TRIP TO ECUADOR (16 days/15 nights)

Day 1: City tour + Half of the World.

We will discover this charming city and its secrets, traveling through the modern section of Quito, and afterward, towards the historic district of the city. Visit to the monastery of ‘San Agustin’, with its impressive ‘Sala capitularia’. Continue through Independence Square, where the presidential palace, the cathedral, and the City Hall are located. Next, admire the church of ‘Sagrario’, and the facade of the Church of the Compañía. Visit the monastery of ‘San Francisco’, built on the ruins of an Inca palace. Climb the road to the top of ‘Panecillo’ hill, for a unique view of Quito. Route, towards the sanctuary of ‘Guapulo’, located on the route taken by Francisco de Orellana, having discovered and named the river ‘Amazon’.

After a short 30-minute drive north of Quito, the environment becomes semi-arid, in the shadow of the Andes Mountains. The ‘Half of the World’ monument stands proudly as a tribute to the French scientists who made history by determining the shape of the earth. You can take a photo with one foot in the northern hemisphere and the other in the south. You can also visit the ‘Intinan’ museum where you will observe the colorful way of life of the different ethnic groups of Ecuador and you will experience the difference of life in the North and that of the South (like, observing the different evacuation of water by two siphons separated by a few centimeters by the imaginary line of the equator, or balancing an egg on a nail, or using an ancient sundial, etc.).

Day 2: Otavalo

Otavalo is a well-known market, in Ecuador and around the world, thanks to its exceptional craftsmanship and beautiful clothing.

Leaving Quito, towards the North, via Cayambe, you can observe the ‘Cayambe’ Volcano, in favorable weather. A short break at the edge of Lake San Pablo to continue towards Otavalo. Visit to the market, and free time to do business with the Indians. After lunch, you will continue your journey to ‘Cotacachi’ (known for its leather crafts), where you will take the last photos of the day before returning to Quito.

Day 3: Cotopaxi National Park

Early in the morning, leaving Quito, you will cross the “Avenue of the Volcanoes”, to arrive at the Cotopaxi National Park. Visit the Cotopaxi National Park and its surroundings. If the weather is favorable, the ascent of the volcano to the refuge, just below the glaciers, is possible. (4,700 m). In the afternoon we will enjoy a local lunch and other activities such as horseback riding or hiking in the area. Accommodation in a hacienda.

Day 4: Baños

Early morning departure to Baños. Excursion in Chiva (open bus, typical of the coast) to enjoy the different waterfalls that you will encounter along the way, ending with the “Devil’s Cauldron” Waterfall, which is one of the 10 most beautiful waterfalls in the world. Meal and free afternoon to discover ‘Banos’. Night in Baños.

Days 5: Baños – Riobamba

In the morning, time to enjoy the thermal waters of Baños and the natural SPA of the
hotel. After lunch, departure towards Riobamba through the moors where wildlife, luckily Andean vicuñas can be spotted. Arrival in Riobamba, panoramic tour of the city.
Night in Riobamba

Day 6: Riobamba – Andean Train – Cuenca

Early in the morning we will take the ‘Trans-Andes’ train, towards Alausi, via, the “Devil’s Nose” to enjoy a breathtaking view. We will board the rehabilitated ‘Andes Train’, known for its complex engineering, made famous in the last century as “The most difficult railway ever built”. Our journey passes through a famous point, the ‘Devil’s Nose’. Many people died trying to build the train track up to the top of the mountains Andean, to continue its magical journey through the mountain towns and villages, here we will have time to see the local projects, which nowadays take an important role in the general economy of the people living along the railway. Afterwards, you will continue towards Alausi and then to Cuenca passing through Ingapirca (the most important archaeological site of the pre-Inca period in Ecuador).

Day 7: Cuenca – Chordeleg – Gualaceo

City tour of Cuenca. Visit to the Panama hat factory. Lunch. In the afternoon, visit the town of Chordeleg famous for its great jewelry and Gualaceo, a town known for its crafts. Night in Cuenca.

Day 8: Cuenca

Free day in Cuenca to visit museums or to rest before going to the Galapagos or the Jungle. Night in Cuenca.

Day 9: Cuenca – Cajas National Park – Guayaquil

Departure towards Guayaquil passing through the “Cajas National Park”, located thirty minutes by car from Cuenca. Here you will find a network of around 200 lakes which today form a vast recreational area, at an average altitude of 3000 m. Small rivers connect the series of lakes and these eventually flow into the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. After a short visit you will continue towards Guayaquil

Day 10: Galapagos or Amazon Jungle

Transfer to the airport to continue your trip either to the Galapagos or to the Jungle.
Choose your cruise
Choose your lodge in the Amazon

Day 11: Galapagos or Amazon Jungle

Galapagos Cruise or Jungle Excursion.

Day 12: Galapagos or Amazon Jungle

Galapagos Cruise or Jungle Excursion

Day 13: Galapagos or Amazon Jungle

Galapagos Cruise or Jungle Excursion

Day 14: Galapagos or Amazon Jungle

Galapagos / Amazon to Quito.
Night in Quito.

Day 15: Quito

Free day in Quito to visit places of your personal interest.

Day 16: Departure

End of services. Transfer to the airport.