Nature Mainland Ecuador Small Group Tour

Arrival at Mariscal Sucre Airport, Quito. Transfer to Hotel.

Check in – 14:00

Breakfast at the hotel.

Quito city tour is perfect for seeing fascinating panoramas, churches, domes and roofs that have an important historical value. You will admire and learn about colonial art, architecture, culture, legends, and traditions. Quito, the capital of Ecuador, was founded in the 16th century on the ruins of an Inca city and stands at an altitude of 9.350 feet. Despite the 1917 earthquake, the city has the best-preserved, least altered historic Center in Latin America. The architecture and rich interiors, are pure examples of Quito School of sculpture, which is a fusion of Spanish, Italian, Moorish, Flemish and indigenous art. After 3 incredible hours exploring the Old Town, you’ll understand why Quito was the world’s first city named to UNESCO’s Cultural Heritage list.

In the old town we are going to visit:

Basilicia Church: is the Biggest Neogothic Church in South America. This religious construction was designed by the French architect Emilio Tarlier, who was inspired by the Parisian cathedral of Notre Dame.
Plaza Grande: Plaza de la Independencia, locally known as Plaza Grande, is where Quito’s daily life and historic and national symbolism collide. In the center of the Plaza de la Independencia we find the monument to the Heroes of Independence that was built at the beginning of the 20th century, which symbolizes the triumph of the Republic against the Spanish colony. Around the Plaza you can visit the Carondelet Plaza and Archbishop’s Palace.
Compañía de Jesús Church: is Quito’s most ornate church and a standout among the baroque splendors of the Old Town. It is a Jesuit church, and one of the most interesting and spectacular in Quito. From the outside the church is distinctive for its green and gold domes.
San Francisco Church: It stands proud on one side of the main square in the old town of Quito. Was built on the site of an Inca temple, which means it stands slightly higher than some of the other buildings in the city. It is considered to be a baroque church, and one of the most important in the city. Throughout the church are both Catholic and indigenous symbols.
Panecillo Hill: It is the most important natural viewpoint of Quito. The Panecillo is currently crowned by a giant aluminum sculpture of the «Virgin of Quito», created in 1975 by the Spaniard Agustín de la Herrán Matorras, which was based on the Virgin of Legarda or Apocalyptic Virgin; 18th century work by Bernardo de Legarda, one of the most important representatives of the Quito School.
At the afternoon, you will visit: “Cuidad Mitad Del Mundo” and Intiñan Museum.

1.) “Ciudad Mitad del Mundo”

“Ciudad Mitad del Mundo” is touristic, cultural, scientific and commercial artificial city of Ecuador. Its architecture is based on colonial style. An obelisk and a museum relevant to its geographical location were built at the Middle of the World site. All of this is found among the drastic landscape surrounded by nature and modern buildings. The monument is crowned by a metallic sphere that represents the Earth. It is named Equatorial Monument and it geographical orientation coincides with the four cardinal points and is located precisely at Earth’s midpoint — 0 degrees latitude, 0 minutes, 0 seconds.

2.) Intiñan Museum

Since the year 1960, the Intiñan Museum in Quito has been a center for the promotion of the many aspects of Ecuador’s culture. This museum offers interactive exhibits on how the Incas determined the middle of the earth, plus interesting science experiments such as balancing an egg on a nail and why water rotates in opposite directions on opposite sides of the Equator and why it’s difficult to walk in a straight line along this imaginary line.

Breakfast: at the hotel.

After breakfast We will start the day driving south of Quito through the Pan-American Highway also known as “The Avenue of the Volcanoes.” We continue our tour, until we reach the Toachi Canyon, it is a viewpoint towards the Toachi River canyon. This canyon was produced by the eruptions of the Quilotoa volcano giving a spectacular view from the highest point of the canyon. In its interior it runs with a fall of more than 100 meters along the Toachi river that goes towards the Ecuadorian coast.

