Private transfer with spanish-speaking driver from Quito airport to your hotel. Reception at the airport by an english-speaking guide (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver). You will spend the night at Vieja Cuba hotel in Quito.

Vieja Cuba

English-speaking guide in a private transport (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver). Quito, Ecuador's capital, is a real treasure between the volcanoes of Pichincha, Cayambe and Antisana. At an elevation of 2830 meters, it is the second highest capital in the world.. It was the first city classified by the UNESCO in 1978 and its historic center is the biggest and best maintained in Latin America. Departure at 8:30 am: to get a good idea of the city, we will firstly go to the Panecillo, a small hill over the city with a statue of the Quito' Virginp, with a splendid 360º view. You will then have a visit of Quito's colonial center: the church of the Compañia de Jesus; the church of San Francisco; the Grand Place where are located the Presidential Palace (Carondelet) and Quito's Cathedral. You will leave Quito to arrive to Quitsato. You will stop at the latitude 0º, where a circular platform of 54 meters of diameter materializes a huge sundial and the equator line. The phenomena observed in the place will be explained to you, as well as how the local peoples used to integrate them in their dayly activities. An opporetunity to reconnect with what is an agriculture agenda, and what it means, between the sky and nature. You will leave Quitsato to arrive to the community of San Clemente. You will get to San Clemente autochthonous community, down the Imbabura volcano, where you will spend the night. A family will welcome you and invite you to share not only their house and food, but their customs and way of living. Many surprises await you, as the live-stock farming of guinea pigs or lamas, and the medicinal plants path maintained by their own users. Read more

San Clemente

English-speaking guide in a private transport (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver). You can accompany and assist the people of the communities in their work with animals or in the preparation breakfast. Presentation of the andean calendar and the agricultural cycles in relation with the ancestral medicine. You may participate to agricultural tasks as preparing the soil with the help of bulls, with the idea to understand the link between food safety and previous obligations in the andean cosmovision. We will go down to Otavalo. Visit in the morning of the famous Otavalo's Indigenous market, the most significant in the Ecuador's Andes, where you can meet the "Otavaleños" with their espadrilles, their brown felt hat and blue ponchos. They are the wealthiest indians in Ecuador and excellent sellers. You will spend the night at Hacienda Pinsaqui. This historical sport has been built in 1790 so as to be a textile workshop, employing at that time 1000 persons. This place is an invitation to share its magical and romantic atmosphere. Across the centuries, Pinsaqui received many famous peoples, among them the General Simon Bolivar, Ecuador's libertador, who stayed there for its trips to Colombia. In those times, the peace treaty between Colombia and Ecuador has been signed and is known as the "Pinsaqui treaty". The actual hacienda keeps the genuine character of this period, as well as the antique furniture. It remains a perfect stage for antiques lovers. Read more

Hacienda Pinsaqui

English-speaking guide in a private transport (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver). Horseriding for 1 hour around the Pinsaqui hacienda property. Visit of the Cuicocha lake in the ecologic reserve of "Cotacahi - Cayapas" , one of the most beautiful in Ecuador with a shiny blue water. At the centre of a former crater at 3064 meters, the nature lovers will enjoy a very various vegetation (orchids, "elephants ears"...) with more than 400 species identified there. You will visit the village of Peguche, with its sacred fall and its Andean music instrument fabrication workshops. You may see a local music session and the weaving process, an art well established in the area. You will return to Quito from Otavalo through this magnificent mountain scenery. You will see the habitants of this region, with their traditional dress or in their daily activities in the edge of a path that is a symbol of modernity in contrast to practices inherited from the pre-Inca civilizations. You will spend the night at Posada Mirolindo in Tababela, close to the airport. Read more

Posada Mirolindo

Transfer from Posada to Airport. Domestic flight Quito - Coca (around 40 minutes). Arrival in Coca, gateway to the Amazon rain forest. Your local guide will meet you and lead you to your motorized canoe , which will sail for about two hours to get to the Yasuní National Park, classified by UNESCO "Biosphere Reserve" by a biodiversity of extreme wealth and well-preserved . The Napo Cultural Center is managed in collaboration with local communities, to recover the benefits to develop new projects in the surrounding villages. After a welcome drink and a little rest, some explanations will be given on this community project and program of the following day. In the afternoon, you will go for a short walk down to the banks of the Napo River to enjoy a beautiful sunset on the beaches and islands, then you will return to the lodge to enjoy a quality dinner and get to your bungalow to sleep by the sounds of the Amazon rain forest. Read more

Napo Cultural Center

Breakfast and early departure on the boat to visit an amazing parrot clay lick that brings visitors face to face with more than 10 species of parrots (including parrotlets and macaws). Note : The observation of the birds is random and will depend of the season and of the weather conditions. You will end this morning with a visit to the Interpretation Center "Kuri Muyu" handled by the women of the community. Here you will learn about the Kichwa culture, crafts, traditions and traditional use of natural resources. Then we will return for lunch and take a break in the lodge. In the afternoon, you will go for a tour in a non-motorized canoe to discover the canal of black water Igapo and you also will go for a walk in the Guangana or Kuri Moy trails where you could observe caimans and other species along the river banks. Return to the Napo Cultural center in a motorized canoe for a traditional Ecuadorian dinner. Read more

