Arrival to the lake region
Ride: Airport – Hotel: 1h 15 min – 75 km
You will land to Tababela international airport, in the Est-side of the capital. Your guide will be waiting to escort you to your hotel.
You will stay on the bank of San Pablo lake and will have a first glance at postal card landscapes with volcanos, lakes and valleys.
Walk in Otavalo market and near the Cuicocha Lake
Ride: Otavalo – Cotacachi: 20 min – 13 km
Cotacachi – Cuicocha: 25 min – 14 km
Cuicocha – Quito: 2h 30 min – 125 km
You will start your day going to Otavalo market. This is one of the most important market of South America. This is the perfect place to buy souvenirs!
You will admire handmade music instruments, weaving and leather all made in Peguche, Agato, Iluman and Cotacachi.
In the afternoon, you will explore the Cuicocha lake and its two islands, located in the ecological reserve named Cotacachi-Cayapas.
On your way to Quito, you will stop in Calderon to watch the « mazapán » figurines.
Discovery of Quito historical center and the equatorial line
Ride: Quito – Mitad del Mundo : 45 min. – 30 km
In the morning, you will walk in the paved narrow streets of the historical center. This is the bigger and the best-preserved historical center of Latin America.
You will start with the Plaza de la Independencia square, surrounded by beautiful churches and convents. Among others, you will appreciate the golden inside of La Compañia de Jésus and the San Francisco square paved with volcanic stones.
You will contemplate the city from the Panecillo mirador which is 3 000m over the town center. Then you will go to the Mitad del Mundo and the solar Intiñan museum in the 0° 0’ 0’’ latitude.
Don’t forget to take a picture with a foot in each hemisphere!
Gateaway in Amazonia
Ride: Quito – Tena: 4h – 200 km
In the morning, you will notice the ecosystem changes between the Sierra and the Oriente.
You will cross the Papallacta pass located at 4 100 meters and will enjoy the thermal with medicinal properties.
Then you will cross a luxuriant fog forest to reach Amazonian plains and arrive to Cotococha Lodge.
This is a complete change of scene as there is no electricity in the modest bungalows. You will use an oil lamp!
After diner, you will enjoy a welcome cocktail around a wood fire and will organize activities for the day after.
Hiking in tropical forest
For 10 minutes, you will sail back up the river in a motorized pirogue. Then you will hick during an hour to discover the fauna and flora of the secondary forest and reach a wonderful waterfall: Las Latas.
You will have the opportunity to swim in transparent water, surrounded by amazing landscapes.
In the afternoon, you will go deeper in the rainforest to look for jungle secret. For three hours, you will see a lot of medicinal plants and will learn about their properties and how inhabitants use it. You will also observe a lot of animals, colorful birds and monkeys.
Walk in Baños and waterfalls road
Ride: Tena – Puyo: 1h 20 min – 80 km
Puyo – Pailón del Diablo: 55 min – 45 km
Pailón del Diablo – Riobamba: 1h 35 min – 80 km
Hike: Pailón del Diablo: 1h – 1,5 km (easy)
You will stop in Puyo to visit a balsa wood workshop and a distillery before going to Banos at the bottom of Tungurahua where you will taste sweets made with cane sugar.
You will go to «ruta de las cascadas» to reach «El Pailón del Diablo» and get on a basket to cross the Río Pastaza and watch the « Manto de la Novia » waterfall.
You will stay in Riobamba, near the famous Chimborazo, the highest point of the earth.
«Nariz del Diablo» train Zigzag and Ingapirca ruins
Ride: Riobamba – Alausi: 1h 45 min – 95 km
Alausi – Ingapirca: 1h 55 min – 90 km
Ingapirca – Cuenca: 1h 30 min – 75 km
After a short stop in the Tsalaron market, you will go to the oldest church of the country named Balbanera.
You will also go to Alausi where you will get on the «Nariz del Diablo» train which follow a zigzag path to reach plateaus.
In the afternoon, you will discover the Ingapirca archeologic complex which show the Inca presence in Equator. You will walk until the « Cara del Inca », a human face naturally drawn in cliff, near the temple ruins.
Explore the colonial town Cuenca
You will discover the most beautiful town of the country: Cuenca
You will be amazed by churches, parks, squares and the flower market. You will go to the San Francisco square where fabric made in the North of the country are sold. You will enjoy an amazing view from Turi hill mirador.
You will appreciate the artisans’ meticulous work who create Panama hates, registered in the immaterial cultural heritage.
In the afternoon, you will learn more about the pre-Columbian culture thank to the Museum of Aboriginal Cultures in an old restored house.
Ride Cuenca – Guayaquil: 3h 25 min – 195 km
You will discover the Pumapungo archeologic park, a mix between Canary and Inca culture. There is a botanical garden with more than 8 000 plants and beautiful birds.
Then you will cross the National Park El Cajas to reach the coast with banana, rice, cacao and coffee plantation.
You will reach Guayaquil, the biggest city of the country, named the “Pacific Pearl”.
You will relax in the Seminario Park, where you can watch iguana sunbathing. You will go for a walk along the Malecon 2000 to reach Las Penas and climb up stares until the Cerro Santa Ana to enjoy a beautiful view of the city and the Río Guayas.
Free time to visit Guayaquil
Ride Hotel – Airport: 15 min – 7 km
You will have free time to enjoy the city, go shopping and taste delicious seafood dishes.
Your will be escorted to Guayaquil airport 3 hours before you flight.
