for 1,5 hours on the Pan-American highway we reach the park entrance of Cotopaxi National Park. We drive through pine forest and soon we arrive to the Visitors Center of the park. After visiting the Center, we continue the ascent in our 4-wheel drive vehicle until we reach the highest point of the tour, 4.800 meters (15.000 feet). The view from this point is stunning and on a clear day we are able to see 8 volcanoes.

We then put on helmets, gloves and protection pads and the bike adventure on the world’s highest active volcano can begin. The first 8 kilometers (5 miles) will take us down 700 meters (2300 feet) on dirt roads through volcanic ash and páramo landscape. At 3.800 meters (12.500 feet). you actually have to do some pedaling while we head down another 8 kilometers (5 miles) between volcanic rocks and wild horses to our lunch spot by a natural spring. Be prepared to refill your water bottle with the most delicious water as you see it coming out of the earth! In this area of the park, you will come across nobody as we are the only tour operator that brings its passengers here. You will be flabbergasted as to why, as this is the most beautiful area the park has to offer! With some luck we might see a condor or a caracara. We put the bikes back on the jeep and head for the lake of Limpiopungo at 3.800 meters (12.500 feet).

We then ascend by jeep in a northwest direction into the western Cordillera arriving at Quilotoa to spend the night. The night’s retreat is a simple but clean inn located in Quilotoa run by an indigenous family.

DAY 2: QUILOTOA

The next day, we start with an early hike down to the deep jade colored Quilotoa Crater Lake. The hike downhill to the Laguna takes about 30 minutes and about twice as long to climb back up. But, you can hire a mule or donkey to carry you back to the top, where your breakfast will be awaiting you to charge your batteries for this day’s adventure! After breakfast we descend on mountain bikes to Zumbahua. Many years ago, an earthquake destroyed this area. The land has transformed into a rugged formation resembling what you might imagine as terrain from another planet. Lunch is a picnic at a location where we have the opportunity to intermingle with the Quechua Indians or test your artistic skills with the locals painting landscapes of the area. After lunch, we enjoy a 30-minute drive until we reach 4,200 m (13.400 ft.) We switch then to human power and the downhill bike ride begins down a long and winding road all the way back to Latacunga located at 2400 m. (7,600 ft.).

DAY 3) CHIMBORAZO

Drive for just over an hour to Mount Chimborazo (6310m), the highest and most impressive of Ecuador’s volcanoes.  We park at the lower refuge (4800 m) and continue on foot to the Edgar Whymper Refuge. Located at 5000 meters this is the highest refuge in the world!  From here, it’s all downhill- first on foot and then by bike we descend all the way to Ambato(2800m).

This is an amazing bike ride through the highlands, with vicuñas being the sole inhabitants of these wild stretches.   On this tour, cyclists enjoy a breathtaking 70 km ride through varying landscapes in just one day. This trip is by far a favorite ride of previous customers. Seldom does one have the chance to ride from the snow line of a volcano, through rural Andean patchwork fields, picnic with vicuñas and at the end of the ride arrive in a modern city.  In Ambato, we load up the bikes on the jeep roof and drive to Baños, a small town famous for its hot springs, and spend the night there.

DAY 4) ROAD BAÑOS-PUYO AND BACK TO QUITO

We take a pre-breakfast dip in the thermal baths of Baños (optional) before ascending by car to the highest point in Baños. Here the adrenaline starts as we descend through a tarmac road which is steep and full of tight curves for approximately 18 kilometers (11 miles). On our way we stop in a magnificent view point overlooking the town of Baños where you will have the chive of going in a giant swing over the cliff (fee not included)! Once at the bottom of the mountain we start pedaling east toward Puyo. You’ll notice the dramatic temperature and vegetation changes as we descend into the steamy Amazon basin. A fun stop we always recommend for those thrill seekers is Ecuador’s longest zip line, consisting of three lines going over the cliff and along the river. This optional activity never seems to disappoint! Finally, we stop in the village of Rio Verde where you will go visit one of Ecuador’s most spectacular sites, The Pañon del Diablo, a huge waterfall you can actually stand behind, inches away from billions of gallons of water going by every second! After this (wet) adventure we have lunch and return by jeep to Quito.

Included: Support vehicle, lunch, mountain bikes (hard tail), all transportation, all safety gear (helmet, hand gloves) and veteran bilingual guides.

Not included: Entrance fees (e.g. Quilotoa $2 per person, Baños hot springs), adventure activities offered by third parties, other drinks, personal expenses and tips.

COTOPAXI-CHIMBORAZO-BAÑOS-MISAHUALLI- PAPALLACTA

Five day bike adventure

What to bring:

• warm clothes
• rain/wind jacket
• Extra Clothes

DAY 1) Cotopaxi National Park

At 08:00 AM we leave Quito and after driving south for 1,5 hours on the Pan-American highway we reach the park entrance of Cotopaxi National Park. We drive through pine forest and soon we arrive to the Visitors Center of the park. After visiting the Center, we continue the ascent in our 4-wheel drive vehicle until we reach the highest point of the tour, 4.800 meters (15.000 feet). The view from this point is stunning and on a clear day we are able to see 8 volcanoes.

