ITINERARIES IN ECUADOR

In no other country in South America you can travel so easily and discover such a diversity of interesting cultures and beautiful nature than in Ecuador. We have set up several itineraries for you, like classical Ecuador roundtrips, Ecuador in modules and Ecuador in special themes, on which you can experience the best of Ecuador in a limited period of time.

The itineraries depend on arrival and departure times of different airlines, ships and the train to the legendary 'Devil's Nose'. The following examples are only proposals and can be altered any time according to your wishes and interests. We are more than glad to put together for you your individual travel itinerary free of charge and without obligation.

Ecuador Roundtrip I - Ecuador Roundtrip II

Day 1-3: Quito, Pearl of South America and World Cultural Heritage Site
Day 3-5: Otavalo, arts and craft market and life on a hacienda
Day 5-6: Papallacta, thermal spring baths amid beautiful highlands scenery
Day 6-9: Misahuallí, gate to the Ecuadorian Amazon
Day 9-10: Baños, mountain landscape at the foot of the active Tungurahua volcano
Day 10-11: Riobamba, Chimborazo volcano and the breathtaking train ride to the "Devil´s nose"
Day 11-13: Cuenca, a colonial city to fall in love in with
Day 13-14: Guayaquil, a city with "Caribbean flair"

Day 1: Quito
Arrival in Quito. This attractive and especially beautiful city is surrounded by snow-covered volcanoes, although it lies only 22 kilometers away from the equator line. It received the nickname "The Monastery of America" because of its many monasteries and convents.

Day 2: Quito
A sightseeing tour around this cultural city, which is 2.850 meters above sea level.
During the tour you will visit the historical old town, declared "World Heritage Site" by the UNESCO, because of its wealth in Spanish, Flemish, Moorish and Pre-Columbian architecture. Visit the congress building, with its intricate stonework facade, the monastery of San Agustín, the church of San Francisco, as well as the Plaza De La Independencia, which is surrounded by the governmental palace and the cathedral. Submerge yourself into the history of Quito during this unforgettable walk!
Further points of interest are the "Balcony of Guapulo", as well as "Panecillo", a hill in the south of the city, which offers lovely views over the city and the surrounding volcanoes.

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Day 3: Quito - Otavalo
On your way, visit a small factory in the village of Calderon, which produces colourful decorative bread figures. Later on, if you are lucky, you can see the snow-covered summit of the Cayambe volcano in the distance. The equator line passes directly across the glacier of this majestic mountain.
Then we go northwards to the little village of San Antonio de Ibarra, which is famous for its wood carvings, primarily of religious origin. Overnight stay in a typical hacienda.

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Day 4: Otavalo
After enjoying the natural atmosphere of this beautiful Hacienda, with perhaps a little walk through the garden, we go to the famous art and craft market of Otavalo, where you have the chance to purchase some wonderful hand-made "artesanías". Then we pass along San Pablo lake and arrive at Cuicocha Lagoon, a crater lake at 3000m altitude, which you will have time to explore. After a visit to Cotacachi, famous for its high-value leather goods, we return to the hacienda, where we spend a cozy evening at the fireplace.

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Day 5: Otavalo - Papallacta
Today we continue to the thermal springs at Papallacta, at a height of 3.300m. Enjoy the relaxing and therapeutic effects of the warm, odourless thermal spring water, whilst nestling amidst beautiful scenery. Possibility of an overnight stay.

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Day 6: Papallacta - Misahuallí (Rainforest)
The starting poing for our jungle adventure. Our trip leads us to the cloud forest and into the humid lowlands of the Ecuadorian Amazon region. Over the next fascinating days, we will get to know the rainforest intimately, through guided walks from a lodge or trips in canoe. This will provide a unique experience of indigenous life and culture and of the local flora and fauna.

Day 7-8: Rainforest programme

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Day 9: Rainforest - Vulcano Tungurahua / Baños
Today we leave the rainforest and travel to Puyo into the zone of the most active Ecuadorian volcano at present - that is the Tungurahua. The tourist town of Baños, spread at the foot of Tungurahua, was evacuated in October as a precaution measure due to the increasing volcanic activity. At the beginning of January, a large part of the population returned home and shortly afterwards tourists as well. Since then, Baños has begun to establish itself again as a key site on the Ecuadorian tourist map, since it has now one more tourist attraction: the observation of an active volcano!

Day 10: Tungurahua - Riobamba
Visit Riobamba, at the foot of Chimborazo Volcano, Ecuador's highest mountain.

Day 11: Riobamba - Cuenca
Take a bus trip to Guamote for discovering the legendary "Devil's Nose" in an extraordinary train ride (Wednesday, Friday and Sunday). Marvel at the fascinating landscape through the train´s window, or even from the top, and witness this technical railroad masterpiece, constructed at the beginning of the 20th Century, which has enabled enormous topographical obstacles to be overcome. From there follows a short bus ride to Cuenca, where we spend the night.

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Day 12: Cuenca
Visit the third largest city in Ecuador. In Cuenca, founded in 1557 on the Inca settlement in Tomebamba, there still exists an air of colonial Ecuadorian history. In November 1999, Cuenca was declared "World Cultural Heritage Site" by the UNESCO. Enjoy the historical buildings situated along the Tomebamba river, the Todos los Santos ruins ("All Saints Ruins"), flower markets as well as the main square bounded by old and new cathedrals.
There is still time to visit some typical villages around Cuenca, where you can see Panama hats being manufactured in a traditional fashion. Overnight stay in Cuenca.

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Day 13. Tag: Cuenca - Guayaquil
Alternative: continuation of one's journey to Loja for the additional programme Southern Ecuador!

After breakfast we start today's tour to the Cajas National Park, a lake system made up of glaciers with an extended páramo-landscape which is the typical vegetation of the Ecuadorian Highlands. Here we find the source of Tomebamba River which flows through Cuenca. The road rises up spectacularly over 4.000m and then decends towards the Pacific coast, a natural wonder allowing you to experience the unique changes in climate and vegetation between the high mountain regions and the coast. Come to Ecuador's largest city, Guayaquil.

Day 14: Additional programme or flight back home
Flight to Galápagos, flight back home, to Quito or continuation of one's journey to the Ecuadorian Coast.

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Ecuador Roundtrip I - Ecuador Roundtrip II - Ecuador in modules - Ecuador in special themes