TRAVELING BY MAGIC ECUADOR
Dramatic topography, diverse climates and undeniable charm
- Ecuador, a colorful country in the middle of the world
- A local host greets you at the airport for a transfer to your lovely hotel in the village of San Pablo del Lago, just outside Otavalo, ideally situated at the base of the Imbabura Volcano. Hacienda Cusin, founded in 1602, is one of the oldest haciendas in all of Ecuador. Enjoy the rest of your day to relax and get settled in.
- Hotel: Hacienda Cusin or similar
- Ecuador, a colorful country in the middle of the world
- A local host greets you at the airport for a transfer to your lovely hotel in the village of San Pablo del Lago, just outside Otavalo, ideally situated at the base of the Imbabura Volcano. Hacienda Cusin, founded in 1602, is one of the oldest haciendas in all of Ecuador. Enjoy the rest of your day to relax and get settled in.
- Hotel: Hacienda Cusin or similar
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Depart mid-morning to meet a local family who introduces you to the Andean tradition and Cultural Insight of flute-making, including a musical interlude using the handmade instruments. You’ll even get the chance to try playing the instruments yourself.
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Enjoy a lunch at a traditional hacienda.
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Visit the public market alongside native Otavalenos and put your bartering skills to the test. Stroll through the different vendor stalls offering a variety of handcrafted items in search of the perfect keepsake.
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Depart mid-morning to meet a local family who introduces you to the Andean tradition and Cultural Insight of flute-making, including a musical interlude using the handmade instruments. You’ll even get the chance to try playing the instruments yourself.
-
Enjoy a lunch at a traditional hacienda.
-
Visit the public market alongside native Otavalenos and put your bartering skills to the test. Stroll through the different vendor stalls offering a variety of handcrafted items in search of the perfect keepsake.
- Your morning is at leisure before heading to Cayambe where you will meet a local family for a Be My Guest lunch at the Hacienda La Compania, a beautiful home and rose plantation.
- Tour the grounds including the charming chapel and learn about the roses grown here before indulging in a delicious meal of Ecuadorian specialties.
- Arrive in Quito and enjoy the evening to relax.
- Hotel: Swissotel or similar
- Your morning is at leisure before heading to Cayambe where you will meet a local family for a Be My Guest lunch at the Hacienda La Compania, a beautiful home and rose plantation.
- Tour the grounds including the charming chapel and learn about the roses grown here before indulging in a delicious meal of Ecuadorian specialties.
- Arrive in Quito and enjoy the evening to relax.
- Hotel: Swissotel or similar
- Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Quito, Ecuador’s capital city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Learn all about the religious and cultural influences of this bustling city, located just 14 miles (22 km) from the Equatorial Line.
- Visit a candy shop to watch a third generation candy-maker create a traditional Ecuadorian candy called colaciones, a Cultural Insight. Stroll along La Ronda, one of the oldest streets in Quito and an artist mecca during the 1930s.
- Eat lunch at a local restaurant and try another Cultural Insight, canelazo, a delicious spiced cinnamon rum drink.
- Continue to the Equatorial Line Monument and don’t miss the chance to stand in both the northern and southern hemispheres at the same time.
- Later, meet a Local Specialist, an organic Ecuadorian chocolate-maker, who tells you all about the production process and brings samples for all to enjoy.
- Indulge in a Regional Meal this evening featuring delicious local cuisine.
- Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Quito, Ecuador’s capital city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Learn all about the religious and cultural influences of this bustling city, located just 14 miles (22 km) from the Equatorial Line.
- Visit a candy shop to watch a third generation candy-maker create a traditional Ecuadorian candy called colaciones, a Cultural Insight. Stroll along La Ronda, one of the oldest streets in Quito and an artist mecca during the 1930s.
- Eat lunch at a local restaurant and try another Cultural Insight, canelazo, a delicious spiced cinnamon rum drink.
- Continue to the Equatorial Line Monument and don’t miss the chance to stand in both the northern and southern hemispheres at the same time.
- Later, meet a Local Specialist, an organic Ecuadorian chocolate-maker, who tells you all about the production process and brings samples for all to enjoy.
- Indulge in a Regional Meal this evening featuring delicious local cuisine.
- Travel south along the Panamerican Highway, through stunning landscapes of valleys and mountains before arriving at Cotopaxi National Park, the site of an active volcano standing 19,642 feet (5,987 metres) high.
- Meet a Local Specialist who shares his knowledge and passion for this spectacular natural wonder. Continue on to Limpiopungo Lake where you’ll observe a great number of high-altitude birds, and occasionally, wild horses.
