From Quito to Cuenca through the Avenue of the Volcanoes

Rates include: 1 night at Swissotel or LeParc in Quito, 5 nights at local hacienda or hotel, roundtrip airfare to Cuenca and 2 airport transfers.

4 star accommodations: $2124 per person (min 2 guests)
5 star accommodations: $2257 per person (min 2 guests)

Departure Days: Thursday, Friday and Sunday

Program Description:

Day 1 : Cotopaxi Volcano, flora and fauna
South of Quito, standing tall among the 'Avenue of the Volcanoes' is Cotopaxi. At 19,348 ft ( 5,897 m) above sea level it is the highest active volcano in the world, and home to Cotopaxi National Park. The park offers a tundra-like environment and is surrounded by other volcanoes both active and extinct. The area offers good hikes with the opportunity to study its geology and flora and chances to see local fauna, including wild horses and the Andean Condor, the world's largest flying bird. Lunch will be served at one of the area’s historic haciendas. In the afternoon we proceed to Baños. . (breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Overnight at Manteles (4 stars) or Luna Runtun (5 stars)

Day 2: Baños and Cloud Forest
The city of Baños is cradled in a deep sub-tropical valley. The extreme vertical nature of this region makes for stunning views, but the real eye-catcher is 16,000-ft (5016-m) Tungurahua. On a two day journey here one can visit Indian weavers, waterfalls, cristal clear rivers, hike or horseback ride with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and valleys in an environment ideal for bird watching and orchid-searching in cloud forest as well as transitional forest between the highlands and the jungle. We will spend the night at Hacienda Manteles, located just 30 minutes away from Baños and surrounded by agricultural fields and cloud forest, its gardens are full of bright flowers including orchids which make the hacienda a heaven for hummingbirds. (breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Overnight at Manteles (4 stars) or Luna Runtun (5 stars)

Day 3: Baños and Riobamba
We will spend the whole morning still exploring the wonders of Baños and its surroundings. After lunch travel to Riobamba, passing by the majestic Chimborazo, an extinct volcano and the highest peak in Ecuador (6,310m / 20,703 ft), view the flora and fauna of the Andean paramo enjoying the most outstanding scenery of the highlands. Arrive late in the afternoon at Riobamba to spend the night at country inn.(breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Overnight at Abraspungo or similar

Day 4: Devil's Nose Train & Ingapirca Ruins
Today we will board the 100 year old train to cross the “Devil’s Nose” and then continue our trip passing by small Andean towns and indigenous villages, until we arrive at the Inca astronomical observatory and fortress of Ingapirca. This is the most important Inca site in Ecuador, where the Inga and his entourage would rest during trips to this northern part of the Inca Empire. The structure of the Central Temple offers classic Inca architecture: walls formed by square or polygonal blocks, trapezoidal doorways, niches and windows, rectangular rooms, and the typical circular highland fortress of that period. We arrive at Cuenca late in the afternoon. (breakfast and lunch included)
Overnight at Santa Lucia (4 stars) or Mansion Alcazar (5 stars)

Day 5: Cuenca City Tour
Cuenca is ideal for those looking to blend into the relaxed setting of a truly romantic colonial city. Walking along its cobblestone streets or watching the people go by in its town main square before the great cathedral is both peaceful and inspiring. Declared a Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999, it is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the country due its architecture, surroundings and small town ambiance. The city is crossed by four rivers and surrounded by green valleys. Its inhabitants create some of the finest crafts in the country. Sights to be visited include the blue-domed Cathedral, the flower market, and the Cañari ruins of Pumapungo. We also recommend the Ethnographic and Conceptas Museums, the latter with its fine collection of religious art. The hotels here are especially romantic, the best ones are colonial houses built around a central plaza with a fountain, while others look out onto one of the rivers. (breakfast and lunch included)
Overnight at Santa Lucia (4 stars) or Mansion Alcazar (5 stars).

Day 6: Gualaceo & Chordeleg Craft Villages
Close to Cuenca, located in enchanted valleys bathed by rivers, there are two particular small towns famous for its craftsmanship where most of the population is dedicated full or part time to the handcraft production, we will have the opportunity to get in direct contact with weavers of Panama hats, ikat shawls, straw baskets, filigree jewelers, embroiderers, pottery manufacturing and much more. We will also visit a local produce market if it is being held I the area the day we visit these villages. We will have lunch at one of the local haciendas of the area and then return to Cuenca to board the flight back to Quito. Transfer to the hotel upon arrival. (breakfast and lunch included)
Overnight at Swissotel or LeParc