8 days and 7 nights
Starting day: Wednesday
Day 1 Cuenca City tour
Early morning flight from Quito to Cuenca and transfer to the hotel. Afterwards, we visit the old town with its famous flower market and many different colonial buildings and cathedrals. Lunch in a cozy restaurant. Afterwards we drive up the overlook of Turi with its splendid panoramic view, visit to 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. Return to the Hotel and dinner.
Day 2 Sígsig – 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 to Cuenca.
Day 3 National Park Cajas - Guayaquil
After breakfast we drive to the National Park Cajas with its more then 250 mountain lakes. We hike a half a day through the páramo vegetation and the mystic polylepis forests enjoying a unique landscape. On the way, have a box lunch and in the late afternoon we drive on to the main port and most dynamic commercial centre, Guayaquil.
Day 4 City tour - Coast
After the breakfast a short city tour: Iguana Park, the huge cathedral and the recently renovated district La Peña and a stroll on the new Malecón on the river shore of the Guayas. Afterwards we drive on to the half island Santa Elena and visit of the museum “amantes de sumpa”. Overnight near Santa Elena.
Day 5 Puerto Lopez
Today we arrive at the Pacific coast on follow the coast road to the fishing village Puerto Lopez. On the way we enjoy the views of the bays, beaches and of the small fishing ports.
Lunch in Puerto Lopez then we bring our luggage to the Hotel and in the afterwards we enjoy the most beautiful beaches of Ecuador: “los frailes”, in the Machalila National Park. .
Day 6 Isla de la Plata
After a boat ride we arrive on the island “Isla de la Plata” in front of the coast with its diverse avifauna almost as on the Galapagos Islands. In the month between June and October exists the possibility to observe the humpback whales who arrive here in search of their new partners.
Day 7 National Park Machalila
We visit the archaeological museum of Aguas Blancas in the National Park Machalila and the dry forest closet o the coast and higher on we get into the humid forest. The possibilities exist to go on a horseback ride or a short hike.
In the early evening return flight from Portoviejo to Quito.
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