Duration:
14 days
Departures: Every Tuesday , Thursday or Saturday
Every:
Day 1.- Reception and transfers to Dann
Carlton Hotel
Day 2.-
City Tour with “Mitad del Mundo” (Middle of the World) (B)
Duration: 5 hours
Drive around the colonial center of Quito and see the stone-carved
facade of Ecuador’s House of Congress depicting scenes from
Ecuadorian history; Independence Square, with the Presidential
Palace and the Cathedral. Visit the church of La Compania (1605),
with its breathtaking gilded altars, considered the finest example
of baroque art in America and the church and monastery of San
Francisco (1535). For a panoramic view of Ecuador’s capital
city we go to the top of Panecillo Hill. Our country, needless
to say, owes its name to the Equatorial Line which crosses it
15 minutes to the north of Quito. There you find a monument marking
latitude 0� 00` 00”, a unique place where you can literally
get a picture of yourself jumping from north to south of the planet.
This tour includes a visit to the Ethnographic Museum on site.
Certificates are awarded to visitors who take part in this adventure.
Accommodation at Dann
Carlton Hotel.
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Quito Panoramic View
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Mitad del Mundo
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Day
3.-
Otavalo 2 Days (B-D)
Start your trip through the Awakening Valley in Calderón
with its bread-dough figures and Cayambe for the local food specialties.
Passing by some of the most attractive artisan centers and Andean
landscapes, you arrive in Otavalo and its famous indigenous market
just in time to bargain for hand-knitted wool sweaters, colorful
tapestries, wood carvings, silver jewelry, native paintings, woolen
and straw hats, and much more. San Antonio de Ibarra, famous for
the woodcarvings and the town of Peguche where textiles are woven
in old-fashioned shuttle looms. Dinner and hotel accommodation.
(Casa
de Hacienda)
Day 4.- (B)
The second day, after breakfast we´ll visit Cuicocha and
the town of Cotacachi, and entire town dedicated to selling
fine leather products and many handicrafts. Return to Quito and
accommodation at Dann
Carlton.
Day
5.-
QUITO – COTOPAXI (B-D)
Early morning we will pick you up from the hotel, by the Panamericana
highway, down to the south of Quito, we will pass by many small
towns important for Quito and our Country as: Valle de Los Chillos,
Aloag, this small town is the connection between “Sierra”
and “Costa”, continuing by the “Volcanoes Avenue”
here you will have the possibility to view many volcanoes in the
way such as Corazon, Rumiñahui, North Iliniza, South Iliniza,
Cotopaxi one of highest snow-capped in the world, late afternoon
accommodation at La
Cienega or similar.
Cotopaxi Volcano
Day 6.-
QUILOTOA - AMBATO (B-D)
After breakfast our journey begins with a visit to the Quilotoa
Volcano, one of the most beautiful places of Zumbahua an inactive
volcano that has a lagoon of turquoise blue water inside their
boiler. After a walk for the surroundings, we will have time for
lunch, after We will be traveling to the southern part of the
highlands, crossing by rich valleys and cities as Latacunga
and Salcedo. Then we arrive to Ambato The City of Flowers and
Fruits. Ambato is the homeland of well-known musicians and poets.
It will offer you the opportunity to visit a market that reflects
very well the combination between modern life and a native market.
The whole city comes alive in the market; in every single corner
you will find retailers selling fruits, vegetables, kitchen utensils
and unique handicrafts. Enjoy a walk around its historic streets
in search of handicrafts and you will be delighted to try a sublime
specialty: "bread made of corn" with a lot of flavor.
In this region you will also be able to enjoy a pleasant rest
in a hostelry Quinta Loren.
Day 7.-
AMBATO – BAÑOS (B-D)
After breakfast will visit the area of Los Salasacas, the craftsmen
of the region. Then continue to Baños, another small city
The Door of the Amazon Basin. If the weather allows, we will make
a visit to the zone, to admire the beautiful waterfalls also the
opportunity to see tomato trees and a wide variety of orchids
growing. Accommodation at Monteselva
or similar.
