Appalachian Mountain Club
Ecuador and the Galapagos
May 7- May 20, 2005
Hello! We are delighted that you are interested in this exciting trip! Please read the
information carefully, and then contact us if you have specific questions about this trip:
Carl Rosenthal 603-447-1858; crosenthal789@msn.com or Betsy Fowler 603-524-8301;
bfowler@metrocast.net . For general questions about the AMC’s Major Excursions,
email AMCexcursions@outdoors.org .
LOCATION
Ecuador, located around the equator in the Andes Mountains of South America, is not a
very large country. Yet it offers more physical and cultural diversity than almost any
country on the planet. The beautifully preserved colonial capital of Quito is a World
Heritage site brimming with amazing architecture. From Quito we will visit colorful
Andean Indian markets. We will journey to the highlands which are dominated by
magnificent glacier-clad volcanoes. The Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador offer
the opportunity to swim with penguins and sea lions and walk on beaches while huge
iguanas scurry around your feet.
TYPICAL PARTICIPANTS
You should be curious about other cultures and comfortable traveling in areas which are
unfamiliar to you. You should recognize that you may find yourself in closer quarters or
be less comfortable than you are used to at home. If you are a loner, if you cannot accept
and enjoy being part of a group, if you are not a team player who is willing to help your
fellow travelers and contribute to their having a great time, then please do not register for
this excursion.
You must be able to hike 8 miles a day at a moderate pace easily, with moderate
elevation gains, while carrying enough equipment to keep you safe in the event of bad
weather or injury.
Itinerary
Sat., May 7: Reception at airport and transfer to hotel in Quito. Over night at Dan
Carlton Hotel.
Sun., May 8: Breakfast. General introduction and tour briefing by local leader at the
hotel. Morning City tour which will take us to the Colonial Quarters of Quito, the first
World Cultural Heritage City declared by UNESCO in 1979 and built starting from 1534
1 – Ecuador and the Galapagos, May 7 -20, 2005
and continuing along the last five centuries . Walk the most representative streets from
Independence Square visiting the Metropolitan Cathedral, El Sagrario Church, the Jesuit
La Compania and San Francisco. (Occasionally these churches could be closed to visitors
due to restoration works in which case alternative visits will be made). Around mid day
return to hotel. Lunch on your own. Free afternoon to explore other interesting places in
Quito. Dinner on your own. Over night at Dan Carlton Hotel.
Mon., May 9: Early breakfast and drive towards the Equator Valley North of the City of
Quito and on to Pululahua Crater for a full day hike. On the way visit the Equator
Complex and be able to straddle both feet on both North and South Hemispheres. From
there, drive to the rim view point of the crater. This extinct crater is covered with
picturesque farming on the bottom and native Andean forests on the slopes of its large
collapsed Caldera. A fair amount of wildlife including some colorful birds and a great
variety of plants together with geology are perhaps the main fields of interest. A zigzag
trails will bring us down to the crater floor and from there a relatively flat dirt road will
take us across until reaching the western flank where the rim has being eroded out
allowing a rather light ascent to the end of the hike and pick up point. Box lunch will be
provided. From there, drive back to the city and to hotel. Dinner on your own. Over
night at Dan Carlton.
Tue., May 10: Breakfast. Drive for about two to three hours south of Quito towards
Banos, a spa village at the base of the Tungurahua volcano with thermal water springs
and an incredible mountain setting. The drive covers the so called “Avenue of the
Volcanoes”. This stretch displays around a dozen Andean towering active and inactive
volcanoes, some reaching nineteen thousand feet like Cotopaxi or over twenty like
Chimborazo. Spectacular views (weather permitting) are present all along the drive and
plenty of photo stops can be made. Depending on the day of the week, a good cultural
stop can be made to visit one of the local produce markets in one of the villages along the
way . Arrive at Hacienda Leito, a beautifully restored Hacienda turned into a very
comfortable country inn only a few miles from the Tungurahua volcano which has been
displaying moderate activity last three years. Lunch based on fixed menu of the day.
Light afternoon hike at hacienda Leito with beautiful views with possible ash and steam
explosions. Dinner included. Over night at Hacienda Leito.
Wed., May 11: Breakfast. Drive to Banos for a ten mile day hike to Manto de la Novia
Waterfall. This narrow mountain trail follows the impressive Pastaza River Canyon and
gives you magnificent views loaded with lush vegetation. This huge gorge connects the
highlands with the Amazon so collects quite a bit of that region’s weather and mist. Box
lunch included. The hike is moderate with some short but precipitous ascents and
descents on a small portion near the start, the rest is mostly flat until near the upper part
of the waterfall. Descend to the base of it and cross on an 80 meter suspension bridge
over the Pastaza River and zigzag up for a good half an hour to the road where our
vehicle will pick us up for the drive back to Banos. Spend the rest of afternoon visiting
this interesting village. Dinner included at local restaurant in Banos. From there, return to
Hacienda Leito for overnight.
