8-Day Ecuador Classic Tour with Quito, Baños, Cuenca and Otavalo

Transfer in from your international flight to Quito. Once you arrive in Ecuador, our guide will meet you at the airport and take you to your chosen hotel for an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Ibis Hotel *** Stars or similar

Meals: Not included

Early in the morning, we will start our city tour at Panecillo viewpoint to admire Quito's wonders from above. Then we will walk for two hours through the highlights of the old city, visiting San Francisco Church, Compañia de Jesús Church, and Sagrario Church, located on "Calle de la Siete Cruces" or Garcia Moreno Street. We will also visit the Presidential Palace lobby at Quito's main square.

Finally, we will visit the first Gothic church of Ecuador, Basílica del Voto Nacional, considered the highest church in the city. This is another beautiful viewpoint from which to observe "The Avenue of the Volcanoes." Then, we will drive to the Equator Site to visit the famous Inti Ñan Museum (The Trail of the Sun), where we can learn more about the equatorial line and step right in the middle of the world. After that, we will go for lunch in a typical restaurant.

Finally, we will return to the hotel for an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Ibis Hotel *** Stars or similar

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, we will drive to Imbabura Province, stopping a few times along the way for pictures. We will continue to Otavalo Indian Market, where you will have time to browse local crafts such as blankets, sweaters, shirts, and wall hangings made from lama and alpaca wool. You will also have time to explore the fruit and vegetable market and walk through this lovely and scenic town.

After visiting the market, we will stop in Cotacachi town, known as "the Leather Town," where we can have lunch in one of the typical restaurants. Finally, we will visit Cuicocha Crater Lake, and later we will drive back to Quito for an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Ibis Hotel *** Stars or similar

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, we will drive towards Cotopaxi National Park, which covers 99,000 acres and has many trails, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, and, of course, its volcano, which will captivate you with its majesty and beauty. In the area of Limpiopungo Lagoon, at 12,700 feet, you will find an enormous diversity of flora and fauna. It is also possible to hike around the lagoon's shore, where native birds of the Andes are plentiful.

Then, we will drive higher up to the Cotopaxi Staging Area, at 14,850 feet. In the staging area, it is often possible to admire a condor in flight. From this point, it is possible to climb to the base camp.

Finally, we will arrive at the hotel for an overnight stay in Baños.

Accommodation: Floresta Hotel *** Stars or similar

Meals: Breakfast

This morning, we will take the mountain bikes and pedal down the Avenue of the Waterfalls. On the way, it is possible to cross the river canyon by zip line or take the cable car to admire the scenery. We will continue to Rio Verde village, where the most beautiful waterfall is located, Pailon Del Diablo. The water for this waterfall flows from Llanganates National Park.

On this day, it is possible to combine the excursion with other activities such as water rafting, canyoning, hiking, or a motor tour, because the waterfalls can be seen after the other activities on the way back to the hotel.

Accommodation: Floresta Hotel *** Stars or similar

Meals: Breakfast

Early in the morning, we will depart from Baños City towards Chimborazo Volcano. This part of the tour will be run with public transportation, and it will take approximately 3 hours to get there. It will be the highest altitude that you will experience on the entire trip, and perhaps the highest elevation you have ever reached before, at 5,000 meters above sea level. This location is very high, but it is fine for you to experience the altitude a little bit.

At the park, we will arrive at the first base camp located at 4,700 meters. From there, we will start the hike up to the highest point, well known as Whymper Refuge. From above, you will enjoy great Andean views. Then, we will continue our transportation towards Alausi City for an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Noris Hotel *** Stars or similar

Meals: Breakfast

In the morning, we will visit Cuenca City, declared a Cultural Heritage Site in 1999 by UNESCO. The most representative sites in Cuenca are Calderon Park (Central Square), the Modern and Old Cathedrals, the Flower Market, and Larga Street with its colonial houses, all of which are unforgettable. We will also visit the Tomebamba River and the Broken Bridge, which are famous landmarks.

Of course, an attraction impossible to skip is the Ethnographic Museum (Museo de las Culturas Aborigenes). The Ethnographic Museum is a must-see because of its unique art collection nationwide.

We will then start our journey towards Guayaquil City. On the way, we will stop at some beautiful viewpoints to admire the Andes and the coastal regions.

Accommodation: Grand Hotel **** Stars or similar

Meals: Breakfast

Transfer out for your international flight back home. Our guide will drive you to Guayaquil's International Airport for your flight home.

Accommodation: N/A

Meals: Breakfast