12 Days Ecuador Program

Quito Colonial Town - Panecillo

DAY 1: QUITO CITY TOUR Quito. Visit Colonial Town and its Churches: The Cathedral with an interesting collection of sculptures and paintings from Escuela Quiteña. From Independence Square we can walk to the most of the colonial sites: El Sagrario, La Compañia de Jesus, San Francisco Church and Plaza, Convents and Monasteries.
Optional Visit: Museo de Oro Del Banco Central del Ecuador. Lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon we will visit The Equatorial Monument located 20 minutes from Quito.

DAY 2 QUITO - COTACACHI TOWN Early in the morning we will depart to Iluman and Peguche Communities, located at the north of Otavalo; these communities have been specialized for many generations in making Andean tapestries, alpaca sweaters or straw hats. In the afternoon we have a moderate trek around the Cuicocha Lake in front Cotacachi Volcano (4.944 m above sea level) This Lake has a weird and wonderful turquoise - blue color, it is at 3.000 meters above sea level.  From here you can have a spectacular view of Otavalo, Ibarra towns and the Imbabura Volcano. Lodging in a Colonial Hacienda or Hostel in Otavalo.

Otavalo Indian Market

DAY 3 OTAVALO INDIAN MARKETS After breakfast, we'll go to the Otavalo Indian Market; this market offers wonderful weavings, tapestries, bags, handicrafts, and other products made by the Otavalo Community. Otavalo is one of the largest Ecuadorian Indian Markets and is recognized around the world.  Visit to Cayambe Town and Guachala (Equinoccial Monument).

Cotopaxi National Park

DAY 4 COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK Beginning our trip early in the morning, we'll drive through The Avenue of the Volcanoes and arrive to The Cotopaxi National Park, where you can see the Highest Active Volcano in the world: Cotopaxi (5.987 meters above sea level). Visit Limpiopungo Lake and Vicious Valley. This park is home of several animals such as condors, blue-bill pointed ducks, Andean gulls, rabbits, paramo wolves, foxes and white tailed deer. Box lunch or lunch in a local hacienda. In the afternoon, we will visit an interesting archeological Inca site and colonial hacienda called San Agustin del Callo.

DAY 5 QUILOTOA CRATER LAKE Departure to Quilotoa Crater Lake; visit Tigua a little indigenous town near Zumbahua and Quilotoa. In this community we will meet the Tigua artists well known for their colorful paints, which are elaborated on sheepskin canvases. Their paints represent Andean landscapes, people, and daily life. Arrive to Quilotoa Lake where is possible to descend to the crater (Trekking for 4 hours). Departure to Baños

Quilotoa Crater Lake

DAY 6 BAÑOS TOWN Baños: the entrance to the jungle and a zone classified as the largest biodiversity in Ecuador. Visit the city of Baños and its surroundings for adventure, relax or experience an exciting bohemian nightlife.  Baños is a small jewel on the Andean plateau. At the night is possible to admire the eruptions of Tungurahua Volcano. 

Welcome Dance - Cotococha Community

DAY 7 - 8 BAÑOS - COTOCOCHA COMMUNITY Departure to Amazon Rain Forest. We'll have a passage crossing the river by Tarabita. After, we will go to El Pailón del Diablo, one of the biggest waterfalls in Ecuador, Manto de la Novia, Rio Verde, and Agoyan waterfalls. We will continue our trip toward Puyo and arrive to the Cotococha Community where we will encounter the Shaman's presentation and indigenous welcome dance. In this place, we will learn of ancient traditions, medicinal plants, lifestyle of our ethnic groups and walk through the tropical forest with the help of a native guide.  You can see many species of birds, mammals, and reptiles.  Accommodation in native huts made of local ecological materials.

DAY 9 COTOCOCHA COMMUNITY - RIOBAMBA TOWN Depart to Riobamba (route Puyo - Baños - Riobamba) Visit the Salasaca Community - one of the most interesting cultures of the highlands - the community members get together in several squares to trade handcrafts, agriculture products, cattle and sheep. City Tour in Riobamba: Colonial Town, the Cathedral, Basilica, and The Conceptas Museum

Guamote Indian Market

DAY 10 ANDEAN TRAIN - DEVIL'S NOSE Very early in the morning we  will take the Andean Train from Riobamba to Devil's Nose (Wednesday, Friday, or Sunday) or visit Guamote Indian Market - one of the oldest markets in Ecuador - we will continue our trip toward Tambo and visit Ingapirca - Inca Ruins: the most important Archeological Inca ruins in Ecuador. Accommodation in Cuenca.

Cuenca

DAY 11 CUENCA COLONIAL CITY Cuenca is the third largest city in Ecuador. It stands 2.535 meters above sea level (it was declared Cultural Heritage Site on December 1999 by the UNESCO). In Cuenca, we will visit the old town and its colonial sites, churches and the El Turi viewpoint.  In the afternoon we will visit Cajas National Park where you can find more than 230 lagoons of glacial origin and learn about the Andean flora and fauna. A beautiful place at this National Park, which is almost unknown, is the La Toreadora Lagoon, very close to the city of Cuenca. This lagoon is home to numerous birds, and is surrounded by an attractive cloud forest.

DAY 12 CUENCA - QUITO/ GUAYAQUIL. Breakfast. Flight departing from Cuenca to Quito or Guayaquil.

Remarks

Indians of Highlands

* 12 Day Program: Our passengers can return to Quito or Guayaquil by car with our guide or by plane from Cuenca. When they arrive to Quito's airport a representative of Ecuadventour will assist them. Transfer to hotel. Alternatively, your itinerary can be extended up to 8 days longer in mainland Ecuador to complete the 20 day program. This trip includes tours in Guayaquil, the beautiful beaches of Guayas and Manabi Province, Excursions to the National Park Machalilla, La Plata Island with flora and fauna similar to Galapagos Islands and which was in ancient times a refuge for pirates.

* From 12^th or 20^th day you can complete your adventure in Ecuador with a Naturalist cruise in Galapagos Islands. From Quito or Guayaquil our passengers will take their flight to the Galapagos for a cruise previously organized - 5 or 8 days Cruise.

NOTE: Or from 12^th or 20^th day in Ecuador you can do a travel connection with Lima - Cusco - MACHU PICHU - Lima. Ask for our special package.

NOTE:

The Itinerary is flexible according with your interests or requirements.
You can organize your own trip under previous request.
Complete your vist to Ecuador: click here