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Thu., May 12: Breakfast. Depart from Hacienda Leito and drive north to Cotopaxi
National Park. Here the vegetation stops at timberline and meets the extensive open
paramo plains with exposed ash fields at the base of this majestic volcano at some 12,500
feet. Various hikes can be made but we will circle the base until the reaching the small
Inca fortress ruins on Salitre . Optional drive up the road which leads to the parking point
(14,850 feet) on the way to Jose Rivas Refuge at the snow line level. Hike to refuge and
reach the refuge at 15,840 feet elevation, the highest point on the trip. Box lunch
included. Descend to meet vehicle and drive back to Quito. Dinner on your own.
Overnight at Dan Carlton.
Fri., May 13: Breakfast. Drive north from Quito for around one and a half hour to the
village of Malchingui. Here we hike on a very interesting stretch of the Inca Royal Road
known as “The Blow Gun”. It is an eight kilometer long dirt road which crosses an
extensive semi desert plain to descend from there into the large Guayllabamba River
Canyon. We will learn about archaeology from the Inca period. Box lunch included. In
the afternoon return to Quito. Dinner on your own. Overnight at Hotel Dan
Carlton.
Sat., May 14: Breakfast. Leave the City and head to the slopes of Pichincha Volcano.
We will drive as high as possible and start hiking from there to the first mountain top of
Cruz Loma at around 12,000 feet and from there along an extended ridge which leads to
the base of the rocky outcrop which marks the Rucu Pichincha summit at 15,500 feet.
Time, group determination, and skill permitting, an attempt to summit can be made. Box
lunch included. From here we return to our drop off point and drive back to the city.
Dinner on your own. Overnight at Dan Carlton.
Sun., May 15: Breakfast. Transfer to airport for Galapagos Flight.
Sun., May 15 to Wed., May 18: Galapagos Cruise.
Thu., May 19: Return flight to Quito. Transfer. Farewell dinner included (beverages not
included). Overnight at Dan Carlton.
Fri., May 20: Breakfast. Transfer for homebound flight.
ACCOMMODATIONS
7 nights at 4 Star rated Dan Carlton Hotel in Quito
2 nights at comfortable country inn Hacienda Leito in the Highlands
4 nights on board a First Class motor yacht touring the Galapagos
Trip Leader – Carl Rosenthal
Carl has been a member of the AMC since 1984 and has led numerous day and weekend
hiking trips. He co-led Major Excursions to the Sierras in California in 2000 and 2003
and Glacier National Park in 2001 and the Desert Southwest in 2002 and Washington
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state in 2004. He has led trips to Big Bend and Guadalupe Peaks in 2002 and 2003 and
New Mexico in 2004. He is a Past Chair of the Connecticut Chapter and is presently a
hike leader for the Maine and New Hampshire Chapters. He has completed the SOLO
basic First Aid Course and the Heart Saver CPR Course. He has been a hike leader at
August Camp and an instructor at the AMC-ADK Winter School. He has been a
participant in Major Excursions to Austria and parts of the former Soviet Union. Mr.
Rosenthal has hiked the 115 Northeast 4,000 footers in winter and has stood on the
highest points in the contiguous 48 states.
Address
58 Overlook Drive, Center Conway, NH 03813
Phone
603-447-1858
Email address
crosenthal789@msn.com
Trip Co-Leader – Betsy Fowler
Betsy's involvement with the AMC began with a job at Pinkham Notch Camp in 1969
where she worked in the office and on the "crew", then led Guided Hikes for 2
years. She and her husband also ran the AMC Mountain Leadership Workshop in the
1970's. As a guide for Bill Russell Mountain Tours, she led hiking trips to the fjords of
Norway and the Tour du Mt. Blanc in France, Italy and Switzerland. She is currently a
NH Chapter trip leader and cross-country ski trail adopter. Her first Major Excursion
will be co-leading a backpack in August 2004 to Banff, Yoho and Jasper National Parks
in the Canadian Rockies. She has both Wilderness First Aid and Advanced Wilderness
First Aid from SOLO as well as American Red Cross CPR training.
Address
10 Hazelnut Rd., Gilford, NH 03249
Phone
603-524-8301
Email address
bfowler@metrocast.net
TRIP COST
The approximate cost for the trip is $3,600. This will cover the following items:
1 Round trip airfare from Boston or New York to Quito, Ecuador
2 Accommodations in Quito – 7 nights
3 Accommodations at Hacienda Leito – 2 nights
4 Accommodations aboard a First Class motor yacht – 4 nights
5 All meals except as specified below.
6 All Transportation within Ecuador and the Galapagos
7 AMC Excursion Fee
8 Local English speaking naturalist guides
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9 Entrance fees at reserves such as Cotopaxi and Pululahua.
