Ecuador 12 Days Tour

Day 1:
Transfer in
Reception and transfer to the hotel.

Day 2:
City Tour to “Mitad del Mundo” (Middle of the World)
(Breakfast)
We will drive around the colonial center of Quito and see the stone-carved facade of Ecuador's House of Congress depicting scenes from Ecuadorian history; Independence Square, with the Presidential Palace and the Cathedral.

We will visit the church of La Compania (1605), and with its breathtaking gilded altars is considered the finest example of baroque art in America.  We will also visit the church and monastery of San Francisco (1535). For a panoramic view of Ecuador's capital city we go to the top of Panecillo Hill.

Just north of Quito, you'll find the Mitad del Mundo, a monument marking the equator. Mitad del Mundo is a convenient half an hour from central Quito. It includes a museum with informative displays on Ecuador's four regions and ethnic groups.

Don't miss the opportunity to place one foot in each hemisphere!

Accommodations will be at a hotel.

Day 3:
Otavalo Full day
(Breakfast & Lunch)
Start your trip through the Awakening Valley in Calderón with its bread-dough figures and Cayambe for the local food specialties.

Passing by some of the most attractive artisan centers and Andean landscapes, you will arrive in Otavalo and its famous indigenous market just in time to bargain for hand-knitted wool sweaters, colorful tapestries, wood carvings, silver jewelry, native paintings, woolen and straw hats, and much more.

Afterwards, enjoy the amazing landscapes on your way back to Quito.

Accommodations will again be at a hotel.

Day 4:
Quito - Cotopaxi - Baños
(Breakfast & Dinner)
Early in the morning, we will pick you up from the hotel.

Taking the Panamericana highway to the south of Quito, we will pass by many important small towns of Quito and our Country such as: Valle de Los Chillos and Aloag. These small towns are the connection between the “Sierra” and the “Costa.”

We will continue along the “Volcanoes Avenue” where you will be able to view many volcanoes on the way, such as: Corazon, Rumiñahui, North Iliniza, and South Iliniza.

Cotopaxi is one of the highest snow-capped volcanoes in the world.  We will continue our adventure of the Ecuadorian highlands by going trough the villages of Latacunga, Salcedo, and Ambato and we will also visit the area of Los Salasacas, which is known for the providing the craftsmen of the region.

Then we continue to Baños, another small city also known as the Door of the Amazon Basin. If the weather allows, we will visit the area and admire its beautiful waterfalls.  We will also see tomato trees and a wide variety of orchids growing. Accommodations are at hotel La Floresta.

Day 5:
Baños - Riobamba
(Breakfast & Dinner)
The adventure starts after breakfast.  We'll advance along Panamericana high way and spend the night in the city of Riobamba, located at the foot of the snow-capped Chimborazo Mountain.

Day 6:
Riobamba - Train - Ingapirca - Cuenca
(Breakfast & Dinner)
After an early breakfast, transfer to the train station to board the train for a scenic ride to Alausí. We will twist and turn over the Andes, along bridging ravines and river gorges.

We will arrive in Alausí and prepare to go down the Devil’s Nose switchbacks, one of the most impressive feats of rail engineering in the world, and back to Alausí (a boxed lunch will be provided). We will continue south along the Andes by bus to Cuenca, visiting the Inca Ruins of Ingapirca along the way an arriving in Cuenca at dusk.

Accommodations and dinner will be at the hotel.

Day 7:
Cuenca - Gualaceo - Chordeleg
(Breakfast & Dinner)
On this day, you will enjoy a full day of discovering, at a leisurely pace, the beauty and charm for which Cuenca and its surroundings have been recognized as a World Cultural Heritage Site. The ride to Gualaceo Valley starts along the Santa Ana's Valley and then high in the mountains, through very scenic landscapes, which change at very curb.

Stops are made at small towns that produce a variety of handcrafts. Visit Chordeleg, famous for its gold work. After lunch, we'll follow the road along the banks of the Santa Barbara River, lined with weeping willows, to the village of Gualaceo.

Day 8:
Cuenca - Guayaquil - Guayaquil City Tour - Historical Park
(Breakfast & Dinner)
Early morning after breakfast we depart from Cuenca to Guayaquil, you will be able to enjoy the weather change from highlands to the coast.

The Guayaquil City Tour plus Historic Park tour includes all of the points of interest of the Guayaquil city tour, but also includes a visit to the Historical Park, a project from the Central Bank of Ecuador, where you can learn about the flora and fauna of this region.

The Historic Park includes information on history and biology of the birds, reptiles, and mammals in the area. On weekends demonstrations are held every hour. After the tour, you will be dropped off at your hotel. Hotel accommodation at Hampton Inn

Day 9:
Guayaquil - Salinas - Montañita
(Breakfast & Dinner)
After early breakfast departure by de "Ruta del Sol", where you will be able to enjoy the view and weather of our beautiful coast passing by small towns such as: Ballenita, Playa de Ayangue to get to Montañita. Accommodation and dinner Baja Montañita

Day 10:
Montañita - Isla de la Plata - Puerto Lopez
(Breakfast)
After an early breakfast you will have the opportunity to visit "Isla de la Plata" after this wonderful expedition drive to Puerto Lopez, considered as the ecoturistic capital of the Ecuadorian coast. Accommodation and dinner at Alandaluz hotel.

Day 11:
Manta - Quito
After breakfast we will transfer to Manta's airport to take the flight back to Quito. At your arrival to Quito, our staff will be waiting for you to take you to the hotel.

Day 12:
QUITO transfer out.
We will provide transportation from the hotel to the airport so you can catch your flight.

 

Prices 2011
Description	Price Per Person
1 person	$3,885
2 people	$2,225
More than 4 people	$1,859

Prices include:

• Private transportation
• English speaking guide
• Double room accommodation
• Breakfast and dinner (not in Quito)
• Box Lunch during the train trip
• Entrances to Mitad del Mundo and Cuenca Museums
• Ingapirca and train ticket
• All transfers

Please ask for single accommodations available. Also for details and availability!

Prices do not include:

• Lunch
• Dinner in Quito
• $10 Cotopaxi National Park entrance fee
• $10 Chimborazo entrance fee
• $10 El Cajas entrance fee
• Air ticket Manta-Quito

Hotels:

• Standard