Ecuador Ice Hockey Experience (EIHE)

Join the Friendship League in Quito, Ecuador as we take on Orkos HC in a 3 on 3 friendship-style tournament. Nestled high in the Andean foothills, Quito clocks in at 9,350 ft above sea level. To put that in perspective, the infamous mile high hockey city of Denver sits at a mere 5,130–5,690 ft above sea level. If you’re up for the challenge, this trip is for you! When we’re not at the rink, we’ll be exploring the vast natural and cultural wealth that Ecuador has to offer. From the rich historical colonial center of Quito to the vibrant backwaters of the Amazon, this trip leaves no stones unturned!

*Note: For your safety, it is highly recommended that you arrive in Quito a few days early to make sure you don’t have any issues with the altitude when game time comes. We can help you book additional nights in the hotel!

*Note: The ice time has only just been confirmed for this event, for that reason, some of the items contained on the itinerary will be moved around. We will still participate in every activity listed in this itinerary, although the order will change slightly to accommodate ice time. An updated itinerary will be provided as soon as possible.

Meet up with your fellow Friendship-Leaguers in the hotel lobby around 1pm to kick the tour off with a trip information session. Then join our local guide Adriana for a trip to Quito’s historical colonial centre, where she will take us for a deep dive into the country’s turbulent history. Key stops will include the San Francisco Monastery, the stunning views of the Towers of the Basilica, and the local market. Top it off with a meal at one of Adriana’s favorite Ecuadorian restaurants before heading to the rink for the first games of the tournament. After the games, you can head out for some drinks in town with your new teammates, or take the night off and rest for the big day ahead.

Today is all about the hockey! After breakfast, meetup with your teammates to talk strategy before heading to the rink for the days games. You’re encouraged to stay and cheer on the other teams when you’re not playing, but you are also welcome to use the breaks in between your games to rest or explore the city. Games will be scheduled from early morning until early afternoon, and from evening until late night. After lunch you will have a few hours of participant free time to do as you please before making your way back to the rink for evening games.

It’s the big day, playoff hockey has arrived! Playoffs are single-loss elimination, so make sure you bring your ‘A’ game. A championship game will be held at approximately 1pm, and will be followed by our famous Friendship Game where we form mixed teams with the Orkos HC for a fun game. After lunch, take a few hours to rest or explore the city, before we head to meet the Orkos inline squad for a game under the stars. Celebrate into the night with your new friends from Orkos HC at the buffet-style Friendship Banquet!

Get an early breakfast at the hotel before the team bus picks us up for our journey through to Valley of Volcanoes. Our destination – the Cotopaxi active volcano, which rests inside the Cotopaxi National Park. If you have the strength, hike up to a mountain hut (4,600m) to take in views of the volcano and park before heading back to the bus. The next stop will be the Limpiopungo Lake, where you can enjoy an easier hour-long hike to explore the local flora and fauna with our guide Adrianna. After lunch, check in to your room at an Andean lodge and prepare for a 2 hour horseback ride through the mountains. Return to the lodge for a traditional Andean dinner, some drinks, and maybe even a campfire under the stars.

If you ask our guide Adriana, Quilotoa might just be the prettiest place in all of Latin America so don’t forget your camera. Start the day right with breakfast at the Andean lodge, before driving through the winding roads of the epic Andean landscape: the typical Andean hills, surrounded by valleys, countryside, and small Quechua communities. Arrive at a viewpoint for the breathtaking Quilotoa Lagoon, a 250m deep lake that appears emerald in color due to the presence of volcanic minerals. If you want, take a short hike down into the crater and rent a kayak to explore the lagoon. After spending a few hours at the lake, drive south to your next destination – the warmer Ecuadorian Amazon Basin. If you’re not too tired, head out to the hot springs for some relaxation before taking in a delicious dinner. Finish the night off with some drinks, if that’s your thing!

After having breakfast at the hotel in Banos, the bus will pick you up and take you to the remote, yet mighty Pastaza River for some grade 3 rafting. Once you’ve conquered the river, have lunch in Banos town before taking a bit of free time to explore the area. Early in the afternoon, begin a trip to back to Quito for one final night with your teammates.

Today is the last day of the main trip, so some of your teammates will be heading to the airport. Do your best to get up early and say your goodbyes!

Depending on how late you stayed up saying goodbye to the main trip participants, you might be a little bit hungover. Don’t worry, the bus will pick you up for a short drive to a hot springs high in the Andean foothills. Nurse your headache in the springs while surrounded by the lush green forests, singing hummingbirds and beautiful flowers. The springs are naturally heated by two nearby volcanoes, Cayambe and Antisana. According to ancient Incan tradition, these thermal waters of Papallacta have healing properties – something that will come in handy after all that hockey! Once you’re well-rested, jump back in the bus for a beautiful 7 hour drive to Lago Agrio, where you will start your amazon adventure!

Wake up in Lago Agrio and have breakfast before hopping back in the bus for a 2.5 hour ride to the entrance of the Cuyabeno Jungle Reserve. Once you arrive, have a quick lunch at a local restaurant before getting in a motorized canoe under the supervision of our guides and a steersman – a local canoe expert. Spend time learning about the different species that call the Amazon home, and discover what daily life is like inside the dense rainforests as you cruise down the majestic river. As evening nears, head down river to the picturesque Laguna Grande – home to the famously ugly pink dolphins! Take a swim in the lagoon, or just relax and soak in the sounds of the Amazon. When you return to the lodge, dinner will be waiting. Spend some time star-gazing before falling asleep to the sounds of the Amazon.

The steersman that you met yesterday is from the local Siona indigenous community. He has generously offered to guide us to his home community, where you can experience Amazonian life like a true local. Indulge in the unfamiliar but sweet jungle fruits, nuts and local snacks. For lunch, we’ll harvest cassava and join efforts to peel, grate, squeeze and bake it into a typical dish. After lunch, open your mind to the cultural and spiritual traditions of the Siona people, and do your best to understand their unique history and worldview as you experience community life. If you do, you will be well-prepared for your encounter with a Shaman later that afternoon. The Shaman, in good spirits, will passionately explain their ancestral and spiritual world, energy, and healing. You will be invited to try one of his concoctions and experience a short healing ceremony. In the early evening, you will return to the lodge to search for more wildlife, and if you’re lucky, you’ll encounter caimans, night birds, night monkeys and maybe even a boa or two.

The early hours of the morning is when the Amazon comes most alive! Toucan’s nibble on exotic fruits on the tops of trees, monkeys swing from one tree to another (often with a baby clinging desperately to their back), and sluggish sloths move in slow motion, hanging upside down on branches to snack on some juicy green leafs. In the water dolphins and giant otters play, and flocks of exotic birds skim over the river. If you want to witness one of the greatest shows on earth, get up extra early with our local guides for one last Amazonian experience. After breakfast, jump back in the motorized canoe and make your way out of the Cuyabeno Jungle Reserve. Following the canoe trip, you’ll travel by bus to the tour ending point in Quito. The Friendship League experience has come to an end……for now!

Included:

• All tournament fees and ice time
• Local and international guides
• In-country transportation as listed in the itinerary
• All accommodation (based on double-occupancy, additional fees may apply for single rooms)
• All meals during tour
• Water and beers for during/after hockey
• Tourist activity and entry fees
• Pre-trip support and guidance

Not Included:

• Kayak rental at Quilotoa
• Additional drinks and snacks not included in package
• Tips for local guides
• Friendship League jersey (for first-timers)
• Visa fees
• Travel insurance
• Transport to and from the tour meeting and end points