After this visit we continue towards the Quilotoa Lagoon. Quilotoa has a caldera with a diameter of almost 9 km formed inside its crater. This is the product of the collapse of the volcano, which occurred about 800 years ago. According to the studies, the volcanic flow reached the Pacific Ocean. At our arrival to the Quilotoa Loop, we will appreciate an emerald green lake inside the crater of an extinct volcano with steep jagged cliffs.

Then we continue to Baños. Transfer to the hotel.

Breakfast: at the hotel.

Baños is known as “The Gate of the Amazon Region.” Baños is located on the outside of the eastern range of the Andes. It is a perfect place to relax and explore. This small town is famous worldwide for its natural crystalline waterfalls. We will arrive to Río Verde, where the Pailón del Diablo is located, considered one of the ten largest jumps. Pailon del Diablo is the most majestic among the waterfalls in La Ruta de las Cascadas. This waterfall is 80 meters tall and 1,410 meters above sea level.

Then we will continue on the waterfalls route, we will make several stops to explore the waterfalls in the area, first we will visit the Agoyan Waterfall, we will continue to the Manto de la Novia waterfall where we will have an opportunity to cross in tarabita. We will also visit the famous swing of the End of the World, located in La Casa Del Tree, it is a long swing located on top of a steep slope, with a beautiful mountain view. The unique location of the swing at 2600 meters above sea level, offers visitors a beautiful and scary view of the Tungurahua volcano.

After that we return to the city and see how the famous “marshmallow” (candy, which is made from sugar cane) is made.

Then we continue to Riobamba. Transfer to the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

After breakfast you will continue to Chimborazo; which is the highest mountain in Ecuador. The giant measures 6,310 meters above sea level and its upper slopes are surrounded by a vast bleak wasteland. This reserve, however, provides water to the three provinces below, born from the Ambato, Chambo and Chimbo springs. The reserve is home to a large population of vicuñas reintroduced from Peru and Chile in 1988. There are also llamas and alpacas, native domestic animals which were used by the ancient inhabitants of the Andes before the Spanish introduced horses, sheep, cows and donkeys. The reserve was created to protect these animals and its historical legacy as well as the strange wasteland of which they are a part. Lunch-box included.

After visiting the reserve, we go to the ruins of Ingapirca. Ingapirca is the largest and best preserved archaeological site in Ecuador, is located 80 km from the city of Cuenca, in Cañar province. It was built with millions of hewn stones in the middle of the eighteenth century. In the complex you can see the different architectural units, among which stands the Temple of the Sun, which have an elliptical shape 37 feet long and 12 meters wide, which was used to perform ceremonies and rituals of Cañari-Inca culture. In addition, you can observe the oldest building of Ingapirca, Pilaloma which consists of a series of rectangular rooms.

After visiting the ruins we will go to Cuenca, here you can rest and enjoy your free time.

Breakfast: at the hotel.

National Park Cajas is located in the Ecuadorian Andes west of Cuenca. This is a striking name as the area is characterized by large outcrops of bedrock. This is called knob and kettle geomorphology and results in a spectacular landscape, where the outcrops alternate with lakes. The lakes and rivers are famous for their trout and pure water. The park is about twenty nine thousand square hectares large and ranges in altitude from 2800 meters to more than 4400 meters above sea level. Cajas is a National Park since 1996. Cajas was declared a National Area of Recreation in 1977. Humidity, low temperature, and high altitude with low atmospheric pressure create an ecosystem that accumulates organic material in the soil that is able to retain water. The National Park is home to a large variety of animals, some of which are endemic or highly endangered.

In the afternoon we’ll visit Cuenca for city tour.

Cuenca, 2560 m. high (8400 feet), the third largest city in Ecuador and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is situated in a fertile valley in the southern highlands of Ecuador. Cuenca has kept its old-world architectural charm and its colonial ambience. The Old Town is best visited on foot. Our tour takes you along the cobblestone streets admiring the historic buildings, hanging balconies, carved wooden doors, the craft fair and colorful flower market, the main plaza with the Old Cathedral, which has been converted to the “Museum for Religious Art”, and the magnificent blue-domed Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. See silversmiths at work and handicrafts of almost every kind. You end the tour with a visit to the “Panama Hat” factory.

