Route through the Andes - 4 Days | 3 Nights

Ecuador is small enough to allow us to offer you a short but very interesting program so you can see a lot in very few days. We’ll do emphasis in the highlights like the Volcano Avenue, the famous Andean train on one of the most impressive routes called “The devil’s Nose”, the archaeological site of Ingapirca then Cuenca, which is also a World Heritage city since 1999. To finish in Guayaquil to see this incredible contrast that this country has to show. But this is not all, on the way we offer the most beautiful landscape, surrounded by snowcapped volcanoes, most of them active! We also offer traditions and history.

AVAILABLE PROGRAM | RATES

DAY BY DAY ITINERARY

DAY 1 – QUITO – COTOPAXI - RIOBAMBA

Departure from Quito. This beautiful adventure starts crossing by the famous "Avenue of the Volcanoes": Pichincha (4.784 m | 15.695 ft), Atacaso (4.463 m | 14.642 ft), Corazon (4.790 m | 15.715 ft), Ilinizas (5.248 m | 17.217 ft), Pasochoa (4.200 m | 13.779 ft), Sincholagua (4.873 m | 15.987 ft), Rumiñahui (4.721 m | 15.488 ft), Cotopaxi (5.897 m | 19.347 ft) these are some of the volcanoes that we can see by the sides of the road. Lunch is not included

cotopaxi1 andes1
Arrival to the Cotopaxi National Park. After crossing the controls at the entrance of the national park, we will make our first stop at the interpretation center. Explanation about the Avenue of the Volcanoes and of the flora and fauna of the national park. From here we can make a short, but very interesting walk that will show us much of the flora from this special ecosystem called moorland at a 3,500 m | 11.482 ft . There are great possibilities to see some of the animals that hide in these beautiful forests as deers, the so-called Andean wolf (fox), rabbits. Then by car we will arrive to Limpiopungo lake (3,800 m | 12.467 ft), a wide valley surrounded by majestic volcanoes. Acknowledgment of the flora, we will do some birdwatching while walking around the lake (1-hour approx.), with a lot of possibilities to see a condor flying around. After the hike, we’ll continue our route to Riobamba. Dinner is not included, accommodation.

DAY 2 – RIOBAMBA – ALAUSI - DEVIL’S NOSE TRAIN – INGAPIRCA - CUENCA

BREAKFAST This day we will continue to the south of Ecuador, following the Pan-American Highway. We will make a short stop in the Church of Our Lady of La Balbanera. This was the first Catholic church built in our territory on August 15, 1534. It will take around 2 hours to get from Riobamba to Alausi. It’s in Alausi (2300 m | 7.546 ft) where is the station to board the legendary train of the Andes on the route called “Naríz del Diablo” which means “Devil’s Nose”. In only 18 km, we will descent a deep abysm of 500 meters by train! The rail was built as a zigzag on the slope of the mountain. Round Trip. Lunch is not included

iglesia riobamba tren1 nariz del diablo
Coming back to Alausi we’ll take our car to continue for more or less 2 hours up to Ingapirca. This archaeological site is the best preserved and the biggest Inca fortress and Sun Temple in Ecuador. We’ll do a guided visit to this amazing place which walls talk about the passage of this tribe by our territory, then we’ll continue to Cuenca (2 hours driving approx.). Dinner is not included, accommodation.

ingapirca1 ingapirca2

DAY 3 – CUENCA

BREAKFAST This morning we will go to meet this beautiful colonial city of Cuenca, which will open the doors to discover some of the most important monuments and colonial buildings. The city was founded by the spanish during the sixteenth century, who established the city over the ancient ruins of of an Inca temple, Tomebamba. Some of these stones of undoubted Inca cuts can be observed in the walls of some buildings in the old town.

