Trek from northern to southern Volcanoes Avenue

Quito Airport - Quito

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

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

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

Quito Historic Center - Quito

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;
• the church of San Francisco;
• the Grand Place where are located the Presidential Palace (Carondelet) and Quito's Cathedral.

You will go to the market of Santa Clara, a typical place where you can fin fruits, vegetables, fish and meat. This is a perfect moment to mee people and discover the local life. You will have lunch at the same place. The "hornado" (pork slowly cooked in a oven) is really delicious!

You will visit the Mindalae Museum of crafts located in the touristic are of "La Mariscal" . This private museum offers a tribute dedicated to the activities done by the people of the amazonic villages, their costums, view of the world and shamanic practices.

Free time in the ecuadorian capital. You have multiple choices of activities according to what you have already visited and the free time you dispose of:

- handcrafts market in La Mariscal for your last gifts, or on Amazonas street;

- museums, according openning time: Alabado arqueological museum in Historic Center, Modern Artist Guayasamin museum in Bellavista area, Mindalae handcrafts museum in La Mariscal, Weilbauer arqueological museum in the Catholic University;

- Botanic garden in La Carolina Park with its magnificent collection or orchids;

- arqueological sites inside the city as Rumipamba or La Florida;

- a last walk in the Historic Center (ex.: La Ronda street);

- free time for thinking at a terrace of a bar in La Mariscal quarter.

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

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

Quito - Rucu Pichincha

The Teleferico starts from the base of the Pichincha volcano at 2800 m to take you up at more than 4000 m for a spectacular view over Quito and the mountains around. At the upper station of Cruz Loma you can enjoy the coffees and shops or walk along the path to enjoy the view.

RUCU PICHINCHA TREKKING:

In the ascension to Rucu Pichincha you will climb the cable car from Quito to Cruz Loma, this mountain has an approximate height of 4100 meters, from this point you will begin your trekking to reach the Rucu.

You will have a panoramic view of Quito that is truly amazing, you will see the whole city and its elongated shape, from the colonial Quito, to the new and modern buildings.

If the weather is favorable, you will be able to see all the volcanoes in the distance, such as Cotopaxi, Cayambe and Antisana.

Then you will return by the cable down to Quito where is parked your car.

Duration : 4 to 5 hours - Slopes: +590 /-590m - Max. altitude: 4690 meters (15.390 feet).

Refer to the attached map to have an idea of the covered paths.

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

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

Quito - Mitad del Mundo - Cochasqui - Otavalo

You will take the road to Mitad del Mundo.

Visit to he arquelogical museum of "La Florida". This one is built over the tombs that belong to the Quitu culture. They have between 15 and 17 meters of high and people has been founded inside them, not just regular people but royal bodies as well.

You will visit the site of the "Mitad del Mundo" where you can put one foot in the Southern hemisphere and the other in the Northern hemisphere! The different buildings corresponds to different aspects of Ecuador, with the French pavilion being dedicated to the Condamine expedition which determinated the site of this imaginary line in 1736.

The visit of the museum is not included because we do not consider it of much interest.

Trip to Otavalo, known for its handcratfs.

Visit of the Cochasqui pyramids, classified as World Heritage and considered as the most important archeological site North of the Equatorial Andes. The site is composed of 15 pyramids and 20 funeral mounds built by the Quitus Cara Indians in the IXth century. There are different interpretations concerning the function of the pyramids: ceremony places, houses for important people or even astronomical observatories. The site still keeps many mysteries... which we will try to learn more about.

You will spend the night at Acoma hotel in Otavalo.

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

Otavalo - Cuicocha Lake - Cotacachi - San Clemente

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.

CUICOCHA TREK:

You'll go in the ecological reserve "Cotacachi - Cayapas" to perform a walk (5h) around the lagoon Cuicocha appointment of nature lovers with a variety of flora (orchids, elephant ears ...). You'll start at 2936 m and pass through the viewpoint, the highest point at 3486 meters where you can enjoy a spectacular view of the crystal clear waters before returning to the lake level. On a clear day you can see the snow-capped Cotopaxi and Cayambe volcanoes and craters of volcanoes Cotacachi and Imbabura.

Estimated duration : 4 to 5 hours - Slopes : -550m/+550m - Max altitude : 3486 m

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

You will take the route towards Ibarra.

You will get to San Clemente autochthonous community, down the Imbabura volcano, where you will spend the night. A family will welcome you and invite you to share not only their house and food, but their customs and way of living. Many surprises await you, as the live-stock farming of guinea pigs or lamas, and the medicinal plants path maintained by their own users.

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

Imbabura - San Clemente

Departure from the community for a hike in the paramo on the Imbabura's slopes. Superb views over the valleys and the volcanoes around. We will adapt this trek to the group's fitness and motivation.

