The highlands of Ecuador’s central Andes offer an incredible variety of scenic and cultural attractions. You can move quickly along the developed Panamericana. However, to be able to experience the beauty of this impressive landscape up close, it is always advisable to take a detour to the surrounding area. We explore the stunning national parks along the Volcano Route and follow the footprints of an ancient Inca trail to the Inca fortress of Ingapirca.
Itinerary
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Day 1
Arrival in Quito, Transfer in
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Day 2
Otavalo Market and Cuicocha Lagoon
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Day 3
City Quito – Casa Agave – Middle of the World – Mindo
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Day 4
Mindo Cloud Forest - Quito
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Day 5
Rose plantation - Cotopaxi National Park - Baños
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Day 6
Waterfall route Pailón de diablo waterfall - Riobamba
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Day 7
On the Inca trail to Ingapirca - Cuenca
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Day 8
Cuenca and surroundings
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Day 9
Cuenca Cajas National Park Guayaquil
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Day 10
Visit to the Cacao and Mango Farm
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Day 11
Transfer Out
Day 1
Arrival in Quito, Transfer in
oday I arrive in the city of Quito. When you arrive at the airport, your guide will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall and will then accompany you to the Hotel.
Day 2
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.
Luego visitará la famosa laguna del cráter Cuicocha. Podrán hacer una caminata a lo largo de la laguna y, si quieren, también pueden hacer un recorrido en bote. Si se tiene tiempo, se puede hacer un desvío a las Pirámides de Cochasquí en el camino de regreso a Quito.
Day 3
City Quito – Casa Agave – Middle of the World – Mindo
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. We continue with the trip to Mindo for accommodation.
Day 4
Mindo Cloud Forest - Quito
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.
Day 5
Rose plantation - Cotopaxi National Park - Baños
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. You will continue along the “Avenue of Volcanoes”, as Alexander von Humboldt once called it, until you reach the Cotopaxi region. 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. You will continue by vehicle until you reach 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. In the afternoon travel to the city of Baños, where you will have your accommodation.
Day 6
Waterfall route Pailón de diablo waterfall - Riobamba
After breakfast we head to the tropics. In the morning we will visit the waterfall route. This innovative valley is also known as the gateway to the Amazon rainforest. In this beautiful valley we take a peaceful walk and also visit the roaring waterfall known as “Pailón del Diablo”. In the afternoon we continue our trip to Riobamba.
Day 7
On the Inca trail to Ingapirca - Cuenca
Departure in the morning to the south of the country, with a stop at the Balbanera church, and at the Colta lagoon.
Continuation to the Devil’s Nose viewpoint, where the guide will explain the history of the train. We continue along an ancient Inca road, to the most important Inca fortress in Ecuador, Ingapirca. The path leads mainly downhill: highest point approximately 4,000 m, destination at 3,200 m. On the way we passed through small mountain towns with a predominantly indigenous population. In the afternoon we arrive to the wonderful city of Cuenca where we will stay in a nice Hotel.
Day 8
Cuenca and surroundings
Today we visit the beautiful colonial city of Cuenca, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. A fantastic tour of this city awaits you. Then you can visit the surrounding towns such as Gualaceo, Sigsig or Chordeleg.
Day 9
Cuenca Cajas National Park Guayaquil
We will drive through Cajas National Park. We cross the 4,200 m high pass and drive through a beautiful area of mountain lakes, where we will have a hike. Through different climatic and vegetation zones we enter the tropical lowlands passing through banana, cocoa and rice plantations until we finally reach the port city of Guayaquil. We stroll along the El Malecón promenade to the historic district of Las Peñas and enjoy the panoramic view from Cerro Santa Ana.
Day 10
Visit to the Cacao and Mango Farm
After breakfast we will enjoy the Hacienda Cacao and Mango tour, where you will learn about the cocoa production process and taste artisanal chocolate. Tour of the cocoa plantations, chocolate making with the From tree to bar concept, which consists of a tasting of cocoa juice and fresh cocoa derivatives, artisanal chocolate making, roasting, grinding, visit to the conching and tempering workshop to tasting of chocolates of different percentages and making chocolate bars. You can make a 50 gr chocolate bar with dried fruits. After this, there will be time for lunch in a typical restaurant in the area (not included), and then begin the return to the city, where the activity ends.
Day 14
Transfer Out
In the morning the guide will pick you up at the hotel and accompany you to the airport to take your flight to your next destination.
PLANNED HOTELS
First Class Hotels:
- Hotel La Quinta by Wyndham
- Hacienda La Cienega
- Sangay Hotel
- Hacienda Abraspungo
- Four Points Hotel by Sheraton
- Hotel Wyndham Guayaquil
Standard Hotels:
- Hotel Vieja Cuba
- Hotel Cuello de Luna
- Hotel La Floresta
- Hotel Bambu
- Hotel Posada del Ángel
- Grand Hotel Guayaquil
- Private transportation and certified bilingual national guide, accommodation in a double room, food as indicated (B=breakfast, L=lunch or BL=box lunch, D=dinner), entrance fees to the places to visit.
- Meals, activities, tickets and services not mentioned, drinks, tips, personal expenses, travel insurance, national and international air tickets.
