The Indian Trail - 10 Days

When you arrive in 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.

Accommodation: Hotel Mercure

Landing in Quito Ecuador

Quito Airport

After breakfast you will visit “Quito”, the most beautiful and colonial city in South America, declared by UNESCO part of the Cultural Heritage of mankind. You will explore the colonial part of the city,starting at the Independence square, where the presidential palace, the city hall, the Sagrario church and the Cathedral are placed. Afterwards, you will 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 the art & crafts gallery of Tianguez and finally, drive up to the Panecillo hill to 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)

This day, 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. Here you will learn 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 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. After lunch you will admire Ecuador’s highest mountain, the snow capped Chimborazo (20,697 ft.), as you travel on 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 the “Quito” hill and learn about Ecuador’s history from its murals.

Accommodation: Hacienda Abraspungo (Breakfast)

Chimborazo is the highest volcano and mountain in Ecuador, and the point furthest from the center of the Earth with an altitude of 6263.47 meters above sea level. It is located in the central Andes, next to the city of Riobamba, 150 km southwest of Quito and 145 km from Guayaquil. Due to the Earth’s rotation, the diameter in the equatorial zone is the largest on the entire planet. Thanks to this, if the distance from the center of the Earth is measured, its summit is the most distant point, surpassing by more than two kilometers that of the highest mountain above sea level, mount Everest.

After this you will arrive to the Ingapirca Inca ruins; the most important religious and political complex of the Inca ruins in Ecuador. Afterwards, you will continue your driving to the beautiful city of Cuenca, Ecuador’s third largest city. In the evening you have the night free to wander through this charming city in the south of the country.

Accommodation: Hotel Santa Lucia (Breakfast)

Discover one of the most beautiful colonial cities in Latin America: “Cuenca”. This city is located at 2,500 meters above sea level, in a valley surrounded by 4 rivers and mountains with a very 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. The people of Cuenca are known for their great hospitality. After lunch, in the afternoon, you will be transferred to the airport for your return flight to Quito.

Accommodation: Hotel Mercure (Breakfast)

In the morning, you will be transferred to the airport to take a brief flight to the jungle town of Coca. At your arrival, you will take a canoe ride to arrive to the Lodge located in a Primary Rainforest. Here you will enjoy rare and exotic wildlife with intriguing insects, unique species of birds and butterflies and magical sceneries. During the next 4 days, you will explore one of the most diverse, unique and richest rainforest environments in the world. Explore this gigantic and mysterious jungle visiting the rain forest tower (135 ft). You will also visit Ecuador’s largest butterfly farm and the parrot clay lick, which attracts a host of colorful birds. Meet native communities that have inhabited in this land for over 10,000 years. You will find those specially designed trails for bird watching with a specialist guide that will let you unveil the secrets of the rainforest making the best of your jungle journey.

Accommodation: La Selva or Sacha Lodge (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner).

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