Ecuador Haciendas & Markets Tour II

6 days / 5 nights

During this trip you will have the opportunity to experience the atmosphere of the old haciendas of Ecuador and visit the Indian markets such as the famous Otavalo market, where you can find a plentiful variety of handicrafts.

DAY 1: ARRIVAL TO QUITO, ECUADOR

Arrival in Quito and transfer to Hotel Café Cultura.

CAFÉ CULTURA HOTEL is a delightful mix of English tradition and contemporary trend. Some sixty years ago, the hotel was home to one of Quito's oldest families and it was carefully restored over a period of four years, with special detail given to maintaining the unique characteristics of the original interior. The house is hemmed by a beautiful garden, with secluded seating areas for relaxing.

DAY 2: QUITO – OTAVALO

ZULETA EMBROIDERIES CHEESE PROJECT

After breakfast our guide will be waiting for you at the lobby of our hotel in order to travel to the north of Quito. First you will visit Hacienda Zuleta, a famous hacienda which was once the property of one of Ecuador's remarkable presidents and is still owned by his descendants. At this hacienda you will learn about the protection of the Andean condor with the Condor Huasi project, located about 5 km from the house in a valley surrounded by native forest. At Condor Huasi, the only reproduction and liberation site licensed by the governmental condor protection agency in Ecuador, you will be able to observe the eight condors that are in captivity and with some luck you might see wild condors flying above you or even landing on the aviary. Return to the main house in order to enjoy of a delicious lunch and in the afternoon you can visit the different projects of this hacienda like the embroidery workshop, the cheese production, milkshed, worm farm and others. Finally our guide will drive you to Hacienda Pinsaquí located close to Otavalo where you will diner and overnight.

Pinsaquí, this colonial hacienda was constructed as far back as 1790, and following a disastrous earthquake that shook the region in 1867, faithfully and caringly restored. The building originally housed a textile workshop, employing nearly one thousand local weavers and spinners. In the late 1800s, the unique creations of these workers became internationally renowned, when the "bayetas", a special fabric typical of Pinsaquí, arrived at the World's Fair in Chicago.

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DAY 3: OTAVALO AND ITS SURROUNDINGS

Early in the morning after breakfast you will visit an animal market where the native people offer and buy their animals (only Saturday), here it is possible to find from a small guinea pig or a chicken to a big animal like a cow or a horse. After this fantastic experience you will arrive to the Otavalo market or the Ponchos market, that is considered the most important indigenous market of South America; here you can find different and colorful handicrafts like rugs, tapestries, clothes jewelry, etc. Lunch in a local restaurant and then you will continue to Cuicocha Crater Lake, on route you will visit Cotacachi town known for its famous leather handicrafts. You will arrive to Cuicocha that is part of Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological Reserve. This lake lies inside the crater of an active volcano surrounded by native vegetation. This place is considered as a sacred lake and in a certain season of the year the native people celebrate traditional rituals there, to purify and clean their souls. If time and weather permits you can walk through the trail that surrounds the crater (3 hours approximately) and enjoy of the amazing view of taita (Quichua word that means father) Imbabura, Cayambe mountain, etc. Late in the afternoon return to Hacienda Pinsaqui where you will diner and overnight.

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DAY 4: OTAVALO – POLYLEPIS LODGE

After an early breakfast, our guide will drive you to the train station to catch the train that will allow you to travel into de past and learn about the history and the main events that happened in this beautiful province. You will cross by tunnels, bridges and typical cities of the Ecuadorian North highlands. You will arrive to a small town called Salinas where you will have time to rest and then you will continue with your trip to the north. Box lunch on route and in the afternoon you will arrive to Polylepis Lodge where you will have time to rest.

In the afternoon you will walk around the reserve learning about the plants and enjoying the landscape, in this area you can find the Frailejon which is a native plant of the Andes Highlands and one of the favorite foods of the Spectacled bear. At night you will have a nocturnal walk following the trails of the magic Polylepis forest and enjoying of the legends and fairytales, return to the lodge to diner and overnight.

POLYLEPIS LODGE is located in the buffer zone of the Angel Ecological reserve, within 12 hectares of the only remaining millenial Polylepis forest of volcanic and glacial origin. This lodge offers 14 cottages with private bathroom, hot water, comfortable and cozy beds.

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DAY 5: RETURN TO QUITO

After breakfast you will have time to enjoy of this amazing place, after that our guide will drive you to the north until arrive to Tulcan city that is the border city with Colombia. Here one of the main attractions is the topiary garden cemetery where you will be totally amazed at all the beautiful sculptures found in every shape and form imaginable. Originally it was Sr. José Franco who began the topiary family tradition back in 1936 when the cemetery was first formed. The tradition has since been carried on by his five sons who still produce beautiful pieces of work. After this visit you will return to Polylepis where you will take your lunch and then return to Quito to your hotel. Overnight.

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DAY 6: QUITO – INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT

After an unforgettable expedition in Ecuador, filled with culture and nature we are transferred to the airport to catch your flight.

END OF THE SERVICES!!

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A NOTE ON THE ORDER OF THE ITINERARY: Itinerary subject to change based on local conditions. It could be flexible according to the client's interests.

B- Breakfast; L-Lunch; BL- Box Lunch; D-Dinner

PRICE PER PERSON (NET RATES)

PRICE INCLUDES: Private transportation, bilingual naturalist guide, accommodation based on double room in all the hotels and haciendas detailed in the itinerary; meals as described on the itinerary, entrance fees to: Condor Huasi project, Cuicocha Lake (Cotacachi – Cayapas Ecological Reserve), train ticket, El Ángel Ecological Reserve.

NOT INCLUDED: International departure taxes (US$ 41.00), meals not specified, alcoholic drinks, tips, and personal expenses.