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Our Experience, Your Discoveries

We want to show you the world, and to have you truly inspired by it - exploring its breathtaking diversity. Our enthusiasm is stronger than ever to reach out and expand your horizons.

We hope you accept this invitation and join us on one of our journeys so that our experience becomes one of your many discoveries.
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Natural Ecuador

Natural Ecuador

This program will allow for nature lovers to be immersed in the best landscapes of Ecuador and the small villages lost in the Andean Mountains. Your English speaking guide will travel the so called route of the hummingbird, where you will be transformed from the urban streets of Quito into the lush scenery of the Ecuadorian highlands, visiting volcanoes, haciendas, and cloud forest.
Note: Optional activities available during tour such as horseback riding or mountain biking.

Highlights

  • Travel to Ecuador for 7 days.
  • Hiking in the highlands, viewing various hummingbirds and nature at its best.
  • Mindo cloud forest.
  • Colonial Quito.
  • Pichincha and Chimborazo Volcanoes.
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Itinerary

Natural Ecuador

Day 1: Home – Quito, Ecuador

Today fly to Quito, Ecuador. At 9,000 feet in elevation, Quito is one of the world’s highest capitals, and one of South America’s most historic and charming cities. Your guide will meet you at the airport and assist with check in at your hotel, which is located close by the historical downtown. Overnight Dann Carlton Quito.

Day 2: Mindo Cloud Forest

Departing bright and early, you will leave the city behind and drive into the moorlands on the northern slope of Pichincha Volcano. Following the route of the hummingbird, you will be transformed from urban streets into lush scenery of the Ecuadorian highlands. The small village of Nono, with its inhabitants, rustic houses, and the central park surrounded by large haciendas dedicated to cattle raising. Hiking possibilities available, looking for hummingbirds and other bird species with your naturalist guide. Overnight at a country house (B, L, D)

Day 3: Tandayapa Valley - Mindo

After a healthy country breakfast you will leave Nono, with its green fields, and pass by the Tandayapa Valley, a true paradise for birders, you will reach Mindo Cloud Forest where you can visit a butterfly farm and enjoy a lovely lunch. Hiking possibilities in the forest are available or you can take part in optional water sports on the river. Overnight at a lovely lodge on a private nature reserve. (B, L, D)

Natural Ecuador

Day 4: Equatorial Line - Hacienda

After breakfast you will return to Quito, via Calcali, and reach the Solar Museum of Intinan. Located almost on the equatorial line, the museum is a small privately owned institution with fascinating exhibits on the indigenous awareness of the equator. Continue south by passing Quito, and reach a lovely highland hacienda for the evening. (B, L, D)

Day 5: Chimborazo Volcano

The Avenue of the Volcanoes takes you to the massive Chimborazo National Park where the impressive volcano awaits you. Above the level of the highest pasture you go by the vast slopes of volcanic ash and sand, all part of the reserve, where you may view troops of elegant vicunas (related to llamas and alpacas) grazing near the highway. Lunch is at Estrella del Chimborazo, a private country inn owned by Ecuador’s best volcano climber, Mr. Marco Cruz. (B, L, D)

Day 6: Quito

The winding streets of Colonial Quito reflect the Indian and Spanish culture, which dates back to the sixteenth century and is an important World Heritage Site of plazas, churches, and cathedrals. Some of the stops may include Independence Square with its Presidential Palace, the dazzling gold-leafed La Compania Church, and the San Francisco Square. Dinner is on your own tonight and can be experienced at a number of excellent and inexpensive restaurants within a few blocks of the hotel. Overnight Dann Carlton. (B, L)

Day 7: Quito - Home

Transfer early this morning for flights home. (B)

Note: Contact Strabo Tours if you are interested in extending your stay on a Galapagos Islands cruise.

Accommodations

Accommodations are clean, comfortable and pleasant, ranging from hacienda’s to hotels. Changes to accommodation level will have increase/decrease in pricing.

Food & Drink

Food is generally safe in Ecuador; however we do recommend taking precautionary medicine with you in case you are affected while traveling. Your local guide can offer guidance if you have concerns. Ecuadorian food is not spicy. Menus are usually simple, but the food is always good and plentiful. Breakfast menus are much like those in North America. Rice, meat, beans, and vegetables are usually served at lunch and dinners. Local cheeses are quite good. Delicious fruits and juices are abundant.

Important Notes

Note: Contact Strabo Tours if you are interested on extending your stay on a Galapagos Islands cruise.

FITNESS & HEALTH
The trip is designed to be fun and adventurous. It can be moderately strenuous if you take advantage of walks each day, sometimes uphill in the heat, mud, cold, or high altitude (7000 -10,000 feet). You should discuss this altitude with your physician. Anyone who is reasonably fit should be able to participate in all scheduled walks, but if you have questions about how much activity is involved, please inquire further. At present, no inoculations are required for entry from the United States.

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Pricing

Tour land cost: $1,845 US Dollars based upon minimum of 2 paying participants. All our program prices are based on double occupancy unless noted in exceptions.

Single room supplement: Please contact us for more details about the single room supplement. We try to accommodate travelers who request single accommodations, as well as travelers who are looking for a roommate. If a single room is requested, or if we are unable to find a suitable roommate, you will be required to pay the supplement.