We then put on helmets, gloves and protection pads and the bike adventure on the world’s highest active volcano can begin. The first 8 kilometers (5 miles) will take us down 700 meters (2300 feet) on dirt roads through volcanic ash and páramo landscape. At 3.800 meters (12.500 feet). you actually have to do some pedaling while we head down another 8 kilometers (5 miles) between volcanic rocks and wild horses to our lunch spot by a natural spring. Be prepared to refill your water bottle with the most delicious water as you see it coming out of the earth! In this area of the park, you will come across nobody as we are the only tour operator that brings its passengers here. You will be flabbergasted as to why, as this is the most beautiful area the park has to offer! With some luck we might see a condor or a caracara. We put the bikes back on the jeep and head for the lake of Limpiopungo at 3.800 meters (12.500 feet).

We trade mountain bikes for our support vehicle and travel down south along the “Avenue of the Volcanoes” to our night’s retreat.  Overnight in Ambato.

Day 2  Chimborazo to Baños

We drive for just over an hour to Mount Chimborazo (6310meters (20.700 feet)), the highest and most impressive of Ecuador’s volcanoes.  We park at the lower refuge (4800 meters (15.750 feet)) and continue on foot to the Edgar Whymper Refuge. Located at 5000 meters this is the highest refuge in the world!  From here, it’s all downhill-first on foot and then by bike we descend all the way to Ambato (2800 meters (9.800 feet)). This is an amazing bike ride through the highlands, with vicuñas being the sole inhabitants of these wild stretches.   On this tour, cyclists enjoy a breathtaking 70 kilometers (44 miles) ride through varying landscapes in just one day. This trip is by far a customer favorite. Seldom does one have the chance to ride from the snow line of a volcano, through rural Andean patchwork fields, picnic with vicuñas and at the end of the ride arrive in a modern city.  In Ambato, we load up the bikes on the jeep roof and drive to Baños, a small town famous for its hot springs, and spend the night there.

Day 3  Puyo and the Avenue of the Orchids

We take a pre-breakfast dip in the thermal baths of Baños (optional) before ascending by car to the highest point in Baños. Here the adrenaline starts as we descend through a tarmac road which is steep and full of tight curves for approximately 18 kilometers (11 miles). On our way we stop in a magnificent view point overlooking the town of Baños where you will have the chive of going in a giant swing over the cliff (fee not included)! Once at the bottom of the mountain we start pedaling east toward Puyo. You’ll notice the dramatic temperature and vegetation changes as we descend into the steamy Amazon basin. A fun stop we always recommend for those thrill seekers is Ecuador’s longest zip line, consisting of three lines going over the cliff and along the river. This optional activity never seems to disappoint! Finally, we stop in the village of Rio Verde where you will go visit one of Ecuador’s most spectacular sites, The Pañon del Diablo, a huge waterfall you can actually stand behind, inches away from billions of gallons of water going by every second! After this (wet) adventure we have lunch and head towards the amazon basin.

Day 4  Amazon Basin

We arrive in Sinchi Warmi a hotel run by only Quechua woman (indigenous group) who started this project twelve years ago but it only started getting international attention the latfive. Here you will have an amazing experience of seeing up close the traditional way of living and cooking, while sleeping in absolute comfort in their traditional wooden cabins! During the day we can go visit a waterfall and travel is by foot as we explore pristine Amazon rainforest.  On this hike, we will walk through a botanical reserve, called Jatun Sacha, where you can see exotic flora and sometimes fauna.  We stand a good chance of spotting flocks of Amazon parrots, macaws and toucans, monkeys and other jungle wildlife.

A second option for this day is to participate in our JUNGLE ACTIVITIES  which have an additional cost of $70 per person and $40 per person for groups larger than five passengers.

Jungle activities include transport by canoe with the bicycles up the river Napo (over an hour), visit a Quechua community and the process ok making fresh chocolate the traditional and milenial way , feeding wild caimans and a jungle hike with climbing a  100 foot bird watching observation tower. You will then return to the hotel bybicycle.

Any other jungle activity outside of what Biking Dutchman has to offer will not be covered as part of the price. If you book with another tour and wish for our guide to go with you, this fee requested by the third party will not be assumed by us.

Day 5  Back to the Andes through Papallacta

We begin by driving by jeep up into the Andes (Guaguamayos Pass). We cycle to the town of Baeza at the base of the Andes. We enjoy a picnic lunch, and then drive up to the Papallacta thermal baths for a well-earned soak in the toasty hot springs.   From the Ave Maria Pass (4200m), we then bike back towards Quito along the Chiche river basin. This is one of the longest downhill rides in the world, about 45 kilometers (28 miles). The last 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) will be on the famous railroad line going through five tunnels, one of which is 322 meters (1.055 feet) long.  The spectacular ride takes us speeding through wide stretches of paramo and cloud forest, with the Andean sun illuminating the way. Some days can be chilled by occasional fog, so don’t forget your mittens and fleece. In Tumbaco we pile the bikes on the jeep’s roof and head back to Quito.

Included: Support vehicle, lunch, mountain bikes hard tail), all transportation, all safety gear (helmet, hand gloves) and veteran bilingual guides.

Not included: Entrance fees (e.g hot springs at Baños), adventure activities offered by third parties, other drinks, personal expenses and tips.

NOTE ABOUT GUIDES:

• Our guides must be expert cyclers in all types of terrain with a particular focus on mountain biking.
• They must be fluent in English and Spanish
• As a minimum, every guide must be a nationally accredited guide with the corresponding license. We give priority to guides that have not only national accreditation but international certificates as well.
• Guides must be effective communicators.
• They must have people skill and be highly sociable.
• They must be aware of all operational details before, during, and after the tours.