10-Day Best of Ecuador

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Today, enjoy a sightseeing tour of the religious and cultural sites of Quito. Your guide will take you through the culturally diverse history of Quito: the Independence Square with the government and the Bishops Palace, and the church of La Compañia. Afterwards, you visit the hill of the old town, Panecillo and the angel statue “Virgen de Quito”. The tour goes on to the Equatorial Line Monument where. you have a unique chance to stand in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere simultaneously.

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Today, you'll travel north of Quito to Otavalo. In Plaza de los Ponchos, you'll wander around the famous handicrafts market. Here, the colourful stalls are filled with an excellent selection of handwoven crafts. You'll then continue just outside Otavalo to the quiet village of Peguche. You'll visit the waterfall and then watch the village’s weavers blend traditional and modern techniques. A gourmet dinner of homemade Ecuadorian recipes will be served at the hotel in the evening.

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This morning, you'll visit Laguna Cuicocha, a crater lake at 3,000 metres above sea level. You'll appreciate the stunning views, unique vegetation, and the volcanic islands surrounded by totora reeds. You'll take a boat ride on the lake and get closer to an island to observe its unique flora and fauna. Afterwards, you'll continue your tour towards Cotacachi, Ecuador’s leatherwork centre. You'll stroll around the small streets and admire the artisan shops filled with handmade leather objects.

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After breakfast, you will drive to Cotopaxi National Park. The highland zone, protected since 1975, is one of the most beautiful ecological reserves in the country. Take a walk to Laguna de Limpiopungo at an altitude of almost 4,000 metres, you will have the chance to learn about the typical vegetation of the so-called Páramo and gaze in wonder at the beautiful view of Cotopaxi in the background. Today you will visit a beautiful flower plantation with a great variety of highland flowers.

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After breakfast, you will visit a colourful, original Indian market. Continue about 14 km on to Quilotoa, the famous volcanic lake with beautiful views. In the late afternoon, you will continue on to Riobamba, which is the capital of the province of Chimborazo, where a great number of indigenous communities live. Close to Chimborazo, the highest mountain of Ecuador, you will spend the night in one of the atmospheric Hosterías this region offers.

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After breakfast, you will begin the ride to Cuenca with an stop at the Balbanera Church, one of the oldest churches in Ecuador. Enjoy the fascinating landscape of the Andes. Afterwards, start the 4.5 hour drive to the city of Cuenca. On your way, stop at Ingapirca ruins, the most important monument of pre-Spanish culture in Ecuador. Walk through the former place and learn about their lives, beliefs and rituals as well as about the way they constructed the site, which has the shape of a puma.

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You'll start your city tour in Cuenca’s main square, Plaza Mayor, surrounded by its two distinct cathedrals and city hall. You'll appreciate the historical centre and admire the colourful buildings that have maintained their colonial magnificence. You'll pass by the vibrant flower market, visit the eclectic style church, Todos los Santos, and end your tour at a Panama hat factory to learn about this handicraft.

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Travel on to Ecuador’s largest city Guayaquil on the western banks of the Río Guayas. Towards the coastal area, the land is flat and more intensively farmed. The Guayas lowlands are characterised by mangroves and banana plantations. Enroute visit a cacao project. Take a tour through the cacao plantations and learn everything about cultivation, harvesting and cacao bean treatment. Ecuadorian cacao is famous for its very high quality. Upon arrival in Guayaquil short sightseeing tour of the city.