www.ecuadors.org

[Mardel]

I'll be in Quito for four days before my organized trip starts. I will also have an night and day in Quito during this organized trip. I am afraid this is too much time in one spot.

Should I stay in Quito during the first four days and make day trips? Or should I go to Banos for a night? I like to hike, raft, and horseback ride. Any suggestions?

Thank you.

[Sarah]

Personally I'm not big on spending time on the highway, so I would do day trips from Quito. If your organized trip doesn't include Imbarabura (the region around Otavalo) then I'd certainly go there. But assuming it does include Otavalo, some other options would be:

spending one or two nights in Mindo - hiking, rafting and birdwatching in the area day trip to the Pita River - I think Molinuco has a website, there are nice hikes along the river and visiting waterfalls. Transportation could be a bit of an issue, but I think Molinuco can arrange day trip to Pasachoa volcano and hike horseback riding arranged through Hacienda San Jorge just outside Quito, or there is some company at the Pulalahua crater that also does horseback riding.

head to Cotopaxi for a night or two. If the altitude isn't getting you, perhaps try climbing Cotopaxi? The haciendas around that area pretty much all have horseback riding - I've heard great things about Hato Verde horseback riding, and I like San Agustin de Callo. La Cienaga raised their rates and in my opinion is now overpriced (the rooms are a bit shabby) but it's still cheaper than the other haciendas in the area