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Sunshine Travel
Telefonos:
(+593) 02- 222 26 55
02- 254 52 42
09- 460 35 23
2004/12/11
Discovering Ecuador (12 Days)
Day 1.- Quito – Middle of the World:
Visit to the Ecuadorian capital’s colonial past, declared by UNESCO a “World Cultural Heritage”, also called the “Cloister of America”. The beautifully preserved colonial centre is located in the highlands at an elevation of 2.850 m. And the world famous Equator, “Mitad del Mundo” it is located only 30 minutes from Quito. Enjoy that moment to stand with one food on the northern hemisphere and with the other on the southern hemisphere.
Day 2.- Quito – Imbabura Province (Otavalo) :
Traveling on the “Panamericana“ to the North. Explore the colorful Indian Market of Otavalo, one of the most colorful and most important of South America. You may purchase a large variety of leather products, woven products, or hand-carved wood products. The inhabitants of this village are the Otavalo indigenous. They are well known for making beautiful handicrafts and woolen goods. Optional hikes in the surroundings to San Pablo Lake overlooked by Imbabura volcano or to San Antonio de Ibarra, a beautiful colonial town. Overnight in a beautiful and typical Hacienda.
Day 3.- Imbabura Province – Cotacachi – Cuicocha – Peguche:
Visit to the town of Iluman, whose peasants manufacture pressed palmetto-fiber hats, Cotacachi which is famous for its leatherwork here you will be able to take wonderful pictures or purchase leather products. You visit the crater lagoon Cuicocha with its impressive landscape of deep blue waters and a breathtaking view of the typical highland vegetation and the patchwork fields. After that we arrive to Peguche, and visit a workshop, where indigenous works with the traditional looms.
Day 5.- Papallacta - Misahualli – Rain Forest:
Trip goes down to the Amazon plains to our Jungle-Lodge near the Napo River. In the afternoon, we will visit a nearby Indian Village, where you welcome acquainted with the culture and way of life of the Indians of the area. A night hike through rain forest, could also be included at the evening, in order to investigate the jungle nightlife.
Day 4.- Imbabura Province – Papallacta:
A fascinating travel through the eastern Andean chain and over the 4.000 m Papallacta Pass brings us to Papallacta, where we can also enjoy a beautiful warm Thermal pools with its curative properties. If we are lucky, we may have a wonderful view to the Antisana Volcano.
Day 6.- Misahualli:
On a hike through the lush green jungle you will become better familiar with the flora an fauna of the Amazon. Your native nature guide will make you enthusiastic about the uniqueness of the jungle and will explain the useful and medical plants as well as their effect; you will also receive information about the fauna of the area.
Day 7.- Misahualli – Baños:
We drive to Puyo, which is at the border to the jungle, then, west towards Baños. On dusty roads it goes through the valley of the Rio Pastaza, which has many waterfalls. Baños, also called the „Door to the Jungle“, is a small peaceful town surrounded by snowcapped volcanoes and its wonderful healthy hot spring waters. It has a pleasant sub-tropical climate and extraordinary landscape and vegetation.
Day 9.- Riobamba – Alausí – Cuenca:
Early departure to Alausí. Train trip on the centenarian railroad. This adventure offers you unforgettable and impressive moments, breathtaking landscapes, and the chance to cross the "Devil's Nose". From Alausi by car to Cuenca City visiting Ingapirca Inca’s ruins. It is Ecuador’s most significant archaeological site. Note: This trip depends on whether the train is working or not. Unfortunately, routes are frequently out of order for weeks. In this case, trips are organized in private transportation.
Day 8.- Baños – Via Guaranda a Riobamba:
Through picturesque countryside we drive to Riobamba until 4.800 m high of the majestic Chimborazo „The Lord of the Snow“. We will have a breathtaking view over the valleys from Riobamba and Guaranda. If we are lucky perhaps we may seesome wild Lamas “Vicunas”. Drive to Riobamba city.
Day 11.- Cuenca – Guayaquil:
During our drive to Guayaquil we cross the Nationalpark Cajas where we will walk through the beautiful landescape nearly for two ours. The Nationalpark is located 33 km (northwest of Cuenca, at an altitude of 9,000 to 13,000 feet above the sea level and offers more than 230 lagoons of glacial origin and breathtaking landscapes and unique fauna and flora. Arrival at Guayaquil and short city tour.
Day 10.- Cuenca:
Ecuadorians consider Cuenca as the most beautiful city, a most peaceful and relaxing setting. Cuenca’s cobblestone streets, winding rivers, graceful ironwork balconies, and beautiful gardens are part of the pleasant atmosphere of this historical city. The UNESCO declared Cuenca a World Cultural Heritage Site on December 1999.The city tour starts along the Tomebamba River. You will admire lovely balconies, tiles, pink marble stone and wood with which most of its fantastic houses are built. The Inca ruins (“Todos los Santos”) are visited. Then we visit Gualaceo. This town is specially known for its handicrafts and folklore. Chordeleg is a pre-Incan town where important archeological objects can be found. The artisans offer Ikat ponchos, pottery straw hats and jewelry. This is the place to buy the finest gold and silver filigree at a very reasonable price.
Day 12.-
After breakfast transfer to the Airport for international fligth or flight extension to Galapagos.