Breakfast.

In the morning we will visit Mirador de Turi, is one of the most popular excursions in Cuenca. Turi is located in the perfect place to bask in the breathtaking panorama of the entire city of Cuenca. Then we will continue to visit the Panama Hat Factory. The factory has become a popular place to visit) because the museum provides daily tours to the public on the past and current ways of producing the different kinds of panama hats.

After lunch we will continue to the Saraguro Community. The Saraguro people are very welcoming and willing to show us part of their daily life, turning this trip into one of the best experiences of rural, agro and community tourism. They are very proud of their indigenous roots so they wear their typical customs and practice ancestral rituals.

We will continue to Loja.

Breakfast.

After breakfast we will visit Loja. Including the “gates of the city” The gates of the city are modeled after the Coat of Arms of the city, presented by King Felipe II of Spain in 1571. The gate is on Av. Gran Colombia, and houses four galleries which show contemporary Lojano artwork, and a cafeteria and gift shop. A stunning view of the city is found by climbing the clock tower. Loja contains a number of historic churches; the city’s board of tourism has approached finding them in a novel manner. Beginning at the Puerta de la Ciudad, one of the first thing a tourist will notice is a large orange stripe painted on the sidewalk. Following the stripe takes the interested tour of the main historic churches and areas of Loja.

Also we will visit the Jipiro Park. It covers an area of 10 hectares, and features some architectural replicas of famous buildings from around the world. Among its main attractions are the Cathedral of San Basilio Moscu – Russia, a Chinese Pagoda, an Indian temple, the Colonial Bridge, an Arab Mosque, the Euro-Latino Castle, the Sun Door, and more.

After visit Loja, we will continue to the Podocarpus National Park, is a park located in the provinces of Zamora Chinchipe and Loja, in the south-east of Ecuador. It was created in 1982. In the park you can find a great variety of landscape and habitat leads to high biodiversity of flora and fauna. The native vegetation of this area, lush and varied, so the National Park is considered Poducarpus Botanical Garden of America.

We will continue to Vilcabamba, called the Valley of Longevity. Vilcabamba was little known by outsiders until scientists discovered that a strikingly large percentage of residents were over a hundred years old.

Breakfast.

In the morning we will visit the Jocotoco Foundation; established in 1998 to protect land of critical importance to the conservation of Ecuador’s endangered birds and associated biodiversity not otherwise protected by Ecuador’s existing system of protected areas. The Foundation primarily achieves this aim by purchasing lands and managing them as ecological reserves.

The Lodge is settled in the lower portion of Buenaventura Reserve, at 500 m elevation. This reserve is home of a remarkable set of flora and fauna, including almost 300 bird species, many of them being endemics. Special climate conditions have resulted in a wide variety of habitats used by birds.

You will have the opportunity to stroll through the forest, accompanied by a guide who will tell you all the secrets of the reserve. Walking through the forest takes from 1.5 to 4 hours, depending on the chosen trail.

Breakfast.

After breakfast we will visit Puyango. The Puyango Petrified Forest, or the El Bosque Petrificado de Puyango, is a very unusual reserve. It is home to the largest known area of exposed petrified wood, of which a lot comes from the Araucarias family – a tree that is not often fossilized. Forests like this are not easy to come by, as trees that are dying will normally just decompose. However, here we have an excellent example of fossilized trees and marine fossils due to the dry nature of the ecosystem. The marine fossils that you will find in the forest occur because of the area having once been completely under water. The area is estimated to be about 500 million years old. Apart from the intriguing tree fossils you can also see a wonderful array of wildlife. There are more than 130 different types of bird species to be found here throughout the year, with equally beautiful butterfly species.

We will continue to Guayaquil. On the way, we will visit a banana plantations (optional).

Breakfast.

Transfer to the airport for your international flight.