We will make an interesting tour visiting the Cathedral, the Calderón Park, the flower market and the "Calle Larga" with its neighborhood called "El Barranco" with its houses on the edge of the Tomebamba river. The visit also includes the tour of the hat factory toquilla straw known around the world as "Panama Hats", but of ecuadorian origins. Lunch is not included

In the afternoon visit to a museum that shows the different cultures that once inhabited our territory, small exposition of 13,000 years of history, until the arrival of the Incas in the fifteenth century. Dinner is not included, accommodation

DAY 4 – CUENCA – GUAYAQUIL

BREAKFAST In the morning we will go to the coast, specifically towards the City of Guayaquil. The route promises wonderful views due to the change of heights. We will cross the western mountain range at the pass called "Las Tres Cruces" at 4,150 meters, which on the other side will cause a great descent towards the coast. A changing vegetation that progressively shows us its large plantations of bananas, cocoa, rice, sugar cane, etc.

On the way to Guayaquil we will stop to see a farm on the coast, cocoa is currently the way of subsistence for several communities of the coast and the Amazon regions, producing "CACAO FINO DE AROMA" of excellent quality. We will know the whole process of a cocoa plantation and we will make a tasting of the delicious handmade chocolate. Lunch is not included

In the afternoon we will larrive to the Capital of the Province of Guayas, Guayaquil, known as the "Pearl of the Pacific". The visit to Guayaquil consists of an interesting walk on the Simón Bolívar Malecón, it is a boulevard of approximately 5 km on the edge of the great Rio Guayas. On the way we will see the famous Moorish Tower or also called the Clock Tower, the City Hall, the Government house, until we reach to the neighborhood of Las Peñas, which is one of the largest urban regeneration works. Possibility, according to the energies, of going up to the lighthouse on the hill of Santa Ana, to have a panoramic view of the city. Dinner is not included, accommodation

End of our services

PRICES PER PERSON BASED ON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY

2-3 people

Comfort 3* US$ 980 Superior 4* US$ 1.112
4-6 people

Comfort 3* US$ 810 Superior 4* US$ 945
7-10 people

Comfort 3* US$ 570 Superior 4* US$ 708
11-15 people

Comfort 3* US$ 482 Superior 4* US$ 620

Supplement in single room:

COMFORT 3* | US$ 100

SUPERIOR 4* | US$ 180

NOTE: We can add days or nights to this program when you need according to your flights

NOTE: This program is suitable to take an extension to the Galapagos Islands from Guayaquil

DEPARTURE / RETURN LOCATIONS

Pick up: Quito - at your hotel or other 08:00

Drop off: Guayaquil - Hotel 17:00 approx.

NOTE: Our team will contact you to set the specific time and location. Departures every day

INCLUDED

Bilingual guide Spanish – English
Transportation
3 nights’ accommodation in the category of the hotel you choose: Comfort 3* or Superior 4*
All the breakfasts in the hotels
All the visits with its entrance fees to the sites described in the itinerary
Visit to the Cotopaxi National Park
Visit to Ingapirca, archaeological site
Train ticket on the route: “Nariz del Diablo”
Cuenca, City tour and Panama Hat Factory
Visit to Cajas National Park
Visit to a Cocoa farm
Guayaquil, City tour

NOT INCLUDED

Available upon request (extra fees)
Other activities
Meals or drinks
Personal expenses
Gratuities
Taxes

INDICATIONS

Notice that this trip starts in Quito and finishes in Guayaquil
Wear comfortable clothes for warm and cold weather
It is Important to drink enough water, be aware of the altitude sickness

RECOMMENDATIONS

Packing List:

Raincoat
Glasses
Walking shoes
Sunglasses
Repellent
Cap
Sunscreen
Camera
Umbrella

RESERVATION & CANCELLATION POLICY

If you cancel at least 30 days in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee.
If you cancel between 20 and 15 days in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 50% cancellation fee.
If you cancel within 7 days of the scheduled departure, there is a 100% cancellation fee.
Last minute bookings are non-refundable.

PAYMENT METHODS