Itinerary:
Day 01: Old town Quito
Arrival in the morning in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, which is situated on 2.850 m height. We pick you up from the airport and bring you to the Swissotel, which is in a central and nice location. In the afternoon you visit the colonial old part of Quito, which was declared by the UNESCO as a world heritage site in 1978. In the evening in the hotel the details of the journey will be discussed accompanied with a welcome cocktail. -/-/-
Day 02: Rain forest excursion
A fascinating travel through the eastern Andean chain and over the Papallacta pass brings you down into the Oriente to Ahuano. At noon you arrive at the Jungle Lodge La Casa del Suizo. In the afternoon it goes to a nearby Indian village, where you become acquainted with the culture and way of life of the Indians. After dinner you undertake a night hike through virgin rain forest, in order to investigate the nightlife there. B/L/D
Day 03: Rain forest excursion
After breakfast you undertake a boat trip on the Rio Napo. Downstream we visit a natural history museum and a breeding station for animals. There you will you get an impression of the life in the region. For lunch we sit at a sand bank of the river. There you have the opportunity to take a refreshing jump in the water before we go back to the Lodge. B/L/D
Day 04: Rain forest excursion
On a hike through the lush green jungle you will become better familiar with the flora and fauna of the Amazon. Your native nature guide will make you enthusiastic about the uniqueness of the jungle and will explain the useful and medical plants as well as their effect. In the evening you return to the Lodge. B/L/D
Day 05: Hot springs Baños - Riobamba
We drive through Puyo, which is at the border to the jungle and then west towards Baños. On dusty roads it goes through the valley of the Rio Pastaza, which has many waterfalls. Once arrived in Baños you can relax in the hot springs of the Tungurahua volcano. In the late afternoon we continue to Riobamba, where we stay overnight in the Hostería Abraspungu. B/L/-
Day 06: Train ride and Inca Ruins
After breakfast we go to the station in Riobamba, where a breathtaking course awaits us. You drive through the beautiful high country to Chanchan. The view of the mountain giant Chimborazo (6,310 m) will remain an unforgettable memory. You continue your journey to Cuenca and to the famous ruins of Ingapirca. On a round trip you admire the most important and the best-preserved Inca ruins of Ecuador as well as the exhibits in the affiliating museum. In Cuenca you stay overnight in the comfortable Mansion Alcazar. B/L/-
Day 07: Culture city Cuenca
You will do a sightseeing tour through the colonial part of Cuenca with its beautiful churches, handicraft stalls and the well-known flower market. Cuenca is the culture metropolis and the arts and crafts centre of Ecuador. Its cozy atmosphere is underlined by the many cobbled stone pavements and the many noble façades with the stilted balustrades and wrought-iron balconies. In Cuenca ceramics, embroidery, leather goods and baskets are manufactured. Overnight accommodation in the Mansion Alcazar, which is also built in the beautiful colonial style. B/L/-
Day 08: Cajas National Park - Quito
From Cuenca we drive to the Cajas national park, which is located, more west. In the park are about 200 lagoons, which are the remains of the last ice age. Small rivers, whose crystal-clear waters flow into the Pacific, connect the lakes. After a short hike through the highland of the country we return to Cuenca in the afternoon. From there you fly over the Avenida de los Volcanoes to Quito. If the weather is clear you can see the enormous snow-covered volcanoes, which stand out from the green paramo vegetation. Transfer to the Swissotel. B/L/-
Day 09: Cayambe - Otavalo - Hacienda Pinsaqui
Your travel leads you onto the Pan-American Highway further north and you will visit the small village Calderon with its fantastic baked goods. Now it goes through the Guayllabamba valley to the small town Cayambe at the foot of the majestic volcano Cayambe (5,790 m). Further on your journey you go to the pictorial Hacienda Pinsaqui, where you become more familiar with the environment by doing a short hike. In the Hacienda you will eat in the evening and stay overnight. B/L/D
Day 10: Indio market in Otavalo
Today we go to the colourful Indio market of Otavalo, where you can admire impressive arts and crafts of the Indigenes. You visit the crater lagoon Cuicocha in the afternoon, from where you have a breathtaking view of the typical highland vegetation. After that you will visit Cotacachi, a small place, which is famous for its leatherwork. In the evening we arrive at the Hacienda Pinsaqui, where you stay overnight at the foot of the volcano Imbabura. B/L/D
Day 11: El Angel Nature Reserve - Quito
You continue your journey on the Pan-American by the valley 'Valle del Chota', before you arrive at the protected area 'Reserva Ecologica El Angel'. There are many lagoons and the landscape of the wet forest is the homeland of the meter-high, endemic giant plants Frailejones Gigantes, which covers large surfaces of the area. After a small hike through this unique landscape we turn back to Quito in the afternoon. Overnight accommodation in the Swissotel. B/L/-
Day 12: Cotopaxi National Park
Towards the south, past the Limpiopungo lagoon is the way to the Cotopaxi national park. During a small hike you have a spectacular view over the gigantic volcanic cone of the Cotopaxi. In the afternoon the journey goes over the Pan-American to the 400 year old Hacienda La Cienega, which is surrounded with age-old trees and has a beautiful flower garden. In this nostalgic atmosphere you will eat at lunchtime before going in the afternoon on the road of the volcanoes to Quito. Overnight accommodation in the Swissotel. B/L/-
Day 13: Mitad del Mundo
After breakfast you drive to the centre of the world, where the earth is divided into the northern and southern hemisphere. From the Equator proceeds the Mitad del Mundo. After a visit of the interesting natural history museum at the equator we visit the enormous extinct volcano Pululahua that is about 4 kilometres west of the monument. The kettle shaped crater has a diameter of approx. 4,5 kilometres and it was declared as a protected area in 1978 - an outstanding place for butterfly and hummingbird observation and also with an interesting and original plant world. After that we go back to Quito. Overnight accommodation in the Swissotel. B/L/-
Day 14: Quito - Transfer out
While going for a last walk through Quito, you can remember all the impressions you've collected, before going back home. Transfer to the airport and return flight! B/-/-
Extension possibility Galapagos cruise 5 or 8 day
B= breakfast; L= Lunch; D= Dinner
Prices 2008:
USD 2.478.- per person
Single room Accommodation: USD 630.-
Minimum 2 People.
In the price included:
All transfers, transport, visit and accommodation according to the programme, domestic flight (Cuenca-Quito), all meals as mentioned above B=Breakfast / L=Lunch / D=Dinner, National Park entrance fees, English speaking guide, native guide in the rainforest, rubber boots, rain poncho, tents and lodging according to the program, Train ticket
Not included in the price:
International flights, single accommodation (additional USD 590.- per person), alcoholic beverages, tips, personal items and travel insurance, International flight airport tax (USD 41.- per person).
If you need any additional information please write us:
Andes-Amazonas & Galapagos Tour - Avenida de los Volcanes
The old Haciendas in the Andes - Travelling through the Andean
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South America 
