The Ecuadorian classics

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Arrival in the colonial city of Quito.

  

  You will land at Mariscal Sucre International Airport, east of the capital, for a unique tailor-made trip. There you will meet your guide, who will welcome you to his country and accompany you to your hotel. To immerse yourself in the local atmosphere, you will stay in the heart of Quito's historic center, the capital of Ecuador, among cobbled streets and colonial monuments.

• day 2

  Crossing the historic center of Quito and the Middle of the World

  To fully appreciate the majestic beauty of the historic center of Quito, the largest and best preserved in Latin America, there is nothing like exploring it on foot. During your walk through the pedestrian streets, you will admire the wonders of this UNESCO World Heritage site: its magnificent churches and convents, its museums, its lively squares... You will contemplate the exceptional setting in which the capital is located during your ascent to the Panecillo viewpoint. After lunch, you will head to the Mitad del Mundo, on the equatorial line, and will be able to check the truth of the various properties attributed to the equator. Try to balance an egg on a nail and ask to have your photo taken with one foot in each hemisphere.

• day 3

  Otavalo Market, Andean villages and Lake Cuicocha

  

  You will start the day at the Otavalo market, one of the most important in South America. You will find many souvenir ideas there. This market is particularly large on Saturdays, but the "plaza de ponchos", very famous for its crafts, is lively every day. Then, you will walk to the Peguche waterfall and visit the artisan villages of Agato and Iluman. You will then continue to the village of Cotacachi, where the inhabitants make beautiful leather goods. In the afternoon, you will explore Lake Cuicocha, an ideal place to breathe the fresh air of the ecological reserve while taking a short hike.

• day 4

  Panoramas from the "Libertad" train and stop at San Antonio de Ibarra

  

  In the morning, you will head to the village of Ibarra, from where the "Train of Liberty" departs, taking you through magnificent panoramas between Ibarra and Salinas. Once you arrive at Salinas station, you will attend a traditional dance performance. Afterwards, your local guide will take you to the salt mines and explain the various solidarity tourism projects developed by the locals. Before heading to your hotel, you will stop at San Antonio de Ibarra, where wood sculptors will be happy to show you their creations.

• day 5

  Escaped in shallow Amazonia.

  This day presents a complete change of scenery and is the perfect example to illustrate the immense diversity of the country. You will leave the Andean mountains of the Sierra to reach the lush vegetation of the Oriente, on the edge of the Amazon. You will arrive at the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, you will take part in a guided excursion led by a native of the region, an expert in the rainforest and medicinal plants.

• day 6

  Tropical forest excursion

  

  Your local guide will offer you activities adapted to your group and the climate. The range of possible excursions will allow you to feel the rainforest, swim in its rivers, build a typical boat using the techniques of indigenous communities, walk the trails and reserves of the primary forest, swing from its trees, discover the animals of the jungle, meet the locals, their way of life, their gastronomy, their crafts and their customs… Some activities incur additional costs, such as visiting the AmaZoonico (5 USD / person), the butterfly farm (5 USD / person), the chocolate workshop (3 USD / person) and caiman watching (3 USD / person).

• day 7

  Production of local alcohol and crossing the waterfall road.

  During the morning, you will stop near the village of Puyo to try your hand at the Trapiche to extract sugar cane and obtain the juice needed to make a typical alcohol. You will then take the "Ruta de las cascadas", lined with magnificent landscapes, leading to the village of Baños, at the foot of the Tungurahua volcano. After lunch, you will take a path leading to the impressive "Pailón del Diablo" waterfall. A little further on, you will cross the canyon by cable car to enjoy the view from the other side of the river. You will spend the night in a charming hacienda in Riobamba, in the volcanic province of Chimborazo, the point on Earth farthest from the center of the planet.

• day 8

  Train journey of the "Nariz del Diablo" and Ingapirca ruins

  In the late morning, you will arrive in Alausi, a picturesque village from where the famous "Nariz del Diablo" train departs, a true feat of engineering that travels on zigzag rails to cross the mountain. Once you arrive at Sibambe station, you will attend a folkloric dance performance. In the afternoon, you will discover the best-preserved archaeological site in Ecuador: Ingapirca. This place, originally used as an observatory by the Cañaris and later conquered by the Incas in the 15th century, still preserves, among other things, the ruins of a temple and the residence of the virgins dedicated to ritual sacrifice.

• day 9

  Discovery of the colonial city of Cuenca

  

  This day will be dedicated to the superb colonial city of Cuenca. Its historic center, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is full of magnificent churches and monuments that the Spanish built by integrating the remains of the Cañari and Inca cultures. The inhabitants of the city keep craft traditions alive by continuing to work with ceramics, silver, and, of course, weaving the straw hat, known worldwide as the Panama hat. Cuenca is best enjoyed by strolling leisurely through its cobbled streets. You will therefore have the afternoon free to enjoy its relaxed atmosphere and pleasant climate. For culture enthusiasts, do not hesitate to visit one of the many museums telling the history of the city.

• day 10

  Exploration of the Churute mangrove reserve

  

  Leaving the Andean region, you will have a breathtaking view of El Cajas National Park, which you will cross to reach the coastal plain, where banana plantations and rice fields abound. You will discover the Manglares Churute reserve, where you will take a short hike to spot monkeys and sloths, then a boat ride to enjoy the mangroves and the many birds that live there. With a bit of luck, you may spot crocodiles. You will have lunch at a family farm. The family members will be happy to show you their rice fields and exotic fruit plantations during the afternoon. They will also show you how to make delicious chocolate from the cocoa harvest. Finally, you will arrive in Guayaquil, the largest city in the country, nicknamed "the Pearl of the Pacific."

• day 11

  Free time to enjoy the city of Guayaquil.

  You will have this day to enjoy the city at your own pace, go shopping, or taste delicious seafood dishes. You can, for example, sunbathe with the iguanas at Seminario Park and stroll along the Malecón 2000, finally climbing the steps of the Las Peñas neighborhood leading to a panoramic view of the port city. A transfer will be arranged from your hotel to Guayaquil airport so that you are there 3 hours before your international return flight.