Napo Cultural Center

Breakfast visit around the community projects, talk about the worldview Kichwa, explanation about the ancestral medicine and walk in the Mama Cuna road, excellent opportunity to see more wildlife, ceiba trees, strangler, bamboo cane, vines and shrubs endemic from Yasuní. Then we will return for lunch and rest at the lodge. Once at Añangu stream, you will board a small canoe and head down the river in a spectacular adventure through the forest with opportunities to see nightlife alligators and to listen to the sounds of nature at its purest. Return to hotel in motorized canoes, traditional typical dinner. Read more

Napo Cultural Center

If you want, you can get up at 4:30 am to share one of the ancient customs of the Kichwa culture : making wayusa to energize the body and mind, to listen to Kichwa songs and think about important issues in a peaceful and unique way. Then you will get back for breakfast before taking a motorized canoe back to the city of Coca, for your flight back to Quito. Reception at the airport and transportation with an english speaking guide (and optionally driver) to your hotel. English-speaking guide in a private transport (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver). From the airport you will go straight toward Cotopaxi National Park. You will spend the night at El Porvenir Hacienda in the Cotopaxi Park. Read more

El Porvenir Hacienda

English-speaking guide in a private transport (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver). Today visit of the Cotopaxi national park with Ecuador's second highest summit at 5897 meters. It is also the highest active volcano in the world although it mainly shows a few fumaroles from its ice covered crater. But sometimes it launches a huge column smoke and ashes right upon its center. Afterward, you will walk around the Limpiapungo laggon with stunning view on the Cotopaxi. You will appreciate the flora and some fauna, typical of the "paramo", those wide plains swept by the cold winds of the Andes. After driving up to the car park at 4600 meters you will continue by foot to the José Rivas hut 200 meters higher. The most motivated can also go and reach the snowline. Due to the eruptive process of the volcano Cotopaxi initiated on August 14th, 2015, this information can be reviewed at any time, in accordance with the safety requirements of the Ecuadorian Coordination Ministry of National Security and our agency.  You will have a cooking class of the traditional food of the region. You will have to use your hands to prepare a typical dish of the Andes and enjoy this food made by your own (from 1 hour 20 to 2 hours). You will spend the night at El Porvenir Hacienda in the Cotopaxi Park. Read more

El Porvenir Hacienda

English-speaking guide in a private transport (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver). Exit Cotopaxi Park in the direction of the Quilotoa Lagoon. The emerald colored Quilotoa lake (3854m) lays in a still active volcano, its color being due to the presence of sulfur. According to a legend, the Inca Atahualpa had hidden his treasure in the lake... If you wish, you can take a walk until the laguna or simply enjoy the view from the top of the crater. (You can rent a mule to ride up for 10 USD, fee to pay on site) Estimated duration to get down and back up : 1:30 to 2:30 hours - Slopes: +470 m/-470m - Max altitude : 3870 m. On the way to Riobamba you will stop in the area of Tigua which specialty is the colored painting on sheep leather representing the life in the Andes. Arrival in Riobamba, a peaceful Andean town totally rebuilt after the 1797 earthquake. Night in a choza home. Read more

Choza home

English-speaking guide in a private transport (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver). You will visit the Inti Sisa fondation educational center in Guamote to discover the projects delivered, the kindergarden and where they teach sewing, computer and English. After that you will take off for a beautiful ride by car through the moutains and learn more about the history of Guamote region, indigenous culture and traditions. You make a stop at the primary school where English is teached and where the kids will tell you about their daily school life (be ready to play some football or a pato-ganzo game). After going to a traditional weaver who will show how they make their traditional ponccho from the sheep and alpaca wool. At least you will visit an indigenous family and see their authentic housing (choza) to get an idea about how people live in the moutains. Then you continue your scenery drive back to Guamote. Visit of the Guamote market (only on Thursdays) one of the most authentical and colorful in Ecuador. Encountering with the local people you will observe the lifestyle in Guamote a small town in the Chimborazo province. You will spend your night at the Inti Sisa community, in Guamote. High up in the Andes, in the shadow of the Chimborazo, at the centre of Ecuador, between the coast area and the rainforest, in the city of Guamote, Inti Sisa is situated, a training centre for people of all the population groups (children, indigenas, mestizos, ...). Inti Sisa is a kichwa word: "Inti" is the sun and "Sisa" a flower (eg. Sunflower). Read more

