Ecuador's Avenue of the Volcanoes: Adventure & Culture

As you take the day to acclimate to the elevation of Ecuador, enjoy the sights of Quito!

After breakfast we walk through the landmarks of Quito’s colonial, historical downtown, named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We meet local artisans and immerse ourselves in the city vibe, visiting the San Francisco market, sampling local ingredients and learning about history and Andean healing traditions. We continue our exploration of the city historical center walking down an area called La Ronda, full of art and ancestral trades.  

After a welcome lunch, we will visit TO’AK Chocolate  at the former home of Ecuadorian artist Oswaldo Guayasamin which is now a museum showcasing the art of Ecuador’s most famous artist. Our visit combines chocolate making with an analogical interpretation of the precolonial pieces related to the use of the cacao, followed by a chocolate tasting and wine pairing at the private wine cellar of the Guayasamin home.

Excursion Cotopaxi National Park

We will visit Cotopaxi National Park where weather permitting, you will be able to see the snowcapped summits of the Cotopaxi and Antisana volcanoes.

We will also visit the Interpretation Center to learn about the history of this spectacular volcano’s major eruptions, as well as the local flora and fauna. We will then visit Lake Limpiopungo and explore the surrounding area on foot.

If you feel like a longer walk, a 2-hour hike will take us to Mt. Cotopaxi’s J. Ribas refuge (4,800 m) where you will be able to enjoy spectacular views of the volcano and the surrounding Andean peaks.

Hotel:  Night at Chilcabamba Lodge (standard room)

Meals: Lunch, Dinner. 

Also included transportation, an English-speaking guide, and an excursion.

Indigenous Markets and Quilotoa Lake

Today we will visit Indian markets in the towns of Saquisili, Pujili, Zumbahua or Latacunga. These markets are as authentic and non-touristic as can be found today in Ecuador today. They are important to the local indigenous people as markets are the center of their social and economic worlds.

*Markets take place on the following days: Tuesday: Latacunga – Wednesday - Sunday: Pujili – Thursday: Saquisili - Saturday: Zumbahua.

We will then visit the Quilotoa volcano crater, where we will be able to appreciate the crater’s serenely mysterious green lake. We’ll have the option of a short walk of about 1.7 km along the crater's rim.

On the way back, we will stop to visit the art galleries in the community of Tigua, where we will be able appreciate the paintings representative of the folklore of this special part of the Andes.

The brightly colored naïve style of the area’s painters, currently the third generation, has transcended local boundaries and is now internationally renowned. These days there are a lot of painters in Tigua, but Toaquiza was one the first, we will visit Alfonso in his studio, and you will be able to see why his work is appreciated for the bright colors, the meticulous detail, and the stories his paintings tell of life in the high Andes: the volcanoes, the condors, and the indigenous communities with their legends.

Hotel: Night at Hostería La Andaluza (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Also included transportation, an English-speaking guide, excursion, and entrance fees.

Balbanera - Colta - Mirador Pistishi - Ingapirca - Cuenca

Depart to the town of Tolte, in the way we will stop at the Balbanera Church, the first Christian Temple built in the country in 1534, we will also admire Colta Lagoon, in Quichua Kulta Kucha, which means Lagoon of Ducks. 

Then we will reach the Pistishi viewpoint, from here we will admire the biggest complication faced by the construction of the Trans-Andean railroad was the Devil’s Nose, a mountain with almost perpendicular walls. To overcome this obstacle a zigzag railroad was built that climbs more than 500 meters in less than 12 km with steep ascents and descents. It today remains an impressive piece of engineering. Unfortunately, the operation was stopped in the pandemic.

Excursion Ingapirca ruins

We now drive South to Ingapirca, an Inca observatory, and fortress. This is the most important Inca site in Ecuador, where the Emperor and his entourage would rest during trips to this northern segment of the Empire.

Ingapirca Ruins is the largest and best preserved archaeological complex in Ecuador. It was built with stones perfectly carved and joined with natural mortar, this Temple served for ceremonies and rituals of the Cañari-Inca culture and also had strategic-military purposes.

Accommodation: Night at the Hotel Victoria (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast  

Also Included: Transportation, English-speaking guide, excursion, and accommodation

Cuenca City walking tour

One of the first things to notice when entering Cuenca is the magnificent skyline marked by brilliant church domes. And after breakfast we will set out on a city tour whose highlight is the city’s colonial architecture.

Cuenca’s winding rivers, graceful ironwork balconies, and beautiful gardens are part of the pleasant atmosphere of this historic city, declared a Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO in December 1999. This is the perfect place to discover by walking and is ideal for those looking to blend into the relaxed setting of a truly romantic colonial city.

Walking along Cuenca’s cobblestone streets or watching the people go by in the town square dominated by the great cathedral is both peaceful and inspiring. With approximately 400,000 inhabitants, this city is considered by many to be the most beautiful city in the country due its architecture, surroundings and small town ambiance.

Cuenca is traversed by four rivers and surrounded by green valleys and its people create some of the finest crafts in the country.

Private transportation to Cuenca airport.

Meals: Breakfast

Also Included: Transportation, English speaking guide

Airport transfer or stay longer and enjoy an adventure to the Galapagos Islands!

Say goodbye to Ecuador as you head home from Quito!