South America Vacations

Ecuador Vacation Package

Highlights

- Enjoy Colonial Quito and Cuenca, UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
- Explore the Indian market & villages of Otavalo & trek the volcanic rim of Cuicocha Crater Lake.
- Cruise through the wilds of Amazonia on the deluxe Manatee Amazon Explorer eco-vessel.
- Take the thrilling switchback rail excursion on the Devil’s Nose train.
- Travel the “Avenue of Volcanoes” and see the famed Ingapirca Ruins.

Itinerary

Day 1, USA / Quito
Begin your holiday with a flight to Quito, a city of perpetual springtime in an exceptional mountain setting.  You are welcomed on arrival and transferred to your hotel.  Swissotel

Day 2, Quito
A half-day tour presents Quito’s dazzling colonial churches and quiet cobblestone lanes, and a bird’s eye view from Panecillo Hill.  A welcome dinner completes the day. Swissotel (B,D)

Day 3, Quito / Otavalo
Travel a dramatic, twisting route to the land of the Otavalos.  Visit Calderon’s colorful bread-doll markets, Cochasqui’s pre-Inca pyramids, and forgotten villages amid the volcanoes en route to your historic hacienda.  Hacienda Pinsaqui (B,L,D)

Day 4, Otavalo
A day of scenery and artistry, as you trek the volcanic rim around Cuicocha Crater Lake, and visit villages of leather and wood craftsmen and backstrap weavers.  Hacienda Pinsaqui (B,L,D)

Day 5, Otavalo / Quito
The morning is devoted to browsing Otavalo’s famous market.  After lunch, drive another scenic road to Quito.  Swissotel (B,L)

Day 6, Quito / Coca / Amazon Jungle Cruise
Fly to Coca and depart on your adventure ship on a rare journey of nature study and cultural interaction in the largest unexplored wilderness on earth.  Disembark to. visit a local community at Pompeya, with its on-site archaeological museum for a lecture on the anthropology of the region  Manatee Amazon Explorer (B,L,D)

Day 7, Amazon Jungle Cruise
Admire a superb parrot salt lick and trek into the interior rainforest.  Take a refreshing afternoon swim at a lake and some optional fishing before returning by paddle dugout through blackwater creeks to our vessel.  Evening lecture at our inviting terrace-bar.  Manatee Amazon Explorer (B,L,D)

Day 8, Amazon Jungle Cruise
We journey upriver with hundreds of parrots and macaws starting their morning flight.  Take a dugout journey through winding streams, bordered by native huts and abundant flora, the canopy towering over our heads.  Our silent approach offers incredible sounds coming from the rainforest's interior. Afternoon visit to a native community and learn about these gracious peoples’ lifestyles, traditions and medicinal plants.   Manatee Amazon Explorer (B,L,D)

Day 9, Coca / Quito / Cotopaxi
Return from the wilds of Amazonia with a flight to Quito.  Head down the “Avenue of Volcanoes” to the foothills of Cotopaxi, the world’s 2nd highest active volcano standing at 19,700 feet above sea level.  Hacienda La Cienega (B,L,D)

Day 10, Cotopaxi / Riobamba
Depart to Ecuador’s premier Andean park to hike and explore the rugged paramos, pine forests, ravines and lakes on the slopes of Cotopaxi Volcano. Continue to Riobamba via the famed rug-weavers town of Guano.  Abraspungo (B,L,D)

Day 11, Riobamba / Devils Nose Train / Ingapirca
Ride the thrilling Devil’s Nose train as it zigzags up a mountainside and across bridges, tunnels, and gorges.  Continue to Ingapirca.  Posada Ingapirca (B,L,D)

Day 12, Ingapirca / Cuenca
Early morning visit to the excellent Inca stonework complex of Ingapirca. Proceed to a village of weavers of the famed Panama hats and arrive in Cuenca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Spend the afternoon touring the city’s colonial delights, museums, archaeological sites and handcrafts. Mansion Alcazar (B,L,D)

Day 13, Cuenca / Quito
The morning is at leisure to explore this beautiful colonial city on our own. We then return by air to Quito and transfer to your hotel.  Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the USA.  (Swissotel (B)

Day 14, Quito / Depart to USA
(B)

12/08

Ecuador
Vacations

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