City Tour Quito + Visit Casa Agave + Middle of the World, Inti Ñan Museum
In the morning visit to the historic center of Quito. The capital of Ecuador is located 2,850 meters above sea level at the foot of the Pichincha volcano, embedded in a green Andean valley. Quito, one of the oldest cities in South America, is also one of the few cities that was able to preserve numerous monuments and artistic treasures from the Spanish colonial era. The old town was listed as a world monument by UNESCO in 1978.
In the afternoon you will head to the middle of the world, including a visit to the museum. About an hour’s drive north of Quito, in the middle of a dry valley, is the famous “Middle of the World” Equator monument. On the way you will visit the first Museum – Factory and Distillery in Ecuador, created in honor of the Andean agave culture. Here you will find knowledge, uses, tools, agave garden, tasting, and all the magic of this ancient Ecuadorian tradition.
You will visit the Inti Ñan Site Museum, which a private anthropological foundation has built next to the “official” equatorial monument. This beautiful solar museum houses exhibits of Native American cultures and traditional ways of life. During the tour, surprising evidence of the exact position of the equator is also suggested.
Otavalo Market and Cuicocha Lagoon
Today you will visit Otavalo, the city whose indigenous market is the most important in South America. In the “Plaza de Ponchos” you will find a selection of original crafts such as jewelry, ceramics, paintings and textiles. Along the way, you can visit Cayambe and taste its exquisite biscuits and cheese.
Then you will visit the famous Cuicocha crater lagoon. You can take a walk along the lagoon and, if you want, you can also take a boat tour. If you have time, you can make a detour to the Cochasquí Pyramids on the way back to Quito.
Rose plantation and Cotopaxi National Park
In the morning you will drive towards Cotopaxi and visit one of the many rose plantations that Ecuador is famous for throughout the world. Here you will learn about the different types of roses and how to care for these plants. Then discover the impressive Cotopaxi National Park.
On the Limpiopungo plateau (3,830 m) you will acclimatize and take a short walk through the area to learn about the diverse high Andean flora and observe birds. The vehicle continues until reaching an altitude of 4,500 m. From there it is possible to climb to the José Ribas refuge at 4,800 m and walk to the beginning of the glacier. Then visit the Inca ruins of El Salitre and the Cotopaxi National Park Museum Park. In the afternoon return to the city of Quito.
Mindo cloud forest
Today you have the opportunity to explore the cloud forest of Mindo, about two hours from Quito. Mountain cloud forests impress with their constantly rising and falling low cloud masses and a greater temperature gradient. You will find a very diverse fauna and flora. A special feature is, above all, the abundance of bird species. With a little luck, you can spot exotic birds (e.g. cockerel, toucans, parrots, etc.), and certainly many different hummingbirds and butterflies. In Mindo you have the opportunity to take a short walk or visit the butterfly garden or the orchid garden.
Continue into the surrounding hills for a taste of spectacular canopy activity. This popular activity is canopy, where you float suspended from metal ropes over the cloud forest. Optionally you can also try the locals’ favorite sport, regatta (tubing). Here he goes down the Mindo River on truck tires tied together. In the afternoon return to the city of Quito.
Continúa hacia las colinas circundantes para probar la espectacular actividad del dosel. Esta actividad popular es el canopy, donde flota suspendido de cuerdas metálicas sobre el bosque nublado. Opcionalmente también puede probar el deporte favorito de los locales, la regata (tubing). Aquí va por el río Mindo en llantas de camión atadas juntas. Por la tarde regreso a la ciudad de Quito. Alojamiento por cuenta propia.
- Private transportation and certified bilingual Spanish/English national guide, food as indicated (B=breakfast, L=lunch or BL=box lunch, D=dinner), entrance fees to the places visited.
- Meals and services not mentioned, drinks, tips, personal expenses, travel insurance.
