Awesome experiences were lived by our friends in the Spondylus Guided Tour that took place this month. They had the chance to ride across the volcano avenue. Then, they crossed between two environmental worlds. They enjoyed the gastronomic arts from the coast and had experiences they never had before. Join us on what it was our tour…
The beginning
First of all, after a short briefing in our Ecuador Bike Rental offices in Quito on house rules and safety riding, we took off for our Spondylus guided tour towards the south on our motorcycles, which was shortened to allow more people to enjoy the adventure. Weather accompanied us in a good mood, allowing us to see all the major volcanoes on our way: Cayambe, Antisana, Cotopaxi, Illinizas sisters, Tungurahua, Chimborazo, and Carihuairazo. We had to stop at several spots to take the best photos.
Volcano Avenue
Leaving the capital, we entered the Cotopaxi national park area through the Panamerican Highway. At that point, we reached an altitude of 3200 meters above mean sea level. Consequently, we could feel the change in temperature, dropping to 12 degrees Celsius. Moreover, we delighted ourselves with the view of the huge Pine tree forest below the Cotopaxi volcano.
On our way south, we leave Cotopaxi to enter the second phase of the volcano avenue. Here, Tungurahua, Chimborazo, and Carihuairazo can be spotted before reaching our lunching spot in Riobamba. After a great meal and refueling our Motorcycle rentals, we were about to head over the Colta lake towards Guayaquil. Here, the main change in weather was felt. Near the end of the ride, we had the privilege to witness a beautiful sunset. We were navigating our motorcycle rentals through the middle of a rice plantation.
Hotel at Spondylus guided tour
Our hotel Rooms were ready to welcome us, we left our things and off to a well deserved dinner as this was one of the heaviest days on the tour. After a delightful breakfast, it was time to hit the road towards the start of our Spondylus guided tour. We had the start at the Chocolatera, a beautiful reef in Salinas, southwest from Guayaquil, and from there, it was all routing towards the north to Montañita. This iconic town has it all, but is mainly proud of the diversity of people that lives there. Expats from all nationalities have come to live here giving this small town the colors it needs to attract people from a far distance.
After leaving our belongings at the hotel, which is 20 meters from the beach, we went for lunch. We enjoyed a different flavor in the gastronomic art from these parts. Having a proper rest by the beach was important indeed, so we could take the best of our surf lessons. We went to get our boards and hit the waves in Montañita as one of the best instructors in town taught us how to ride the waves.
At night, we could enjoy what Montañita is proud of: an amazing party at the beach with lots of interesting people to meet.
Third Day
The third day of our trip was approaching. So, we took breakfast and took our motorcycle rentals towards the different beach points along the coast. First, we made a stop at Los Frailes beach to check out one of the most beautiful beaches in Ecuador and begin our Spondylus guided tour. Additionally, in the center of the Machalilla national park, a hidden beach awaits, tucked away from the main road. To reach this paradise, you need to take a bit of a back road. We stood here for a couple enjoying the sand and sun. Additionally, the place also offers showers so we can ride up without the feeling of salt on our skins.
Then, we had lunch served in Manta. It was at la Playa Murcielago (the bat’s beach), where seafood takes on another flavor once again.
Additionally, this metropolitan city is rich in nightlife and is also one of the main ports for Ecuador’s marine commerce. Just 45 minutes later, riding through cotton trees, we arrived at our final destination: Crucita. A small town by the beach with lots of paragliding to offer. Its main cliff is about 2 km long. The winds that climb it are the closest to laminar wings as you could desire. This makes it the perfect spot for either flying tandem with an instructor or choosing to have your own lessons and soar the winds on your own.
End of the trip
At night, we felt like having a night out again. So, we rode to Portoviejo, a town known for its friendly people and beautiful women. After having a good sense of the city, we went back to our hostel in Crucita. Following a good breakfast, we commenced our ride back to Quito, this time through the northern part of it. Riding via Chone, we reached Santo Domingo de los Colorados, a city that defines the middle of the Pacific Coast and the Andes. Following a satisfying lunch, we continued our journey through La Concordia towards Mitad Del Mundo (middle of the world in the north of Quito). Along the way, we made sure to take a moment to enjoy a good cup of coffee to warm ourselves up and savor the view.
Thanks to our guide for the Spondylus guided tour, everyone arrived home with many stories to tell and a happy spirit in hand! Additionally, we encourage you to come and visit Ecuador, a country that has it all. Rich in culture and delightful, it will be an adventure you will never forget. Ecuador Bike Rental can help you with everything you need to sort out logistics, suggestions, and route planning. Anything you need, just let us know. Come and visit us, tailor your adventure, and enjoy yourself!