Day 1: Start with historical Quito

Quito has two distinctions – it has the honor of being designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it is also the second highest capital city in the world (in terms of altitude).  It is raised to close to 3,000 meters above sea level and basking in its atmosphere is literally breathtaking.  Upon the arrival of your international flight, our team will be right there to take you to your hotel and give you time to get ready for the week’s adventure.

 

Day 2: Still in Quito

Let’s start the tour with an exploration of the Old Town of Quito, where history and old-world charm are the order of the day.  Visit what UNESCO has proclaimed as one of the top one hundred places to go to in the world – La Campania de Jesus Church.  It is a magnificent temple with gilded interiors, brilliant paintings, art work and religious relics.  Then spend some time at La Plaza de la Independencia, which is line by The Government Palace, the Cathedral, water fountains and national monuments.  After your leisurely stroll, it’s time to head up for Panecillo Hill.  Panecillo means “small bread roll” and houses the 45 meter-high La Virgen de Quito.  The hill provides 360° views of the town.  Then it’s lunchtime at the Crater Restaurant at Pululahua Crater where you can eat while enjoying the view of one of the largest craters in the world. Then you are off to the Equatorial Line Museum – where you can straddle the middle of the world.

 

Day 3: Quito/Antisana

Hie of to Antisana and bask in the splendor of nature at the Nature Reserve – which features the rainforest and the high mountain habitats, as well as the volcano.  Antisana is the fourth highest mountain in the country.  Walk along the Isco River and its walls upon walls of hardened lava – which provides a home and nesting ground for the Andean condors. Stop by the Avenue of the Volcanoes – with its towering volcanoes and lush green forests.  Then, after your adventures, you get to rest your sleepy head at a room in a colonial Hacienda.

 

Day 4: Cotopaxi

Your day tour of Cotopaxi includes a visit to picturesque Lake Quilotoa, the artistic village of Tigua and Latacunga.  Lake Quilotoa is a breathtakingly beautiful green crater lake up in the Andes.  Tigua features traditional art painted on sheep hide while Latacunga is a market town with clay-roofed houses and cobbled streets.  End the day with another stay at the colonial Hacienda.

 

Day 5: Cotopaxi/Riobamba

This day starts with a drive to Ambato, and onwards to Chimborazo mountain and El Arenal.  Yes, another day of scenic beauty featuring one of the world’s highest peaks (Chimboraszo) as well as a range of mountains and geysers.  When the weather is clear, you can view Altar Summit and Sangay Volcano on our way up to Riobamba.  Now, when the weather does not permit a trek up Chimborazo, you can opt to visit Pillaro and hike to the waterfalls of Pastaza Valley.  Then you can rest at a hotel in Riobamba.

 

Day 6: Riobamba/Cuenca

Just an hour’s drive south of Riobamba is the small town of Guamote, which includes the Lakes of Atillo, a fascinating indigenous community and their market.  Guamote also affords fascinating views of the volcanic ranges in the area.  The next stop is Ingapirca, which has the largest Incan ruins in Ecuador. In the past, this was where the people worshipped the sun, especially in the temple dedicated to it.  Your overnight stay will be at Cuenca, the third largest town in Ecuador.  

 

Day 7: Cuenca/El Cajas/Cuenca

We leave for Cuenca and head for El Cajas.  The National Park you will visit here has over 200 ponds and lakes, giving you plenty of opportunities to indulge in a variety of water sports. The park is also blessed with luxuriant forests, highland vistas and beautiful valleys.  These provide a perfect home for the condor and other examples of exotic wildlife.  During bad weather conditions, the option would be to visit the orchid farm in Gualeceo Valley and the town of Chordeleg. Then, after a day at El Cajas, we go back to Cuenca for an overnight stay at a boutique hotel.

 

Day 8: Cuenca/Quito

Spend another day touring Cuenca, which is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.  This town is replete with cathedrals, churches and other historic buildings.   El Sagrario (the old cathedral) is a must-see with its old murals and a blue-domed, neo-Gothic design.  Then we visit Pumapungo’s Cañari ruins and Conceptas Museum.  The museum, which used to be a monastery, has an excellent collection of paintings and other artwork – artifacts, furniture and sculptures, as well as musical instruments that hark back to as early as the pre-Columbian times.  Then, it’s time to go shopping.  Visit the Panama hat factory and Simon Cordero’s workshop for exquisite finds comprised of Panama hats and prize-winning silver pieces.  Lastly, the group heads by plane to Quito.

 

Day 9: Quito/Departure

We will be on hand to assist you as you board your flight back home, filled with memories of unforgettable Ecuador.