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IncludedComfortable land transportation
Fees and entrances to parks and museums
1 lunch
Certified & specialized English-speaking adventure leader
Not includedInternational flights
Single/ Double room pre & post night
international flights
Travel & health insurance (mandatory)
Not described in the itinerary
For guides and drivers
LogisticsPassenger’s hotel in Quito
8:00 am on Day 1
Passenger’s hotel in Quito
18:00 pm on Day 1
TOUR DURATION: 8 hours.
Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner
On this day of adventure, you’ll be fueled by delicious local food, such potato soup, corn, fresh vegetables with plenty of local fresh tropical fruits. Lunch usually consists of nice picnic self-service in the mountains and local restaurants that serve traditional soup, main dish and juice, a warm and filling meal after a big day of adventure.
For lunch, we will head to Pijal, a small village located in the heart of the Andes to visit one of the AJ sustainable projects called Sacha WarmiKuna (women from the mountain). This is one fantastic effort developed by AJ and the local women with the main purpose to support their families and encourage the position of the women in the local society, providing them an alternative side work beside housekeeping, as a new option for an in-come. Once at the project you will experience an unforgettable cultural encounter, immersing yourself in the true spirit of the South-American woman and their skills for textiles and a deep culinary knowledge coming from the past generations. You will be part of the preparation of “Aji”, a local spicy salsa which is part of their identity, you will also share precious time with them and a tasty traditional lunch in which local women have used the fresh products harvested the same day from the surrounding organic fields. Later we will learn more about the weaving process of their textiles.We will arrive back in Quito in the late afternoon.
Through the visits that this workshop house will receive,The women have developed an itinerary so that the time you stay in Pijal will be a great experience.
12:30 The AJ Guide will introduce you to Sacha Warmikuna.
-This half hour is focused on learning about medicinal plants, Carmen is one of the founders of Sacha Warmikuna, she has great experience in the management of ancestral medicine.
-Recognition of the place.
-Visit the garden where the majority of vegetables are obtained from the crops of the people who live in the surroundings less than 1 km.The community is an example of the practice of the concept of zero Km Food, the food which travels zero kilometers. Mainly it refers to non-industrial fruits, vegetables, cheese, meat, honey etc, which does not go through global trade chains, therefore it does not have big price margins and quality loss during long storage in international supermarkets. It also has an important ecological aspect which can not be overseen; since there is no transport involved (we buy from the shop on the corner), the environment does not suffer from direct and indirect pollution.
13:00 Once you know where the food comes from, You have a typical menu from the Andes for lunch.
-Before serving us the food, you will be able to participate in the elaboration of the chili sauce, it is a custom of hundreds of years, it is a woman’s work and if they know how to prepare it, they are ready to get married. In Ecuador, the spicy sauce is served separately so you can choose how spicy you like the food
14:00 The last 30 minutes will be an explanation provided in their Kichwa language about the process of manufacturing scarves that is typical in their community.
AJ Guide will be the translator.
PROCESS AND DEMONSTRATION
The process of manufacturing wool-alpaca scarves use resources and materials found in the sector,
The demonstration will be given step by step, all the materials are ready, just you can observe the weaving process. The teamwork of the women will allow the Sacha Warmikuna to have a variety of products in addition to scarves that are also is made by hand,
Pre- post trip accommodation in Quito (Twin/ Double) – USD 100 Per Night
Pre- post trip accommodation in Quito (Single) – USD 100 per Night
Private airport transfer – USD 38 per person
Right Know, There isn’t reviews.
Tips are not included in the trip cost. These are entirely at your discretion but there is an expectation to tip for good service. Your guide will help with advice; however, we suggest the below as a guideline per person:
Guides: USD 10- USD 15 per day
Of course, you are free to tip more or less, and the amount should be reflective of your perception of service and quality – a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service
The tap water in Ecuador is not always friendly on the stomach for those who haven’t been in Latin America for a while. There is purified water in each of the accommodation which you can use to fill up each morning, so be sure to pack a reusable water bottle or two. There will also be water in the transportation.
Seasons in Ecuador have nothing to do with temperature – instead there is a dry season and a wet season. In Ecuador, the winter season is hot and wet, and the summer is dry and cold. Ecuador’s dry, summer season falls between May and December. January to April is Ecuador’s wet wintertime. There is not much of a transition between the seasons.
Most of Ecuador has mild temperatures year-round. In the highlands of the Andes, the temperatures are usually cooler and depend of the altitude mainly, the higher the colder, The average temperature in Quito is in the mid-60s Fahrenheit (17 – 18 degrees Celsius). But the average temperature by the snow-cover volcanos can be mid-50s Fahrenheit (10 – 13 degrees Celsius).
For Ecuador Highlands, Covid vaccination is required.
World Nomads Insurance with a coverage of USD 200 000
US American Dollars
8 years old as a minimum age.
Our local knowledge is coming from guides with more than 10 years of experience in the field, our expertise is customizing the best holidays adjusted to our customers' needs and budgets. Our commitment is to deliver meaningful life-changing experiences
Our guides are truly extraordinary people who have the ability, knowledge and kindness to turn a great get-away into an unforgettable, inspiring - and sometimes truly life changing - adventure.
Our adventure expeditions are always small group adventures, typically 4-12 people per trip. Join a personalized adventure vacation that prioritizes quality of experience above all else.
We value every $ dollar from our customers and we do understand that traveling is an investment in learning and building new experiences with every place we visit, every food we taste, every local person we meet, every adventure we live and every memory we take away.