Day 1: Thu: QUITO:

Arrival, welcome at the airport, and transfer to the hotel.

Day 2: Fri: QUITO-OTAVALO

Proclaimed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site, Quito is full of history: spacious plazas, old streets where you feel as if you have been transported back to the 16th century. Departure is from your hotel in order to visit colonial Quito attractions such as The Cathedral, the Main Square “Plaza de La Independencia”, La Compañía Church, San Francisco Church and square, and El Panecillo hill from where the “Virgen de Quito” will share a magnificent view of colonial Quito.
From Quito we will travel to Otavalo. On the way, we will stop at the Mitad del Mundo in order to visit the equatorial line monument and the ethnographic museum. Night will be spent at a beautiful historic hacienda near Otavalo.

Day 3: Sat: OTAVALO-MISAHUALLI (AMAZON)

We will depart early (6 am), visit the famous Otavalo craftsman market, known worldwide for its colorful
weavings and handicrafts. At approximately at 10:30 am, we will leave behind us the Andean to enter the tropical region and the great Amazon environment. We will arrive in Misahualli and transfer to the jungle lodge where we will spend the night.

Day 4: Sun: AMAZON

Expect a walk in the Amazon forest to learn more about the quotidian life of the natives as well as the tropical flora and fauna. We will picnic as part of the forest excursion and navigate down the Napo River by motor canoe. Dinner and the night will be at the lodge.

Day 5: Mon: MISAHUALLI – PUYO – BAÑOS

We will leave the Amazonian area taking the road to Baños which borders the Pastaza river canyon and
crosses the east Andean range. We will eat dinner and spend the night in Baños, a charming little spa town famous for its thermal spring waters and located in a small valley high in the Andes Mountains.

Day 6: Tue: BAÑOS – CHIMBORAZO – RIOBAMBA

We leave Baños by a road which crosses a high Andean plain, admiring the wonderful páramo landscape and
typical crops of the indigenous highlanders. Prior to arrival in Riobamba, we will drive to the first Chimborazo refuge (15750’) at the bottom of the highest Ecuadorian summit. We have the option to hike to the second refuge (16,400’). Night will be spent in Riobamba at an old hacienda beautifully transformed into a hosteria.

Day 7: Wed: RIOBAMBA – ANDEAN TRAIN – INGAPIRCA – CUENCA

Early departure will be made from Riobamba to the Alausi train station in order to take the famous Andean Devil’s Nose train. We will travel by train from Alausi, passing through the famous Devil’s Nose Canyon and returning to Alausi. This historic Andean train route is still operational but used only for tourism. For the last ten years, the train has notoriously been loaded with adventure-seeking and willing passengers seated on the roof in order to admire the scenery, which is quite breathtaking. So bring your camera and your sense of adventure for this ride which spans gorges and skirts precipitous slopes.
Our driver and vehicle will be waiting in Alausi to continue our trip to Cuenca. On route we will stop to visit the famous Ingapirca Fortress. Located north of Cuenca is the important Pre-Hispanic Ingapirca Fortress at an elevation of 10,500’. Ingapirca is a Pre-Columbian military and religious complex built by the Cañaris and considered the most important architectural legacy of the Incas in Ecuador. It was conquered and rebuilt by
the Incas before the Spanish arrived and is a vast archeological complex.
Dinner and the night will be spent in Cuenca.

Day 8: Thu: CUENCA – QUITO

Departing from your hotel in Cuenca, you will visit this beautiful colonial city, which is the third largest city in Ecuador and an important cultural center. You will walk down cobblestone streets admiring colonial architecture including Cuenca’s famous domes, visit handicraft markets, and maybe a museum, church, or one the four rivers that run through and around the city.
Transfer is to the airport for a flight back to Quito.

Please contact us for more information

• Private transportation
• Bilingual guide
• Motor coach canoe in the Amazon
• Accommodations at first class hotels, hosterias, and rustic lodge in the
• Amazon
• All meals
• Entrance fees and visits mentioned in the program

• Tips
• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
• Personal expenses
• Fees and expenses not mentioned in the program
• Unmentioned visits and excursions