8-Day Ecuador Andes Tour: Volcanoes & Indigenous Culture

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
City linea Quito
7 stops
1
Basilica del Voto Nacional
Catholic church in neo-Gothic style, its construction began in 1884. The basilica arises to honor the consecration of Ecuador to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, made by order of the then-president Gabriel Garcia Moreno. In the basilica stand out its towers with high tourist potential and incredible views of the city, the National Pantheon of Heads of State, catacombs, 3 chapels, and the Oblate convent.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included
2
Plaza de la Independencia (Plaza Grande)
Also known by the Quiteños as the Plaza Grande, is the main square of the Historic Center, represents a political, symbolic, and historical center of the city. In the surroundings of this historic square we can find the Palace of Carondelet or Palace of Government, the Cathedral of Quito, the Archbishop's Palace, and the Municipality of the city. In addition, we can see the monument to independence in the center of the square.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
3
Fundacion Iglesia de la Compania
The Society of Jesus is one of the most important Catholic temples in Latin America. Its facade carved in volcanic stone and its interior covered in gold leaf make it a representative work of baroque and syncretism. The temple belongs to the Jesuit order and its construction began in 1605. In addition, the temple treasures paintings and artistic works unique in the world.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included
4
Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco
The baroque style in the church and the large plaza of Quito
20 minutes • Admission ticket free
5
The sculpture located at the top of the Loma of Panecillo corresponds to a representation of the Virgen de Legarda or Virgen Apocalyptica, a Quito work from the 18th century. It was placed in 1975, is 41 meters high, and is currently one of the tallest monuments in the world. It is made of aluminum and seated on a stone base. Likewise, the hill of Panecillo is one of the most charming natural viewpoints
20 minutes • Admission ticket included
6
Intinan Equator Museum
If you are in Quito, the Teleferico is an attraction that you can not miss, because from the top of the volcano Ruco Pichincha you can have a panoramic view of the entire city, and also, you can go hiking, mountain climbing and taste typical food. The Teleferico has a journey of 15 minutes and ascends to 3940 m.
40 minutes • Admission ticket included
7
Mitad Del Mundo
the official middle of the world you can stan in both hemispheres.
20 minutes • Admission ticket included
Day 2
Quilotoa lagoon
1 stop
8
Laguna Quilotoa
The Quilotoa Lagoon is two and a half hours from Cotopaxi National Park. Located in the province of Cotopaxi. Within the Ecological Reserve Los Ilinizas, is the Quilotoa Lagoon. It is an inactive volcano of 6 km in diameter, formed by a caldera of 2.9 km in diameter and 640 m (2,099 ft) deep. Here, rests an alkaline lagoon measuring 3.6 km in diameter and 240 m (787.4 ft) deep. The color of the Quilotoa lagoon is emerald green, resembling a mirror.
4 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 3
Chimborazo Volcano
1 stop
9
The Chimborazo volcano, considered the highest volcano mountain in the whole Ecuador, it’s located in the famous Avenue of the Volcanoes in the provinces of Bolivar, Chimborazo, and Tungurahua, it’s characterized by its summit, which is completely covered by glaciers and by being surrounded by the fauna reproduction reserve that bears the same name of this volcano, it was created on 1986 and it has a height of 6310 m, (20.702 ft) positioning it worldwide as the closest point to the sun and also has an extension of 58.560 acres.
4 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 4
Baños de Agua Santa
3 stops
10
Cascada el Manto de la Novia
This peculiar waterfall located 10 minutes from the center of Baños is the perfect place to take a break from everyday life. This crystal-clear water source takes its name from the shape of its 40-meter fall and the white color of the waterfall that resemble the mantle of a bride. In this attraction, we can make hiking, tarabita and see lush flora and fauna typical of the area.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
11
Cascada El Pailon
It is a tourist icon of Baños, it bears this name because the rock formations at the end of the waterfall reflect the face of the devil. This attraction has several wonderful naturally designed trails, a suspension bridge, 2 waterfalls and cabins with basic services. Here we can experience a temperature of 15 °C to 28 °C.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
12
La Casa del Arbol
The famous tree house of Baños is a two-story cabin located on the edge of a cliff from which we have an incredible view of the Tungurahua volcano. This site has a height of 2660 m.s.n.m. and is located in the hamlet Runtún, an ecotourism trail in which we can perform activities such as hiking, tarabita and swing of the end of the world.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
Day 5
Puyo, the jungle of Ecuador
2 stops
13
Cascada Hola Vida
"Hola vida" is an ecological reserve located in Pastaza, its objective is to be a center of environmental education, scientific research, rest and recreation. In this reserve it is possible to visit a shaman, observe the process of creating Kichwa ceramics, taste cane juice (trapiches), visit the Pastaza River Lookout, take a motor canoe ride along the Pastaza River. The complex has two beautiful waterfalls and during the tour, you can see some Quichuas communities located in the sector, one of them, the Community of Cotococha.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
14
It is an ethnobotanical reserve of reforested tropical forest and botanical garden, its objective is the conservation and care of important and useful species for indigenous Amazonian cultures. It has an area of 15.6 hectares The park was founded in 1993 with the collaboration of a Shuar community and the support of the French. In this place, we will find food, cultural and medicinal species that are being safeguarded so that their uses are diffused and valued, and you can also learn about the Waorani and Shuar cultures through a guided visit by the inhabitants of the communities themselves.
