Diversity of Ecuador

Quito Airport - Quito

Private transfer with spanish-speaking driver from Quito airport to your hotel.

Reception at the airport by an english-speaking guide (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver).

You will spend the night at Vieja Cuba hotel in Quito.

Quito Historic Center - Quito - Ibarra

Quito, Ecuador's capital, is a real treasure between the volcanoes of Pichincha, Cayambe and Antisana. At an elevation of 2830 meters, it is the second highest capital in the world.. It was the first city classified by the UNESCO in 1978 and its historic centre is the biggest and best maintained in Latin America.

Departure at 8:30am: to get a good idea of the city, we will firstly go to the Panecillo, a small hill over the city with a statue of the Quito' Virginp, with a splendid 360º view.

You will then have a visit of Quito's colonial centre:

• the church of the Compañia de Jesus (If the time allows it because this one opens the doors only at 12:30) or the Sucre theater;
• the church of San Francisco;
• the Grand Place where are located the Presidential Palace (Carondelet) and Quito's Cathedral.

Discover the "Man Chapel" from the Ecuadorian artist Oswaldo Guayasamín. This painting of the chapel was designed and partly realised by Guayasamín to honnor Mankind. Several of his art pieces are exhibited there.

You will get out of Quito direction to Otavalo, passing through one of the regions where they grow the famous ecuadorian roses and you will appreciate a beautiful landscape made of numerous summits of the northern Andes.

You will spend the night at Hacienda Chorlavi in San Antonio.

English-speaking guide in a private transport (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver).

Otavalo - Peguche - Cuicocha Lake - Cotacachi - Ibarra

Visit in the morning of the famous Otavalo's Indigenous market, the most significant in the Ecuador's Andes, where you can meet the "Otavaleños" with their espadrilles, their brown felt hat and blue ponchos. They are the wealthiest indians in Ecuador and excellent sellers.

The main market is on Saturdays with the cattle market just outside town. On other days the market is also hold on the Los Ponchos square.

You will visit the village of Peguche, with its sacred fall and its Andean music instrument fabrication workshops. You may see a local music session and the weaving process, an art well established in the area.

Visit of the Cuicocha lake in the ecologic reserve of "Cotacahi - Cayapas" , one of the most beautiful in Ecuador with a shiny blue water.

At the centre of a former crater at 3064 meters, the nature lovers will enjoy a very various vegetation (orchids, "elephants ears"...) with more than 400 species identified there.

Stop in Cotacachi, Ecuador's leading artisanal manufacturers of leather goods which are exported around the world.

You will spend the night at Hacienda Chorlavi in San Antonio.

English-speaking guide in a private transport (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver).

Otavalo - Cotopaxi Park

You will then get back on the road to pass Quito and reach Cotopaxi National Park.

Today visit of the Cotopaxi national park with Ecuador's second highest summit at 5897 meters. It is also the highest active volcano in the world although it mainly shows a few fumaroles from its ice covered crater. But sometimes it launches a huge column smoke and ashes right upon its center.

Afterward, you will walk around the Limpiapungo laggon with stunning view on the Cotopaxi. You will appreciate the flora and some fauna, typical of the "paramo", those wide plains swept by the cold winds of the Andes.

After driving up to the car park at 4600 meters you will continue by foot to the José Rivas hut 200 meters higher.

The most motivated can also go and reach the snowline.

Due to the eruptive process of the volcano Cotopaxi initiated on August 14th, 2015, this information can be reviewed at any time, in accordance with the safety requirements of the Ecuadorian Coordination Ministry of National Security and our agency.



You will spend the night at the hacienda Los Mortiños located at the north entrance of the Cotopaxi park.

English-speaking guide in a private transport (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver).

Lasso - Banos - Ahuano

On the road toward the Amazon region. You will enjoy on the way various types of landscapes from the paramo at 4000 meters to the Amazonian basin down to approximately 900 meters. You will have many opportunities to take pictures on the way, of green valleys and waterfalls.

Arrival to Misahualli where you will reach your lodge.

You will arrive in the afternoon to the Lodge where you'll have a first trek to the jungle. Then your dinner at the Sacha Sisa Lodge where you will have your first night.

English-speaking guide in a private transport (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver).