- Return to the valley where lunch awaits at a 300-year-old hacienda. Venture back to the main road and continue along the «Avenue of the Volcanoes.» Riobamba awaits as you continue alongside massive Chimborazo, the highest mountain in Ecuador.
- Hotel: Hacienda Abraspungo or similar
- Travel south along the Panamerican Highway, through stunning landscapes of valleys and mountains before arriving at Cotopaxi National Park, the site of an active volcano standing 19,642 feet (5,987 metres) high.
- Meet a Local Specialist who shares his knowledge and passion for this spectacular natural wonder. Continue on to Limpiopungo Lake where you’ll observe a great number of high-altitude birds, and occasionally, wild horses.
- Return to the valley where lunch awaits at a 300-year-old hacienda. Venture back to the main road and continue along the «Avenue of the Volcanoes.» Riobamba awaits as you continue alongside massive Chimborazo, the highest mountain in Ecuador.
- Hotel: Hacienda Abraspungo or similar
- Head south to the train station in Alausi where you board the Devil’s Nose Train, an engineering feat of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The railway allows you to discover the topographic obstacles of Ecuador’s diverse landscape as you zigzag down the steep mountainside.
- Disembark at Sibambe to visit the local museum built and run by the Nizag community. See the display of local handcrafts, fruits and medicinal plants and try the local coffee.
- After your train journey, enjoy a picnic lunch and then visit the Inca ruins of Ingapirca, considered the most important archaeological site in Ecuador.
- Hotel: San Juan or similar
- Head south to the train station in Alausi where you board the Devil’s Nose Train, an engineering feat of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The railway allows you to discover the topographic obstacles of Ecuador’s diverse landscape as you zigzag down the steep mountainside.
- Disembark at Sibambe to visit the local museum built and run by the Nizag community. See the display of local handcrafts, fruits and medicinal plants and try the local coffee.
- After your train journey, enjoy a picnic lunch and then visit the Inca ruins of Ingapirca, considered the most important archaeological site in Ecuador.
- Hotel: San Juan or similar
- Discover the charm of Cuenca with a Local Specialist and admire the red-tiled roofs, cobblestone streets and flowery plazas. Founded as a Spanish settlement in 1557, the beauty of its landscape combined with the harmony between old and modern architecture has prompted UNESCO to name Cuenca a World Cultural Heritage Site.
- Today’s highlights include the Todos los Santos ruins, flower market, and the main square surrounded by the imposing blue-domed Cathedral.
- Then visit a few surrounding communities including an arts and crafts village for a Cultural Insight into the ancient weaving process of Panama hats and other items made of toquilla straw using traditional methods that date back to pre-Columbian cultures.
- Enjoy the chance to watch pottery making while visiting a local pottery maker. The evening is yours to explore.
- Discover the charm of Cuenca with a Local Specialist and admire the red-tiled roofs, cobblestone streets and flowery plazas. Founded as a Spanish settlement in 1557, the beauty of its landscape combined with the harmony between old and modern architecture has prompted UNESCO to name Cuenca a World Cultural Heritage Site.
- Today’s highlights include the Todos los Santos ruins, flower market, and the main square surrounded by the imposing blue-domed Cathedral.
- Then visit a few surrounding communities including an arts and crafts village for a Cultural Insight into the ancient weaving process of Panama hats and other items made of toquilla straw using traditional methods that date back to pre-Columbian cultures.
- Enjoy the chance to watch pottery making while visiting a local pottery maker. The evening is yours to explore.
- Journey to Guayaquil through El Cajas National Park. Watch the ever changing flora and fauna as you travel through the beautiful cloud forests to the coast for a visit to a cacao plantation.
- Here, learn all about growing and harvesting of cacao and enjoy a delicious lunch. Arrive in Guayaquil and enjoy a short city tour.
- Tonight, toast an unforgettable holiday during a Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant.
- Overnight at Oro Verde or similar
- Day 9 – Transfer out from your hotel to apt
- Journey to Guayaquil through El Cajas National Park. Watch the ever changing flora and fauna as you travel through the beautiful cloud forests to the coast for a visit to a cacao plantation.
- Here, learn all about growing and harvesting of cacao and enjoy a delicious lunch. Arrive in Guayaquil and enjoy a short city tour.
- Tonight, toast an unforgettable holiday during a Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant.
- Overnight at Oro Verde or similar
- Day 9 – Transfer out from your hotel to apt
