This tour combines lots of mountain biking and rafting with a bit of relaxing hiking and plain relaxation for a perfect combination for those who are looking for a bit of both.  You'll get a chance to explore the Andean highlands thoroughly and get a good look at the Upper Amazon Basin while charging some downhills that will drop you from alpine heights to the steamy lows of the jungles.  Your trip will end on some unforgettable whitewater rafting through the cloudforests of the western slopes of the Ecuadorian Andes .   

Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive in Quito, transfer to hotel.

Day 2:  Quito City Tour

Day 3:  Today we drive north to the colorful market in the town of Otavalo.  After exploring the market, we head to the beautiful crater lake of Cuicocha.  From here we'll hop on our bikes and head down some fast dirt roads through quaint villages between various volcanoes to Otavalo.  Return to Quito in late afternoon.

Day 4:  Today we'll head eastward to the hot springs town of Papallacta on the eastern crest of the Andes.  We'll take advantage our support car on uphill sections, and our bikes on downhills.  The volcanoes Cayambe and Antisana will be watching our every move.

Day 6:  We wake up, eat breakfast and begin a hike through the jungle accompanied by a local Quechua Indigenous guide.  He'll lead us through the rainforest, sharing his knowledge of the area and its native flora and fauna. 

Day 7:  Today we head back up into the lower Andes where we'll take an amazing ride from Punta Ahuano to the hot springs town of Baños.   Here we'll stay the night.

Day 8:  Free day in Baños.  You'll have the opportunity to rest your tired muscles in the hot springs, hike the surrounding hills or just relax in the town's cafes under the active volcano Tungurahua.. .. which often glows incandescent at night.

Day 9:  We get up early to head south to Ecuador's highest volcano, Chimborazo for some spectacular views.  We'll ascent on foot to the mountain's refuge (5,000 meters : 16,400 ft) to get some close views of the mountain and its impressive glaciers.  Then we'll begin our fine descent on bike through patchwork fields and past the vicuña of the area.  Night in hotel.

Day 10:  Today we wake up early and head north to Cotopaxi National Park, home of the world's highest active volcano.  We'll head through the páramo to the trailhead up the mountain (4,500 meters : 14,760 ft) where we'll start our descent.    We'll speed down dirt roads through volcanic ash, and eventually reach some Incan ruins at 3,700 m (12,140 ft).  We'll eat lunch and continue our descent on dirt roads and single track by the picturesque Lake Limpiopungo, through a pine forest and eventually to our stopping point at 3,200 m (10,500 ft). Drive back to Quito. 

Day 11:  After the night in Quito we head to Rio Toachi for two days of rafting in the lower cloud forested slopes of the Western Andes.  .

Day 13: Transfer to airport. Flight home. (Or chose other tours to add more days to your trip)