Arasha Lodge

The secret to Arasha's success?  Location, location, location.   At under 3,000' elevation on the lower Andean slopes 3 hours west of Quito, Arasha is a tropical resort where you can relax amid exhuberant rainforest vegetation.  Swim in their conventional swimming pool, or stroll ten minutes past the mini-golf course to their swimming hole, a deep tranquil pool surrounded by forest filled with birdsong.  Or hike 30 minutres to the Blue Lagoon, to swim beneath a 120' waterfall in a fern-wreathed natural grotto.  After an energetic hike in nearby rainforest, enjoy a massage and aromatherapy at the luxurious spa.

The other secret is Arasha's close relationship with its neighbors.  The resort is a private reserve surrounded by farms, with occasional residual patches of rainforest.  Most of the excursions to surrounding forest zones bring in a modest income to those who protect these zones, and thus encourage the protection of the forested areas.

Meanwhile back at the resort, there's plenty to do without ever leaving the property.  In the morning chocolate workshop, we learn how to transform raw cocoa beans into our own homemade chocolate fondue.  In the afternoon, we return to try it again, pretending we learned nothing in the morning.

Arasha is popular with Ecuadoreans as well as the expatriot community in Quito.  Guest accommodations are in individual bungalows, comfortable but not luxurious.  The property is filled with the perfume of jasmine and other fragrant shrubs.  Birds are always singing at Arasha.

Use these Activity Level Ratings as a general guide to help determine which of our adventures is best for you. Your perception of level of difficulty may vary from ours according to your own level of fitness and travel experience. Whether or not you stay in your comfort zone on the trip you select may also be influenced by the pacing we build into the itinerary, and your own preparation for the trip. While relatively high elevations are unavoidable when you're traveling in the Andes Mountains, we may judge a trip as "moderate" so long as passengers have sufficient time for acclimation. Our detailed trip itineraries give much more information about what you can expect. If you are unsure which trip is best for you, please call us. We'll help guide you toward the right fit.

Moderate

These adventures involve fairly easy travel. There is no camping: you sleep in hotels and country inns each evening. Trips may include short hikes and/or walks of two to three hours. Our itineraries include excursions in passenger mini-vans, over roads with many curves and potholes. Elevations rarely exceed 12,600'. At Machu Picchu and other Inca sites, we climb and descend relatively steep stone staircases. Trips to Amazon lodges involve travel by boat and canoe, plus hikes on forest trails at a moderate pace. In the rainforest, you may encounter rain, mud, and pooled water. Trips to the Galapagos include optional hikes on sometimes uneven rocky and/or slippery terrain. Passengers must get into and out of dinghies on beaches and at docks.

Active

These adventures include more hiking than in our moderate trips. You negotiate a variety of terrain, at elevations no more than 15,000'. Some trips include long days of overland travel. You sleep comfortably in hotels each evening.

Strenuous

While we rate all of our treks as strenuous, there is a substantial range of challenge between the easiest and the most demanding of our treks. Expect to hike 6-8 hours each day over steep and rugged terrain. You may hike to elevations of 17,000', with options to hike higher from several camps. Many include camping multiple nights at relatively high elevations. On most treks in the Andes, night-time temperatures can drop below freezing on one or more nights. On our Inn to Inn based treks, you'll spend each evening in a comfortable mountain lodge.

Extreme

Our toughest treks are suitable for those that enjoy a good physical challenge. You trek (and in some cases climb) over steep, rugged terrain at high elevations with substantial altitude gains. Some glacier travel requires knowledge of basic climbing techniques including use of crampons, ice axe, and ropes. These trips are in remote wilderness areas and include camping as high at 17,700'. Successful summit bids top out at 18,871' (Nevado Pisco), 19,347' (Volcan Cotopaxi) and 20,945' (Nevado Ausangate).

Departures: year-round, on request.  We recommend at least a 2-night stay.

2012 Rates:

Rates do not include 10% service tax.

Rates include:

17 activities guided and not guided

All meals (FB only): including natural fruit juice or soft drink with meals

Continental breakfast (B&B); lunch & dinner meals available a la carte, charged to the room.

Welcome cocktail drink

Free internet service; 20 minutes maximum

Not included: 10% service tax; alcoholic beverages; spa treatments available at additional cost; transfers to and from the lodge.

Guests choose from a menu of optional excursions in the surrounding countryside.

Included Guided Tours:

- Nocturnal tour of secondary forest with torches

- Birding walk (6:00AM)

- Chocolate factory

- Artisan factory: making earrings, rings, and more

- Coffee workshop

Included Activities to do on your own:

- Natural-fed pool, warm water

- Jacuzzi in the "Grotto Cave"

- Bird watching (6:00AM suggested time)

- Sangay Theater

- White sand beach and swimming at the Negrito Creek

- Hundreds of flowers, orchids, trees, shrubs, lawn, landscaping, along any of the parths

- Ecologically friendly 18-hole Putt-Putt golf course

- Game Hut (2 pool tables)

Excursions at additional cost

- Among the more interesting optional excursions (at additional cost), we recommend the pre-dawn excursion to the Andean Cock-of-the-rock lek.  Ask your guide for details.

- Shaman Cleansing

- Caoni river

- Tour of the Cloud Forest in Mindo valley

- Tsachila cultural show at Arasha

- Tours to Mindo for butterfly farm, tubing, zip lines, river adventures, etc.

- Macallares Primary Forest tour

Ecuadorean currency is the US$.

Among the more interesting optional excursions (at additional cost), we recommend the pre-dawn excursion to the Andean Cock-of-the-rock lek.  Ask your guide for details.

• Full board or Room & Breakfast plans
• 3 hours drive from Quito
• family-friendly
• 17 activities included
• full spa service, at additional but reasonable cost
• swimming pool
• nature hikes & walks
• bird watching

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