8 Day Spondylus Guided Motorcycle Tour in Ecuador

Overview

Get ready for an exciting adventure, in a country of many natural wonders and countless treasures. Ecuador is a country with impressive contrasts where high summits merge towards the deep blue Pacific Ocean. On this tour, you will be part of a beautiful merging between the Pacific Coast, the Andes Region, and the Amazonas Basin, and you can enjoy this merging. Following the water routes, you will transfer from the highlands from the Andes to the whole Coast line, baptized as Spondylus due to colorful shell that leaves all along the pacific Ecuadorean Coast. Enjoy this tour fully thanks to our motorcycles and your riding experience. Using the best hotels and eco-lodges to make this one wonderful life experience.

Highlights

• Starts and end in Quito
• Ride to Chimborazo with its 6310 meters (20702 feet) above sea level
• Enjoy the south side of Mompiche, characterized by black sand beaches
• Riding towards Guayaquil, el Astillero, a long day riding but with rewards in every city
• Visit La "Chocolatera" where strong currents merge raising the sand from the bottom
• Experience Isla de la Plata (Silver Islands), Puerto Lopez's main town
• Visit Playa de Los Fraile, a beautiful spot to chill and relax
• 7 nights' accommodation

Itinerary

1. Day 1: QUITO – GUARANDA – GUAYAQUIL \| 414km (257 miles)

   We’ll have a briefing in our offices in Quito, where the last paperwork will be filled, gear will be given and tested and the bike of your choice will be delivered. Then, after a quick brief on roads, safety, and quick guide, we’ll depart on our way. The departure will be by 9 after all the formalities. On our first day, as soon as we leave Quito, we’ll start riding towards Guayaquil, el Astillero. This is going to be a long day riding but with rewards in every city, we’ll visit. As we ride south in the middle of the volcano avenue, we’ll have the sight of these big colossuses. Starting with C

2. Day 2: GUAYAQUIL – MONTAÑITA \| 172 km (107 miles)

   We’ll wake up with a good breakfast buffet style, recharging our batteries for the fabulous day that awaits us. We’ll depart from Guayaquil towards the north, just beside the Pacific Coast. Our first stop will be a few hours later where we’ll visit Salinas. Well known to be the furthest out point of South America in the Pacific Ocean. La “Chocolatera» (the chocolate maker) is the point where strong currents merge raising the sand from the bottom and giving the water that chocolate color. This, merged with the water hitting its cliff and being hit by the sunlight, bathes the area with rainbows

3. Day 3: MONTAÑITA – PUERTO LOPEZ \| 97 km (55 miles)

   After a fun night, we can chill at breakfast while we tell the stories of what happened a few hours ago. Our motorcycle rentals will be ready to take off to our next adventure, leading us to Puerto Lopez, where an Eco-Lodge that has been decorated by hand for the last 18 years and with exquisite taste will be waiting for us. As we light up a bit after our check-in, we can get ourselves ready to visit Playa de Los Frailes. Far away from the main roads, and thus not so visited, is a beautiful spot to chill and relax for the day. This beach, by being so close to the equator, enjoys the perfect we

4. Day 4: PUERTO LOPEZ – ISLA DE LA PLATA – PUERTO LOPEZ

   We’ll have an amazon day ahead of us. After a filling breakfast, we’ll head towards Puerto Lopez main town to take a boat towards Isla de la Plata (Silver Island). Some say the island is called that way due to the number of treasures that we buried by pirates in the 1700’s. Others, that the island has that particular color due to the silverish tone the rock has due to the bird’s natural needs. Being 50 kilometers away from the coast, one thing is for sure, the island shares most of the fauna and flora that you could find in the Galapagos Islands. Its 1200 hectares are housing a huge variety of

5. Day 5: PUERTO LOPEZ – MANTA \| 110km (68 miles)

   Continuing with our ride going north in the Spondylus, our next stop will be Montecristi. A town was known for two things: the crib of Eloy Alfaro, one of the most important revolution figures in our history, and also for the paja toquilla hats, also known internationally as the «Panama Hats”. These last ones can be found in a wide range of prices, from $25 to $15000 dollars. We want you to take one of these as a souvenir of the Spondylus tour. This small city is also recognized nationally and internationally by its handicrafts, made of mimbre, piquigua, plastic, and wood. These pieces can rea

6. Day 6: MANTA – MOMPICHE \| 282 km (175 miles)

   As soon as we wake up, it’ll be our delight to have a buffet breakfast to fill our souls with energy again. One curious fact about every city, town, and village in the Spondylus route, is that seafood is not prepared the same way. Hence, as we go up north you will feel food differently. With our motorcycle, we’ll arrive today at the last city in our Spondylus circuit, Mompiche, located in the province of Esmeraldas. But first, we’ll pass by Pedernales. A city devastated by the 7.8 earthquakes that took place here in 2016. We’ll have lunch here and you will be able to get to know firsthand what

7. Day 7: MOMPICHE – MINDO \| 285 km (177 miles)

   We’ll say goodbye today to the Ecuadorian coast, not before taking a picture with the motorcycle that has been your best company throughout this epic ride. Make sure the ocean is in the back and you on your motorcycle as a farewell to the Ecuadorian coast. Already on track, we’ll start climbing the Andes region again and you will feel that heat won’t be on our side anymore, and the humidity will change to a tropical forest type. And to have a proper closing, we would like to show you a bit more of the geographical richness of the country by visiting Mindo. This comfy town will be our last stop

8. Day 8: MINDO – QUITO \| 98 km (61 miles)

   We finalize our tour entering in Quito from the North West, not before be able to see the Mitad del Mundo (middle of the world). A mystical place where the magnetic field plays naughty and some physical experiments can be done. A welcome package will be waiting for us at the offices, where experiences will be shared over a cold drink.

Ride Details

Terrain

90% asphalt and 10% gravel

Bike

rented bike (Suzuki, Honda, KTM, or Royal Enfield models)

Mileage

1486 kilometers / 923 miles

Daily rides

97 - 414 kilometers / 55 - 257 miles

Riding gear

included: Touring helmets, pants, trousers, and gloves

Meals

breakfasts and dinners

Accommodation

You will be accommodated at various hotels and top eco-lodges used along the route.

Food

Your breakfast and dinner during this tour is included in the price. You will also be provided with snacks during the ride.

Getting There

This tour will take place in Ecuador, exploring places like Quito, Mindo, Manta, Puerto Lopez, Montanita, and Guayaquil.