Ecuadorian
Roots
9 Days / 8 Nights
Andean
Cultures, Volcanoes, Amazon and Incas
This package can be easily customized to include only the destinations
of your interest.
Day
1
Upon
arrival at the airport a host will meet and assist you in transferring
to the hotel and in registering.
Hotel - Alameda Real
Day
2
American
Breakfast at you hotel.
Ecuadorian Roots: Andean Cultures, Volcanoes, Amazon and Incas,
Seven Days - At about 8.00am our guide will pick you up from your
hotel to begin a day full of interesting opportunities of learning
the secrets of Ecuadorian folklore and furthermore be able to accomplish
purchases at very attractive prices. 15 Km. north of Quito is found
Carapungo, a small parish that keeps the tradition of honoring to
the deceased by manufacturing "guaguas de pan", those
are colorful dolls made of bread bulk that are used as decorations,
the smallest ones are beautiful on the Christmas three. The following
stop is Guayllabamba, the "green valley" where we will
taste the delicious Chirimoyas. We will cross the canyon of the
Rio Pisque where we will learn the geological formation of the Andes
to arrive at the monumental zone of Cochasqui where there are 15
mounds in the form of pyramids built with volcanic ash blocks. The
pyramids are of different sizes and some have an access ramp, furthermore
exists an ethnographic Museum to investigate the cultural roots
using the wisdom of the aboriginal and the nature of the sector.
Luncheon will be served at Chorlavi Estate. After lunch we visit
Caranqui where we can find the Museum of Atahualpa (last Inca) and
optionally an archaeological project in quarry. We also visit the
embroidery fair of Mariano Acosta and the woodcarving center of
San Antonio de Ibarra. Late afternoon departure to Peguche where
we will be guests of an Indian community, will be served a traditional
dinner while we enjoy a Folklorical show. Optional visit to the
Witch Doctor (Shaman) for a spiritual experience.
Lunch and dinner are included
Hotel - Hacienda Pinsaqui or Hosteria Chorlavi
Day 3
Breakfast at your hotel.
Otavalo Country - After an early breakfast we visit the animals
market, the crafts fair and the Institute Otavaleno of Anthropology
and the archaeological museum of the area. Lunch will be at an authentic
Ecuadorian Hacienda with plenty of time to enjoy the ambience and
beautiful gardens. Afternoon visit to Cotacachi where leather crafts
are made.
Lunch and dinner are included.Hotel Hacienda Pinsaqui or Hosteria
Chorlavi
Day 4
Breakfast at your hotel.
Equatorial Monument and La Cienega - Return towards Quito, pass
Cayambe to visit the Equatorial Line monument and its interesting
museum. The Equatorial Monument, which marks the spot where an 18th
century French scientific expedition, established the exact geodetic
position of the Equator. At 0 degrees latitude, you can have one
foot in both hemispheres at the same time. A visit the Ethnographic
Museum inside the monument, which shows the different Indian groups
living in Ecuador, is included. Besides the monument there is a
colonial style town with a main square, church, post office, bullring,
cafeterias, restaurants and gift shops.
Continue your trip south of Quito, along the beautiful Avenues of
the Volcanoes to arrive at Hacienda La Cienega.
Lunch and dinner are included.
Hotel - Hacienda La Cienega
Day 5
Breakfast at your hotel.
Cotopaxi Volcano National Park - Morning excursion through fields
of lava boulders, right to the base of Cotopaxi. From there look
almost directly up to the magnificence of its 19,700-foot peaks
and perhaps a condor of the Andes flying by. As a park it was only
recently set aside for an ecological sanctuary, which offers unusual
opportunities for nature lovers. You can observe the treeless vegetation
of the Andean moorlands or "paramo". You will see herds
of llamas, wild horses and perhaps deer, the Andean puma, rabbits,
frogs and lizards.
Afternoon scenery-packed descend into the heart of the Amazon to
the City of Banos.
Lunch and dinner are included.
Hotel - Sangay
Day
6
Breakfast at your hotel.
Banos Cloud Forest and Riobamba - We descend into El Puyo at the
heart of the Amazonian region, in the road we will visit the most
impressive and dazzling world of waterfalls, The Devil's Bowl in
the Pastaza River. We will visit the private ethno botanic reservation
where we will learn the plants of the Amazon, its medicinal qualities
and the inhabitants of the Jungle and its different life styles
according to the zone that they originate. We will be in a Shuar
house, in a Huaorani house.
The day ends in Riobamba; nestled in an amphitheater at the foot
of the Chimborazo - the highest of the Ecuadorian Andes - the setting
is magnificent.
Lunch and dinner are included.
Hotel - El Troje
Day
7
Breakfast at your hotel.
Ingapirca Inca Fortress en route to Cuenca - Very early morning
start over the Andean route for the long journey to the Valley of
the Inca Fortress of Ingapirca. Its origin shrouded in mystery --
is now accessible to tours. The secret it held or still holds, its
fort-like design, its uniquely design chambers, the strange bathtub
carvings in stone cliffs far from water, the natural or not-so-natural
stone face -- all are being studied and excavated by scientists.
Drive a beautiful route to Cuenca through Azogues, Biblian, Canar
and El Tambo. Late afternoon arrival at Cuenca, one of the most
beautiful cities of South America.
Lunch and dinner are included.
Hotel - El dorado
Day
8
Breakfast at your hotel.
Cuenca Scenic Tour - The city many Ecuadorians consider the most
beautiful. Neatly situated in a fertile valley called the "Flowery
Plain". The gentle Tomebamba River hops and skips through the
city's heart. Tall houses cling to its steep banks. And history
is alive. Once the capital of the Canari Tribe. See the huge Cuenca
cathedral of lovely marbles, facing across the plaza the small and
more colorful Indian cathedral; the La Merced Church and Convent;
and visit the Crespo Toral Museum. Today, Cuenca is the center of
the country's craft industry. Silversmith and ceramic workshops,
handicrafts of every nature, so bright with color, so skillful in
design.
Lunch en route.
Gualaceo Valley Tour and Chordeleg - Continue to discover the rich
beauty of southern Ecuador. Roam through the markets of Gualaceo,
straw Panama hats, a wealth of appealing folklore items, craft shops.
Also visit the craft and jewelry shops of Chordeleg, stroll through
its attractive central plaza and exceptional museum.
Transfer to the airport for departure.
Flight - Cuenca / Quito
Hotel - Alameda Real
Upon arrival at the airport transfer to the hotel.
Day 9
Breakfast at your hotel.Transfer to the airport.
***
End Of Our Services ***
Prices available
upon request.
The Ecuadorian
Roots package or a portion of it can be combined with any of the
Galapagos Islands Cruises and with Cuzco and Machu Picchu in Peru.
There is a large offer of cruises in the Galapagos Islands. Small,
mid-size and large boats; tourist, first class and deluxe boats;
three, four and seven night itineraries. Please call us so we can
suggest the best boat within each category that will meet your requirements.
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