You will get to San Clemente autochthonous community, down the Imbabura volcano, where you will spend the night. A family will welcome you and invite you to share not only their house and food, but their customs and way of living. Many surprises await you, as the live-stock farming of guinea pigs or lamas, and the medicinal plants path maintained by their own users.

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

Ibarra - Otavalo - Peguche - Mojanda - San Pablo del Lago

We will go down to Otavalo.

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.

MOJANDA & FUYA FUYA TREK:

You will go to the lake of Mojanda, which is located at 3700 meters of high. From here you will enjoy beautiful views of the valleys around and the landscapes of the Cerro Negro and Fuya Fuya.

Estimated duration : 3 to 4 hours - Slopes: +600m/-600m - Max altitude : 4265 m



You will spend the night at Hacienda Cusin, close to San Pablo lake, in Otavalo's region. This place keeps the atmosphere and the authenticity of those old times, with a warm and familiar welcoming.

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

Otavalo - Cayambe - Quitsato - Mulauco

You will go to Cayambe from Otavalo, observing the beautiful landscape of the mountains.

TREK UP TO CAYAMBE REFUGE:

You will go by car to Cayambe and then go to the winding road that takes you to the waterfall "Los Mirlos" where you'll start the hike. You will walk through the dry forest and climb to the wet paramo to the refuge "Berge-Oleas Ruales" on the Cayambe volcano.

The trail is marked and it will take you to 4700 meters at the base of the glacier. You will have time to admire the view and recover before calmly descend by the same route to the vehicle.

Estimated duration: 3 to 4 hours - Slopes: +400m/-400m - Max altitude : 4700 m



You will stop at the latitude 0º, where a circular platform of 54 meters of diameter materializes a huge sundial and the equator line. The phenomena observed in the place will be explained to you, as well as how the local peoples used to integrate them in their dayly activities. An opporetunity to reconnect with what is an agriculture agenda, and what it means, between the sky and nature.

You will leave Quitsato to arrive to Quito.

You will spend the night at the Hacienda Las Cuevas Terra Lodge.

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

Antisana

Visit at the Antisana reserve, the fourth biggest mountain with snow in Ecuador (4704 meters altitude). You will discover typical landscapes of Páramo, different gaps and have the opportunity to see different species of birds among which is the condor.

Day dedicated to the ornithology in the region of Antisana volcano. You will start by observing the nesting cliffs of the Andean Condor before entering the Antisana Reserve. You will reach the Mica lagoon to continue your observation of large raptors but also aquatic species such as the Great-cheeked Grebe, Sharp-tailed Duck, Andean Lapwings, Blue-winged Teal, Grand Knight and owls.

Note: the possible entrance to visit the reserve will have to be paylocally.

You will spend the night at the Hacienda Guaytara.

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

Saquisili - Sigchos - Chugchilan - Isinlivi

Visit in the morning of the Saquisili market (only on Thursdays) considered as the country's most important indigenous market. Many natives come to this local economical centre to sell and buy anything from cattle to cotton. The market spreads over 8 squares with each one a speciality.

A spectacular but seldom used road will take you in the mountains and steep valleys where the wilderness and beauty of the landscapes will make you forget about the travel's difficulties. Feel at the heart of the Andean culture in the villages of Sigchos and Chugchilan

Night and dinner at the Llullu Llama hotel in Isinlivi. Please note that you will have a private room but with shared toilets.

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

Isinlivi - Chugchilan

Trek Isinlivi-Chugchilan:

You will start from the shelter in Isinlivi, authentic and full of beauty , you will be able to see the people who are going to cultivate their fields, which paint colorful mountains . You will descend through the canyons to a small town where you'll visit Itualo's school with permission of the Principal. Our journey continues to the Toachi river before going to Chugchilán.

You will spend the night and take the dinner at Mama Hilda hotel in Chugchilan.

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

Chugchilan - Quilotoa

After breakfast, you will descend to the Rio Sigui to go towards the lagoon of Quilotoa. On the way we will see some ruins, the valley of the Toachi river and some farmers who start working, even some llamas and alpacas. You will not regret the 5 hours of walking when the emerald green waters of the lagoon will be offered to you.

The emerald colored Quilotoa lake (3854m) lays in a still active volcano, its color being due to the presence of sulfur. According to a legend, the Inca Atahualpa had hidden his treasure in the lake... You can go for a 2 hours walk down to the crater and back (option to rent a mule for the trip, for less than 10 u$d) or simply enjoy the view from the top of the crater.

Visit the Mirador of Shalala with scenic view of Quilotoa laguna though a comunitarian project.

Night and dinner at the Alpaga Quilotoa.

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

Quilotoa - Tigua - Cotopaxi Park - Calpi - Riobamba

Last day of trek in the Cordillera. You will walk between the lake Quilotoa and the Tigua village through the canyon of the Toachi river. As you descend the canyon you will notice the change of ecosytem. The high canyon walls will surround you all the time.

