CITYTOUR WITH MIDDLE OF THE WORLD OR TELEFERICO (SKYLIFT PICHINCHA)

A comprehensive city tour includes visits to residential neighbourhoods at the northern end of the city, visiting the " Guapulo Mirador", passing through the 12 of October Avenue up to the Culture House and the Legislative Palace (Congress), whose stone mural records Ecuador's history. The tour will then continue through the Gran Colombia Avenue up to the Basilica Church, where we will make a brief stop and next, the "San Juan Mirador" from where you will have a beautiful sight of The Colonial Quito. Then a stroll downtown and visit the colonial temples and monasteries of this urban jewel, designated by UNESCO a World Heritage Site, starting at the Independence Plaza, flanked by the Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, the Municipal Building and the Archbishop's Palace. Visit the Church of La Compañía de Jesús. Continue to the Church of San Francisco, one the of great religious buildings of the New World; its impressive façade and atrium lead to its gilt interior a Baroque influenced by Moorish style, with the winged Virgin of Quito at its main altar.

OPTION 1 - MIDDLE OF THE WORLD

In the afternoon we continue to the Equatorial Monument, 25 Kms. (16 miles) North of Quito, which marks the exact Middle of the World, latitude 0º, where you can stand with a foot on each hemisphere. Visit the Ethnographic Museum inside the monument, which shows the different Native American groups living in Ecuador. Beside the monument there is a colonial-style town, complete with main square, church, post office, bullring, cafeterias, restaurants and many gift shops with postcards and souvenirs.

We arrive back to Quito in the late afternoon.

OPTION 2 – TELEFERICO (SKYLIFT)

In the afternoon we continue to the slopes of the Pichincha volcano and in a unique and fascinating experience that will take you to 4.050 meters of altitude, the panoramic cabins ascend to the top of Cruz Loma, a magic place with Páramo vegetation from where you can enjoy magnificent landscapes and the most spectacular view of the city.

We arrive back to Quito in the late afternoon.

PAPALLACTA HOT SPRINGS AND SPA WITH LUNCH

Depart from Quito in the morning on the road that leads to the Amazon Jungle. After an hour and a half ride, we will make a brief stop a the Papallacta Lagoon, located in the Páramo vegetation, with cold weather but beautiful landscapes. We continue on to the hot springs and Touristic Complex of "Termas de Papallacta" where short hikes can be done or optional spa activities enjoyed.
This is perfect anti-stress therapy recommended for your health!
Frequently crowded on weekends.

We arrive back to Quito in the late afternoon.

COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK

Just south of Quito towers the highest active volcano of the world. The Cotopaxi is surrounded of its National Park, home to abundant plant life, a rich fauna and Inca ruins. Leaving Quito on the Panamericana South we reach the Park entrance and begin our visit at the natural history museum before continuing up Cotopaxi. We ascend the mountain as high as possible to the parking lot on 4500 meters. From here a short 45-minute walk takes us up to the refugee. Coming down again from the "refugio" we drive across the páramo to the Limpiopungo lake.On a short walk around the lake we can observe a variety of birds and enjoy the stunning views of the surrounding landscape.
Going on we visit El Salitre, an ancient Inca fort, a small glimpse of Ecuador's pre-Colonial past.

We arrive back to Quito in the late afternoon.

OTAVALO MARKET

The Saturday market of Otavalo is the South America's most famous Indian fair. We get an early departure from Quito through dramatic mountain scenery north wards. You will have ample time to stroll along the narrow cobblestone streets filled with Otavalo Indians wearing blue ponchos, white trousers and long braided hair and to to explore their handicraft market, with its wonderful textiles, native paintings, ceramics, jewelry, tapestries and more at bargain prices.
Continuing the trip, we will go to Cotacachi, famous for its leather articles, and where lunch can be taken. Finally we will go to Peguche, small village known for its waterfalls and wind instruments fabrics.

We arrive back to Quito in the late afternoon.
Possible to visit every day – but smaller market.

SAQUISILI MARKET
Every Thursday

Anthropologists consider this the most important Indigenous Market in the country. It is spread out over six or seven different plazas, only a small part is dedicated to handicrafts for sale to tourists. This is a market at which the indians also do their shopping. We travel south along the Avenue of the Volcanoes to the small village of Saquisilí. After lunch in a restored hacienda we return to Quito.

We arrive back to Quito in the late afternoon.

BELLAVISTA CLOUD FOREST

A Day Trip to Bellavista is a perfect way of getting to know a subtropical rain forest, so close to Quito ! We pick you up at your hotel early morning and travel past the Ecuador Monument, and on down a mountain road with superb views, and then turn off on a dirt road with more fabulous views for our climb to Bellavista. After breakfast we go for a guided naturalist hike into the forest, of about 2-2.5 hours duration. Your guided hike will acquaint you with the exuberant vegetation of the Cloud Forest, its bird life, and the fascinating adaptations to life in this special environment.

After your hike, a hearty lunch is served in our circular restaurant in the dome, with breathtaking views. After lunch, you have the option to relax and watch the humming birds and admire the constantly changing play of cloud and light, or take yourselves on another hike into the forest.

We arrive back to Quito in the early evening.

ZUMBAHUA – QUILOTOA

This full-day cultural tour begins with a visit to a local indigenous market at Saquilisilí or an historic church in Pujilí (Thursday/Sunday). The drive to Laguna Quilotoa displays a beautiful view of the Andean mountains, passing the ancient canyon of Zumbahua and many indigenous towns and farmlands. Before lunch, we visit a local indigenous home, where you have the opportunity to interact with the inhabitants and perhaps learn some Quichua. The tour includes a hike down into the Laguna Quilotoa, a sparkling emerald lake inside the inactive volcano crater. The return hike takes one hour, or there is the option of renting a mule for $5. We spend the night in the award-winning EcoLodge the Black Sheep Inn in the high Andean town of Chugchilán. On the second day, you have the option for a breath-taking hike in the rural Andes countryside, a visit to an Andean cheese factory, or simply relaxing and enjoying the location and views from the inspiring Black Sheep Inn...

We arrive back to Quito in the early evening.