MAGICAL ECUADOR (20 Days / 19 Nights)

Day 1: City tour in Quito + Half of the World

Welcome to the capital of Ecuador, we will discover this charming city and its secrets by traveling through the modern section of Quito east towards the historic district of the city. Visit the monastery of San Agustin with its impressive Sala capitulary. Continue through Independence Square, where the presidential palace, cathedral, and City Hall are located. Next, admire the Sagrario Church and the facade of the Compañía Church. Visit the San Francisco Monastery, built on the ruins of an Inca palace. Drive up the road to the top of Panecillo Hill for a unique view of Quito. Route to the Sanctuary of Guapulo, which is located on the route taken by Francisco de Orellana during the discovery of the Amazon River.

After a short 30-minute drive north of Quito, the environment becomes semi-arid in the shadow of the Andes mountain range. The ‘Half of the World’ monument stands proudly as a tribute to the French scientists who made history for 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 experience the difference of life in the north and south (such as, observing the different evacuation of water through two siphons separated by a few centimeters by the imaginary line of the equator, where balancing an egg on a nail, where, 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 from 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: Amazon Experience

Flight from Quito to Coca or Lago Agrio/the Jungle. Transfer to the lodge.

Day 4: Excursion to the Amazon / Jungle lodge

Day 5: Excursion to the Amazon / Jungle lodge

Day 6: Excursion to the Amazon / Jungle lodge

Day 7: Return flight to Quito. Night in Quito.

Day 8: Cotopaxi National Park

Early in the morning, leaving Quito, you will cross the “Avenue of Volcanoes” to arrive at Cotopaxi National Park. Visit the Cotopaxi National Park and its surroundings. If the weather is favorable, the ascent from 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 9: Baños

Early morning departure to Baños. Excursion by ‘Chiva’ (open bus, typical of the coast) to enjoy the different waterfalls that you will encounter along the route. You will finish 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.

Day 10: 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, such as Andean vicuñas can be spotted. Arrival in Riobamba, panoramic tour of the city.
Night in Riobamba.

Day 11: Riobamba – Andes Train – Cuenca

Early in the morning we will take the ‘Trans-Andean’ train, towards Alausi, via, the “Devil’s Nose” to enjoy a breathtaking view. We will board the rehabilitated ‘Andean 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 12: Cuenca – Gualaceo – Chordeleg

City tour of Cuenca. Visit to a world-famous hat manufacturing factory, ‘Panama’. Lunch. In the afternoon, visit the town of Chordeleg famous for its great jewelry and Gualaceo, a town known for its crafts and its beautiful landscapes to get there. Night in Cuenca.

Day 13: 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 14: Guayaquiel – Galapagos

Departure to Galapagos (cruise of your choice)

Day 15: Galapagos Cruise

Day 16: Galapagos Cruise

Day 17: Galapagos Cruise

Day 18: From Galapagos to Quito

Day 19: Free day in Quito to visit places of your personal interest.

Day 20: End of service.

Transfer to the airport.