Essential Ecuador Quito - Avenue of Volcanoes Tour (131021),Holiday Packages to Quito

Package Overview

This holiday is the perfect introduction to Ecuador - combining the old Inca capital of Quito in the Andes, with its stunning landscapes, with local culture as you travel through the Avenue of the Volcanoes & ride the train down Devil's Nose to the charming colonial city of Cuenca. Then travel via El Cajas National Park to the Caribbean port city of Guayaquil. English speaking guides & all transfers included.
HIGHLIGHTS
Quito
Centre of World Monument
Tungurahua Volcano
Route of the Cascases
Chimborazo Volcano
Riobamba
Devils Nose Train
Cuenca
El Cajas National Park
Guayaquil

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Day wise Itinerary

Day 1 : Arrive

You will be met at Quito Airport and transferred to your hotel in this historic Spanish colonial city that straddles the equator and is today a World Heritage Site.

Check in and relax in this capital city in the Andean Highlands, with its many museums, monasteries and churches with golden altars. The prosperous centre of the Kingdom of Quitus during the 13th century, and later the northern capital of the Inca Empire, it has a setting that few cities in the world can match.
Day 2 : Sightseeing

This morning we visit the equatorial monument that marks the Centre of the World at latitude 0º - about 16 miles (25 km) north of Quito. Here you can stand with a foot on each hemisphere and visit the Intiñan folk museum that showcases the different Native American groups living in Ecuador, their culture and traditions. There is also a colonial-style tourist village complete with main square, church, post office, bull ring and gift shops.

Afterwards enjoy a walking tour through the streets and main square of the historic Colonial Quarter, the largest and best preserved in South America. Take in its magnificent colonial architecture - including the Cathedral, President's Palace, Archbishop's Palace and the Municipal Building flanking Independence Plaza. You will see many mansions, monasteries and churches, and visit the Church & Convent of Santo Domingo. The city also has many cosmopolitan galleries and boutiques filled with contemporary paintings, sculptures and exquisite traditional crafts.

Please note: Quito walking tour is conducted at an altitude of 2,800 m and includes climbing stairs. As you will be visiting churches (except on Sundays, when this is not permitted), do not wear shorts or mini-skirts as these are not allowed
Day 3 : Quito

We depart from Quito this morning and head south through the magnificent Avenue of the Volcanoes, travelling 2.5-hours to Patate.

The Avenue of the Volcanoes is formed by two parallel chains of the Andes Mountains that travel the length of Ecuador, rising to dramatic peaks. Eight of the highest mountains in the country are found in this spectacular region, as well as several dramatic volcanoes. The snow-capped Cotopaxi Volcano dominates the landscape and on clear days offers a magnificent backdrop. It is an almost perfect cone rising to 19,347 ft (5,897 m), making it the highest active volcano in the world.

At the town of Sangolqui we stop to explore its traditional Andean market - full of animals, produce and people, and a great introduction to the Andean way of life. Here you can see llama and many rose plantations, as Ecuador exports roses throughout the world.

After an included lunch at a local restaurant we drive to Copapaxi National Park, travelling for 1-hour along a gravel road across the evergreen landscapes of the Andean páramo (high altitude moorlands above the tree line), which are patchworked with multi-coloured fields. At Limpiopungo Lagoon we observe a variety of bird life and occasionally wild horses, as well as participate in a short walk. On clear days the Cotopaxi Volcano offers a magnificent backdrop.

We then descend to the town of Patate, to spend the night at a 300-year old hacienda hidden in the mountains, where the afternoon mists descend. Check in for dinner and overnight.
Day 4 : Tungurahua Volcano

This morning we travel the spectacular route along the gorge of the Pastaza River to the town of Baños (meaning 'Baths'), situated at the foot of Tungurahua Volcano. This is the source of the hot thermal springs that give this town its name.

We drive along the Route of the Cascades to the Devil's Cauldron (El Pailón del Diablo), where you can appreciate the sound and force of this waterfall from a lookout point. If you are adventurous, you can descend to see the cascades up close, surrounded by tropical foliage and orchids. After an included lunch at a local hacienda, enjoy a short stroll in Baños, where the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Holy Water is a local pilgrimage site.

From here the route to Riobamba ascends through cloud-filled mountains and high paramo (alpine tundra), where vicuñas graze and scamper. The imposing Chimborazo Volcano, the highest mountain in Ecuador, is found here. On a clear day, seeing Chimborazo Volcano outlined against an amazing sunset is spectacular.