Ahuano

In the morning, going along with an indigenous guide, you will walk through the jungle to discover many species of medicinal plants and their properties.

Keep your eyes open, with no doubt you will see monkeys and birds in their natural habitat.

Depending on weather conditions and the group's wishes we can plan the program of the day.

After lunch you will visit the Indian community, and where you will have the opportunity to learn about their customs, their way of life and its various plants: banana trees, papaya, pineapple, oranges, sugar cane ...

You will discover likewise what is "chicha", a traditional beverage, and the making of chocolate as has been done for generations.

Dinner and second night in the Lodge.

English-speaking guide in a private transport (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver).

Ahuano - Misahualli - Pailon del Diablo - Riobamba

After breakfast you will go for an observation of the prehistoric birds "hoatzin" and then you will pay a visit to the kids of the community before eventualy return to your vehicle.

On the way to Riobamba you will follow the "Ruta de Cascadas" along the deep gorges of the Rio Pastaza and observe the evolution of the ecosystem from 950 to 1800 meters of elevation with spectacular views over the upper Amazon basin and a dozen waterfalls. Before Riobamba you could stop at Banos, which name is due to the many thermal pools in the town, is a peaceful town really nice to walk around. The basilica of "Nuestra Señora de Agua Santa" is worth the visit.

You will stop in Pailon del Diablo, the country's most famous waterfalls which you will be able to see from closer from a sightseeing platform. Further on the road, following the inca style, you can use a suspended basket called locally tarabita to cross the Pastaza and reach a waterfall called "Manto de la Novia".

You will spend the night at Santa Isabella hotel in Riobamba.

English-speaking guide in a private transport (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver).

Riobamba - Balbanera & Colta - Alausi - Nariz del Diablo - Ingapirca

Trip to the village of Alausi, the departure town for the train to the Nariz del Diablo. On the way you will pass the Colta lake and visit the Balbanera church, the first one in Ecuador, built in 1534.

A journey in the Andes train from the Alausi station to Sibambe. The train is more modern than the former old micheline and the trip is very safe. You will pass by the "Nariz del Diablo" (Devil's nose) with successive Andean landscapes well worth the trip: highlands, forests, deep gorges, locals in their activities... You will be provided breefing about the railway history in Ecuador and the associated adventures.

Return to Alausi and to your vehicle.

Back on the road to travel to Ingapirca.

Ingapirca means "inca stone wall" in the canari language, and indeed a site where the rock is full of legends and history. Ingapirca was founded by the Inca Huayna Capac in the XVth century. The impressive fortress used to contain a temple, sheds and an observatory with amazing exemple of mortar free stone constructions. It was though to be a tambo (relay) along the Inca way from Quito to Cuenca. The locals also see a puma's shape in the ruins. After a visit of the site you will find the Inganahui after walking a bit away. This Inca face rock sculpted by the wind and the rain may had inspired the Incas to found Ingapirca there.

After returning to the main site, you will have the opportunity to visit the museum dedicated to this place discovered by the french scientist La Condamine.

Night at Posada Ingapirca next to the archeological complex.

English-speaking guide in a private transport (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver).

Ingapirca - Cuenca - Gualaceo

Before arriving to the beautiful city of Cuenca you will drive through some traditional villages with great cratfworks. In Gualaceo you will visit a typical market. Further on the road, the small town of Chordeleg is specialised in the silver and gold filigree jewels.

On the way, you will visit also the Ecuagenera company a leader in the orchids culture in Latine America with 20 greenhouses over 5 hectares and more than 2000 orchids species and hybrid species. This family company founded in 1992 is dedicated to the orchids conservation and exportation.

Suggestion of visit : Enjoy a relaxing moment in the Piedra de Agua thermal baths, with an access to the inside and outside thermal pools, the "rain showers" and the steam baths. If you want, you can reserve on the spot a massage or the access to the volcanic mud pool (not included: around 35 $ per person).

Night at the Hotel Cuenca.

English-speaking guide in a private transport (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver).

