Between colonial heritage and indigenous heart
9 days / 8 nights
ARRIVAL AT THE CAYAMBE MILL
Day 1
Land at Tababela International Airport, to the east of the capital, where your driver will be waiting to take you to the hotel. You will stay at a farm whose mill has been restored to house visitors.
OBSERVATION OF THE MILKING OF COWS AND VISIT OF THE OTAVALO ARTISAN MARKET
Day 2
You will start the day milking the cows and then you will enjoy the roses from a plantation in the area. You will continue your day with the Otavalo market, one of the most important in South America. The perfect place to buy souvenirs! You will admire the sacred waterfall of Peguche, and finally you will reach the community of San Clémente. You will share an exceptional moment with a family who will share with you their worldview and their way of life.
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Day 3
DISCOVERY OF THE SAN CLÉMENTE COMMUNITY AND WALK IN NATURE
You will travel through the community and witness the various ecotourism projects established by the inhabitants. You will have lunch in the community. Then you will take the road to Cubilche, an important site in the local worldview, accompanied by a native guide, for a beautiful walk in the middle of nature.
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Day 4
VISIT OF AN ARTISANAL CULTURAL CENTER AND LAGUNA CUICOCHA
In the morning, you will leave the community to travel to the picturesque town of Cotacachi, known for its artisans who work leather. You will go to a cultural center that brings together authentic artisans, creators of traditional products such as baskets and totora rugs, or the beautiful jewelry worn by indigenous women of the region. You will explore Lake Cuicocha and its two islets located in the Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve.
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DISCOVERY OF THE LAGOONS OF MOJANDA AND MIDDLE OF THE WORLD
Day 5
In the morning, you will walk on the shores of the Lagunas de Mojanda, surrounded by impressive landscapes. With a little luck you will be able to observe condors flying over the area. Then you will take the road to the capital of Ecuador, passing through the Middle of the World. Don't leave without taking a photo with one foot in each hemisphere! You will sleep in a nice hotel in the heart of the historic center of Quito.
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ASCENT TO THE CABLE CAR AND CROSSING THE HISTORICAL CENTER OF QUITO
Day 6
You will breathe deeply as you ascend the Rucu Pichincha volcano by cable car. You will arrive at Cruz Loma at about 4000 m of altitude, then you can walk to the viewpoint where there is a swing from where you will take advantage of a view over the city. During the afternoon, you will walk through the cobbled alleys of the largest and best preserved historic center in Latin America. You will start first at the Plaza de la Independencia surrounded by the most beautiful churches and convents in the city. You will be able to appreciate, among others, La CompañÃa de Jesús, built in 1605 whose interior is covered with gold as well as the Plaza San Francisco, paved with volcanic stones, its church and its convent with the decoration mixed between native and Catholic icons. You will contemplate the city from the viewpoint of Panecillo that dominates the center at 3000 m high.
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Day 7
WALK IN THE COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK
You will take "the avenue of the volcanoes" to reach the Cotopaxi National Park where one of the highest active volcanoes in the world rises. You must hire a local guide directly at the entrance of the national park (reference price: 40 USD). You will see the interpretation center and the Limpiopungo lake, then you will go up by car to the parking lot located at a height of 4,500 m from where you will enjoy an exceptional view of the surrounding nature. If you have energy and the altitude does not affect you, you can go up to the José Rivas refuge at about 300 m higher. Then you will have free time to enjoy your lodge at the foot of the volcano and the surrounding nature.
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Day 8
DESCENT TO THE QUILOTOA VOLCANO
You will continue your journey to Quilotoa, a volcano that has a magnificent lake inside, which changes from green to turquoise blue as the sun. You can go down to the shore of the lake and go back up on foot or by mule. Then you will return to Quito to spend the night there.
Day 9
TRANSFER TO QUITO AIRPORT
Depending on the schedule of your return flight, you will have free time to enjoy the historic center of Quito, do your last shopping, stroll through the alleys or eat one last typical dish. Your driver will pick you up from your hotel to take you to the airport 3 hours before your international flight.