August 6th through 18th, 2016

Day 1: August 6th
Arrive in Quito and spend the night at a Boutique Hotel or similar.

Day 2: August 7th
Early morning departure from Quito into the Northern Highlands of Ecuador (approx. 2 hrs Drive) This beautiful drive will take us through arid valleys into Imbabura province also known as "Land of the Lakes" to Otavalo. Mid morning casual ride offering riders the opportunity to get to know their horse. This ride will take us past hamlets of Adobe huts and through patchworks of Quinoa and Maze fields onto the slopes of the now extinct and sacred Imbabura Volcano and culminating at Hacienda Pinsaqui, once a historical weaving center, owned by the same family for 8 generations. Late afternoon walk through the very popular Otavalo Market, known for it's traditional handicrafts and textiles. Overnight in a traditional and historic Hacienda.

Day 3: August 8th
Drive from Hacienda Pinsaqui, north-westwards, across the valley to meet the local criollo horses at Cochapata (60 minutes, dependent on track conditions) and then start our ride to the remote highland village of Piñan. The ride up is remarkable as it immerses us into the vast 'paramo' with miles of swirling grasslands. Condors sightings are frequent as well as caracaras, eagles and large hawks. We are now in Sky country. Altitudes on the ride up will reach 12,000' but once we have crested the mountain will have us sleep at 8.000' on an Andean plateau in Piñan. Overnight at the lodge in Piñan.

Day 4: August 9th
Prepare for a day's worth of heartwarming and purposeful work as we conduct our Red Cross Dental Care and Obstetrics programs for the people of Piñan.The camp will open its doors at 10.00 am and will close by 4.00 pm or until the last patients have been screened or treated. Overnight at the lodge in Piñan.

Day 5: August 10th
Early morning ride out of Piñan valley through the paramo with magnificent views of the surrounding peaks, and then descending into the tropical cloud Forest. This new and distinct flora and fauna, boasting mountain Bamboo,Passion Fruits and Coffee trees, vastly differs from the paramos of our morning ride. The day's ride end's at a Coffee Plantation in the high cloud forest area of "Intag" known for having the best coffee in Ecuador.The plantation also serves as a very comfortable lodge, with comfortable rooms surrounded coffee and banana trees. Riders can walk down to the river and enjoy a swimming hole. Overnight at the Riyo Lindo Coffee Plantation.

Day 6: August 11th
Morning ride through the "Tropical" part of the Cloud Forest. Lunch at the plantation followed by a highly informative tour explaining coffee production and processing from raw bean to espresso powder. Late afternoon tour to meet the recipients of our Red Cross Prosthetic program. Overnight at the Riyo Lindo Coffee Plantation.

Day 7: August 12th
Setting our sights on the Amazon with an early morning departure to Hacienda La Cienega in the low lying Cloud Forest. The drive will take us through the high Cloud Forest to the Equator line where we will stop for a quick visit, and then into the avenue of the volcanoes, with a chance of seeing several snow capped peaks. Lunch on the way. Hacienda La Cienega, historically very important, as it was involved in the very early stages in the independence battles. Many great explorers stayed here including Von Humboldt, Whymper and Condamine. Overnight in a traditional Hacienda.

Day 8: August 13th
Early morning drive to the airport in Shell (Approx.3 hrs) a small frontier town in the Amazon. Fly in a light aircraft Cessna 206 (45 mins) into the Amazon from Shell to Llamchamacocha, home of the Sàpara tribe. The Sàpara people are the 'hippies' of the Amazon - in that they have always been more interested in spirituality and healing than in warfare and expansion. They are master healers with incredible knowledge of plant medicine. We will be given a traditional welcome and meet with the matriarch of the Sàpara, Mukasawa, one of the four remaining speakers of the language and we shall be welcomed first with a cleansing ceremony by the people, where we will be welcomed into their land and given a Sàpara name, then a short canoe ride down the river to our stunning riverside encampment. Overnight in Nakku: Indigenous Healing Center.

Day 9: August 14th
Upon waking we will have another cleansing ceremony with the Sapara people, and become more connected with the forest around us. Later that morning we will help our Red Cross team organize and perform a Dental and Obstetrics Camp offering the people of Llamchamacocha dental and Obstetrics care.

Day 10: August 15th
After a delicious breakfast We will canoe downstream, with Manari the shaman and leader of the Sàpara, and a very keen fisherman, sharing with us the Sapara cosmovision, way of life and world view. Our lunch, rest and swimming time will be on a 'beach' by the river before hiking back to the camp. On the way back we will stopping for Manari to explain the traditional shamanic ceremony which we will take part in this evening, and we will to spend sometime reflecting individually in a beautiful place in the forest. Returning to the camp to prepare for the evening ceremony.

Day 11: August 16th
After a delicious breakfast Manari and other elders will help us understand our dreams and experiences from the previous nights ritual. After lunch we will travel to the community for RRI's "Clean Water" program. This program will offer the Sàpara tribe two water filtration systems, one at the local school and the other within housing area of Llamchamacocha. Enjoy the late afternoon with the Sàpara community, as share their customs and way of life with all of us. The afternoon will be at your leisure to journal, reflect and relax, enjoying our last day in the jungle.

Day 12: August 17th
We will gather to say goodbye to our hosts and have the chance to buy Sàpara artisanal gifts to take home with us. flying out of the jungle back to Shell at noon. our coach will take us through stunning mountain scenery as we ascend into the Andes, arriving at Luna Runtun Volcanic thermal spa. Where you can book massages and soak in hot pools with stunning views, or hike the cliffs that overlook Baños. Overnight in Luna Runtun: Thermal Spa.

Day 13: August 18th
Mid morning visit to the renowned spa town of Banos, site of many miracles performed by the Virgin of the Holy Water. We will have lunch and some time to explore the market in this beautiful town that lies in the shadow of the Volcano Tungurahua. Drive from Baños to Quito (Approx 4 hrs drive) After a wonderful farewell dinner we will be taken by coach to the airport for our night flights back home.

End of program

THIS ITINERARY IS FLEXIBLE AND MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY POINT DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES.