Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Quito
You'll arrive in Quito and get picked up at the airport for the drive to your hotel in the city center. The Andean landscape comes into view as you approach, and once you're settled, you'll head to a cocktail class that focuses on local ingredients. During this session, you'll learn to make drinks like Naranjilla Sour, Guayaba Frozen, and Mojito de Rocoto from someone who knows the regional flavors well.
- Start point
- Aeropuerto Internacional Mariscal Sucre (UIO), Vía Tababela - Yaruquí Lote 18, Quito, Pichincha 1709, Ecuador (Airport Pick-Up)
Included Activities
- Cocktail class featuring local Andean ingredients
Landmarks Quito Airport 
- Day 2
Quito Historic City Center
This morning you're walking through Quito's historic center, which sits at 9,350 ft elevation and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The narrow streets and plazas take you past important churches, and you'll see La Compañía with its gold-covered interior. Later, stroll down La Ronda, one of the oldest streets in the city, then head up to Panecillo Hill where you get 360 degree views of everything around you. In the evening, join a cooking class at a restaurant in the historic center to prepare traditional Ecuadorian dishes like locro de papa and encocado de pescado.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Traditional Ecuadorian cooking class dinner)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Quito's historic city center
- Visit to La Compañía church
- Visit to Panecillo Hill
- Cooking class with traditional Ecuadorian dishes
Landmarks Quito Historic City Center La Compañía Church La Ronda Street Panecillo Hill - Day 3
Chaupi Estancia Vineyard to Papallacta
You'll visit Chaupi Estancia vineyard, which operates at 8,290 ft in the Andes, about 6.2 miles from the equator. Walk through the winemaking process from harvest through fermentation and see the oak barrels and cellar, then try their wines with paired snacks. After that, head to Papallacta, a small mountain town where thermal hot springs are the main attraction. Spend time soaking in the thermal baths, and if you want, add a massage to your afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Chaupi Estancia vineyard
- Wine tasting with paired snacks
- Relaxation in thermal baths in Papallacta
Optional Activities
- Massage at thermal baths
Landmarks Chaupi Estancia Vineyard Papallacta - Day 4
Antisana Reserve to Cotopaxi National Park
Early this morning you're heading into Antisana Reserve to check out Mica Lagoon at high altitude. Watch for field rabbits, white-tailed deer, dwarf deer, condors, and Andean gulls while you're there, and keep an eye out for endangered polylepis trees. Make your way up to the Condor Viewpoint where you can see Antisana volcano on clear days. Lunch is a multi-course picnic in this remote setting, then you'll travel south to Cotopaxi National Park and settle in at a hacienda for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Multi-course picnic lunch in Antisana Reserve)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Antisana Reserve
- Visit to Mica Lagoon
- Ascent to Condor Viewpoint
- Multi-course picnic lunch in Antisana Reserve
Landmarks Antisana Reserve Mica Lagoon Condor Viewpoint Antisana Volcano Cotopaxi National Park - Day 5
Cotopaxi National Park
Today you're in Cotopaxi National Park exploring one of the world's highest active volcanoes. Look for wild horses and Andean condors as you walk along Limpiopungo Lagoon while your guide talks through the high-altitude plants and animals. You have the option to hike up to Jose Rivas refuge at 4,800 meters for glacier views, or take a two-hour horseback ride through the park instead. Back at the hacienda, you'll learn to make cheese empanadas, traditional ají sauce using a stone mortar, and canelazo hot beverage. Then it's the drive back to Quito in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Exploration of Cotopaxi National Park
- Walk along Limpiopungo Lagoon
- Cooking class - cheese empanadas, ají sauce, and canelazo
Optional Activities
- Ascent to Jose Rivas refuge at 4,800 meters with glacier access
- Two-hour horseback ride through Cotopaxi National Park
Landmarks Cotopaxi National Park Cotopaxi Volcano Limpiopungo Lagoon Jose Rivas Refuge 
- Day 6
Pichincha Volcano and Departure
You're taking a cable car up Pichincha Volcano's eastern face, getting off at the top station at 13,124 ft (4,000 m). From there, you can see the cityscape and surrounding volcanoes on clear days, including Pichincha's two peaks, Guagua Pichincha and Rucu Pichincha. If you want to hike, there's an optional walk through the páramo high-altitude ecosystem on a marked trail where you can go as far as you'd like. Head back down via cable car, then your driver takes you to Quito Airport for your international flight.
- End point
- Aeropuerto Internacional Mariscal Sucre (UIO), Vía Tababela - Yaruquí Lote 18, Quito, Pichincha 1709, Ecuador (Airport Drop-Off)
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Cable car ascent to Pichincha Volcano summit station at 4,000 m
- Viewing of city and volcano vistas
- Optional páramo hiking on well-marked trail
- Cable car descent to Quito
Landmarks Pichincha Volcano Guagua Pichincha Peak Rucu Pichincha Peak
