10-Day Ecuador Highlights Tour with Andes, Amazon and Cuenca

• Welcome to Quito, the largest and best-preserved colonial city in America, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. The city is considered the Cultural Capital of South America and is located on the equator in a valley at the foothills of the Pichincha volcano. Depending on your arrival time, you can spend your day exploring Quito's old town and the surrounding area. We can help you organize a day trip if requested in advance. In the evening, one of our trip leaders will meet you in the hotel lobby for a welcome briefing at 18:00. At this time, we will discuss the details of the adventure and answer any questions you may have. Our first day is for acclimatization and information.

Accommodation: Sheraton Quito Hotel or similar

Meals included: In-flight

• We depart early from Quito and drive north through the majestic Andes. On the way, we will stop at a viewpoint to admire Imbabura Volcano and Lake San Pablo.
• We then head to Pijal, a small village in the heart of the Andes, to visit one of the AJ sustainable projects called Sacha Warmikua, "women from the mountain."
• After this beautiful experience, we continue to Otavalo. You will have plenty of time to stroll along the narrow cobblestone streets, filled with Otavalo Indigenous people wearing traditional blue ponchos, white trousers, and long braided hair. Learn about their daily activities, typical food, and native language.
• Explore the famous handicraft market, with its wonderful textiles, alpaca throws and rugs, native paintings, jewellery, tapestries, and more. Later, we arrive at the beautiful and comfortable Hacienda Cusin, where we will stay overnight.

Accommodation: Hacienda Cusin or similar

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

• Early in the morning, we drive down along a curved panoramic road towards the Amazon Rainforest. As we descend from an altitude of 3000 m to 500 m (9843 ft to 1640 ft), you will observe how the landscape and vegetation change drastically between climates.
• Later, we stop at the "Guacamayos-Macaw Lookout," located between Antisana and Sumaco National Reserves in low-elevation cloud forest, to observe the magical blanket of clouds covering the Amazon rainforest. We then arrive at the Arajuno River, where a motor canoe takes us 20 minutes upriver to the Eco Lodge.

Accommodation: Amazon Ecolodge

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

• In the morning, we hike to explore the tropical rainforest, receive interpretation from our guide, learn about medicinal plants, and search for wildlife.
• Later, we enjoy a cultural activity with an Amazonian Kichwa community, who will receive us and share their way of life and interaction with the forest. Appreciate the skills of the indigenous women who manufacture handmade pottery (ceramics). This small business helps support the indigenous people in their daily lives. Today, we will also have the chance to learn how to make our own chocolate from the raw fruit.

Accommodation: Amazon Ecolodge

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

• After breakfast, we reach Rio Verde, located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sangay National Park. Here, we hike down to Ecuador's second-highest waterfall, Pailon del Diablo, where pounding water cascades over the rocks and mesmerizes you from a suspension bridge. You may also take an optional hike behind the falls.
• After another short drive, we arrive at another incredible waterfall called El Manto de la Novia, where we ride in a cable car across the canyon of the Pastaza River.
• In the late afternoon, we arrive in Baños, located right at the foothills of Tungurahua volcano, which has been active since 1999. It erupts every few months, delighting visitors with lava and steam displays visible from a number of safe viewpoints in the region. Here in Baños, you can also visit a spa or another place to enjoy the area's hot springs.

Accommodation: Casa de Luis Hotel or similar

Meals included: Breakfast

• In the morning, we visit the Swing at the End of the World, where the winner of the 2014 National Geographic photo contest took his photo. You will have time to take an amazing picture of the stunning landscape in front of you.
• In the afternoon, enjoy optional activities in this incredible town at your leisure.

Accommodation: Casa de Luis Hotel or similar

Meals included: Breakfast

• Early in the morning, we drive through valleys and farming villages to reach Chimborazo Volcano, the highest mountain in Ecuador at 6310 m (20702 ft) above sea level. Its summit is also the furthest point from the center of the earth on the entire planet. On a clear day, the majestic peak of Chimborazo dominates the view for many kilometres. There will be a short hike of 0.9 km (0.57 mi) to reach 5000 m (16404 ft), where the glacier begins.
• During the hike, we may spot some of the animals that inhabit this volcanic wonderland, such as the Andean condor, caracara, hummingbirds, and the timid vicuñas.
• Once extinct in Ecuador, vicuñas have been reintroduced and are now protected. This beautiful animal is related to alpacas and llamas.

Accommodation: Hacienda Andaluza or similar

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

• After an early breakfast, we take a scenic drive to the small town of Alausí. Here, you will hear the story of the Devil's Nose train, where the tracks wind through the countryside in a zigzag formation, creating a travel experience like no other.
• After this visit, we continue to the small town of Palmira, where we see a desert at 10498.69 feet that resembles the Sahara Desert.
• We then continue to Ingapirca, Ecuador's most impressive Inca ruins. We spend the afternoon learning about this archaeological site, notable for its unique fusion of Inca and native Cañari architecture and its religious significance.
• Later, we head to Cuenca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its colonial architecture.

Accommodation: Carvallo Hotel or similar

Meals included: Breakfast

• Starting in the morning, enjoy a fantastic city tour. Visit Cuenca's most important buildings and notable places, such as Calderon Square, the New Cathedral, El Barranco, and the El Turi lookout point.
• In the afternoon, visit a famous Panama hat factory, where we will understand the whole process of making this traditional Ecuadorian hat.
• Later in the afternoon, we visit the nearby towns of Chordeleg and Gualaceo, two unique destinations included in this tour. Chordeleg is well known for its jewellery, especially its silverware. Gualaceo is a picturesque market town where locals gather to exchange their products and crafts. Here, you can find traditional Macana shawls, fabrics with intense colors, and folkloric designs.

Accommodation: Carvallo Hotel or similar

Meals included: Breakfast

• You will have a free morning to enjoy the charming city of Cuenca and its surroundings.
• Today, our trip comes to an end. Take your memories and photos with you, and leave a piece of your heart behind, as you will want to return to Ecuador soon to experience more of this enchanted land. We wish you a "buen viaje"!

Meals included: Breakfast