Note: The land costs on international tours is based upon current exchange rates. Although the rate has been relatively stable, should it change, there may need to be an adjustment in the land cost.

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Details

Deposits, Cancellations and Refunds

A deposit of $750 ($500 on domestic programs) per person is required. Specific tours may require an additional deposit due to accommodation bookings or transportation requirements. If applicable these will be noted on your invoice. Payment in full is required when bookings are made less than 120 days before the departure date. Space is subject to cancellation by Strabo if payment is not received when due.
If a passenger wishes to cancel they must send notification in writing to: Strabo International Tour, Co., P.O. Box 580, Dryden, NY 13053; fax 208-545-4119. At the time we receive your notification, the following per person charges apply:
• 91 days or more before departure: $300 cancellation fee ($150 fee on domestic programs), plus Strabo’ costs, as well as fees that are charged by the suppliers providing the services included in your program, and/or the airlines providing the air transportation.
• 61-90 days before departure: $500 ($250 on domestic programs) minimum cancellation fee, plus Strabo’ costs, as well as fees that are charged by the suppliers providing the services included in your program, and/or the airlines providing the air transportation. Fees may range from 25% to 100% of program costs.
• 60 days or less before departure or anytime after departure: NO REFUND
REFUNDS FOR SERVICES THAT ARE VOLUNTARILY NOT USED BY YOU CANNOT BE MADE.

Includes

Group transportation for tour events in the tour van.
Accommodations based on two people sharing a room, singles are assigned on a first come, first served basis and are not guaranteed.
Services of driver, cultural guide (bilingual if applicable) during the tour.
Meals as listed in itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner).
Park entrance fees, day tours and excursions as shown in the itinerary.
Extensive pre-departure information and services.

Excludes

Domestic or International air fare; other airfare if noted in exceptions; air fare tax; airport departure tax; airport transfers; additional transfers or accommodations that may be required by those not traveling with the group; excess baggage charges; meals not included in itinerary; activities listed as optional, or those taken on your own; passport/visa expenses; personal medical or travel insurance; any expenses of a personal nature, such as room service, laundry, beverages not included with meals, medical expenses, film or processing, any activities not specified in tour itinerary or listed as optional, or any items not listed in what is included; upon the completion of your trip, modest gratuities to the local guides and the drivers are customary; tips for meals not included in itinerary.

Air

Please note on your trip application form if you would like us to assist you with your airfare needs, a charge is added for this service. If making your own arrangements, it is important to discuss flight times with Strabo Tours before booking any airline tickets. This will avoid you having to pay airline cancellation penalties.

Please contact Strabo Tours for destination airfare estimates, specific flight time arrivals, and departures.

Health

Fitness and Health
The majority of trips are not strenuous (see exceptions below for particular destinations) and anyone who is reasonably fit should be able to take part in most of the activities. You may experience general fatigue due to the long flights and the change in time zones. You will need to be sufficiently agile to climb in and out of the tour van and should be able to carry and manage your own equipment. We will frequently hike trails ranging from easy to moderate. Some hotels do not have elevators or air conditioners.

If you have any special needs or any physical condition that you feel might prevent you from fully participating, please contact Strabo Tours with your concerns (607-756-8676).

You should also be aware that medical services or facilities might not be readily available during all or part of your trip. This could include emergency medical care, presence of physicians, or adequate medication.

Exceptions:
The following destinations require more physical activity. China, Peru, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, New Zealand, Scotland, Domestic tours. On the African Safari you will spend many hours in a vehicle on game drives, land travel will sometimes be over very bumpy and dusty roads. Galapagos Cruise accommodations are in upper and lower berths (bunk beds) only.
There will be several hours of walking each day, sometimes over rough terrain or at high altitude. It is important for you to be able to get around easily, since you will be hiking rough trails.

Insurance

Each participant must be covered by medical insurance that is valid overseas.
We strongly urge you to evaluate your risk and to take out insurance on your trip. It is vital for you to realize that if you experience a delay or find it necessary to cancel or cut short your trip for any reason, you will lose part or the entire sum you’ve invested in it (see the section “Deposits, Cancellations and Refunds” in the trip brochure).

Travel insurance helps to minimize the risk of monetary losses you would incur in the event of a delay of your departure due to weather, airline strike, missed connection, etc., your inability to travel for reasons such as illness, injury, unforeseen financial complications and other personal circumstances, or if you were required to cut your trip short for medical or any other reasons.

There are restrictions and limitations on any insurance program. For this reason, please read carefully the enclosed pamphlet, which outlines their program of trip cancellation, baggage, and medical insurance. Trained agents are available to answer your questions, so don’t hesitate to call the toll free number in their brochure. It is to your advantage to apply for insurance at the earliest possible time, so don’t delay in making a decision.

Subject to Change

This itinerary has been carefully constructed to assure participants the best this destination has to offer; however, should events arise that are beyond our control, activities and hotel arrangements are subject to change without notice. Above is a summary of typical areas you will explore. Since there is no possible way to visit all of them, your guides will plan each day considering the interests of the group and the weather at hand. Be assured that we will make substitutions that are as similar in quality and interest as possible.

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