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Galapagos Cruises & Tours |
The most exclusive Galapagos cruises around the enchanted islands... enjoy one of the most spectacular landscapes and endemic wildlife in the world!  READ MORE
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Come and enjoy the best of Ecuador, South America with our exclusive programs designed specially for you.  READ MORE
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Day 1 |
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CITY TOUR QUITO :. |
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This 12 day package begins with a tour of the famous churches and cathedrals located in Quito, followed by 4 days of sightseeing in several towns on the north region of Ecuador. You will visit Cotacachi and Otavalo, both known for its Indian and leather markets as well as the Cotopaxi National Park. From there you will head south towards the Amazon Rainforest , enjoy a spectacular train ride called Devil’s Nose and arrive in Cuenca, another historical landsite in Ecuador.
UNESCO
declared Quito a Cultural Heritage
Site. Its incomparable architecture
and Colonial Art are treasures
of America. In our first day
we visit Colonial Town and its
Churches: The Cathedral has
an interesting collection of
sculptures and paintings from
Escuela Quiteña. From
Independence Square, we can
walk to the most of the colonial
sites: El Sagrario, La Compañia
de Jesus, San Francisco Church
and Plaza, Convents and Monasteries.
You will know one of the most
important and interesting museum
in Quito: Museo de Oro Del Banco
Central del Ecuador. In the
afternoon, just 30 minutes outside
of Quito we visit The Equatorial
Monument – Middle of the
World, here there is a typical
Andean Village, an ethnographic
museum that shows you about
our ethnical groups. |
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| Lodging
in Quito. |
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| ROUTE
MAP |
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to enlarge |
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Day 2 |
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QUITO – COTACACHI TOWN :. |
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Early
in the morning departure to Iluman and
Peguche Communities, located at the north
of Otavalo; these communities have been
specialist from several generations in
making-up Andean tapestries, alpaca sweaters
or straw hats.
In the afternoon we have a moderate trekking
around the Cuicocha Lake in front Cotacachi
Volcano (4.944 m above sea level) This
Lake has a weird and wonderful turquoise
– blue color, it is at 3.000 meters
above sea level; from here you can have
an spectacular view of Otavalo, Ibarra
towns and the Imbabura Volcano. |
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| Lodging
in a Colonial Hacienda or Hostel in Otavalo. |
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Day 3 |
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OTAVALO INDIAN MARKETS :. |
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After
your breakfast, we’ll go to the Otavalo Indian Market;
this market offers you wonderful weavings,
tapestry, bags, handicrafts, and other
products made by the Otavalo Community.
Otavalo is one of the most Ecuadorian
Indian Markets recognized around the world.
Visit Cayambe Town and Guachala (Equinoccial
Line). |
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| Return
to Quito. |
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Day 4 |
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COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK :. |
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Starting
our trip early in the morning, we’ll
drive through The Avenue of the
Volcanoes; arrive to The Cotopaxi National Park, where
you can see the Highest Active Volcano
in the world: Cotopaxi
(5.987 meters above sea level). Visit
Limpiopungo Lake and Vicious Valley.
This park is home to several animals such as condors, blue-bill pointed ducks,…deer.
In the afternoon, we visit an interesting
archeological site and colonial hacienda
called San Agustin del Callo. |
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| Accommodation
in a hotel of the area. |
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Day 5 |
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QUILOTOA CRATER LAKE :. |
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Departure
to Quilotoa Crater Lake; visit Tigua a
little indigenous town near Zumbahua and
Quilotoa, in this community we meet the
Tigua artists well known for their colorful
paintings, which are elaborated on sheepskin
trained.
Their paints represent Andean landscapes,
people, and daily life moments. Arrive to Quilotoa Lake where it is possible to descend to the crater (Trekking for 2-4 hours). |
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| Departure
to Baños. |
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Early
in the morning, departure to Baños:
the entrance to the jungle and a zone
classified as the largest biodiversity
in Ecuador.
Visit the Baños city and its surroundings.
For adventure, relax or an exciting bohemian
nightlife, Baños is a small jewel
on the Andean plateau. At night, admire the eruptions of Tungurahua
Volcano at a safe distance. |
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| Accommodation
in Baños. |
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Days 7 - 8 |
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BAÑOS – COTOCOCHA COMMUNITY
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Departure to the Amazon Rain Forest. We will cross a river and go to El Pailon del Diablo, one… in Ecuador as well as Manto de la Novia, Rio Verde and the Agoyan waterfalls. We then continue our trip towards the town of Puyo located in the Rain Forest and arrive to Cotococha Community..
Upon arrival we will witness a Shaman’s show and receive a typical native Indian welcome festival. We will learn about ancient traditions, medicinal plants, and see first hand how these natives live. A walk through the tropical forest with a native guide will allow you to see the many species of birds, mammals and reptiles that live in the rain forest.
Note: For those days we have the possibility
to spending the night in an authentic
indigenous community or in a hotel in
Puyo city. |
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| Accommodation
in native’s huts made of local ecological
materials. |
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Day 9 |
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COTOCOCHA COMMUNITY – RIOBAMBA TOWN
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Departure
to Riobamba (route Puyo
– Baños – Riobamba)
Visit the Salasaca Community – one
of the most interesting cultures of the
highlands – the community members
get together in several squares to trade
handcrafts, agriculture products, cattle
and sheep.
City Tour in Riobamba: Colonial Town,
the Cathedral, Basilica, and The Conceptas
Museum. |
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| Accommodation
in Riobamba. |
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Day 10 |
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ANDEAN TRAIN – DEVIL’S NOSE
/ GUAMOTE INDIAN MARKET :. |
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Very
early in the morning we take the Andean
Train from Riobamba to Devil’s
Nose (Days Departure train: Wednesday,
Friday, or Sunday only) or visit Guamote
Indian Market (Thursday) - one
of the oldest markets in Ecuador –
we continued our trip toward Tambo and
visit Ingapirca – Inca Ruins:
the most important Archeological Inca
ruins in Ecuador. |
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| Accommodation
in Cañar or Cuenca. |
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Day 11 |
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CUENCA CITY :. |
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Visit
to Historic Center. Cuenca is the capital
of Azuay Province and the third largest
city in Ecuador. It stands 2.535 meters
above sea level (it was declared Cultural
Heritage Site on December 1.999 by the
UNESCO). In Cuenca, we visit the old town
and its colonial’s sites, churches
and El Turi viewpoint. Afternoon we visit
Cajas National Park where you find more
than 230 lagoons of glacial origin and
know the Andean flora and fauna.
A beautiful place at this National Park,
which is almost unknown, is the La Toreadora
Lagoon, very close to the city of Cuenca.
This lagoon is home to numerous birds,
and is surrounded by an attractive cloud
forest.
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| Accommodation
in Cuenca. |
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Day 12 |
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CUENCA – RIOBAMBA – AMBATO
- QUITO:. |
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Departure from Cuenca to Quito. We will stop in Riobamba, where we will have lunch in a colonial hacienda and then proceed to Quito. OPTION: Passengers may return by plane from Cuenca to Quito where they will be met by a representative.
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| Remarks |
Your 12 day tour can be extended up to 8 more days in the Ecuador mainland to complete a 20 day program. These additional 8 days include tours of Guayaquil, the beautiful beaches of Guayas and Manabi province (coast), excursions to the Machalilla National Park, and La Plata Island which is characterized by its similarity of flora and fauna to the Galapagos Islands. Please see the 20 Day Program for more information.
Previously organized cruises to the Galapagos Islands are also available if you wish to complete your adventure in Ecuador. See Galapagos Islands page for more information.
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