Itinerary
- Day 1
Airport to Quito
You'll arrive at the airport and head to your hotel in Quito. The drive gives you a chance to settle in and get your bearings before the trip really starts.
- Start point
- Aeropuerto Internacional Mariscal Sucre, Vía Tababela - Yaruquí Lote 18, Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador (Transfer Airport / Hotel)
- Day 2
Cotacachi - Cuicocha
Drive north on the Pan-American Highway toward Cayambe, where you'll stop to try local bizcochos, a traditional pastry. After that, you're heading to Otavalo Market, where indigenous vendors sell textiles and handicrafts. From there, continue to Cotacachi to walk through leather goods shops and check out an Andean instrument workshop in Peguche. The day finishes at Cuicocha lagoon, set in the crater of Cotacachi Volcano, where boat rides are available if you want to get out on the water.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Otavalo Market, the largest in America
- Taste Bizcochos de Cayambe with local cheese or caramel sauce
- Visit andean instrument workshop in Peguche area
- Visit Ecological Reserve and Cuicocha lagoon
Optional Activities
- Stay longer at Otavalo Market (optional choice to skip Cotacachi and Cuicocha)
- Sailing in the crater of the volcano in small boats at Cuicocha lagoon (additional cost)
- Lunch in Cotacachi (not included)
Landmarks Otavalo Market Lake San Pablo Cuicocha Lagoon Cotacachi Volcano - Day 3
Middle of the World
Start your morning on a replica trolley from 1914 as you tour Quito's historic center. You'll see the Basilica del Voto Nacional with its high domes, stop at Panecillo viewpoint to see the Winged Virgin statue, and walk through Plaza de San Francisco and Plaza Grande, which is surrounded by the Cathedral and Government Palace. The La Ronda neighborhood comes next, where artisan workshops line the romantic streets. After lunch in Zona Rosa, head to the Middle of the World monument where the equator divides the northern and southern hemispheres, and you can try some physics demonstrations at this unique spot.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- 1914 Original trolley city tour of Quito historic center
- Visit Basilica del Voto Nacional and climb to high domes
- Visit Panecillo viewpoint with Winged Virgin statue
- Visit Plaza de San Francisco and Plaza Grande
- Explore La Ronda neighborhood with artisan workshops
- Entrance to Middle of the World complex with physics experiences
Optional Activities
- Entrance to churches (not included)
- Lunch in Zona Rosa (not included)
Landmarks Basilica del Voto Nacional Panecillo Plaza de San Francisco Plaza Grande Quito Cathedral La Ronda neighborhood Middle of the World Monument - Day 4
Riobamba
Leave Quito and drive south along the Avenue of the Volcanoes, where the Andean landscape provides great photo opportunities throughout the morning. Make a stop at Cotopaxi National Park, then continue toward Riobamba where you'll stay overnight at a traditional hacienda in the region.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Excursion through the Avenue of the Volcanoes
- Brief stop at Cotopaxi National Park area
Landmarks Cotopaxi Volcano Quilotoa Volcano Quilotoa Lagoon - Day 5
Ingapirca Ruins - Cuenca
Head to Alausí train station and board a train for about 2 hours as it travels to Devil's Nose, an engineering marvel cut into the mountainside. After the train ride, you'll visit Ingapirca Inca Ruins, the largest Inca archaeological complex in Ecuador dating from the XV and XVI centuries. Then it's on by road to Cuenca for your overnight stay.
Included Activities
- Train ride to Devil's Nose (approximately 2 hours)
Optional Activities
- Ticket to Ingapirca Inca Ruins complex (not included)
Landmarks Devil's Nose Ingapirca Ruins - Day 6
Cuenca City Tour
Tour Cuenca starting with Calderon Park, then see the New and Old Cathedrals and check out the Flower Market. The Modern Arts Museum is next on your list. After that, head to the Homero Ortega Panama Hat factory where you'll watch the entire manufacturing process from start to finish. Stop at the broken bridge, then go to the Turi tourist balcony for views across the whole city. You'll have the rest of the day free to relax or explore on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- City tour Cuenca visiting Calderon Park
- Visit New and Old Cathedrals
- Visit Flower Market
- Visit Modern Arts Museum
- Tour Homero Ortega Panama Hat factory with manufacturing process observation
- Visit broken bridge and Turi tourist balcony viewpoint
Landmarks Calderon Park Cuenca Cathedral - New Cuenca Cathedral - Old Flower Market Modern Arts Museum Homero Ortega Panama Hat Factory Turi Viewpoint 
- Day 7
Guayaquil
Drive from Cuenca to Cajas National Park, known for its glacial lakes and high mountain vegetation. You'll walk through the area to see some of the lakes and primary forest, then visit 3 Cruces, which marks where the continental water divide happens. After exploring this unique location, the road drops dramatically toward the coast. As you descend, you'll watch the landscape shift from Andean mountains to tropical vegetation with banana and cocoa plantations, arriving in Guayaquil by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walking tour through Cajas National Park to see glacial lakes and primary forest
- Visit 3 Cruces continental water division
Landmarks Cajas National Park Three Cruces - Day 8
Guayaquil to Airport
After breakfast at your hotel, you'll transfer to Guayaquil airport for your departure flight.
- End point
- Aeropuerto Internacional José Joaquín de Olmedo - Guayaquil, Avenida de las Américas, Guayaquil, Guayas, Ecuador (Transfer Hotel / Airport.)
- Meals
- Breakfast
