The Route of the Lakes (LFRL-10)

	Duration: 10 days Departing: Daily
	Itinerary Day 1 Transfer In Day 2 Historical City Tour in Quito & Middle of the World Day 3 Otavalo (San Pablo Lake) Day 4 Cuicocha Lake – Cotacahi – Illuman - Quito Day 5 Cotopaxi National Park – Limpiapungo Lake Day 6 Quilotoa Lake - Riobamba Day 7 Riobamba – Train ride – Ingapirca - Cuenca Day 8 Cajas Lake & National Park Day 9 Cuenca - Quito Day 10 Transfer out
	Package Descriptions

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1

Upon you 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 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 - Otavalo Indian Market & San Pablo Lake

After a delicious breakfast you will discover the biggest and most colorful indigenous market in Latin America, the famous Otavalo and 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. Lunch will be served in a typical restaurant in the San Pablo Lake, where you can explore the lake by kayaking or boat or relax in your room for the next day excursion. Accommodation (B – L)

Day 4 - Cuicocha Lake

After breakfast, your lakes adventure continue with Cuicocha Lake, hike around this flooded volcanic crater with its twin islets. Here you will observe a specific species of orchids that grow at 10,520 ft high. After enjoying this volcanic lake you will arrive to Cotacachi, known for its leather works and where you can buy leather clothing direct from local designers at low prices. After a great shopping you move on to Illuman, a town of witch doctors and family-run hat workshops. In your way back to Quito you will enjoy the fantastic agricultural mosaic of rural Ecuador. Accommodation (B - L)

Day 5 - Cotopaxi National Park & Limpiapungo Lake

After breakfast you will start your expedition in one of the most beautiful national parks in Ecuador, where you will admire the Cotopaxi (19,347 feet) the highest active volcano on earth and its National Park. Upon your 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 its highland birds or you can start climbing up to the snow line and arrive to the Cotopaxi’s first shelter, located at 15,744 ft. Lunch will be served at a typical nearby hacienda where you can relax for your next day trip. Accommodation (B - L)

Day 6 - Quilotoa Crater Lake

Today you are going to a remote mountain region in the western side of the Ecuadorian highlands, where indigenous communities keep crops at altitudes of over 13,120 ft, and where the famous Tigua paintings were born. You will arrive to the dark green Quilotoa Crater Lake inside an extinct volcano (12,497 ft), where you can hike to the crater or just admire the beautiful landscapes of the Highlands of Ecuador. After lunch 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 7 - Andean Train & Ingapirca Ruins

After an early breakfast you will continue your excursion south passing by a picturesque indigenous 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 Cuenca for your overnight stay. Accommodation (B – Box Lunch)

Day 8 - Cajas National Park

Enjoy a full day of excursions and hikes in Cajas National Park, one of the highest National Parks in Ecuador (11,483 ft), with more than 232 glacier lakes, geological formations and caves that complement the landscapes. Here, you can be guided through the dried up mashes that were once river and observe large Polylepis forest. Accommodation (B)

Day 9 - Cuenca City Tour

Today you will discover one of the most beautiful colonial cities in Latin America “Cuenca” which is located at 7,650 feet above sea level in a valley surrounded by 4 rivers and mountains with colorful countryside. Cuenca is famous for its art and history, admire its beautiful marble Cathedral, its cobblestone streets, and graceful wrought-iron balconies. Enjoy its blossom-filled gardens, flowered plazas and museums and visit its religious art treasures made by its deeply religious and artistic people. 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 10

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