When you arrive in Ecuador, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your charming hotel in Quito.
Accommodation: Hotel Mercure
After breakfast you will visit “Quito”, the most beautiful colonial city in South America, declared by UNESCO part of the Cultural Heritage of mankind. Your tour will start exploring the colonial part of the city, starting at the Independence square. Here is where the presidential palace, the city hall, the Sagrario church and the Cathedral stand. You will then, visit San Francisco church and museum-monastery (1535), the San Agustin monastery and the finest example of baroque art in America, La Compañía church (1605) and its breathtaking gilded altars. Your next stop will be at the art & crafts gallery of Tianguez. Finally, you will drive up to the Panecillo hill and enjoy an amazing view of Quito from above. Here,you can admire the only winged-Virgin statue in South America. This is a great spot to take pictures above Quito.
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 equatorial line marking latitude 0° 0´0”, where you will have the opportunity to stand in both hemispheres and take wonderful pictures. Here you can also visit the ethnographic museum on site as well.
Accommodation: Hotel Mercure (Breakfast)
Today you will visit the biggest and most colorful indigenous market in Latin America, Otavalo. Its market is 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 this, you will go to the Peguche Waterfall near Otavalo, where you will arrive after a refreshing walk. After your tour you will be transferred to a nice colonial hacienda to overnight.
Accommodation: Hosteria Hacienda Pinsaquí (Breakfast)
It’s time to visit Cuicocha, one of the most interesting crater lakes in Ecuador. This active volcano has a lagoon inside its crater as well as 2 small islands. If you like, you can enjoy a boat ride around the crater and listen to the stories and legends of this magical place. On your way back to Quito you will enjoy the fantastic agricultural mosaic of rural Ecuadorian.
Accommodation: Ilatoa Lodge (Breakfast)
Your jungle experience begins today. In the morning, you will be transferred from Quito to La Casa del Suizo lodge in the Amazon basin. You will travel along a scenic stretch of road, which takes us out of the majestic Andes highlands, Quito – Papallacta – Baeza – Tena – Ahuano and down into the jungle. This route is 140 miles long, and during the trip there are several opportunities to stop for photographs, overlooking lush green valleys and sparkling waterfalls. Here you will enjoy rare and exotic wildlife with intriguing insects, unique species of birds and butterflies and magical sceneries. During the next 3 days, you will explore one of the most diverse, unique and richest rainforest environments in the world. Explore this gigantic and mysterious jungle, visit a butterfly farm, Kayak down the river, visit an authentic indigenous home on the Arajuno River, meet native communities that have inhabited this land for over 10,000 years. You can also engage in other optional activities. You will also have some good opportunities for bird-watching.
Accommodation: Casa del Suizo Lodge (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
On the morning of the 7th day, you will be transferred to Baños, the gateway of the Amazon Rain Forest.
Accommodation: Sangay Spa Hotel (Breakfast)
During this day you will explore Baños, the entrance to the Amazon Rain Forest, which is located near the active volcano Tungurahua. Baños is a small town on the edge between the Andes and Amazon. It offers a large number of adventurous activities, beautiful surroundings and peace and tranquility. Here you will have the opportunity to explore the Pailón del Diablo waterfall and admire the route of the waterfalls. You will have a free afternoon in Baños, where you can do any adventure activity like mountain biking, rappelling, rent a motorcycle or bike and explore the area or just relax in your Hotel.
Accommodation: Sangay Spa Hotel (Breakfast)
In the morning, you will be transferred from Baños and up the Andes to the Cotopaxi Area. Here you will admire the Cotopaxi (19,347 feet), the highest active volcano on earth and it’s 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 Limpiopungo Lake and admire the Andean moorlands and its highland birds. You can also start climbing up to the snow line and arrive to the first shelter of the mountain located at 15,744 ft.
Lunch will be included in a historical hacienda, in the afternoon you will return to Quito.
Accommodation: Ilatoa Lodge (Breakfast)
After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home. (Breakfast)
