GUAGUA TOUR ANDES

Day 1: Quito City Tour

A tour in Quito is compulsory, not only because Quito is the capital of Ecuador, but also because it is one of the first cities in Latin America that has been designated a World Cultural Heritage Site. Quito is a beautiful city with colonial Spanish architecture that contrasts with sophisticated highrise contemporary buildings. The tour includes a visit to the Independence Square, and the breathtaking churches "La Catedral", "El Sagrario", "La Compañía" and "San Francisco". Enjoy a delicious lunch with a fruit juice prior to visting the Golden Museum (this enormously rich museum offers visitors an opportunity to learn abouth the evolution of Ecuadorian art) or the Man's Chapel Museum (this museum exhibits an excellent sample of pre-Columbian, colonial, and contemporary art).

Day 2: Humming Birds Paradise

Ride to the Middle of the World Site to straddle the equator and capture your famous picture with one foot in each hemisphere. Visit the Etnographic or the Inti Ñan (God Sun) museum. Afterwards, drive up to the cloudforest on the western slopes of the Pichincha volcano. Arrival at Bellavista Inn or similar, and enjoy your lunch together with cozy humming birds. Trekking allows you to enjoy the cloudforest's fauna and flora before heading back to Quito.

Day 3: Otavalo, the call of the ancestors

Located only two hours northern Quito, Otavalo is one of the most interesting treasures from our ancestors. Visit San Pablo Lake, which is surrounded by the amazing Imbabura Mountain, and arrive at the most famous Indian marketplace! You will find all sorts of handicrafts ranging from alpaca sweaters, scarfs, shawls, tapestries, rugs, toys and slippers to ceramic chess sets, vegetable ivory ornaments silver jewelry. All these items can be purchased for a fraction of the price that you might pay elsewhere! Lunch at a nice hostery and trip up to the world famous leather handicraft village of Cotacachi. If you prefer Nature, then drive up to the Cuicocha Lake which was formed on a dormant crater. Return to Quito and overnight.

DAY 4 Cotopaxi: The highest and most active Volcano

This active snow capped volcano can be seen from Quito. After a two hour ride, we will arrive at Cotopaxi National Park. We will enjoy the park and trek up to the first refuge and glaciers. This is a lifetime experience close to the God Sun! Lunch and overnight at a colonial Hacienda.

DAY 5 Quilotoa: A dormant crater lake

A trip to Quilotoa is a fabulous addition to your agenda! After breakfast, we will journey to this crater lake which is located 3800 meters above sea level. Its emerald water spans two kilometers and local legend claims it is connected to the ocean and is therefore salty and sulfuric. We will descend the crater to more closely admire this amazing natural beauty. Lunch on the way back to Quito.

DAY 6 From the Andes to the mystic rainforest

Land transport drive or flight up to the city of Tena. Arrive at Cotococha Lodge or similar. Lunch and rainforest excursion discovering many exotic life forms that you have never seen before! Dinner and a shaman's ritual will formally welcome you in the rainforest.





DAY 7 Discovering the jungle secrets by canoe trip

After breakfast, we will have the opportunity to discover the jungle secrets by enjoying a canoe trip along the river. We will visit an Indian village to share in their ancient traditions. We will enjoy a picnic lunch on the banks of the river and an optional swim. Afterwards, visit the AmaZOOnico center to enjoy the animal life and fauna in the region. AmaZOOnico is an animal rescue center that houses the jungle animals in their natural environment. Trip back to the lodge, dinner and lodging. This day can also be changed by substituting a river rafting tour instead.

DAY 8 From the rainforest to the Andes

After enjoying a delicious breakfast with tropical fruits, we will start our trip back to Quito where this tour will end.

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