Journey to the Chimborazo park.

Road to Riobamba, a peaceful andean town totally rebuilt after the 1797 earthquake.

Interesting stop at this museum that presents the relationship between the andean communities and the lama. You will eventually know the difference between a llama, an alpaca, a vicugna and a guanaco.

Riombamba is also known as the "Sultana de los Andes", it's a peacefull and quiet city that had to be rebuilt after the earthquake of 1797. You will visit the park "Pedro Vicente Maldonado" and the cathedral also. You will also stop in the market that is very colorfull before going to Quitoloma from where you can observe the Chimborazo.

Visit of a Tagua workshop. The Tagua is a vegetable ivory and thus a fantastic alternative to the animal ivory. The material, the size of a big egg, comes from a small palm tree which is dried and sculpted after the bark is fallen. Many artists realise these stunning pieces which really look like real ivory after being polished.

You will spend the night at Bella Casona 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 - Chimborazo Park

Journey to the North to Chimborazo as from Riobamba a peaceful Andean town totally rebuilt after the 1797 earthquake.

Visit of the Chimborazo natural reserve.

In this "paramo" landscape typical of this Andean area, you are likely to see some vicugnas out of the 2300 specimens reintroduced in 1990. After driving up to the Carrel hut at 4800m you may get closer (optionnal, you can stay at the hut level if you consider not being in the proper cphysical conditions to climb) to the Ecuador's highest summit (6310m) by walking to the second Whymper hut at 5100m, not far from the snowline. Because of the extra earth's diameter on the Equator line, the Chimborazo summit is the most distant to the earth's centre.

You will spend the night at Chimborazo Lodge inside the Chimborazo National Park.

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

Riobamba - Achupallas - Las tres cruces

Transfer in private vehicle towards Achupallas.

The Inca Trail: You will begin your walk in Achupallas where you will see the mules that will take you to your destination. You will pass around the valley of the River Cadrul before establishing the first camp next to the Lake "Las tres Cruces". Overnight at the camp.

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

Las tres cruces - Paredones

After breakfast you will then ascend into Quilloloma. The vestiges of the old Inca route can be seen in the valley. You will camp near the lagoon of Culebrillas and near small Inca ruins.

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

Paredones - Ingapirca - Cuenca

This day will be much easier. About three-hours walk to the village of San Jose where you will have one our more to walk to the river Silante from where you will take the car and visit the ruins of 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.

Meal at Posada Ingapirca restaurant.

You will travel to the beautiful city of Cuenca by vehicle, following a scenic road in the middle of the Andes with views over the colored fields and the mountains around.

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 museum of the Central Bank. This musum is located near the ruins of "Todos los Santos", where you can see ehtnological collections and works of colonial art, also old photographs of Cuenca. This museum inherited a collection of ceramics pre-incas that belonged to the priest Crespi that died in 1980. This museum is the only only one who has a collection of reduced heads or "tzanzas".

Behind the museum of the Central Bank you will find the Archeological Park of Pumapungo. You can walk among the vestiges of the ancient Inca settlement which was dismantled by the spanish conquerors in order to build Cuenca. There is also a garden with endemic plants. The Temple of the Sun and the convent of the virgins of the Sun were a part of one of the most impressive and magnificent cities of the former Inca Empire.

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 - Cajas Park - Guayaquil

You will follow up Western cordillera to Cajas park from Cuenca where you will enjoy stunning views over the many lakes of this protected area.

El Cajas National Park is located in the south western Cordillera of the Andes, 35 km from Cuenca. Its altitude varies between 3,156 and 4,450 m and covers an area of ​​288 km2, including a set of 235 glacial lakes, connected by small rivers and streams. The park is home to archaeological sites, among several other sections of Qapaq Nan, the real Inca Trail, which connects the coast with the mountains and fells, allowing trade in Spondylus shell, valuable object at that time. You can walk from 2 to 6 hours owith a local guide.

Journey to get to Guayaquil, Ecuador's biggest city and economical capital.

Down from the mountains you will pass by fertiles lowlands with huge orchards and banana plantations before arriving to Guayaquil.

Today you will discover the colonial area of Las Peñas and 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 - Guayaquil Airport

RECOMMENDED PLACES TO VISIT:

There is no specific itinerary, but you can start with the neo gothic cathedral which is adjacent to Parque Bolivar, whose main attraction is the hundreds of green iguanas, sometimes more than a meter long.Then you can walk through the Malecón on the banks of the river to reach the picturesque neighborhood of Las Peñas and climb the 444 steps on the slopes of Cerro Santa Ana to the watchtower.

Departure from your hotel to the airport by private transport with a spanish-speaking driver.

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