Price per person based on 2 people.
You will be picked up by a Spanish-speaking driver at the hotel (or airport) and taken in a private car to the hotel in Otavalo. This drive through the Andes Mountains takes about 2 hours.
This market in the Plaza de Ponchos is without a doubt the most famous indigenous market in Ecuador. You will find a huge selection of artesanate. The best day to visit this market is on Saturday. There are 4 markets going on simultaneously at different places in the city. But the artesanate market now also goes on the other days of the week - it is much quieter then. This in turn has its advantages.
The 18-meter-high Peguche waterfall is located 4 kilometers south of Otavalo in a beautiful natural park... The local population of Otavalo celebrates the solar festival of Inti Raymi there on June 21. During several days purification rituals are held here. But also during the rest of the year the park is worth a visit.
Cuicocha is one of the most beautiful lakes in Ecuador. With a private car we drive to the entrance of the Reserve Cotacachi-Cayapas, where we start a 5-hour hike that goes between 3100 and 3500 meters above sea level. Along the way we enjoy the biodiversity, the views of the picturesque Lake Cuicocha and its two islets, as well as the panorama of the Cotacachi, Imbabura and Cayambe peaks.
Difficulty: Moderate
Duration: Approx. 7 hours
Included: English speaking local guide, private transport, meal or packed lunch
Mandatory: Good walking shoes, sun protection, mosquito repellent, fleece or pullover, water (min. 1 liter)
Recommended: Camera, binoculars, rain jacket, reasonable physical condition even at altitude
You will be transferred from Otavalo to Papallacta. On this 3-hour drive through the Andes, just after Cayambe you pass a small equator monument and the pilgrimage site of El Quinche, known for its cathedral and typical Indian cemetery.
This hike takes about 3 hours and starts at the entrance of the thermal baths in Papallacta. By car we drive 15 minutes steep up the mountain to the entrance of the National Park Cayambe-Coca at 3800 meters above sea level. From here we walk to the lakes of Baños. On a clear day you have a beautiful view of the Antisana volcano. Along the way we look out for the spectacled bear, the mountain deer, the mountain tapir, paramo wolves etc.
Included: local guide with limited knowledge of English, transportation by private car H/T from the entrance of the thermal baths.
You will be picked up at the hotel and taken to Quito in a 2-hour drive by private car.
First, with the English-speaking guide, you visit the historic colonial center of Quito, its churches and squares, the modern city and the panoramic point the Panecillo hill. Then we drive to the monument to the equator Mitad del Mundo and the Intiñan museum, where various tests show that we are indeed on the equator line. Also fun for children!
Included: English speaking guide and transportation in private car.
Not included: entrance to museums and meals on the road.
Duration: 5 to 6 hours
You will be transferred to the hotel in Cotopaxi. This is a 1.5 hour drive through the mountains.
The driver will pick you up at the hotel in the morning. The National Park is an hour's drive from Quito. On clear days you can admire the mountain from afar. After a short stop at the Mariscal Sucre information point, where you get some information about the region and the volcano, we drive up to 4500 m altitude. From here we go to the refuge which is 365 meters higher. It is a very steep walk that takes us at least an hour considering the high altitude. Then we descend to the Limpiopungo lake which lies at the foot of the volcano. This lake is fed by a volcanic glacier; you often see wild horses grazing and Andean foxes hunting here. Then we return to the hotel by car.
Difficulty: light-moderate.
To bring: protection from the sun and rain, water, sport shoes, camera and warm clothes.
Duration: 6 hours
Includes: English speaking guide, transportation and lunch box
The driver will pick you up at the hotel and take you to the hotel in Riobamba. This drive through the mountains takes about 2 hours.
A guide will take you to the National Park. The white peak of Chimborazo (6310 meters) is the center of the nature reserve of the same name. The chances of encountering vicuñas (a relative of the llama) there are high. There is a first mountain hut at 4800 meters from where you can start walking to the second hut which is located at 5000 meters. You can optionally combine this beautiful day trip with a spectacular descent by mountain bike (20 USD pp - min. 2 pers).
Includes: guide (English spoken); transportation; warm jacket; packed lunch; entrance to National Park.
Duration: 5 hours without the bike - 7 hours with the bike
You will be picked up by a local driver at the hotel and taken to Guamote in a private car.
Duration: 1 hour
Today we take a closer look at how the indigenous people live here in this region. After visiting the center of Inti Sisa in Guamote, we head into the mountains. We visit an indigenous school where the children explain how they are taught here. We visit a local weaver who makes ponchos out of alpaca wool and end at an indigenous family who tells about their life in the village. Along the way, you'll get info on the history of the area and the local culture. Those who wish can then return to Guamote on foot (1.5 hours).
Duration: 4 hours.
Included: English speaking guide; snack and drink.
From Guamote you will drive in a private car to Cuenca. On the way you will visit the most famous Inca ruins from Ecuador.
Duration: 5.5 hours (3.5 hours driving and 2 hours visit Ingapirca)
Excluding the entrance to the ruins to be paid on the spot: 6 USD.
Departing from Cuenca we first go to Llaviucu - that is the "lower" part of the National Park (3160 meters) - where we visit the lake and take a hike of about 1.5 hours. Then we retreat to the bus and go to the higher part of the park (3800 - 4000 meters). Here we visit 3 medium-sized lakes (Toteadora, Totoras y Patoquinuas) and 2 smaller lakes. From here the hike goes down and takes about 3 hours. Before we drive back to Cuenca we eat lunch in a restaurant.
Duration: 8 hours. Included: transport, bilingual guide, lunch.
With an English-speaking guide you will visit the most beautiful places in the city: San Sebastián (the square, the church and the museum of modern art), Cruz del Vado Condamine, the market 10 de Agosto, the Plaza San Francisco, the Parque de las Flores , the new cathedral, the Parque Calderon (with the old cathedral, the palace of justice and the Casas Aledañas), the Panama hat factory of Homero Ortega, Barranco and the panoramic point of Turi.
Duration: 4 hours.
Included: transport, bilingual guide.
Not included: entrance to museums.
During this beautiful ride you drive (with local SP-speaking driver) from Cuenca to Guayaquil. The road gradually descends from the Andes Mountains to the coastal plain. After four hours of driving you will arrive in Guayaquil.
This is a sample trip. The order, hotels and excursions can be adapted to your wishes. You can also combine it with another trip or a Galápagos cruise.