Inti Sisa

English-speaking guide in a private transport (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver). You will then join Ingapirca archeological site from Guamote by vehicle. Gorgeous landcapes along the Volcanoes Avenue, following a scenic road in the middle of the Andes with views over the colored fields around. Day 1.- ROUTE KAY PACHA (Naunag) Description: Welcome by the community to the visitors, presentation of the guides, one for every 15 PAX. You will participate to some agriculture activities with the community. Then you will continue your tour from the "Kuya llakta" Center where we will begin to ascend until arrive to the old school of the community of Caguanapamba, place with a spectacular look for photographs, from where you can see the whole environment of the community, surrounding areas such as Ingapirca, Cañar city, Honorato Vásquez Parish, etc. Then we come to the orchard of medicinal plants, the breast Fabiola (yachac grass of the community) will explain the variety of plants you have in your garden and its use, also give us a drink of medicinal plants, then we will go to the site where the traditional homes of the great nation Cañari (Homes in state of extinction), then we will ascend to the craft workshop of contemporary and modern garments of the woman Cañarí, then visit the tasqui loma (place of healing and ancestral correction) continue crossing to the central viewpoint of the community, border between the populated area and the beginning of Andean grasslands and crops, from where we will return visiting the sector of beds paltio a very attractive sector, then we go down to the traditional craft workshop and the exploitation of smaller species ( guinea pig, rabbit, poultry, etc.) where we will also provide a traditional drink nal de los andes, we continue with the walk until we reach the main road where we will visit one of the family homes, and we finish the circuit in the communal house and tour the facilities of the community lodging house. End of the walk. Lunch in the community. After lunch you will visit the archaeological complex of Ingapirca, which is a very interesting archeological site from the time of the Incas. Once you have visited this site, we will return to the community to have a Quichua class, the language of the community. Dinner in the community and night at the home of families or community lodging. Read more

Caguanapamba Comunity

English-speaking guide in a private transport (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver). You will travel to the beautiful city of Cuenca by vehicle, following a scenic road in the middle of the Andes with views over the colored fields and the mountains around. Night at the Hotel de las Culturas. Day 2.- RUTA HANAN PACHA You will start your day with a good breakfast before leaving to visit the sacred lagoon of Culebrillas. Then you will visit the archaeological ruins of Paredones de Molleturo, which is a solid construction based on blocks edged and carved of andesite rock, placed one on top of the other forming natural rows, joined with mortar of yellow earth or quillocaca. You will pass through the path of Qhapaq Ñan, which is an Inca trail. It's time to have lunch and participate in the pampa table. The pampa mesa is a community lunch, made on a tablecloth on a field, facing north -south, rising sun- incoming sun in the different acts such as: in the great parties or Raymis Andean, marriages, plantings of each our crops, chincay pacha (funerals ) etc. In which the alimentary harmony and the social reciprocity of each one of the existing millenarian towns is shown. The pampamesa contains a wide variety of products from the area such as: Potatoes, tender beans, melloco, tasno (corn and roasted beans), peeled mote, mote with peel, geese, field egg, guinea pig, cheese quesillo, chili sauce with zambo sauce, accompanied of the typical beverage chicha de jora made from corn. After lunch, you will visit the arquíologico baths of the Cañari and Inca complexes in Coyoctor del Canton el Tambo and the museum of the city of Canton el Tambo. The tour is over, and it is time to say goodbye to the community. Read more

Caguanapamba Comunity

English-speaking guide in a private transport (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver). The city of Cuenca (2 550 m) is undoubtedly as charming as its former name of Guapondelic reveals: "the valley as great as the sky". This colorful and lively city with superb historic buildings was classified as a World Heritage by the UNESCO since 1999. The best way to feel the warm colors of Cuenca is to walk around its paved streets, along the white houses with roman tiled roofs and flourishing wrought iron balconies. Colonial art treasures can also be discovered in Cuenca in the churches and convents from the XVIIth and XVIIIth centuries. The visit of the cathedral, the El Turi viewing platform, the flouring spaces, the churches and the covered market will gradually take you closer to the local life. Visit of a Panama hats workshop (except on Sundays) established in Cuenca for more than 60 years where you can observe the different stage of its fabrication, an Ecuador's specialty. Night at the Hotel de las Culturas. Read more

Las Culturas

English-speaking guide in a private transport (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver). You will follow up Western cordillera to Cajas park from Cuenca where you will enjoy stunning views over the many lakes of this protected area. El Cajas National Park is located in the south western Cordillera of the Andes, 35 km from Cuenca. Its altitude varies between 3,156 and 4,450 m and covers an area of ​​288 km2, including a set of 235 glacial lakes, connected by small rivers and streams. The park is home to archaeological sites, among several other sections of Qapaq Nan, the real Inca Trail, which connects the coast with the mountains and fells, allowing trade in Spondylus shell, valuable object at that time. You can walk from 2 to 6 hours owith a local guide. Journey to get to Guayaquil, Ecuador's biggest city and economical capital. Down from the mountains you will pass by fertiles lowlands with huge orchards and banana plantations before arriving to Guayaquil. You will spend the night at Grand Hotel in Guayaquil. Read more

Grand Hotel Guayaquil.

English-speaking guide in a private transport (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver). In Guayaquil you will firstly visit the main streets, the neo gothic cathedral and the Simon Bolivar Park next to it, where you can find a hundred of green iguanas freely wandering around the park, some being a meter long. We will continue the visit to the Malecon 2000 and then reach the colonial area of Las Peñas, to admire there the architecture and the many art galleries. From the Santa Ana fort you will enjoy a scenic view over Guayaquil and the Guayas River. Private transfer with a spanish-speaking driver to Guayaquil airport. Free connection with your international flight. Read more