Discovering the Highlands and Volcanoes

8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS

During this 10 days tour we will have the opportunity to discover one of the most diverse countries in the planet, we will travel along the Ecuadorian Andes from north to South, discovering its beautiful volcanoes, indigenous markets, national parks, Inca ruins, colonial cities and magical valleys.

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 – COTOPAXI

Breakfast and departure to the east range of The Andes at the Antisana Ecological reserve, where we will admire the beautiful Mica lake and the Majestic Antisana Volcano (5,758 mts, 18,886.24 ft). This reserve is considered a hot spot for birdwatching; the representative bird species of the highlands including Blue-mantled Thornbill, Red- rumped Bush-Tyrant. We will visit Mica Lake here in order to see Silvery Grebe, Andean Teal, Andean Duck, Andean Coot as well as many land birds such as Aplomado Falcon, Andean Gull, Andean Lapwing and Carunculated Caracara, also this is one of the best places to spot for Andean Condor in a Natural habitat. After a delicious lunch we will depart to Hacienda El Porvenir where will have a short walk. Dinner and overnight.

Volcano Land is one of the most beautiful and privileged places in Ecuador Highlands, it is surrounded by an amazing view where beautiful mountains stand out like Rumiñahui, Pasochoa and specially Cotopaxi volcano considered as the highest active volcano in the world.

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DAY 3: COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK – BAÑOS

After breakfast we will drive to Cotopaxi National Park, where if the weather conditions permit, we will climb up to the Cotopaxi refuge (4,800 m. / 15744 ft) and then we will walk to the amazing glaciers of this volcano. Then we will go to a local restaurant where we will lunch admiring the majestic Cotopaxi volcano. Later we will continue our journey traveling to the south of our country, arrival to Hacienda Leito where we have a spectacular view of Tungurahua volcano that is in process of eruption since 2000. Dinner and overnight.

Hacienda Leito is located, between majestic and enigmatic mountains at the entrance of Llanganates National Park. Where centuries ago the Incas hid his more valuable treasures of the Spanish conquerors.

Hacienda Leito was residence of the Jesuits in the Colony times; its rooms still keep perfumes from Ecuador of long ago. History passed through its runners and halls leaving us vestiges its presence, which today only the privileged guests can enjoy them.

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DAY 4: BAÑOS – CHIMBORAZO

After breakfast we will go to Baños city where we can see how people extract a delicious juice from the sugar cane, production of melcochas, and we can buy beautiful handicrafts made by balsa and tagua. Then we will visit the famous waterfall route where you can see beautiful waterfalls like Manto de la Novia waterfall where you will cross the Pastaza river by a rustic lift, hanging for more than 200 mts above the river, Pailon del Diablo, Agoyán and others. Then we will go to Luna Runtun with an amazing view of Baños where a delicious lunch will be waiting for us. In the afternoon we will continue our trip to The Hill Start Refuge located at the foothills of Chimborazo volcano. Dinner and overnight.

Hill Star Refuge is located at Chimborazo Base Camp. The Historical "Tambo de Totorillas" (a roadside inn) was once located in this place, along the old "Royal Road" between Guayaquil and Quito. This Refuge was rebuilt with a traditional vernacular architecture with modern comfort and services that now they offer in this lodge. This camp is the center of the Chimborazo related activities at 4,000 meters of altitude, a place where the customers may rest, eat and acclimatize comfortably.

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DAY 5: THE DEVIL'S NOSE AND INGAPIRCA RUINS

Early in the morning, after breakfast our guide will drive us to Guamote train station where we will take the train that goes through the old railroad that was built in the early nineteen hundreds to go to the Devil's nose, which got its name for its famous zigzags in the hills.

At the end of our train adventure, our guide will be waiting us in Alausí town from where we will continue our trip to the Ingapirca ruins, box lunch on route. These ruins are the best and most important Inca archaeological site in Ecuador, Ingapirca that means "walls of the Inca" is located in the province of Cañar, about 1 hour and 45 minutes from Cuenca. In the afternoon departure to Cuenca, time to rest and walk close to Santa Lucía Hotel, where we will overnight.

(B.BL) SANTA LUCÍA HOTEL was built by the first governor of Azuay province (where Cuenca is located), in 1859. The house remained in the Vega family for over a hundred years, being a peaceful witness of important episodes of the history of southern Ecuador.

The restoration of the house began in 1999 and lasted more than two and a half years. Santa Lucia hotel has rescued and preserved this piece of Cuenca heritage, keeping this house as an example of the architectural style of the last part of the XIX Century Ecuador. At the same time our hotel offers its guests all the modern comforts.

DAY 6: CUENCA CITY TOUR

After breakfast our guide will pick us up in order to explore the city. We will walk around the old town where we can see magnificent churches, beautiful old buildings with wrought iron balconies and carved wooden doors, flowers and handicrafts markets, art galleries, workshops and all the wonders that Cuenca with its colonial style and pleasant atmosphere offers us. In the afternoon it will be possible to continue enjoying of this city or if you prefer we will visit Chordeleg and Gualaceo; Gualaceo is a small subtropical valley likes Cuenca, because here we can appreciate the narrow cobblestone streets lined by whitewashed colonial buildings with friendly people in a relaxed environment; and Chordeleg, located 10 minutes from Gualaceo; here we will find incredible people that work gold and silver metals, so that Chordeleg is known as the jewel's capital of Ecuador, because here we can find wonderful gold accessories such as earrings, bracelets, rings, necklaces, etc. Late in the afternoon return to the hotel to overnight.

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DAY 7: CUENCA, EL CAJAS NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast our guide will be waiting for us at the lobby of the hotel to visit El Cajas National Park, which is situated in the majestic Andes and it is one of Ecuador's natural wonders, this Park has an altitude between 3200 and 4500m and it has 28.544 hectares where we can find numerous species of flora and fauna and impressive rock formations that surround a group of 230 lagoons approximately. There are almost 125 species of birds in Cajas which include: the condor, the violet-trailed metaltail, sword-billed, shining sunbeam, etc. From Cuenca to Cajas National Park we have 30 minutes. Box lunch on route, and in the afternoon return to Cuenca and then to the airport to catch our flight back to Quito. Overnight in Café Cultura hotel.

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DAY 8: QUITO – HOME FLIGHT

After an unforgettable expedition in Ecuador full of culture and nature we will be transferred to the airport to catch our flight.

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END OF THE SERVICES

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, transfers airport-hotel-airport, bilingual naturalist guide, accommodation based on double rooms in all the hotels lodges and haciendas included in the itinerary, all excursions described on the itinerary, meals as described on the itinerary; local flights: Cuenca – Quito; Entrance fee to: Horseback riding, Cotopaxi National Park, waterfalls and tarabitas in Baños, Devil's nose train, Ingapirca Ruins, Cuenca churches and museums, Cajas National Park and taxes.

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