Cuenca

The city of Cuenca (2 550 m) is undoubtedly as charming as its former name of Guapondelic reveals: "the valley as great as the sky". This colorful and lively city with superb historic buildings was classified as a World Heritage by the UNESCO since 1999. The best way to feel the warm colors of Cuenca is to walk around its paved streets, along the white houses with roman tiled roofs and flourishing wrought iron balconies. Colonial art treasures can also be discovered in Cuenca in the churches and convents from the XVIIth and XVIIIth centuries. The visit of the cathedral, the El Turi viewing platform, the flouring spaces, the churches and the covered market will gradually take you closer to the local life. Visit of a Panama hats workshop (except on Sundays) established in Cuenca for more than 60 years where you can observe the different stage of its fabrication, an Ecuador's specialty.

Visit of the Aboriginal Cultures Museum. This private museum shows the best archeological collection of the city. You will find there jewels and personal ornaments of a great value made with shells and precious metals.

Night at the Hotel Cuenca.

English-speaking guide in a private transport (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver).

Cuenca - Guayaquil

Journey to the West and the Pacific Ocean to get to Guayaquil, Ecuador's biggest city and economical capital. You will follow up the Western cordillera and cross the Cajas park where you will enjoy stunning views over the many lakes of this protected area.

Back down from the mountains you will then pass by fertile lowlands with huge orchards and banana plantations before arriving to Guayaquil.

In Guayaquil you will firstly visit the main streets, the neo gothic cathedral and the Simon Bolivar Park next to it, where you can find a hundred of green iguanas freely wandering around the park, some being a meter long. We will continue the visit to the Malecon 2000 and then reach the colonial area of Las Peñas, to admire there the architecture and the many art galleries. From the Santa Ana fort you will enjoy a scenic view over Guayaquil and the Guayas River.

You will spend the night at hotel Palace in Guayaquil.

English-speaking guide in a private transport (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver).

Guayaquil - Salango - Los Frailes Beach - Puerto Lopez

You will travel on the Ruta del Sol following kilometers of sand beaches in the smooth sun. On the way to Puerto Lopez, you will pass through lovely fishing towns.

On the way we will stop in the Salango's archeological museum which shows the birth and growth of the oldest culture in Ecuador from 3000 before J.C. The exhibition is organized around three main subjects, the chieftains, the archeological sites and the chronological and cultural periods of the area, and particularly insists on the main resources and on the ecological diversity. All of these are presented by pieces, photographs, maps, reconstitutions and detailed commentaries.

Trip to the Playa de Los Frailes, 12 km from Puerto lopez in the Machalilla National Park, the biggest protected area on the coast. The park is mainly covered with a dry tropical forest which used to spread over most of the Pacific coast but which almost totally disappeared now. 150 native species had been identified here in 1998. You can go for an hour walk in the forest at the park entrance before getting to the Los Frailes beach, one of the most beautiful in Ecuador. After a bit of relaxing on the beach you will enjoy a swim in this small paradise.

You will spend the night at Mandala hotel in Puerto Lopez.

English-speaking guide in a private transport (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver).

Isla de la Plata - Puerto Lopez

Departure by boat from the beach toward the Silver Island ("Isla de la Plata" in spanish), part of Machalilla National Park, located 17 miles from the coast (around 1,5 hours of transport). The island owns its name from the famous pirate, Sir Francis Drake, english sailor who would have hidden on this island a silver treasure captured on a galeon. On another hand this name could come from the large amount of guano, for the silver reflects. Each year, from june to september, the humpback whales gather in this area during the reproduction period and offer a tremendous spectacle that you will never forget. You may cross with dolphins surfing after the boat. Then you will go for a walk around the island for about 3 hours in a surprising dry tropical forest and observe numerous colonies of birds (red and blue-footed boobies, frigate, albatross, pelican,...) and sea-lions. Back on the boat, you will have a lunch and practice snorkelling on the most important coral reef of Ecuador with a rich sub-marine fauna. Back to Puerto Lopez on the afternoon.

You will spend the night at Mandala hotel in Puerto Lopez.

English-speaking guide in a private transport (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver).

Puerto Lopez - Guayaquil Airport

Free time in Puerto Lopez to enjoy the beach and this quiet fishing town before the transfer to the Guayaquil airport for you flight.

Private transfer with your guide to Guayaquil airport.

Free connection with your international flight.

English-speaking guide in a private transport (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver).