4 Day itinerary in Ecuador, South America
Private Experience Highlights of Quito, Capital of Ecuado...
.Quito, the capital of Ecuador, resides high in the Andes at 2,850m above sea level, astounding visitors with even higher peaks. It is flanked by the impressive Pichincha Volcano, accessible via cable car for a breathtaking view of the city. Quito’s primary attraction is a beautifully preserved hist... Read More
By Pablo, Marilda and Pablo
Overview
Physical Difficulty
Average
Recommended Age
Everyone
Operated in
English, Spanish
GUIDANCE
On Some Day Trips
starting point
Quito
trip type
Private
trip attributes
Indigenous culture
Culture & History
Meet local people
Visit markets
Start/End
Night
Highlights
Quito
Otavalo
Cumbaya Valley.
Cotacachi Village
Quito
Otavalo
Cumbaya Valley.
Cotacachi Village
Itinerary
High-end Accommodation
Accommodation Categories
Day 1
Quito, Arrival at International Airport
Upon arrival to the Mariscal Sucre International Airport, you will have a private transfer to your hotel in Quito. Look for a sign with your name on it when arriving. The airport is located in the town of Tababela, about 43 km from Quito and takes between 45 minutes to one hour to arrive, depending on traffic conditions. Overnight @ Hotel Hilton Colon - Standard Room
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation:
- High-end Accommodation: Hilton Colon Quito
Day 2
Explore Quito and Middle of the World
QUITO CITY TOUR: OLD TOWN AND MIDDLE OF THE WORLD (6 hours)Private Services During the historical city tour of Quito, you will explore the best preserved colonial center of all of South America. As one of the first World Heritage Sites, it will be an unforgettable experience as if you were stepping back in time. The first stop is the Basilica del Voto Nacional. Due to its size and style, it is considered the largest neo-Gothic temple in the Americas, and the most important piece of neo-gothic architecture in Ecuador. You will continue to the Plaza Grande, or Independence Square. Admire the historical buildings surrounding the square and it’s important history! Located here is the Presidential Palace, the Catholic Cathedral, and the Archbishop's Palace. Another visit you will enjoy is the most impressive of all churches, the San Francisco de Quito. The church houses masterpieces of talented indigenous artists from the famous methods of Escuela Quiteña, “Quito School”, which are the artistic traditions associated with the 17th and 18th centuries. Walk through the lively colonial streets of the old town to visit other historical highlights such as the Panecillo, from where you will have an amazing 360 degree view over the city. The second part of this tour will take place at the north part of the city (35 minutes’ drive from Quito's Old Town) where the equator line meets the prime meridian and the coordinates indicate point 0° 0’ 0”. The Intiñan Museum is a smaller, but highly interactive museum located right next to the Mitad del Mundo Monument. Even though the monument features the division of the equator, when technology improved, geologists and cartographers realized the real equator line was just a bit off. It features outdoor exhibits of astronomical geography and explanations of the importance of Ecuador’s geographical location. One of the highlights are the solar dials, fun experiments that can only be done here, li
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation:
- High-end Accommodation: Hilton Colon Quito
Day 3
Explore Otavalo Cloud Forest
Visit Otavalo & surroundings You´ll be picked up from your hotel to head towards Imbabura known as “The Province of the Lakes”. The highway offers a lovely view passing through Calderón and Guayllabamba valleys. We will make short stop here to get to know more about local culture. Passing through Cayambe we can get a sight of the snow-capped volcano (5,790m.), the world´s highest point crossed by the Equator Line. This small town is also famous for its salt biscuits with “leaf cheese” and “manjar”. We can make a stop here to try this delacy, before we continue to the Imbabura province, named after the Imbabura Volcanoe, where we will first head to the largest lake in Ecuador, the San Pablo. We will then enter Otavalo City that holds a local Market every day, the biggest are on Wednesdays and Saturdays, an ancient tradition and cultural exchange site among the Otavalo community. Furthermore we visit the peaceful Cotacachi Village, famous for its leather, and meet the local craftsmen. After a last visit to the charming Cuicocha Crater Lake we will head back to Quito in the late afternoon. Overnight @ Hotel Hilton Colon - Standard Room
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation:
- High-end Accommodation: Hilton Colon Quito
Day 4
Departure from Quito, Ecuador
Private transfer from your hotel to Quito Airport with an English speaking guide. END OF OUR SERVICES
Meals: Breakfast
What’s Included
Accommodation
- Hilton Colon Quito
Meals
- Breakfast (4)
Transport
- Private transportation for all routes
Extras
- 3 Nights @ Hotel Hilton Colon (breakfast & taxes included)
- English speaking Guide
- Entrance to Intinam Museum
Not Included
- Internal Flights are NOT included, we can certainly help you to book these if you need us to.
- There are optionals activities which you can add to your experience, please check with us.
- Gratuities (optional)
- Extras or personal expenses
About Pablo
TEAM LEAD
+2 Local experts
Baboo Certified
5 (6 reviews)
Hi! I´m Pablo Freddi and I´m 33 years old. I´m lucky enough to say I have been in Signature Tours creating, developing and assisting with tour services in Argentina for 10 years to nearly 150.000 passengers.
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