Essencial Andes

Arrival on your local flight to Quito.

Our guide will welcome you at the airport and take you to the previously selected hotel. (Depending on arrival time additional excursions can be organized) (-/-/-)

The day begins early in the morning, after breakfast the guide will pick us up to start the day’s adventure.

The visit is planned to the largest and best preserved historic center in Latin America, we will make a first stop at the Church of the Basilica del Voto Nacional, this religious building is in the neo-Gothic style; Due to its dimensions and style, it is considered the largest temple in America of its kind. We continue our way to Plaza de la Independencia where the Presidential Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace, the municipal building and the Neo-Colonial Cathedral are located. It is one of the most traditional churches in Quito. Built in the 16th century, it has been part of the city since its foundation, we will also visit the La Compañia Church, the best example of Baroque architecture in South America. With its impressive gold leaf altar, this church is one of the most beautiful buildings in the colonial neighborhood of Quito.

Any visit to the historic center is complete without visiting the Panecillo, a small elevation crowned by the imposing statue of the Winged Virgin, from this place you can see a fabulous landscape.Lunch is scheduled at a local restaurant with a spectacular view.We continue to the north of the city, a few kilometers from the city of Quito is the Ciudad Mitad del Mundo, in the middle of an impressive natural setting, it stands on latitude 0o0’0 ”the well-known obelisk as an Equatorial Monument, which easily marks the four cardinal points.

You can live the experience of standing in two hemispheres at the same time!

The next stop takes us to the Intiñan Interactive Museum that offers an interactive tour, where we will discover the history of ancient peoples, we will have the opportunity to notice experiences that occur only in this part of the planet,

Back to the hotel. (B/L/-)

** You can change the order of visits if necessary or due to travelers’ request**

Tour starts after breakfast at approximately 8:00 AM. We will head south on the Pan-American Highway until we reach the Cotopaxi National Park approximately two hours.

During the tour, you can enjoy beautiful Andean landscapes, and high mountains.

Once in the national park, visit the Interpretation Center, with a brief explanation about the flora and fauna of the area, we continue to the Limpiopungo Lagoon, a perfect and easily accessible place for birdwatching, among the most common: paraulata morena , sleepers and the corn duck.

Depending on the physical condition of the passengers, we can continue towards the parking lot (4,600 m); from here you have an excellent view, from here we can also start a walk to the José Rivas refuge.

Lunch will be served at a hacienda in the area.

We continue to the south of the country our next stop Baños de Agua Santa, is a small city that rises between the central Andes and the Amazon of Ecuador, this beautiful city offers natural wonders, fun and extreme sports, combined with a quality hotel and kind people.(B/L/-)

After breakfast, our adventure through the waterfall route begins; The most popular tour in Baños consists of visiting the different waterfalls that exist on the Baños – Puyo highway to the Ecuadorian East, after 10 minutes on the way to the

Agoyán Waterfall; in it you can take photos as well as cross the Pastaza river through tarabita or Canopy (extra cost). After going through a tunnel you can admire a wonderful landscape that forms the canyon of the Pastaza river, the next stop is Río Blanco, where you have the opportunity to do Bungee Jumping or Bungee Jumping (jump with dynamic ropes – extra cost) the same as offers in two types of jumps.

After having carried out these activities we will visit the beautiful El Manto de la Novia waterfall with an impressive waterfall of more than 60 m; here you can cross the Pastaza river in a tarabita over the waterfall of El Manto de la Novia. The longest tarabita in the country, 450 meters long. (extra cost).

Then there are the San Jorge waterfall and the San Pedro waterfall.

Finally there is the town of Río Verde where you have to descend on foot for a period of 20 minutes and visit the famous El Pailón del Diablo waterfall.

Lunch served at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon visit to the Tree House, it is recognized as one of the most important tourist attractions in the city of Baños, it has become an internationally renowned resource. Located in the Runtun farmhouse at 2600 m; It is a house built in a giant tree, in which the so-called “swing of the end of the world” is held, an attraction that exceeds 7 meters long and where you can enjoy one of the best and impressive views of the volcano Tungurahua surrounded by the mountainous landscape that surrounds the city of Baños.

We continue further south in the country to reach the city of Riobamba at the end of the day.(B/L/-).

After breakfast our natural adventure of the day begins. Chimborazo, the highest mountain in Ecuador, is the face of this reserve. The colossus measures 6,310 meters of altitude and is surrounded by an immense sandy area with a rather dry moor, unlike most. The reserve, however, provides water to the three provinces where it is located: here are the sources that feed the Ambato, Chambo and Chimbo rivers. The waters of the Chimbo end in the great Guayas River, a link that is represented in the National Shield. The connection between the Chimborazo and the Guayas River is a symbol of the unity between Costa and Sierra. The reserve is home to a significant population of vicuñas reintroduced from Peru and Chile in 1988. There are also llamas and alpacas, domestic animals native to Ecuador that were used by the ancient inhabitants of the Andes before the Spanish introduced horses, sheep, cows and donkeys. The reserve was created to protect these animals and their historical legacy, as well as the strange wasteland of which they are part.

Lunch will be served at a traditional hacienda.

We continue our trip to Cuenca, on the way we will visit the Inca ruins of Ingapirca, the best-preserved best archaeological complex in the country, our journey ends in the beautiful city of Cuenca. (B/L/-)

The tour starts at 9:00 AM since the places of visit and shops open about that time. It is not recommended to do it on Sunday because most establishments are closed and there is just a few activity in the city.

The visit of the beautiful city of Cuenca includes places such as the picturesque and traditional Barrio de San Sebastián, the Museum of Modern Art, Parque Calderón (central park), Plaza de las Flores, La Sagrario Cathedral (Old Cathedral), Immaculate Conception Cathedral (New Cathedral) considered the largest in Latin America. Also included is a visit to a famous Straw Hat Factory Toquilla, where the elaboration of the finest hats is observed.

Typical lunch.

We tour the majesty and charm of the Barranco where architecture meets the environment natural.

Finally we arrive at the “Mirador de Turi” where the landscape of a valley full of red roofs and blue domes is framed by towering mountains. On the way we visit the House-Workshop of Ceramics by Eduardo Vega, famous potter Cuenca,Museum of Concepts and Museum of Aboriginal Cultures. (B/L/-)

After breakfast we will enjoy the beauty of each of these artisan villages, where the products made are sold in commercial premises or open- air markets.

The first stop is in Gualaceo, where you can find handmade leather available in the market, including many shoes, you can also appreciate the typical local cuisine, hornado, rosero, etc. The next stop Chordeleg is known for its filigree, gold and silver jewelry.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

Our last visit to the town of Sigsig where we will find exhibitions of toquilla straw hats, declared in 2012 by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage.

Return to the city of Cuenca and transfer to the airport to take the local flight to the city of Quito, transfer to the hotel and accommodation for the last night in Ecuador. (B/L/-)

Transfer from the hotel to Quito airport to take the flight back home, it is also possible to take extensions to the Galapagos Islands or the Amazon. (B/-/-)