Find the many secrets of Ecuador with luxury. Enjoy hiking in the Andes, admiring powerful waterfalls exploring off-the-beaten-path trails with outstanding views of beautiful volcanoes in the Andes. Share time with the locals in the unique Otavalo Market and learn about their ancestral traditions. And at the same time, enjoy the best comfort by staying in charming luxury haciendas.
10 Days / 9 Nights
Day by Day
- Day 1 Arrive to Quito, Illa Experience 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 City tour – Chocolate Guayasamin Museum Tasting wine, Illa Experience Hotel
We explore the many beauties of Quito. We visit the churches and architectural wonders. Admire these historical landmarks and get lost in their beauty. Then, you will go to Pacari House of Experiences, where internationally famous chocolate is made. The day’s final stop is Guayasamin’s home, where one of the most astonishing artists in Ecuador lived.
- Day 3 Quito – La Compañía showroom – Sacha Warmi, La Mirage Garden Hotel & Spa
After breakfast, we will head north. Hacienda la Compania is a beautiful treasure in the countryside of Cayambe. You will get to know its cuisine, history, and natural wonders. Then, we will head to the Sacha Warmikuna project, a wonderful self-sustained project led by the women of the Pijal community. Finally, we’ll go to Cotacachi to spend the night at La Mirage Garden Hotel.
- Day 4 Otavalo – Zuleta, Hacienda Zuleta
After breakfast at La Mirage, we will go to Otavalo, the reknown indigenous town. There, you will get to see the Indigenous Market and appreciate and exchange goods. See its beautiful textiles, native paintings, ceramics, jewelry, tapestries, and more at bargain prices. And we will end the day and spend the night at Hacienda Zuleta, located in the Ancochagua parish in Zuleta.
- Day 5 Zuleta, Hacienda Zuleta
Today, you will spend the day in Zuleta, an outstanding 17th-century hacienda. It belonged to the former Ecuadorian President Galo Plaza Lasso. It is a homely and hospitable hacienda with ties to the local community, and you will get to explore it and find its many surprises. Then, we’ll go to Condor Huasi Condor Refuge, where you can learn about endangered species. And you’ll be able to enjoy the Andean specialties.
- Day 6 Zuleta – Anakonda Cruise, Anakonda Cruise
Today, we go back to Quito for a flight to El Coca City in the Amazonia. Then, we’ll board the Anakonda Amazon Cruise. You will get an introduction to the Ecuadorian Amazon, and then we’ll be set to sail through the Napo River. You’ll spend the night comfortably on the cruise while lulled by the sounds of nature.
- Day 7 Anakonda Cruise, Anakonda Cruise
Today, we will visit Pañayacu River and Pañacocha, which in kichwa means “piranha lagoon”. This is the perfect habitat for different species, such as the piranhas that name the lagoon, white caimans, and many others. You can also contemplate the fauna of the surrounding forest in a walk with our guides. Later, you can enjoy kayaking and swimming freely after an Amazonian-style BBQ at the community camp.
- Day 8 Anakonda Cruise, Anakonda Cruise
We take motorized canoes in the morning to witness a wonderful natural spectacle. The parrot lick is where colorful parrots, parakeets, and macaws gather. In the afternoon, visit a Kichwa women’s community to learn about their culture, traditions, and cuisine. Support the community by purchasing crafts and local products. And finally, you’ll get to be part of the Charapas turtle conservation program.
- Day 9 Anakonda Cruise – Quito, Eurobuilding Hotel
Our adventure concludes with a return trip to Puerto Providencia. We disembark the Anakonda Amazon Cruise and take a motorized canoe to El Coca. From there, catch a flight to Quito and transfer to the Eurobuilding Hotel for an overnight stay.
- Day 10 Free Morning in Quito – Departure
Your journey concludes today with international departures. Carry your memories and photos, leaving a piece of your heart in this enchanted land. We wish you a “buen viaje” before you board your private transfer to the airport.
