When should I go?
You can do this trip year round although we would tend to advise against travelling during the rainiest months of February and March.

There are regional variations as listed below which might help you decide on the best time of year for you.

Quito lies within 25km of the equator, surrounded by snow-capped peaks at 3,000m. It enjoys a spring-like climate year round.

Cloudforest is high and usually quite cool. Rains usually set in from mid-afternoon so most activities happen in the morning. February/March is wetter.

Imbabura/Cotopaxi again are high and quite cool. February/March is the wettest time of year here.

Amazon you can expect hot and humid conditions year round. July and August are the wettest times of year.

How active?
Throughout this holiday you have opportunities to walk and explore on foot though distances are generally not very long. Since this is a tailor made trip, you are in control of how much or how little you do.

How comfortable?
Accommodation on this holiday is characterful, comfortable and very much in keeping with your surroundings. Rooms are all en suite except for one night in the Amazon.

The cloudforest lodges are fairly simple but rooms are comfortable and have private facilities. At night you use candles for light. Meals are eaten family style.

Lodges are chosen for the quality of wildlife as well as their intimate atmosphere.

In Imbabura you stay in a small cottage with views out over the surrounding countryside.

In Papallacta stay in a 32 room hot springs hotel with first class facilities.

At Cotopaxi, stay in a seven-room hacienda which is a family run farm. Rooms are very comfortable.

In the Amazon stay in one of just five small palm thatched screened structures with double or twin beds.

Rooms are quite open to the surrounding forest but are set away from one another to give you a fair amount of privacy. All have en suite loo and shower.

On your last night in the jungle you stay in a permanent tented camp. Four good sized tents are pitched in a row on a palm roofed platform.

How independent?
This is a tailor made holiday which can be run in one of two ways.

Fully guided implies that you have one driver/guide with you from day two through day 11 when you are picked up by your Amazon lodge guides.

Semi-independent implies that you have private transfers between destinations but are independent once there.

In the cloudforest and Imbabura we include daily guided excursions.

In Papallacta and Cotopaxi you can sign up for optional excursions as you wish.

On day 11 you are picked up by Amazon lodge guides.

How responsible?
This holiday has sustainability and responsible travel at its very heart.

The lodges we use are all run on strictly sustainable lines and are operated in conjunction with the local communities.

In the case of the cloudforest, the lodges we choose are very much integrated into their physical environments with the minimum impact. Waste is almost 100% recycled, power is from a variety of sources including solar. They also have very good connections with local communities.

In Imbabura the lodge runs a charitable foundation run for the benefit of the surrounding communities.

This includes equipping schools, supporting community based enterprise projects and buying produce from small local producers rather than from the town.

The Cotopaxi lodge is a working farm, really much like a bed and breakfast in that you stay in the family home

The Huaorani project is all about responsible and sustainable tourism being a force for positive action.

By visiting the Huaorani, you help their struggle to maintain their lands in the face of encroachment by the loggers and oil companies.

As community leader, Moi, said recently, “It is a very important way of protecting our land, please come.”

Useful Links

As you already know, Pura Aventura is dedicated to safe and responsible travel. The links below provide useful content and more information about Ecuador. Please call us of any special requirements on 01273 676 712.

Country Information

FCO

The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office provides useful travel advices on Ecuador.

BBC News

BBC News provides useful information about Ecuador. Read more about it.

Official Government website

Find out more about Ecuador, by visiting its official governement website.

Prepare your holiday

Health

Before you go on your holiday to Ecuador, please ensure you have the correct vaccinations. Check out the NHS website for advices and visit your GP or a travel clinic.

Weather

To know the forecast in Ecuador, visit wunderground.

Pura’s Amazon shop

Find out our own Ecuador selection in Amazon.co.uk for a wide range of travel essentials, such as books, gadgets, clothing, etc. in preparation for your upcoming holiday.

Train ticket

If you are leaving from the UK, and want to be easy in your mind before you leave, book your train ticket or airport hotel now.

Flight deals

Find the best flight deals for your holiday to Ecuador with Kayak, Expedia, Vayama and Opodo.