1 hour • Admission ticket not included
Day 6
Cotopaxi National Park
1 stop
15
Cotopaxi National Park
A must stop on your visit to Ecuador. Located 60 kilometers south of the city of Quito. It is the second-highest and most active volcano in Ecuador, after the Chimborazo volcano, the Cotopaxi Volcano. It’s localized between the provinces of Pichincha and Cotopaxi. Additionally, it is a very popular choice among mountaineering and hiking lovers. As well as those who enjoy being surrounded by nature and beautiful landscapes.
5 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 7
Otavalo Market and Peguche Waterfal
4 stops
16
Quitsato is a cultural space, its main attraction is focused on a solar clock of 52 meters in diameter and 10 meters high, elaborated in the center of a large stone mosaic that indicate the different lines of the solstices and equinoxes, as well as the hours of the day. In addition, we have a natural viewpoint, located on the equator and we can observe the cultivation of agave and products made with them.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included
17
It is an inn and tourist establishment that offers services of food, lodging and sale of crafts located in Otavalo. This place is characterized by the incredible panoramic view offered by Lake San Pablo and the Imbabura volcano, as well as being a source of commerce and rescue of the native architecture of the area.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free
18
Otavalo Market
The Otavalo Market has a colorful poncho square. It is also one of the most important and popular indigenous markets in Ecuador and South America. Also, Otavalo has a large indigenous population of Otavalo. And their native language is Kichwa. On the Otavalo Market, you can find typical food places. And several places where the Otavaleños sell their handicrafts. For example textiles, ponchos, blouses, shirts, and handmade alpaca tapestries. The Otavalo market or Otavalo fair is most active every Saturday.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
19
Cascada de Peguche
The waterfall of Peguche, located in Otavalo, is a 30 m high waterfall. Around this attraction there is a complex where you can hike, there are swimming pools and recreation areas. This place stands out for its history, as ancient cultures considered it a place of purification, and today it still hosts ceremonies during the feast of the Inti Raymi.
40 minutes • Admission ticket included
Day 8
Mindo cloud forest
5 stops
20
Mindo cloud forest has several options to enjoy the hummingbirds watching, which are made in groups, in the morning or afternoon in the middle of the cloud forest of Mindo, another option is to go to Mindo cloud forest Lake where they have spaces with several species of hummingbirds. This will be our first stop during the Mindo cloud forest day trip.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
21
Mindo Nambillo Cloud Forest Reserve
We will hike to reach the Mindo - Nambillo Cloud forest reserve to visit the waterfall which is formed by the Nambillo River and has become a natural and attractive spa in Mindo Cloud forest, the waterfall is 49.21 fts (15 m) high and you can make jumps of 13.12 and 39.37 fts (4 and 12 m) for those who enjoy risk sports. The Nambillo waterfall has two natural pools for the enjoyment of crystal-clear waters without any risk.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
22
Mindo
Mindo Cloud Forest Zip line (optional)Mindo zipline is one of the most outstanding activities in Mindo cloud forest, the Mindo zipline is an adventure sport where a tour is done through steel cables, by means of a pulley and safety equipment, the distance of the cables can be 32.8 – 65.6 or 131.2 ft (10, 20 or 40 meters) long, during the flight in the Mindo zipline you can observe the trees, the fauna that inhabits them and experiences a unique adventure through the Mindo cloud forest.
40 minutes • Admission ticket free
23
Mindo
Butterflies Farm Mindo Cloud forest You will visit the butterfly garden Mindo, which is part of the botanical garden. In the butterfly garden you can appreciate and learn about the four stages of life of butterflies. The butterfly garden Mindo has more than 12,000 species which can be observed nearby.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
24
Mindo
Mindo Cloud Forest Chocolate Tour To finish the Mindo Tour you will learn about the chocolate elaboration process and the tasting of this delicacy during the Mindo Chocolate Tour. After a wonderful day on the Mindo tour, you will return to Quito.
1 minute • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

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