Extreme 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) (-/-/-)

Early in the morning, after breakfast the guide will pick us up to begin the journey to the north of the country.

Otavalo Indigenous Market is the largest and most famous in Latin America, will have enough time walk around the famous poncho market to enjoy with all its products and purchase some souvenirs.

Lunch planned at a hacienda in the area.

In the afternoon visit the town of Cotacachi, a town that is known for producing high quality leather goods.

We travel through the Panamericana, where the Andean landscape dominates, we will make a short stop in Cayambe, where you will taste the famous biscuits of the town. These muffins, which are prepared in a clay oven and served with cheese, are absolutely delicious, at the end of this day we will arrive to

Quito capital of Ecuador (B/L/-)

Early in the morning, after breakfast the guide will pick us up to begin the day 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. (B/L/-)

Back to the hotel.

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, accommodation in any of the alternatives in the surroundings where all the facilities and the beauty of the landscape are there for you. (B/L/-).

After breakfast we continue to marvel at the beauty of the Ecuadorian Andes.

On the way to Quilotoa, we will pass the Toachi river canyon and many indigenous communities in the area, we will be able to observe a bit of their way of life and their daily activities, if the tour takes place on Saturday we will also visit the Zumbahua market.

The Quilotoa lagoon owes its name to its location, since it is within the crater of the volcano of the same name, you can enjoy the view from above or walk to the shore of this beautiful emerald lagoon, you should only consider that the walk On the way back it takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, but there is also the alternative of renting a mule.

Lunch will be served at a local community restaurant.

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.

Return in the late afternoon to Quito.(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/-/-)