Papallacta Hot Springs / Antizana

Papallacta is dusty little town best known for its magnificent volcanic hot springs and fresh trout. It’s located about one kilometer off the main road about an hour and a half east of Quito on the road to Tena. There are well maintained pool of varying degrees of heat from mountain-river cold to steamy hot.

Papallacta Thermal Baths & Lunch

:: (Full day, daily from Quito) ::
Adventurous spirits will enjoy a tour through the high plateau of the Andes. This is the habitat of the condor, the puma, bears, and other species, which belong to this area.

The "Termas de Papallacta" (Papallacta Thermal Springs) owns the "Rancho del Cañón", a protected area of 250 hectares (625 acres) located at the entrance of the ecological reserve Cayambe-Coca.

The Papallacta River crosses both the hacienda as well as the high section of the valley, and it offers to the visitor a spectacular view of the Antisana Volcano (5.704 meters / 19,800 feet above sea level). In this beautiful area, we offer walks along the ecological paths, where nature lovers can appreciate the local flora and fauna.

This area is a treasure for ornithologists, with more than 160 different species of birds, including hummingbirds, tangaras and occasionally the great Andean Condor. Afterwards, enjoy the Hot Springs of Papallacta, whose thermal waters emerge from deep geological layers through fissures up to the surface. This will be a day of nature, health and relaxation.

Included in the tour is private transportation, bilingual guide, entrance fee to the public Thermal Springs and lunch.

Price includes:

• Full day tour
• Private Transportation
• English speaking certified Tour Guide
• Lunch at Papallacta resort
• Entrance to private thermal pools.

Antizana Eco-Reserve and Papallacta

:: (Two days tour, daily from Quito) ::
DAY 1: The Antisana Ecological Reserve it's located in the easternl slope of the Andes mountain range. The Antisana Volcano with its 5,753 meters (16,404 feet) of altitude is one of the most important volcanoes in the Andes of South America.
The Antisana Ecological Reserve is located in a "hot spots" (high biodiversity concentration) considered for Ecuador by the WWF. The Papallacta hot springs and its lagoon are some of the main tourist attractions of the area.

Your full day tour starts early in the morning when your bilingual guide will pick you up from the hotel. After a one and a half hour drive through the valley of Cumbaya you will get to Pintag and will start driving up to the Reserve passing through farms and big haciendas that cultivate potatoes, corn and different variety of vegetables. Once in the reserve it is easy to observe the wildlife existent in this ecosystem of the high Andes, many birds like cara caras, humming birds, the Andean hawk and the magnificent condor can be seen while you are taking a hike in the Paramos. You will have a packed lunch for this adventure and in the afternoon you will drive to Papallacta where you will spend your night in the Termas Papallacta Spa Resort. Your rooms will be located in a beautiful setting in the middle of mountains and exotic Andean vegetation and surrounded by thermal pools.

DAY 2: Today is for relaxation and exploration; you can start your day early in the morning by jumping into the thermal pools which have more curative conditions early in the morning. Have a delicious breakfast followed by a hike where you will explore this part of the Andes and you will see many birds and vegetation proper of this ecosystem. You will return to the hotel for your lunch and then you will drive back to Quito. Different treatments are offered in the SPA if you whish to have a whole relaxing morning.

Price includes:

• Two days tour
• Private transportation
• English speaking certified Tour Guide
• All meals
• Entrance fees to the Antizana Ecological Reserve
• Accommodation in the Termas de Papallacta SPA Resort