We continue to Riobamba, a small town surrounded by five volcanoes and known as the "Sultan of the Andes", where we check in for dinner and overnight.
Day 5 : Riobamba

This morning we depart early from Riobamba and travel 2-hours to the small town of Alausí.

Here we board a restored 100-year old train, in a tourism initiative designed to involve the local Indian communities. The highlight of this 2-hour ride is the thrilling 2,630 ft (800 m) descent of the Devil’s Nose, via a series of zigzag switchbacks cut into the rock. At the bottom is the newly renovated Sibambe Station, where we visit the local Puñuna Condor museum run by the Nizag community, with its display of local handcrafts, fruit and medicinal plants. The train whistle will call you back on board for the return journey to Alausí Station.

We continue driving 2.5-hours through stunning Andean landscapes, before reaching the Inca archaeological complex at Ingapirca - the best preserved pre-Colombian ruins in all of Ecuador. Built on a promontory high above the Cañar valley, this ancient Inca stone fortress has several trapezoidal doorways and stone walls that fit perfectly together, without the use of any mortar. A large elliptical platform, known as the Temple of the Sun, was once used for religious and astronomical purposes. You can view the barracks, the stone Inca Face and various carvings of gods with animal forms. There is also a small on-site museum.

After exploring the ruins, we continue to the beautiful colonial city of Cuenca.

Note: The train does not operate on a Monday.
Day 6 : Cuenca

Cuenca is the third largest city in Ecuador, yet retains a pleasant provincial air with its red-tiled roofs, cobblestone streets, flowery plazas and museums. The centre of the city is a World Heritage site.

This morning enjoy a half day private tour of this beautiful city, including the Plaza of San Sebastian - a colourful artisans’ market where handicrafts are sold, including Ecuador's famous Panama hats. We visit the Museum of Modern Art, originally a House of Temperance where alcoholics were imprisoned behind these thick walls in an effort to cure them.

Our next stop is at Plaza San Francisco, where small handcraft shops can be visited and the exquisitely embroidered skirts of the local Cholas Cuencanas can be purchased. We also visit the Flower Market, situated on a small plaza in front of the carved stone entrance to the church of El Carmen de la Asunción. From here it is a short stroll to the main square, surrounded by the imposing blue-domed Cathedral, the Court of Justice, the Municipal Palace, the Governor’s Palace and the Church of El Sagrario.

After visiting the multi-layered ruins at Todos Santos, your tour ends with a drive along the Tomebamba River to admire the city’s overhanging houses, with washing spread out to dry on the river banks, and the great views from Turi Hill. Your afternoon is at leisure to explore Cuenca independently.
Day 7 : Guayaquil

Today we travel 4-hours from Cuenca to the port city of Guayaquil, with boxed lunch included.

Along the way we stop at El Cajas National Park, a protected area starting at 10,000 ft (3,000 m) above sea level. This tranquil region, with its stunning landscapes, shows the remains of intense volcanic activity and glaciation. Although the wind and drizzle can make it very cold, the scenery surrounding these 235 lakes is splendid for walking and observing flora, fauna and bird life. The cold lakes are full of trout and the dwarf forests of quinoa trees (a high protein grain) are home to many species of birds, including hummingbirds and gray-breasted mountain toucan. The highest point is reached at Three Crosses watershed, from where rivers flow into either the Pacific or the Atlantic Ocean. A jacket and good walking shoes are essential today to explore this region.

We continue downhill to tropical Guayaquil on the Pacific Coast. Here the vibe is Caribbean, in marked contrast to the Andean region. Check into your hotel in this important port, that is the largest city in Ecuador.
Day 8 : Departure

Transfer to Guayaquil Airport for your flight home.

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Inclusions

Hotel
Sightseeing
Pickup-Drop

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Price & Rates

No of pax	Age Limit	Price per pax (Rs)
Adult	Above 12 years	$ 2268 / Adult

* Mentioned prices may vary depending upon date of travel, hotel availability, surge pricing and seasonal rush.

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Package Start From

Quito, Ecuador, South America

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Terms & Conditions

Payment Terms & Methods :
* Some Advance Percentage of total booking amount
* Airfare/Transport fare to be paid full at one time in advance.

Cancellation & Refund Policy :
* Upon cancellation, refund will be made after deducting the Retention Amount.
* Retention Amount varies as per the number of days left before your package start date.

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