Quito Area

ECQ01          Quito Basic   2D/1N

Day 1: On your arrival in Quito, we will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel.  Optional excursions around Quito can be arranged for the same day, upon request. 

Day 2: After breakfast transfers to the airport or to the bus station or extension programs will be organized for you.

Included: private transport, hotel with breakfast

ECQ02     Colonial Quito       4 Hrs.

Transport will take us from the hotel to Quito old town.  The tour begins with a visit to the Independence Square, where the Presidential Palace, the Cathedral and El Sagrario Church are located. We will also visit the Church of La Compañía (1605), with its amazing gilt altars.  This is considered the finest example of baroque art in America, and the Moorish influence can also be observed in the intricate designs carved on the magnificent red and gold columns and ceilings. Afterwards we will take you to the church  of San Francisco (1535). This is the oldest Ecuadorian church and the main altar inside is a spectacular example of baroque carving.  There is also a fine collection of artwork, including paintings, sculptures and furniture dating back to the 16^th century.  Finally, we will drive up to the highest viewpoint of the city, “ El Panecillo” where we will have a spectacular view of Quito and the opportunity to see the only winged virgin in South America.

Included: private transport, bilingual guide, and all entrance fees.                   

 

ECQ03           The Equator Monument  3 Hrs.

Just 30 minutes from Quito is the location of the equatorial line, at La Mitad del Mundo (“the middle of the world”.) This is the site where, in 1736, Charles-Marie de la Condamine’s expedition made the measurements which demonstrated that this was the equator.  Here visitors have the rare opportunity to be in two hemispheres at the same time!  A monument was built to mark the site and visitors can take the elevator right to the top, as well as visiting the excellent ethnographic museum inside.  Around the monument there are buildings and restaurants designed to represent those of a typical colonial town.

Included: private transport, bilingual guide, and all entrance fees.

 

ECQ04    Colonial Quito Tour & The Equator 7 Hrs.       

After visiting the colonial and modern areas of the city of Quito, a 30-minute drive will take us to “La Mitad del Mundo” (“the middle of the world”) with its 30-metre-high monument marking the equatorial line, and an excellent ethnographical museum.

Included: private transport, bilingual guide, all entrance fees.

 

ECQ05    Jacchigua Folkloric Ballet 2½ Hrs.

(Every Wed & Fri).

This is your chance to see the best professional dancers, authentic indigenous costumes and ancient rituals based on celebrations dating back to pre-colonial times. The impressive blend of colour, folklore and music promises to be an unforgettable experience.

Included: entrance fee

 

ECQ06    Pasochoa Forest Reserve     1 Day

The tour begins with a drive, roughly 30 km south-east of Quito, to the Pasochoa Forest Reserve. This is an ecological reserve and one of Ecuador’s protected areas. It has one of the last remaining samples of undisturbed Humid Andean forest left in the central valley and over 100 species of birds have been recorded here. The forest contains a wide range of highland trees, shrubs, andean laurel, orchids, bromeliads, lichens, ferns and an exotic palm tree from the coastal area of Ecuador contributes to the forest attraction. There are several trails to choose from, ranging from easy half-hour loops to fairly strenuous all-day hikes.

Included: private transport, bilingual guide, and all entrance fees

 

ECQ07 Papallacta Hot Springs     1 Day

A 2-hour drive north-east of Quito will take us to Papallacta, a town situated at 3,800 m above sea level and well-known for its curative hot springs, (sulphated alkaline thermal waters). Here you will have the opportunity to swim, hike, go horse back riding or simply relax in one of the pools of volcanic water. At lunchtime, you will also be able to enjoy fresh trout, a local speciality.

Included: private transport, bilingual guide, all entrance fees

 

ECQ08  Mindo Valley     1 Day

Located approximately 90 km north-west of the city of Quito is the town of Mindo. The name comes from a Pre-Colombian tribe called the Mindus, who lived in this area and left certain archaeological finds, such as tombs, which can still be seen in the area.

Mindo is situated at 1,100 m above sea level, in subtropical forest or low montage subtropical forest (Cañadas, 1980). This forest is one of the last existing heavens of this kind in the world.  “Bird Life International” declared the area an IBA (Important Bird Area), as it contains more than 450 species of birds. In addition, 120 species of mammals, 60 species of reptiles, 45 species of amphibians, thousands of insects and more than 4,000 species of flora can be found here.

Excursions to the waterfalls, hikes, rafting and bird-watching are just some of the activities that you can choose to participate in during your visit to Mindo.

Included: private transport, bilingual guide, all entrance fees

 

ECQ09  Cotopaxi National Park     1 Day

The tour begins with a 2-hour drive south along the “Panamericana” Highway, also known as “The Avenue of the Volcanoes”, to Cotopaxi National Park. You can simply enjoy the views of the world’s highest active volcano and the natural surroundings or take part in a 1-hour trek to the José Rivas refuge at 4,800 m above sea level or a 1- hour trek around the Limpiopungo Lagoon. Afterwards we invite you to enjoy a delicious picnic lunch next to Limpiopungo Lagoon (3800masl). At the end of our tour we will visit the museum,  which has a good explanation about the history of Cotopaxi volcanic activity, about some Inca ruins in the Park and there are some species of animals and plants that exist in the National Park..

Included: private transport, bilingual guide, box lunch, all entrance fees