Discovery Ecuador from Quito to Guayaquil

Welcome to Ecuador! Arrival in Quito and transfer to our hotel. Quito (2788 m/9,200 feet) is Ecuador's lovely capital city, nestled against Pichincha Volcano high in the Andes.

Accommondation: Quito

Meal Plan: - / - / D

Quito, the capital of Ecuador, was founded in the 16th century on the ruins of the Inca city, located at an altitude of 2800 m. Despite the earthquake of 1917, the city has the best preserved and least modified historical center in Latin America. After an hour and a half walking tour exploring the Old City, you will understand why Quito was the first city in the world to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Sightseeing tour-walk through the historical center: Plaza Grande (Large Square) with the Monument of Independence, inspection of monumental buildings: the Presidential Palace of Carondelet, the Archbishop's Palace, the city Hall and the Cathedral of the Jesuit Primada de Quito.

A trip to the town of Mitad del Mundo to the monument of the geodetic expedition of 1736, which established that the equator line passes exactly here. Inside is the Museum of Ethnography (admission optional with ticket paid on the spot), dedicated to the tribes of Ecuador - here are samples of their clothes, pottery and other crafts, textiles, dwellings, traditions, etc. A visit to the Intiñan Museum, where you can implement a series of experiments explaining the influence of the equator line, as well as learn about the "solar" culture of the ancient peoples of South America and look at their totems, traditional dwellings and utensils. Return to the hotel.

Accommondation: Quito

Meal Plan: B / - / D

Breakfast in the hotel. A trip along the route known as "Puhili's Way" with a visit to a workshop in the village of Tigua. Visit to the lake inside the Quilotoa crater. You can go down on foot to the edge of the lake and return on mules. Kayaking on the lake (optional). After this activity we continue to the city of Baños for resting.

Accommondation: Baños

Meal Plan: B / - / D

The tourist town of Baños is an ideal place for outdoor activities on the border of the Andean highlands, world-famous for its many waterfalls and Melcocha sugarcane caramels. Baños is located in a valley with waterfalls and hot springs next to the Tungurahua volcano with a height of 5016 meters. Excursion in the center of the town, then we will begin our journey along the waterfalls "Bridal Veil" and "Devil's Frying Pan". In the afternoon we will go to the city of Riobamba, where we will visit the central square with the Cathedral, the City Hall building and the houses of the government of Ecuador.

Accommondation: Riobamba

Meal Plan: B / - / D

The day starts early in the morning with a visit to the famous Chimborazo, the highest snow-capped volcano in the world (6310 m above sea level). Its summit is the closest point to the sun on earth due to its proximity to Ecuador. Riobamba also called as the Sultan of the Andes because it is surrounded by many volcanoes, including Chimborazo. This province has the highest concentration of indigenous population in the country (60% of the national total).

Later, we will visit the Balbanera church (the oldest in the country) and continue our way to the historic town of Alausí, with an ancient railway tradition. After this, we will continue to the city of Cuenca.

Accommondation: Cuenca

Meal Plan: B / - / D

Breakfast. A tour of the most beautiful city in Ecuador, declared Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 1999 due to its architectural colonial richness. Cuenca is famous for its paved paths, houses with balconies, squares, Indian markets with handicrafts. Visiting the Square of Flowers, the old and new Cathedrals, the Abdon Calderon Square, the Turi observation deck and typical galleries. Here you can buy carpets, silver jewelry or the incorrectly called "Panamanian" sombreros, which are only made in Ecuador.

Accommondation: Cuenca

Meal Plan: B / - / D

Excursion to Cajas National Park and transfer to Guayaquil. The Cajas National Park is located 30 km west of the city of Cuenca; more than 250 small lakes are located in the park. Cajas is home to a large number of endemic and endangered animal species.

Cajas National Park is a beautiful desert with valleys, lakes and cliffs of the paramos ecosystem. The soil is covered with a thick layer of grass and a large number of cushion-shaped plants, which play an important role in being real water reservoirs on earth. The highest point, called "Three Crosses", can be reached by road; this place is also a watershed: Some rivers flow into the Pacific Ocean, while others flow to the Atlantic Ocean. Winds and rain make this area cold, but the scenery that surrounds these 250 lakes is very luxurious. These forests are the natural habitat of many animal species such as hummingbirds, gray-breasted mountain toucans, etc.

Next, we will go to the city of Guayaquil (3.5 hours’ drive). Sightseeing tour of the city: the first stop will be at the Administrative Square, next to which is the Seminario Park, also known as Iguana Park. Then we will go to the picturesque Malecon-2000 embankment, we will walk along the important historical monuments of the city, starting from the Morisca Tower, we will visit the statues of Simon Bolivar and San Martin.

Accommondation: Guayaquil

Meal Plan: B / - / D

After our breakfast and depending of time we will be transferred to the airport for our international flights or connections.

BUEN VIAJE!

Meal Plan: B / - / -