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Day 1 (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday)
You will be well received at Quito’s airport and taken to your hotel, where you can recuperate from your flight.

Day 2 Quito City tour
This day you will have a short sightseeing tour to the city center of Quito, this is the visit the most beautiful and historical cities in South America. We will pass some of the most famous squares, churches and colonial buildings. La Plaza de la Independencia with its Presidential Palace, Archbishop Palace, Municipal building, Independent Statue and Cathedral. Close to this main square we’ll visit a very nice colonial building which used to be part of the Jesuit monastery and afterwards was converted in the First University in Quito. We will continue to San Francisco church and convent. After that we will visit the Panecillo and the statue of La Virgin de Quito. In the afternoon you will free to relax or visit the indegean market located in the “Mariscal area”, near from your hotel. B

Day 3 Otavalo full day
In the morning a driver/guide will pick us up from our hotel. In about two hours we reach Otavalo. Famous for its weaving and music culture, the Otavalo people are one of the most prosperous in Ecuador. Nowadays we find their handicrafts and music all over Ecuador and the world. Otavalo is the heart of their culture and at the marketplace we will find all possible souvenirs at cheap prices. The Otavalo Indian market dates back to pre-Inca times and is famous for its textiles woven on back strap and shuttle looms. Otavalo is South America’s most famous Indian fair. Here Otavaleños barter in silence, in marked contrast to the raucous noise of other markets. You will have time to visit the famous market and stroll along the narrow cobblestone streets filled with Otavalo Indians wearing blue ponchos, white trousers and long braided hair. Stop for lunch at one of the typical restaurants. In the afternoon visit the leather shops in Cotacachi & and the Lake of Cuicocha. This lake is situated in an old crater of a still active volcano. We can make an optional boat ride across the lake and watch the fumaroles; since here we will have a beautiful views of the Imbabura and Cotacachi volcanoes as well as the surrounding valley with the cities Otavalo and Ibarra. Dinner and overnight at Hacienda Las Palmeras. B-L-D

Day 4 Otavalo – Papallacta
Today, we will enjoy of a roses plantation in Quichinche, as Ecuador is one of the top producers of roses in the world. You will have the unique opportunity of visiting a family run farmhouse that has been passed down for generations. After that we continue our scenic drive towards Papallacta and on the route we will see the impressive Cayambe volcano (third highest volcano of the Ecuador 5790 m.) and some other picturesque towns like Quinche and Pintag. As we gain altitude we will drive through the highland paramo vegetation having great views of the Papallacta lake. Past the lake we will take a detour on a dirt road that will take us to the hot Springs and our hotel. Papallacta, a small village located 10,491 feet above sea level, famous for its thermal springs (38º C/100º F) and lush vegetation. Afternoon at leisure for those energetic there is a possibility to take a hike into the Highland Cloud Forest, and those who want a more relaxing afternoon can stay at the pools in the Hot Springs. Overnight will be at Termas Papallacta. B -L

Day 5 Papallacta – Cotopaxi
In the morning you will go to the Cotopaxi National Park. Turning off the main highway, you will enter into the park, traversing the Andean Paramo and an extensive pine tree forest. Furthermore you will cross through a deer and lama reserve. Gently ascending the flanks of the volcano, passing through fields of ancient lava strewn with boulders, you will arrive at the base of the Cotopaxi (19,700ft/5,897m), the world’s highest active volcano.
This desolate and rugged scenery captivates both nature enthusiasts and casual visitors alike. You will have lunch at Tambopaxi, dinner and the overnight stay at the inviting local hacienda La Cienega. B-L-D

Day 6 Cotopaxi – Patate
The second day at the Cotopaxi Province starts with a visit to one of the nearby colorful indigenous markets. Then your journey will continue for the Panamerican highway until arrive to Ambato city to make an stop and visit the Botanical garden and museum of Juan Leon Mera, one of the most representative of the Ecuadorian Literature. Afterwards, we drive until Patate Valley, which enjoy of a splendid climate and nature. This night you will stay at a conformable hacienda. Overnight Hacienda Leito . B-L-D

Day 7 Baños – Riobamba
This morning you will travel to Baños, an area rich in vegetation and orchids, famous for its nearby hot springs that provide hot running water to the local baths. You will see and visit beautiful waterfalls on the way. A short hike away from the road you will have lunch at a charming restaurant close to the Pailon del Diablo, an overwhelming waterfall. In the afternoon you will continue to Riobamba , located at 9, 000 feet on the Avenue of the Volcanoes. The city is surrounded by mountains and volcanoes, and sitting at the foot of the Chimborazo volcano, you get the world’s highest view from the center of the Earth.
Furthermore Riobamba was the first city founded by the Spaniards in Ecuador and has reserved abundant history and architectures until today. Beyond its historical dimension, the “Sultan of the Andes” Chimborazo is considered one of the most indigenous towns in Ecuador and retains a unique cultural mélange. You will have dinner in your hotel. B-L

Day 8 Devil’s nose train – Cuenca
This day you will travel by ferrocarril on “the world’s most difficult railroad”, called like this due to the geographical obstacles that had to be faced during its construction. The train will take you to the famous “Devil’s nose” and Alausí, descending 800 meters in zigzag in the rocky formation. This slope allows getting aware of the different zones of climate from the highlands to the coast. At Alausí your car will wait for you to continue the journey to Cuenca, visiting first the Ingapirca Ruins on route & lunch at Posada de Ingapirca. One and ½ hour north of Cuenca lies the Ingapirca fortress, a religious and administrative complex built by the Cañaris, then conquered and rebuilt by the Incas several hundred years before the Spanish arrived. This is the most important archaeological site in Ecuador. Your journey takes you through beautiful, rolling country scenery with panoramic vistas stretching away to the horizon. Overnight at Hotel Victoria. B-L

Day 9 Cuenca – Guayaquil
In the morning you have the possibility to discover Cuenca, Ecuador’s third largest city, locally known as “The Athens of Ecuador” in honor of its numerous poets. The city’s cobblestone streets, colonial plazas and religious art treasures recall its distant past, while the flower market on the little Plaza del Carmen and the new and old Cathedrals on the main Plaza Calderón provide some spectacular color and impressive architecture. A trip along the Tomebamba River takes you to the Inter-American Center of Popular Art, home to many regional handicrafts while a walk through the city center will give you a chance to visit the stores stocked with gold and silver filigree jewelry, ceramics and textiles. On the city outskirts lie the remains of human settlements in the Todos Los Santos, evidencing pre-Inca civilizations. You will have lunch at the Restaurant El Maís where typical Ecuadorian food is served.
In the afternoon you will go on to Guayaquil, located on the banks of the Guayas river and called “The Pearl of the Pacific”. The city has a rich tradition and is proud of its monuments and points of interest such as The Iguanas Park with over 100 land iguanas that roam peacefully.
During your sightseeing tour you won’t only visit the park, but also tourist attractions like La Rotonda, the Moorish style clock tower, the recently reconstructed and impressive Malecon, the Cerro del Carmen hilltops, (providing a magnificent view of the city and of the convergence of the Daule and Babahoyo rivers which form the Guayas River), the Centenario plaza, Las Peñas, another neighborhood built at the turn of the century, and the Church of Santo Domingo, the city’s first church built in 1548 and since reconstructed. Overnight . B-L

Day 10 Transfer out
Today you will leave Ecuador flying back to your home-country, taking with you a cluster of breathtaking, overwhelming and unforgettable memories.

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