Day 8.-
BAÑOS –RIOBAMBA (B-D)
The adventure starts after breakfast you will have time
to visit “Pailon del Diablo”, “Manto de la Novia”,
“Agoyan”, in the afternoon we advance along Panamericana
high way till we get to the city of Riobamba, located at the foot
of the snow-capped Chimborazo (6310). This city has a lot of history
to tell us about the first Ecuadorian Constitution, The Cathedral,
the museum of “Las Conceptas” and other places. Overnight
at Riobamba in Hosteria
Abraspungo or Andaluza.
Day 9.-
RIOBAMBA – TRAIN – INGAPIRCA - CUENCA (B-D)
After an early breakfast, transfer to the train station to board
the train for a scenic ride to Alausí. Twist and
turn over the Andes, along bridging ravines and river gorges.
Arrive to Alausí and prepare to go down the Devil´s
Nose switchbacks, one of the most impressive feats of rail engineering
in the world, and back to Alausí. (box lunch will be provided).
Continue south along the Andes by bus to Cuenca, visiting in route
the Inca Ruins of Ingapirca to arrive at dusk. Accommodations
and dinner at the hotel Carvallo
/ Crespo.
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Ingapirca ruins
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Cuenca locals
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Day 10.-
CUENCA FULL DAY (B-D)
This day guests will enjoy a full day of discovering, at a leisurely
pace, the beauty and charm for which Cuenca has been recognized
as a World Cultural Heritage Site. Its red tiled roofs; cobblestone
streets, flowery plazas and museums make it very special. Hotel
accommodation and dinner at hotel Carvallo
or Crespo.
Day 11.
–
CUENCA – GUALACEO – CHORDELEG or EL CAJAS (B-D)
Depending on weather conditions, the full day visit this day can
be either to El Cajas National Park or Gualaceo Valley. At El
Cajas the wind and drizzle can make it very cold, but the surrounding
scenery with the glacial lakes is splendid. Great for those who
enjoy walking, hiking, observing flora, fauna and bird life.
The ride to Gualaceo Valley starts along the Santa Ana's Valley
and then high in the mountains, through very scenic landscapes,
which change at very curb. Stops are made at the small towns that
produce a variety of handicrafts. Visit Chordeleg, famous for it´s
gold work. Follow the road along the banks of the Santa Barbara
River, lined with weeping willows to the village of Gualaceo.
Dinner and hotel accommodation.
Day 12.-
CUENCA – LOJA – VILCABAMBA (B-D)
Depart from Cuenca and enjoy the Andean scenery. Pass by the town
of Saraguro. Then descend into the unique warm valley of Vilcabamba
where weather and stress free conditions will allow you to relax.
Overnight and dinner at Madre Tierra
Day 13.-
VILCABAMBA – MACHALA - GUAYAQUIL (B-D)
Early morning after breakfast departure from Vilcabamba to Guayaquil,
passing by Machala which is known as “World Capital of the
Banana", you will be able to enjoy the weather change from
highlands to the coast, and finish the land trip in Guayaquil.
Overnight and dinner at Grand
Hotel Guayaquil
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Vilcabamba Valley
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Machala bananas
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Day
14.-
TRANSFER OUT GUAYAQUIL (B)
Transfer hotel / airport will be provided to take the flight out
to Galapagos Islands or your international flight. You also have
an option to take a tour to the GALAPAGOS
ISLANDS
Prices
per person: $1980
Contact us for details and
availability!
- Prices
includes: Private transportation, English speaking guide, double room accommodation, breakfast and dinner (not in Quito), Box Lunch during the train trip, entrances to Mitad del Mundo and Cuenca museums, Ingapirca and train ticket., all tranfers.
- Does
not include: Lunch, dinner in Quito , US$10.00
Cotopaxi National Park, $10 Chimborazo, $10 El Cajas
Please ask for single
accommodations available.
Hotels:
* Dann
Carlton (Quito)
* Casa
Hacienda (Otavalo)
* La
Cienega (Cotopaxi)
* Quinta Loren (Ambato)
* Monteselva
(Baños)
* Abraspungo
(Ambato)
* Carvallo
/ Crespo
(Cuenca)
* Grand
Hotel (Guayaquil)