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HIGHLIGHTS
INCLUDES
ITINERARY MAP
ITINERARY AT A GLANCE
Itinerary 9 days / 8 nights
DAY 1
Arrival in Quito
Arrival in Quito
Arrival to Quito’s international airport and transfer to selected hotel.
Overnight Casa Gangotena / Illa Experience Hotel
Casa Gangotena
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Illa Experience Hotel
DAY 2
Quito City Tour
Quito City Tour
Today we will have a walking tour of Quito, Ecuador’s mountain capital and the second highest capital city in Latin America. Quito is considered one of South America’s most beautiful cities. The city lies in a narrow valley at the foot of Pichincha Volcano. We will visit some of the main sites, including the Plaza de la Independencia, the cultural heart of the colonial city, La Compañia and San Francisco churches. We will also climb the nearby Cerro Panecillo that has one of the best views across the city and the surrounding mountains.
Overnight Casa Gangotena / Illa Experience Hotel
Casa Gangotena
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Illa Experience Hotel
DAY 3
Otavalo Market
Otavalo Market
This morning we will explore the small market town of Otavalo that’s located 2 hours away approximately from Quito downtown. The Otavalo Market is one of South America’s most important areas for ethno- tourism and its regular markets attract traders and artisans from as far away as Peru and Bolivia. The market is a rich confusion of goods and styles from across the region, with jewelry, rugs, woven linen bags, woodcarvings and leather goods on display.
Overnight at Hacienda Zuleta
Hacienda Zuleta
DAY 4
Around Hacienda Zuleta
Around Hacienda Zuleta
Escorted by your own private guide, you will explore the beautiful Hacienda Zuleta and the surrounding areas. You can choose from different activities like 2-hour horseback riding, hikes around the Hacienda’s trails, condor preservations projects or Zuleta’s own cheese factory. Other activities may have an additional cost.
Overnight at Hacienda Zuleta
Hacienda Zuleta
DAY 5
Cuicocha Crater Lake
Cuicocha Crater Lake
Today we will visit Cuicocha, a turquoise crater-lake located 30 minutes away from Otavalo and at a height of 3100 meters over sea level. Located in the Western Cordillera of the Andes, at the foot of Cotocachi volcano, this lake has a beautiful scenery. We may have a walk along a segment of the trail that goes around the lake (1.5 hours).
Overnight Hacienda Zuleta
Hacienda Zuleta
DAY 6
Cotopaxi National Park
Cotopaxi National Park
Today we will visit the Cotopaxi National Park, where we shall see the world’s highest active volcano. This National Park has an impressive mountain scenery. Cotopaxi is a classic volcanic cone, snow covered and rising an imposing 5897m from the valley floor below. Here we will walk around the Limpiopungo Plateau (1.5 hours), where we will explore flora and fauna of the paramo (high altitude Andean grasslands).
Overnight Hacienda el Porvenir / Hacienda San Agustín de Callo
Hacienda El Porvenir
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Hacienda San Agustín de Callo
DAY 7
Chimborazo National Reserve
Chimborazo National Reserve
In the morning after breakfast we will visit the Chimborazo. This mountain is Ecuador’s highest peak at 6,263 meters high over sea level. We will admire the volcano’s particular landscape and admire its flora and fauna. The high mountain shelters of this volcano have been named in honor of the explorers who reached the summit for the first time in 1880, Englishman Mr. Edward Whymper and the Carrel brothers (Italians).
Overnight Hacienda Andaluza
Hacienda Andaluza
DAY 8
Devil’s Nose Train Ride / Quito
Devil’s Nose Train Ride / Quito
Today we will drive to Alausi to take the Devil’s Nose Train to Sibambe. This famous railway is a triumph of engineering. From Alausi the track drops 800m down a ridge and into the gorge of the Río Chanchan. This is known as the ‘Devil’s Nose’, one of the most exciting train rides in the world. The train returns to Alausi where we will meet our driver. From here, our trip continues north along the scenic Panamerican Highway continuing to Quito that is located about 4 hours and 30 minutes away from Alausi city.
Overnight Casa Gangotena / Illa Experience Hotel
Casa Gangotena
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Illa Experience Hotel
DAY 9
Quito / Home Destination
Quito / Home Destination
After breakfast transfer to the airport for flight back to home destination or connections to the Amazon, Cuenca, Guayaquil or the Galapagos Islands.
