THE BEST OF ECUADOR AND PERU (15 days/14 nights)

Day 1: Quito City tour & Half of the World

Quito city tour and “Half of the World” Monument combined. This option will allow you to get to know Quito, its surroundings and the monument in a single day.

You will visit: the Monastery of San Agustin with its majestic Capitular Hall; Independence Square where the Government Palace, the Cathedral and the City Hall are located. Afterwards you can admire the magnificent architecture of the El Sagrario church, La Compañía and the Monastery of San Francisco which was built on the ruins of an Inca Palace. Then you will climb “El Panecillo” Hill (Panoramic View of Quito). And to end the day you will visit the monument which represents half of the world. We will visit the main monument built in honor of the French scientific expedition that arrived in Ecuador in the 18th century to determine the exact location of the equator line. Here you will have the opportunity to see the Equator Monument and visit the IntiÑan Museum, a scientific and cultural museum, located at the exact intersection of the Equator line, where you will experience living in the center of the world

Day 2: INDIGENOUS MARKET, OTAVALO (1 day)

Otavalo is a well-known market, in Ecuador and around the world, through its exceptional craftsmanship.
A major aspect of the ethnic identity of the ´´Otavalos´´ Indians is their costume. For men, this consists of a blue poncho, white shirt and mid-calf pants, a fedora-type hat and their hair combed into a long braid. The women are dressed in embroidered blouses, blue skirts and shawls as well as several layers of gold necklaces and red beaded bracelets. Both men and women wear “alpargatas”, a type of sand.

Day 3: Cotopaxi National Park

Visit the largest active volcano in the world!
Leaving Quito towards the south you cross the “Avenue of Volcanoes” and you arrive at the Cotopaxi National Park. Visit to the reserve and Lake Limpiopungo. For favorable climate, climbing the volcano to the glaciers. After a day in the mountains, a typical hot meal in a Hacienda in the region will please you. Afternoon, return to Quito

Day 4: Galapagos Experience

Flight from Quito to Galapagos Islands, to live the best experience in the enchanted islands.
It is possible to take a cruise or take a combined program in the Islands.

Day 5: Galapagos Experience

Day 6: Galapagos Experience

Day 7: Galapagos Experience

Day 8: Galapagos – Quito

Return from the Galapagos to Quito. Relax in a pleasant Hosteria SPA near the airport before heading to Peru.

Day 9: Quito – Lima – Cusco

Flight from Quito to Cusco. Arrival and time to adapt to the altitude.

Day 10: Cusco City tour and 4 Ruins nearby

In the morning, visit the city. Visit the most attractive places in the city and, of course, the four most important ruins around Cusco: Qenqo, one of the finest examples of artfully carved rock on the site showing intricate patterns of steps, seats, geometric relief and puma model. Puca Pukara, located on a hill with superb views of the surrounding countryside, Puca Pucara was more likely a tambo. Tambomachay, commonly known as “Baños del Inca” or Inca baths, Tambomachay was a ritual bathing site and Sacsayhuaman, the Inca fortress, which visitors cannot fail to impress with the beauty and monumental scale of this important Inca construction. Free afternoon to enjoy Cusco.

Day 11: Cusco – Sacred Valley – Ollanta – Aguas Calientes

Full-day excursion to the sacred valleys of the Incas, along the Vilcanota River. We will have the opportunity to share closely the customs of farmers and negotiate with sellers in the typical Indian market of Pisac, which is held on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Lunch in a local countryside restaurant. After lunch, passing through the towns of Calca and Urubamba, we visit the Inca fortress and the citadel of Ollantaytambo, built to protect the entrance to this part of the valley and protect it from possible invasion by tribes from the lower jungle. The fortress consists of a series of stepped stone cut terraces accessible by long staircases. Later, you can stroll through the picturesque streets of the neighboring town and get a good idea of ​​what this strategic military, religious and agricultural center was like during the time of the Inca Empire. In the afternoon, transfer to the station and departure for Aguas Calientes. Night in Aguas Calientes

Day 12: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco

Transfer early to the Aguas Calientes bus station to take a 30-minute bus ride along 6 km of winding road to the marvelous citadel. Upon arrival, you will take a guided tour of the Citadel, the Plaza, the Circular Tower, the Sacred Sundial (the most important preserved Intihuatana), the Royal Quarter, the Temple of the Three Windows and various burial sites. After the visit, you will have time to wander freely around the archaeological site. Lunch in a local restaurant and return late afternoon to Cusco. Night in Cusco.

Day 13: Cusco – Puno by Pullman Bus

Transfer to the bus station and departure for the city of Puno. The ride, which lasts approximately eight hours, will allow you to contemplate the wild meadows of the Andean plateau and typical Andean towns. There will also be brief stops at the small chapel of Andahuaylillas, the temple of Wiracocha in Raqchi, La Raya and finally in Pucara. Arrival in Puno. Transfer to the hotel.

Day 14: Puno – Lake Titicaka – Puno

Early in the morning we depart for a two-hour motorboat excursion on the waters of Lake Titicaca to the unique floating “islands” of Uros. These ancient inhabitants of the lake, known as the Water Tribe, built their own “islands” by periodically adding new layers of a type of reed unique to the region called “Totora.” Their houses and boats are also made from this material. We continue our journey by motorboat to the island of Taquile, inhabited by Quechua-speaking indigenous people who have developed efficient and unique social systems, as well as refined hand-weaving techniques, over generations. Upon arrival at the town of Taquile, we will have lunch. Then we will walk through the different hills and archaeological sites of this 6 km long island. In the afternoon, return to Puno for the night.

Day 15: Puno – Juliaca – Lima

At the convenient time, transfer to the airport and departure for Lima. Arrival and connection for the international flight and return to your country.