Daniel picked us up bright and early for our trip down the Avenue of the Volcanoes to Cotopaxi National Park, past tightly-packed houses built of unreinforced concrete just waiting for an earthquake. The magnificent mountain peaks around us were snow-capped only five years ago, Daniel said: global warming has removed the glaciers that Quito counts on for its water supply. As we drove, Daniel filled us in on the history of both his peoples: the indigenous Quichua and the conquering Spaniards.
Inside the park, Daniel took us for a shake-down walk at 11,000 feet along a large pasture that had recently been the Laguna de Limpiopungo. Then we were ready (?) to try higher altitude. He parked at 13,000 feet and we zigzagged—slowly, oh, so slowly—up to the Base Camp building just below the retreating glacier, while the top of Cotopaxi loomed through the clouds above us. The peak of Cotopaxi is the spot on earth closest to sun. Daniel would be helping lead an expedition there in just a few days; evidently it’s necessary to leave Base Camp at midnight, hike to the top in six hours, watch the sun rise, and scurry down again before the equatorial sun softens the snow. Not for us: at the Base Camp, sitting at 14,400 feet, Daniel supplied us with cups of cocoa to give our wobbly legs the strength to get us down again.
It was slightly horrifying to zoom along back into the city, sharing the highway with open pick-up trucks piled high with vegetables and, perched on top of the load, small children and grandmothers in black top hats bouncing along. After an interesting search by Blackberry and cellphone through rush-hour traffic—both vehicular and pedestrian—on precipitous streets, Daniel dropped us at the restaurant La Mosaica. We sat on the balcony overlooking the Old Town—straight down—and dined on some of those Ecuadorean vegetables as we watched the sun set behind the mountain peaks and the lights come on across the city and up the mountainsides. The restaurant owner, a New Yorker, sat with us over complementary passionflower liqueurs, and then we had a $3 taxi ride back to the hostel. A perfect ending to a perfect trip. We just wish we could have adopted Daniel as our own, and moved permanently into the gracious rooms of the Hostel La Rabida.
Adventure Life is always an excellent choice when planning complicated, extreme, or exotic vacations or expeditions. They provide friendly professional services and advice and are enthusiastic and encouraging in helping us to prepare and thoroughly enjoy our trip. They handle all the details which greatly reduces the stress of planning a difficult trip. I'm very impressed with Adventure Life and definitely recommend them to friends and family.
Scott Trochim
2 days ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
4 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
5 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.