Day 1: QUITO - RIOBAMBA

Departure is from your hotel in Quito via
the southbound Pan-American Highway, passing through the “Valley of the Volcanoes”
where you will enjoy beautiful views of the Andean mountains such as Illinizas and
Cotopaxi. Depending on the departure day, we might make a stop in order to visit an
Indian market. Lunch is in a charming hosteria. The night and dinner are spent at a
hotel in Riobamba.

Day 2: RIOBAMBA – 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. En
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 3: CUENCA

Cuenca is the third largest city in Ecuador and an important
cultural center. For many people, Cuenca is the prettiest city of Ecuador, based upon its
wonderful colonial architecture: churches, monuments, and rich historical past.
We will walk down the cobblestone streets admiring the colonial architecture, visit the
Cathedrals (new and old), the Main Square Park Calderón, flower market, Monastery of
the Conception, and the archaeological museum in the central bank. We will finish our
visit in Turi, a hill from where we can admire the colonial neighborhood and Cuenca’s
famous domes. Dinner and the night are spent at a hotel in Cuenca.

Day 4: CUENCA - QUITO:

(Optionally by airplane) After breakfast, we travel via
ground transportation back to Quito. Optionally, we can transfer you to the airport if
you want to take a domestic flight back to Quito or Guayaquil. Many people fly to
Guayaquil in order to catch a flight to the Galapagos Islands. A Galapagos tour is not a
part of this Quito - Cuenca Tour, but can easily be added if you desire.

Please contact us for more information

• Private transportation
• Andean Train excursion
• Bilingual guide
• Visits mentioned in the program
• Entrance to the museum mentioned in the program
• Meals and lodging

• Domestic flight: Cuenca - Quito or Cuenca- Guayaquil
• Airport transfer in Quito or Guayaquil
• Airport taxes
• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
• Personal expenses
• Tips
• Expenses not mentioned in the program