11D / 10N | Quito / Guayaquil | All year round
DAY 1 - QUITOArrival in Quito. Welcoming at the international airport of Quito by your English speaking guide. Transfer in private vehicle (little water bottle for each one of the passengers). Installation in the hotel. Dinner at leisure. Overnight in the hotel in Quito. DAY 2 - QUITO / MITAD DEL MUNDO / OTAVALOBreakfast at the hotel. In the morning, visit of the historical center of Quito. Founded in the 16th century on the ruins of an Inca city 2,850m above sea level, Quito has the best preserved historical city centre in South America, registered on the World Heritage list. Lunch included. During the afternoon, visit of the official monument of the Mitad del Mundo, localized in the north of Quito. The equinoctial line, with latitude 0, passes not far from there. Continuation to the lakes region and the little city of Otavalo. Diner included and night in an hacienda. DAY 3 - OTAVALO / PEGUCHE / CUICOCHA / SAN CLEMENTEBreakfast at the hotel. In the morning, departure to Peguche to visit a traditional music instruments workshop of one of the most famous Andean music bands of Ecuador, Ñanda Mañachi. Then, visit of the market of Otavalo, famous traditional market with its colourful stalls and the wide variety of its handicraft : ponchos, printed fabrics, scarves, straw hat, silver jewellery, ceramics, etc. DAY 4 - SAN CLEMENTE / PAPALLACTA / AMAZONIABreakfast in the community. Then, departure to Papallacta, small city lying in a valley deemed for its thermal baths. Arrival in Papallacta and relaxing moment in the thermal baths naturally warmed by the activity of the Antisana volcano, situated not far from there and peaking at 5 770 meters. Little coffeebreak on the way and visit of a hummingbird farm. Continuation in the direction of Misahualli, front door of the local Ecuadorian Amazonia. Navigation on the river Arajuno up to the lodge aboard power-driven dugout. Meals included. Overnight at the hotel. DAY 5 - AMAZON REGION : Primary and secondary Amazon RainforestBreakfast at the hotel. DAY 9 - AMAZON REGION / PUYO / BAÑOSBreakfast at the hotel. Departure from the lodge to at Puyo. Stop in Puyo and visit of a of wooden objects of balsa wood craft workshop, developed by the local native populations. Discovery of the Reserve of Yana Cocha, animal center of care and rehabilitation of the wounded wild animals, to discover a big variety of animal species living in the Amazonian pond. Pursuit of this morning on the road of the waterfalls which connects Puyo with Baños. Excursion in the waterfall of Pailón del Diablo (the Cauldron of the Devil). Arrival at Baños, situated at the foot of the active volcano Tungurahua (5.100m). Free time. Meals included. Overnight at the hotel. DAY 7 - RIOBAMBA / Chimborazo Volcano / Meeting with communities involved in Fair trade / RIOBAMBABreakfast at the hotel. Departure for the Andes and the Faunal Reserve of Chimborazo, to appreciate the highest volcano of Ecuador: the Chimborazo. Arrival by car at the refuge which is at 4.700 meters of altitude. Lunch included in an inn of height belonging to a famous Ecuadorian climber having widely contributed to the development of the andinism in the country. Continuation towards Riobamba to discover the work of an organization of community development. Installation in one of the oldest haciendas of the country. Dinner included. Overnight at the hotel. DAY 8 - RIOBAMBA / INGAPIRCA / CUENCABreakfast at the hotel. Route southward to join the charming town: Alausi. Continuation towards Alausi to take the train which rides on the sadly notorious route of the Nariz del Diablo, the « Devil’s Nose », where the train comes down zigzaging because of the uneven hillside. Continuation towards Ingapirca, the most remarkable inca archeological site of Ecuador, passing through spectacular typical landscapes of the Andes looking like a patchwork of oblique cultures. Continuation southward. Arrival at Cuenca. Meals included. Overnight in the hotel. DAY 9 - CUENCABreakfast at the hotel. In the morning, visit of the magnificent city of Cuenca, jewel of the Spanish colonial architecture built on the ruins of Tomebamba, former inca city. Visit of a factory of straw hats « toquilla » (Panama). Lunch included in the restaurant of the museum of the Aboriginal Cultures. In the afternoon, visit of the museum of the Aboriginal Cultures. For the end of the afternoon, you will have the choice or to take advantage of your spare time to stroll as you please in this charming city (without guide) or, if the timing allows it, to leave (with guide) towards Gualaceo to visit the company of orchids Ecuagenera. Dinner included. Overnight in Cuenca. DAY 10 - CUENCA / El CAJAS NATIONAL PARK / GUAYAQUILBreakfast at the hotelL Departure to Guayaquil adn passage by the National park El Cajas and its lake, The Toreadora (4.000 m). Crossing of the western chain of the Andes to go down in the direction of the coastal plain: complete change of the landscape because of the variation of height and discovery of the Pacific Coast with its immense cultures of bananas, rice, sugar cane, coffee, cocoa, etc. DAY 11 - GUAYAQUILBreakfast at the hotel. Inthe morning, visit of the city : visit of the Malecón, the Seminario park where you can appreciate very closely iguanas, the Cathedral, the Palace of the Government, the City hall and the monument of Rotonda. Passage by the district of Las Peñas and the cemetery. Return in the hotel to offer the possibility to the people ending their stay to take a shower before the transfer at the airport for the international flight. Cruise in the Galapagos Islands4 days / 3 nights BALTRA / SAN CRISTOBAL
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