When you arrive in Ecuador, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your charming hotel in Quito.
Accommodation: Hotel Mercure
After breakfast, you will visit “Quito” the most beautiful and colonial city in South America, declared by UNESCO part of the Cultural Heritage of mankind. First, you will explore the colonial part of the city starting at the Independence square, where the presidential palace, the city hall, the Sagrario church and the Cathedral are. You will then visit San Francisco church and museum-monastery (1535), the San Agustin monastery and the finest example of baroque art in America, La Compañía church (1605) and its breathtaking gilded altars. Your next stop will be the art & crafts gallery of Tianguez and finally, drive up to the Panecillo hill. This is a great place to enjoy an amazing view of Quito from above and admire the only winged-Virgin statue in South America. This is a great spot to take pictures above Quito.
After visiting the Colonial center of Quito you will arrive to the Middle of the World Monument and Museum, which is located 25 km north of Ecuador’s capital. There you will find the monument on the equatorial line marking latitude 0° 0´0”, where you will have the opportunity to stand in both hemispheres and take wonderful pictures. Here you can also visit the ethnographic museum on site as well.Then you will be transferred to Otavalo where you will overnight in a unique historical hacienda.
Accommodation: Hosteria Hacienda Pinsaqui (Breakfast)
Today you will visit the biggest and most colorful indigenous market in Latin America, the famous Otavalo. Its market is famous around the world for its colorful tapestries, hand-knitted wool sweaters, native paintings, wood carvings, silver jewelry, woolen and straw hats, and much more at bargain prices. After this, you will go to the Peguche Waterfall near Otavalo, where you will arrive after a refreshing walk. In the afternoon you will return to Quito, enjoying the rural landscape.
Accommodation: Hosteria Hacienda Pinsaqui (Breakfast)
This day you will visit Cuicocha, one of the most interesting crater lakes in Ecuador. This active volcano has a lagoon inside its crater as well as 2 small islands. You can enjoy a boat ride around the crater and listen to the stories and legends of this magical place. Afterwards you will be transferred to Papallacta where you will stay overnight and enjoy the Hot Springs.
Accommodation: Termas de Papallacta Spa (Breakfast)
It’s time to enjoy one of the most beautiful hot Springs in the Andes of Ecuador, Papallacta. The hydrothermal value of this Hot Springs is thanks to its location between two volcanoes, Cayambe and Antisana. The source temperature of the thermal baths varies between 30°C and 70°C (86°F and 158°F). At the pools, the temperature ranges from 36°C to 40°C (97°F to 104°F). This thermal waters contains sulfates, sodium, calcium, chloride and traces of magnesium which are odorless, colorless but have a slightly salty taste. Here you will be able to relax in the private pools of hot water or enjoy one of the varieties of massages or treatments that they offer. In the afternoon you will be transferred to the area Cotopaxi National Park, where you will spend the night.
Accommodation: Hostal Mama Hilda (Breakfast)
Your trip today starts traveling to a remote mountain region in the western side of the Ecuadorian highlands. Here the indigenous communities keep crops at altitudes of over 13,120 ft, and it is where the famous Tigua paintings were born. You will arrive to the dark green Quilotoa Crater Lake inside an extinct volcano (12,497 ft), where you can hike to the crater or just admire the beautiful landscapes of the Highlands of Ecuador.
You will have lunch in Hacienda San Augustin del Callo. This working farm offers an unrivaled glimpse into Ecuador’s rich and colorful past. Since the 15th century San Agustin de Callo has served as Inca fortress, Augustinian convent and temporary home for the French Geodesic Mission. After this, you will be transferred to a nice colonial hacienda to overnight.
Accommodation: Hosteria La Cienega (Breakfast)
Today you will visit Verdillano Roses Plantation. You will hike through the different greenhouses and the room where the flowers are stored, ready for transportation. During the visit you will learn aobout the roses’ cultivation, activities and markets.
Afterwards you will admire the Cotopaxi (19,347 feet), the highest active volcano on earth, and its National Park. Upon your arrival to the park you will visit the interpretation center where you will find history about the last Cotopaxi eruption as well as information about the flora & fauna of this beautiful national park. Then you will visit the Limpiopungo Lake and admire the Andean moorlands with its birds or you can start climbing up to the snow line and arrive to the first shelter of the mountain located at 15,744 ft. After your tour you will be transferred back to Quito to overnight.
Accommodation: Ilatoa Lodge (Breakfast)
After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home. (Breakfast)