Not included:
7 Dinners and one lunch in Quito. A variety of good quality meals can be purchased at
much lower prices than these meals would cost in the United States. $10.00 per meal
should be more than ample.
$100. cash entrance fee to the Galapagos National Park
The approximate cost for the excursion is based on quotes at the time the trip was
submitted to the Major Excursions Committee (June, 2004). The final cost of the trip
will be adjusted in accordance with the best arrangements we can make with the airlines
and any savings we might enjoy or increases we might have to endure.
Please be aware that, in accordance with AMC policy, you are subsidizing some of the
leaders’ costs, but not all of them. Any unspent funds will be refunded to all participants.
The trip fee also includes an AMC overhead charge to cover the administrative expenses
of offering Major Excursions. This charge amounts to 10% of land costs.
How to Proceed
If you would like to go on this trip, complete the Application Form on the last page of
this document and enclose a check for the $1,500 registration fee made out to the
Appalachian Mountain Club and mail to:
Carl Rosenthal, 58 Overlook Drive, Center Conway, NH 03813
If you are accepted onto the trip you will also be asked to fill out and mail back an
Acknowledgment and Assumption of Risks & Release & Indemnity Agreement, and a
Confidential Medical Form both of which will be emailed to you.
The balance of $2,100 is due by February 7, 2005.
Due to the boat capacity, the group size is strictly limited to 16 participants,
including the leaders. If you are interested in joining the trip, you should register as
soon as possible.
When registration is complete, the trip leader will send all participants the names,
addresses and phone numbers of those going on the trip. Trip leaders prefer to use email
as a primary source of communication.
CANCELLATIONS
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The AMC cancellation policy is based on the simple precept that your cancellation shall
not raise the cost of the trip to any of the participants or the leaders. Therefore, if you
cancel, your refund will be all that you have paid, less expenses already incurred and
future expenses which can not be avoided. If you cancel and the trip still fully books,
then your fees will be refunded in full with the exception that, after airline tickets have
been purchased, you own the tickets and that part of the fee cannot be refunded.
EXPERIENCE AND RISKS
Quito is at an altitude of almost 9,000 feet and some of the hiking will be done at even
higher elevations. If you know you are especially sensitive to high elevations, even
though the hiking will be at a moderate pace, this might not be a good trip for you. We
want to be sure to drink a lot of water to prevent altitude sickness.
Ecuador does not currently require anyone to have up-to-date vaccinations to enter the
country, but at least six weeks prior to the trip you should consult your physician to see
what is recommended prior to travel in a South American country.
On the trip we must be careful to wash food with purified water and eat in restaurants that
are clean and, preferably, busy and have help who look clean. We must be careful of the
water and buy branded bottled water and soft drinks.
When we travel in the public streets and markets, we want to be sure to have our
valuables tucked away on our person.
REQUIRED GEAR
Here is a list of suggestions for what to bring to have a good time on the trip. Most of the
items are things you would bring for an extended trip in the White Mountains of New
Hampshire, please pay particular attention to the items to protect you from the sun:
namely, good sunglasses, a hat with a brim and lip protection and sun protection lotion
with an SPF number of 30 or greater.
Day pack
Personal first aid
Rain gear (both jacket and pants)
2 water bottles
Wool or pile hat or balaclava
Wool or pile gloves or mitts
Extra pile or wool layer for warmth
Comfortable hiking boots and socks
Hiking shorts
Cotton or synthetic T-shirts
Long sleeve synthetic shirt
Sunglasses
Sun hat
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Sun protection lotion
Lip protection balm
Leisure clothes for travel and restaurants (moderate amount)
Personal toiletries
Toilet paper
Tevas, sandals and/or sneakers for boat trip
Head lamp with extra batteries
Optional recommendations:
Bathing Suit
Camera
Ear plugs
Short gaiters to keep dust out of boots
Small knife
Compass
Extra shoelace
Zip lock bags
Reading material for breaks in the action
I recommend hiking with a pole or poles, but if you don’t like them, that’s fine.
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Application for Major Excursion to Ecuador and the
Galapagos
Please print everything legibly
Name: ___________________________________ AMC Member ? ________________
Address: ________________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip: __________________________________________________________
Phones: Daytime: ________________________ Evening: ________________________
Date of Birth (mm/dd/yy): ___________ Gender: _________________ Smoker? ______
Email Address: ___________________________________
Health or disabilities: (Please note any medical or physical restrictions) ______________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Name, address, and phone number of person to contact in case of emergency:
_______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Have you done mountain hiking previously? When and how often?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Please print a brief summary of your recent hiking /backpacking experience on the back
of this application.
How would you describe your physical condition and stamina? ____________________
________________________________________________________________________
Please print a description of how you maintain your physical condition on the back of
this application. For example, I run 5 miles four times a week.
Have you gone on other AMC Major Excursions? _____ If so, who were the
leaders?____________________________________________________________
If this trip is filled, do you wish to be placed on a waiting list? _____________________
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