16 Days - 15 Nights
Starting Day: Tuesday
In this round trip we have joined the highlights of Ecuador with beautiful and traditional Haciendas and country estates. Explore the colorful Andean world with its different indigenous cultures, the colonial old towns which belong to the UNESCO world heritage and the diverse vegetation zones: the mangrove forests on the coast up to the lush cloud forest, and even higher in to the páramo vegetation. We travel with private transport, on top of the train and optionally by horse and on foot to discover the beauties of the country.
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Day 1 Tuesday: Quito City tour - Midad del Mundo
In the morning we visit the old town of Quito, which as Cuenca, belongs to the UNESCI world heritage. Quito is famous for its colonial buildings, gold covered interiors of the churches and monasteries, and picturesque small parks and places. We drive up the Panecillo with the Virgin of Quito and enjoy the views over the huge metropolis from the north to the south between the snow capped cordilleras. Lunch in a typical restaurant and in the afternoon visit to the Mitad del Mundo. Here it's possible to stand with one foot in the southern hemisphere and the other in the northern hemisphere. We walk through the small village with its museums and exhibitions.
Day 2 Wednesday: Quito - National Park Cotopaxi - Yanahurco
Depart in the early morning from Quito to Cotopaxi National Park. Visit to the Limpiopungo Lake and start of a little hike. Afterwards we drive up to the parking lot of the refuge. Those who feel fit enough start to hike up to the refuge José Ribeira at 4800m and further on to the glacier. On the way, box lunch. We go on to the Hostería Yanahurco, that has 25,000 hectares, the biggest hacienda in the Ecuadorian Andes on the eastern flanks of the Cotopaxi.
Day 3 Thursday: Yanahurco
Today we have the possibilities to participate on one of the day's activities: a hiking tour, horse back riding, or fishing for trout in this impressive mountain region. Or you can relax in this huge Hacienda and observe the cowboys in their daily duties.
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Day 4 Friday: Yanahurco - La Ciénega
In the morning, a short hiking tour in the close vicinity, lunch, and then we return to the Panamericana Highway. On the way we visit the Incan ruins in the National Park and later we arrive in the colonial Hacienda La Ciénega, where Humboldt stayed overnight in his famous travels.
Day 5 Saturday: Lasso - Ambato - Baños
Early in the morning we drive through Ambato to the small town Baños, also called the gate way to the Oriente. We leave our luggage in the hotel and go on to the famous waterfall of the "Pailón del Diablo". We enjoy lunch in a cosy restaurant in Rio Verde and then return to Baños. Here we have the chance to visit the thermal bath and afterwards the little town with all its coffees and bars.
Day 6 Sunday: Daytrip to Runtún and Tungurahua volcano
We drive uphill to the small village of Runtún. If the weather permits we enjoy a beautiful view on the active volcano Tungurahua. After the lunch we stroll back downhill to Baños.
Day 7 Monday: Ambato - Guaranda - Salinas
The road brings us back to Ambato, between the two mountains Carihuarirazo and Chimborazo, and through the Arenal, a desert-like region to the "Rome of Ecuador" or the small town of Guaranda build on seven hills. In earlier times this was the normal route between the highlands and the coast. We drive on in this colourful Andean country side to Salinas, a famous development project. Apart from the tasty cheese, they also produce sausages, dried champignons and hand knitted sweaters. Overnight stay in Riobamba.
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Day 8 Tuesday: Chimborazo - Riobamba
Early in the morning we drive over the western slope of the Chimborazo to the first refuge at 4800m. On the way we have the chance to observe the vicuñas, one of the three llama species in Ecuador. From the first refuge we hike up to the second refuge at 5000m and have a box lunch. The "taita" Chimborazo is the highest mountain in Ecuador at 6310m with a high snow-capped summit. Afterwards we visit a Hacienda where they breed bulls for the traditional bullfights of the country. There we enjoy a typical meal of this region. Overnight stay and dinner in Ambato.
Day 9 Wednesday: Train ride to the devils nose - Alausí - Riobamba
Very early in the morning we start the famous train ride from Riobamba to Alausí, down to the devils nose, and again back to Alausí. During the ride on top of the train roof we enjoy the views of the landscape with its flora and habitants. On the way, box lunch. From Alausí, we drive back in our private transport to Riobamba.
Day 10 Thursday: Indian market Guamote - Ingapirca
Again in the early morning we visit the original and colourful Indian market of Guamote. The traditionally dressed Indians bring on the backs of mules and llamas, their merchandises to the weekly market. After lunch we drive south to the Incan ruins of Ingapirca and overnight stay in the Posada Ingapirca.
Day 11 Friday: Ingapirca - Cuenca
In the morning, we visit the biggest Incan ruins in Ecuador and we go on a little walk here in the Incan and Cañari mystical landscape. Lunch in the Posada and journey to the third largest city in Ecuador, Cuenca.
Day 12 Saturday: City tour Cuenca
We visit the old town with it famous flower market and the many different colonial buildings and cathedrals. Lunch in a cozy restaurant. Afterwards we drive up to the overlook of Turi with its splendid panoramic view, visit of the ceramic atelier Vega, and then visit the museum of the Banco Central with its interesting exhibition of all the different indigenous cultures of Ecuador.
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Fabrication of panama hats |
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Day 13 Sunday: Sigsíg - Chordeleg - Gualaceo
After breakfast we drive to the village Sígsig to visit the women cooperative where we see the fabrication of panama hats. Furthermore, we drive to Chordeleg, famous for its crafts in wood, silver and gold filigree, and pottery. Here we enjoy a typical lunch. Afterwards we go to the thriving little town of Gualaceo with its woolen goods and weaving ateliers, famous for the Ikat dyed shawls. Return journey over the green Paute to Cuenca.
Day 14 Monday. Cajas National Park
After breakfast we drive to the Cajas National Park with its more then 250 mountain lakes. We hike the whole day trough the páramo vegetation and the mystic polylepis forests, enjoying a unique landscape. On the way, box lunch and in the early evening return to Cuenca for dinner.
Day 15 Tuesday: Girón - Yunguilla - Machala
After breakfast we drive in the direction of the coast. First we reach Girón and go on a short hike to the three waterfalls. Further on in Yunguillas we observe the production of "panela" and "aguardiente" made of sugar cane. Lunch and then further down through the desert of Jubones when the land then becomes greener again until we arrive in the banana plantings and the booming agricultural town Machala.
Day 16 Wednesday: Churute Mangrove forest - Guayaquil - Quito
After breakfast we arrive in the ecological reserve Churute, one of the last huge mangrove vegetation and dry forest parts of the coast. A small hike to observe the diverse avifauna. We drive on to the main port and most dynamic commercial centre, Guayaquil. Lunch in a nice restaurant on the river Guayas. In the afternoon city tour: Iguana Park, the huge cathedral, and the recently renovated district La Peña. Late afternoon flight back to Quito.
At the end of our program, the possibility exists to start one of our programs to the Galapagos Islands or into the Amazon rainforest.
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