5-Day Cultural Tour of Quito and Imbabura with Otavalo and Cuicocha

• Welcome to Quito, the capital of Ecuador!
• Arrive at Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO). At 2,850 meters (9,350 ft) above sea level, Ecuador's dramatic capital city is the second highest in the world after Bolivia's La Paz. Built on the ashes of the northern Inca capital following the 1533 Spanish conquest, Quito is nestled in a valley surrounded by majestic Andean peaks, among them the restless Volcán Pichincha. The entire city of Quito is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, standing at an altitude of 9,350 feet (2,850 m). It welcomes visitors with its picturesque plazas situated between mountain peaks. The city has an abundance of market stands, shamanistic healers, fourth-generation hat makers, and a vibrant and sophisticated culinary and nightlife scene.
• Your private driver will meet you for an approximately 45-minute transfer to your accommodation in the city center.

Meals included: -

• Today, after a fantastic breakfast, you will take part in one of the incredible activities provided at the lodge.
• You can choose a tour of a rose plantation, where you can experience the process Ecuadorian flowers go through before they are exported. Ecuadorian flowers are known for being beautiful and colorful, and during this experience, you will receive a surprise gift.
• Alternatively, you can choose to join a cooking class, immersing yourself in the flavors of Ecuadorian local dishes. In this class, you will have the assistance of an expert who will guide you through the activity, and of course, you will try your delicious creation.
• Your guide will pick you up in Otavalo. Otavalo features one of the most important traditional markets in South America. Here, the indigenous people of the surrounding areas gather to trade everything from animals and handicrafts to fresh vegetables and fruits.
• Take a stroll through the streets and perhaps try some of the local street food, such as salted mango or fritada con mote - fried pork with cooked corn.

Meals included: Breakfast

• Be ready early in the morning; your pick-up time will be at 09:00 from your hotel lobby.
• On this tour, you will visit 4 indigenous communities, where you will be able to observe the manufacture of different handicrafts.
• Among these, the manufacture of totora reed mats along Imbakucha Lake (San Pablo), Andean musical instruments, and the processing of wool used to make scarves and clothing are especially notable.
• The tour also includes a visit to Peguche waterfall, a sacred place, as well as a visit to the town of Cotacachi, famous for its leather products.
• Finally, you will visit the spectacular Cuicocha Lagoon, where you will discover the amazing legends that surround this ancestral place.

Meals included: Breakfast

• Your morning will begin with departure from your hotel in private transportation to an indigenous community.
• There, you will embark on a 3-hour horseback ride through a native forest to visit indigenous communities, where you will observe the daily life of indigenous families.
• After completing this activity, you will continue with a purification rite. The communities have the tradition of performing this rite once a year, on the summer solstice on June 22nd at midnight. However, the Yachak "shaman" will give an explanation and demonstration of the ritual, which consists of changing negative energy into positive energy to improve the quality of life of the person who performs it.
• You will then return to Quito to spend the night.

Meals included: Breakfast

• Upon arrival at the airport, you will connect with your international flight.
• This will allow you to return home with some everlasting memories.
• See you next time!

Meals included: Breakfast