Ecuador Andean Experience

Meals included:

Our first stop will be in Cayambe where we will taste the town’s famous bizcochos, traditional biscuits cooked over an open fire. From there we head toward Otavalo whilst admiring the beautiful landscape of San Pablo Lake. Once in Otavalo, you will discover the most famous indigenous artisanal market in Ecuador. You will have free time to explore and purchase local handicrafts, and your guide will explain the local indigenous culture. We will continue to the town of Cotacachi, which is famous for its leather market, then onward to the beautiful Cuicocha lagoon.

Meals included:

Ever growing in popularity and understandably so, Quilotoa is a must-see when visiting Ecuador. This volcanic crater is filled with crystal-blue water and holds a special place in local indigenous mythology for being bottomless. Along the drive to reach the crater you will pass by local markets in Saquisili (Thursdays) or Pujilí (Sundays) where you will gain an appreciation for the indigenous way of life. You’ll also pass through the canyon of Zumbahua which makes for a great photo opportunity and near there you will visit an indigenous family. When you reach Quilotoa, you can walk down from the rim to the water’s edge and appreciate its beauty up close for yourself. The hike back up is fairly steep, and you have the option to walk up or ride a mule up for a few extra dollars.

Meals included:

Your horseback riding tour begins by being matched with an appropriate horse for your skills and experience. Following this, your guide will give you instructions on how to control the horse and you will have time to get to know your horse in a safe enclosed area before you embark on your journey. All of our horses are well cared for and are trained for this type of riding so they are ideal for riders with little experience or experts.

During the tour, you will have amazing views of the Valley of the Volcanos as it is known. The trail begins along a cobblestone road where you will pass the local rose farms and head towards the pastoral lands. Along the way, you will gain a feel for the local agricultural life against the backdrop of snow-capped volcanos.

Meals included:

As one of the highest active snow-capped volcanoes in the world at 5,897 m (19,347 ft), Cotpaxi’s symmetric cone rises from a vast plain that is home to llamas, condors, and herds of wild horses. Cotopaxi National Park tour is an exciting day that begins with spectacular views of the unique Andean landscape in the “Avenue of the Volcanoes”. Inside the national park, we hike up to the refuge, which is situated at 4,810 m (15,780 ft) on the Cotopaxi snowline.

Depending on conditions we will then hike up to 5,000m (16,404 ft) where it can be possible to see the glacier. This tour goes to a height of 4,810m-5000m (15,780-16,404 ft), so you must be prepared for this kind of altitude. We recommend acclimatizing at least two days prior around 3,000m (9,842 ft).

Meals included:

In the morning, we will begin the journey by bike down the road to Puyo. During the tour, we will see the Agoyan Hydroelectric Dam and we will bike through tunnels. We will continue on the path and arrive at Ecuador’s longest cable car. En route, we will see the waterfalls of Agoyan, Manto de la Novia, and San Jorge, and at the end, we will walk to the Pailón del Diablo waterfall. We will return by car.

We will continue the adventure with waterfall rappelling in the afternoon. You will be provided with the necessary equipment (wetsuit, waterproof jacket, helmet, harness with tools) and you will receive safety instructions. You do not need any experience or a certain physical condition. We will walk to the waterfall (a 10-minute walk) and begin rappelling at the Chamana waterfall. We will rappel 3 waterfalls, which are 15m (49 ft), 10m (32 ft), and 45m (147 ft) in height respectively. Afterward, we will return to the city of Baños.

Overnight in Baños

Beautiful waterfalls and lush forests surround the tranquil town of Baños. It is known as the ‘Gateway to the Amazon’ as it is located on the Pastaza River in the High Amazon Basin. Also, a major religious center with Catholic believers said that the Virgin Mary appeared near the waterfalls to protect the city from natural disasters. This is because the city is overshadowed by the highly active Tungurahua volcano. During your day in Baños, you begin by visiting the magical waterfalls of Pailón del Diablo and you will use a cable car across a ravine to see Manto de la Novia up close in person.

Alausí is a small charming town in the south of the Ecuadorian Andes. It is from here that you begin your journey on the Nariz del Diablo (Devil’s Nose) train which has been named the ´most difficult railway in the world due to the zigzagging track along the side of a steep mountain to descend to the town of Sibambe, at the bottom of the valley. Here you will be greeted by indigenous people and have the chance to learn about their customs and traditions as well as the history of the railway which used to be the only section of the railway that connected coastal Ecuador to the highlands.

The most impressive and important pre-Columbian ruins in Ecuador are the Ingapirca ruins, meaning ‘Inca stone wall’. At the complex, you will find stone foundations structured in the famous Incan style without the use of mortar. The Temple of the Sun, also known as The Castle, is well-preserved and serves as the main highlight. Without a doubt, you will be impressed by the Inca´s architectural skills and abilities. You will also learn about the spiritual and cultural history of one of the world’s most powerful and successful empires.

The tour begins with a visit to the city’s historic center: San Sebastian, a picturesque and traditional neighborhood of Cuenca, houses the Modern Art Museum, where the famous International Biennial of Painting takes place permanently. Also, you will visit Calderon Park (Central Park), the Flower Plaza, and the Church “del Carmen”. The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, better known as the “New Cathedral”, is considered to be one of the biggest churches in Latin America. The Cathedral “El Sagrario” was the city’s first cathedral and is therefore commonly known as the “Old Cathedral”. Afterward, you will visit a Panama Hat Factory, where you will observe its elaboration process. Continuing the tour, you will visit the “Barranco”, a communion that builds their houses by integrating them into the natural environment, meaning that they are attached to the incline, displaying their majesty and charm. We finish the tour at the “Mirador de Turi”, a scenic viewpoint to see the landscape of a valley full of red roofs and church domes framed by imposing mountains.

You can add an optional day. You can either fly back to Quito or go for a trip to the Cajas National Park with a transfer to Guayaquil (not included).

Option 1: Flight Cuenca – Quito

Option 2: Cajas National Park and transfer to Guayaquil

With a dramatic rolling landscape and jagged rocks, Cajas National Park is a unique and impressive area. The park lies on the continental divide so rivers run to both the Amazon in the east and the Pacific Ocean in the west. It’s the perfect place for a hike with 232 lakes and a range of fauna including spectacled bears, pumas, hummingbirds, and condors.

After your tour to Cajas National Park, you will have a transfer to Guayaquil.

• All Gulliver cars come with advanced satellite tracking devices to control position and speed, or for extra safety in an unlikely case of an accident. Every car has full insurance. We always make sure to fulfill the highest security and safety standards for all our clients.

• You must have current travel insurance including personal medical insurance. Please inform us of any known medical conditions you have.

• We put all our effort into organizing the tour, therefore cancellations require a minimum of 24 hours notice. A 50% refund will be given back. Cancellations will not be refunded with a shorter time notice.

• Please note tips for our guides are not included in the price.