Cultural & Historical Ecuador (LFCH-07)

	Duration: 7 days Departing: Daily
	Itinerary Day 1 Transfer In Day 2 Historical City Tour in Quito & Middle of the World. Day 3 Quito – Cotopaxi - Riobamba Day 4 Riobamba – Train ride – Ingapirca - Cuenca Day 5 Cuenca - Quito Day 6 Otavalo Day 7 Transfer out
	Package Descriptions

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1

Upon your arrival to the capital of Ecuador, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your charming hotel in Quito, where you will receive your full itinerary and information about Ecuador and your trip.

Day 2 - Quito City Tour

After breakfast, your will visit “Quito” the most beautiful and colonial city in South America declared by UNESCO part of the Cultural Heritage of mankind. Your visit starts in Ecuador’s House of Congress where you will appreciate its stone-carved facade depicting scenes from Ecuadorian history. Explore the Independence square, with the presidential palace, the city hall, the Sagrario church and the Cathedral. Visit San Francisco church and museum-monastery (1535), San Agustin monastery and the finest example of
Baroque art in America, La Compañía church (1605) and its breathtaking gilded altars. Visit the art & crafts gallery of Tianguez and finally, drive up to the Panecillo hill to have a spectacular view of Quito and to see the only winged Virgin in South America.

After visiting the Colonial center of Quito you will arrive to the Middle of the World Monument and Museum, which is located 25 km north of Ecuador’s capital. There you will find the monument on the exact equatorial line marking latitude 0° 0´0”, where you will have the opportunity to stand in both hemispheres, and take a picture of yourself jumping from one hemisphere. You can also visit the ethnographic museum on site. Accommodation (B)

Day 3 - Cotopaxi Volcano

Your adventure will start driving south of Quito where you will admire the Cotopaxi (19,347 feet) the highest active volcano on earth and its National Park. Upon you arrival to the park you will visit the interpretation center where you will find history about the last Cotopaxi eruption as well as information about the flora & fauna of this beautiful national park. Afterwards you will visit the Limpiapungo Lake and admire the Andean moorlands with highland birds or you can start climbing up to the snow line and arrive to the first shelter of the mountain located at 15,744 ft.

Lunch will be served at a typical nearby hacienda. After lunch you will stop in a typical indigenous market and you will admire Ecuador’s highest mountain the snow capped Chimborazo (20,697 ft.) in your way to Riobamba which is the birthplace of Ecuador’s first constitution (1830). Here you will have a brief tour of the city, which includes its French-influenced plazas, the Cathedral, admire the city from Quito hill and learn about Ecuador’s history from its murals. Accommodation (B - L)

Day 4 - Andean Train & Ingapirca Ruins

After an early breakfast you will continue your excursion south passing by a picturesque Indian area in the highlands of Ecuador, here you will admire the oldest Catholic chapel in the country “Balbanera chapel”.
You are going to arrive to Alausi train Station. If the train is available, you will experience the Devil’s nose route going from the highest Andes to the low lands.
After a Box lunch on the road you will arrive to Ingapirca ruins, the most important religious and political complex of Inca ruins in Ecuador. Drive to the beautiful city of Cuenca (Ecuador’s third largest city), for an overnight stay. Accommodation (B – Box Lunch)

Day 5 - Cuenca City Tour

Discover one of the most beautiful colonial cities in Latin America “Cuenca” which is located at 2,500 meters above sea level in a valley surrounded by 4 rivers and mountains with colorful countryside. Cuenca is famous for its art and history; there you will be able to admire its beautiful marble Cathedral, its cobblestone streets, graceful wrought-iron balconies, flowered plazas and museums. Continue to Gualaceo valley where you will admire the beauty of this region.
After Lunch you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Quito. Accommodation (B – L)

Day 6 - Otavalo Indian Market

Today you will visit the biggest and colorfully indigenous market in Latin America, the famous Otavalo. Here, you will visit its Ponchos market, famous around the world for its colorful tapestries, hand-knitted wool sweaters, native paintings, wood carvings, silver jewelry, woolen and straw hats, and much more at bargain prices. After a great shopping you will arrive to Cotacachi know for its leather works and San Antonio de Ibarra for its excellent woodcarvings. Lunch will be served at a typical nearby hacienda or country inn. On your way back to Quito you will enjoy the fantastic agricultural mosaic of rural Ecuador. Accommodation (B - L)

Day 7

After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home (B).