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Otavalo: three nights + excursion Cuicocha lake and indigenous villages around Otavalo
Cotopaxi: two nights + excursion Cotopaxi National Park and Quilotoa lake incl.Tigua workshops
Riobamba: an overnight stay
Guayaquil: two nights in the hacienda incl. Excursions included in the stay
All transfers with private car!
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* All hotel nights with breakfast, transfers, domestic flights and excursions as mentioned in the program.
* Lunch and dinner in accordance with the program if stated.
* Drinks, tips and expenses of a personal nature.
* International flights to and from Ecuador.
* Travel or cancellation insurance.
Arrival from Belgium in Quito
Transfer from Quito to Otavalo in private car
You will be picked up at the hotel (or the airport) by a Spanish-speaking driver and taken to the hotel in Otavalo in a private vehicle. This drive through the Andes Mountains takes approximately 2 hours.
Acclimatization – we suggest two activities that you can do on your own:
Otavalo – visit to the indigenous market (under your own steam)
This market in the Plaza de Ponchos is without a doubt the most famous indigenous market in Ecuador. You will find a huge range of artesanate there. The best day to visit this market is on Saturday. At the same time, 4 markets take place in different places in the city. But the artesanate market now also continues on the other days of the week – it is then a lot quieter. That also has its advantages.
Hike to the waterfall of Peguche (under your own steam)
The 18 meter high waterfall of Peguche is located 4 kilometers south of Otavalo in a beautiful natural park. The local population of Otavalo celebrates the sun festival of Inti Raymi on 21 June. Purification rituals are held here for several days. But the park is also worth a visit during the rest of the year.
Hiking tour around the crater lake of Cuicocha
Cuicocha is one of the most beautiful lakes in Ecuador. In a private vehicle we drive to the entrance of the Cotacachi-Cayapas Reserve, where we start a 5-hour walking tour that runs between 3100 and 3500 meters above sea level. Along the way we enjoy the biodiversity, the
views of the picturesque lake of Cuicocha with its two islands, as well as the panorama of the mountain peaks of Cotacachi, Imbabura and Cayambe.
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 pull, water (min.1 liter) Recommended: camera, binoculars, rain jacket, reasonable condition also at height
Visit to indigenous villages
We leave from Otavalo to Punyaro where baskets are made from a special type of bambu. Then we go to Peguche where they manufacture musical instruments. In Carabuela we visit a sheep wool workshop and in Iluman we look at the production of hats. Then we will go to San Antonio de Ibarra which is known for its woodwork and visit a workshop of religious statues. Then we go to San Roque where they work with natural fibers from the penco plant. In Cotacachi we have lunch and visit the leather goods shops.
Includes: transport, bilingual guide (Spanish – English), lunch and entrance to workshops. Duration: 7 hours
Transfer from Otavalo to Cotopaxi in private vehicle
You will be picked up at the hotel by a Spanish-speaking driver and taken to Cotopaxi in a private vehicle. This drive through the Andes mountains takes 3 to 4 hours.
Day trip Cotopaxi National Park
After breakfast we drive into the national park. In the morning, the chance of seeing the snowy volcano top unclouded is considerably higher than in the afternoon. We make a stop at Lake Limpiopungo where you can take beautiful pictures. Then we drive on to the parking lot at the foot of the volcano. From here we move on at foot. It is only a short distance to the refugio but due to the height it is quite a climb. At the refugio we enjoy the beautiful view of the National Park and some other volcanoes. Then we hike a little further to the 5000 meter altitude, where the glacier starts. If the height plays tricks on you, you descend back to the car. Included: transport in private car, English speaking guide and lunch box.
Descent to Quilotoa Lake and visit to Tigua
At 3600 meters altitude in the heart of the Quilotoa volcano lies Laguna Quilotoa, a blue-green crater lake surrounded by steep
rock walls. The English-speaking guide will descend with you into the crater lake (300 meters down steeply along a well-maintained hiking trail).
The way back is a tough climb and takes about an hour.
Total travel time: 4 hours
Included: return transfer and EN-speaking guide
Transfer from Cotopaxi to Riobamba in private car (SP-speaking driver)
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.
Transfer from Riobamba to Hacienda La Danesa in private car (SP-speaking driver)
Departing Riobamba, you head high into the Andes Mountains, followed by a spectacular descent towards the coast. Duration: 4.5 hours
Free day at Hacienda La Danesa
Today you will have time to explore the beautiful hacienda of the Olsen family. You can participate in the various activities included in the stay such as a chocolate experience, tubing in the river, cycling through the fields and fields and helping to milk the cows. You can also plan an extra activity with the help of the staff such as horseback riding, yoga and meditation, introduction to beekeeping, cooking workshops, walks to the waterfalls or mangrove forests, chocolate workshops and wellness treatments. In short, plenty to do in this wonderful place.
Transfer from Hacienda La Danesa to Guayaquil airport in private vehicle
You will be picked up at the hacienda and taken to Guayaquil airport. This ride takes approximately 2 hours (SP-speaking driver)
* All transfers are done with private car and Spanish-speaking driver unless otherwise stated
* Mentioned trips and excursions are examples from a wider range. Check out our website for more options.
* This travel proposal is based on 2-person standard rooms, unless stated otherwise. Surcharges for single rooms or luxury
rooms are on request.
* This travel proposal is without obligation, depending on the travel period and subject to availability.
* In the final travel program, certain fixed days of activities must be taken into account, such as ineemse
markets, departure dates of cruises and flights, etc. We do everything possible to optimize the activities mentioned in the program
to insert.
I am Tom and I am from Belgium. I’ve lived in Ecuador for a decade and I’ve been working in tourism for 8 years. Therefore I obtained my tourism diploma in Ecuador. Traveling and discovering new places is my passion. Currently I live in Guamote, a small village between Riobamba and Alausi. Together with the local travel agency Descubre-Ecuador, we offer tailor-made tours in Galapagos and on the Ecuadorian mainland.
+593 99 593 4900 (Ecuador)
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