10 - DAY THE WONDROUS ECUADOR

Day by Day

• Day 1 Arrive to Quito, Casa Gangotena Hotel

Welcome to Quito! The largest, best-preserved colonial city of America declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. Depending on arrival time, you can spend your day exploring the old town of Quito and the surrounding area. ADVENTURE JOURNEYS can help you to organize a day trip (please request in advance).

• Day 2 Otavalo Market, Hacienda Cusin

We take an early departure from Quito and drive north through the majestic Andes. On our way we will stop at a viewpoint to admire Imbabura Volcano and Lake San Pablo. Once in Otavalo, you will have plenty of time to stroll along the narrow cobblestone streets, filled with the Otavalo Indigenous people wearing the traditional blue ponchos, white trousers and long braided hair. Learn all about their daily activities, typical food and native language.

• Day 3 Hummingbirds Sanctuary – Amazon Rainforest, Hamadryade Lodge

Early in the morning, we will drive down along a curvy panoramic road towards the Amazon Rainforest; as we descend from an altitude of 3000 m to 500 m (9843 ft to 1640 ft), you will observe how the landscape and vegetation change drastically between climates.

• Day 4 Amazon Hike and Kichwa Community – Amazon Rainforest, Hamadryade Lodge

In the morning, we will hike to explore the Tropical RainForest and have an interpretation from our guide and learn about medicinal plants and we will search for wildlife. Later, we will enjoy a cultural activity where an Amazonian Kichwa community will receive us and we learn about their way of life and the interaction they have with the forest.

• Day 5 The Road of Waterfalls – Baños, Samari Spa Resort

After breakfast, we will reach Rio Verde, located in the UNESCO World Heritage site, Sangay National Park. Here, we will hike down to the second highest waterfall in Ecuador, the Pailon Del Diablo, where pounding water cascades on the rocks and mesmerizes you as you watch from a suspension bridge.

• Day 6 Tree House/ Free Afternoon, Samari Spa Resort

In the morning we will visit The Swing of the End of the World, where the winner of the 2014 National Geographic photo contest took his photo, you will have some time to take the amazing picture with the stunning landscape in the front.

• Day 7 Chimborazo Volcano – Chimborazo, Hosteria La Andaluza

Early in the morning, we will drive through valleys and farming villages to reach the Chimborazo Volcano, the highest mountain in Ecuador with an elevation of 6310 m (20702 ft) above sea level; whose summit is also the furthest point from the center of the earth on the entire planet. On a clear day, the majestic peak of Chimborazo dominates the view for many kilometers.

• Day 8 Devil’s Nose Train/ Inca Ruins – Cuenca, Santa Lucia Hotel

We will take a scenic drive to the small town of Alausí. Here, we will board the train to the Devil’s Nose, where the tracks wind through the countryside in a zigzag formation, creating a travel experience like no other.

• Day 9 Cuenca UNESCO City/ Gualaceo y Chordeleg – Cuenca, Santa Lucia Hotel

Starting in the morning enjoy a fantastic city tour, visiting the most important buildings and notable places in Cuenca, such as Calderon Square, the New Cathedral, El Barranco and El Turi lookout point. In the afternoon visit a famous Panama hat factory where we will understand the whole process of making this traditional Ecuadorian hat.

• Day 10 Free Morning in Cuenca/ Flight Back to Quito – Departure

You will have this free morning and enjoy the charming city of Cuenca and its surroundings. In the afternoon you will take a short 45-minute domestic flight back to Quito, where you will connect with your international flight. Today our trip will end. Take with you your memories and photos and leave a piece of your heart, as you will want to return to Ecuador soon to experience more of this enchanted land. We wish you a “buen viaje”!