16-Day Ultimate Encounter in Ecuador

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Today, you'll be up early to go and explore Quito. To get a good idea of the city, you will firstly go to the Panecillo, a small hill over the city with a statue of the Quito' Virgin, with a splendid 360º view. Then, you will explore the colonial centre: the church of the Compañia de Jesus, the church of San Francisco, the Grand Place and Quito's Cathedral. You'll then travel to San Clemente stopping at the Quitsato Sundial or Latitude 0 as it's also known on the way.

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This morning, you'll assist the people of the communities in their work with animals or in the preparation of meals. You'll then go to Otavalo's famous indigenous market, the most significant in the Ecuadorian Andes, where you can meet the "Otavaleños" with their espadrilles, their brown felt hat and blue ponchos. They are the wealthiest Indians in Ecuador and excellent sellers. You'll then travel to Hacienda Pinsaqui where you will spend the night.

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This morning, you'll enjoy a little horseriding tour around the Pinsaqui Hacienda property. After checking out, you'll visit Cuicocha Lake in the Ecological Reserve of Cotacachi, one of the most beautiful in Ecuador with shiny blue water. You will then visit the village of Peguche, with its sacred fall and its Andean music instrument fabrication workshops. You will return to Quito from Otavalo through this magnificent mountain scenery.

This morning, you'll travel to the airport for your flight to Coca, the gateway to the Amazon rainforest. Your local guide will meet you and lead you to your motorised canoe. You'll sail for around two hours to reach the Yasuni National Park. After a welcome drink, you will be given some info about the Napo Cultural Center and then you will go for a short walk down to the banks of the Napo River to enjoy a beautiful sunset and later, you'll fall asleep to the sounds of the Amazon rainforest.

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After an early breakfast, you'll visit an amazing parrot clay lick that brings visitors face to face with more than 10 species of parrots. You will then visit the Interpretation Center "Kuri Muyu" handled by the women of the community. Here you will learn about the Kichwa culture, crafts, traditions and traditional use of natural resources. After lunch, you'll head out to discover the canal of black water and you also will go for a walk in the hope of spotting caimans.

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After breakfast, you'll visit some community projects, talk about the worldview Kichwa and be given an explanation about the ancestral medicine. You'll also take a walk on the Mama Cuna road; an excellent opportunity to see more wildlife such as ceiba trees, strangler, bamboo cane, vines and shrubs endemic to Yasuni. After lunch at the lodge, you'll head down the river in a canoe on a spectacular adventure through the forest to see the nightlife and listen to the sounds of nature at its purest.

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If you want, you can get up at 4:30 am to share one of the ancient customs of the Kichwa culture: making wayusa to energise the body and mind, to listen to Kichwa songs and think about important issues in a peaceful and unique way. After breakfast at the lodge, you'll head back to Coca and to the airport for your flight to Quito. At the airport in Quito, you'll be met and transferred to your accommodation in Cotopaxi National Park.

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Today, you'll visit the Cotopaxi National park with Ecuador's second-highest summit at 5897 metres. Afterwards, you will walk around the Limpiapungo Lagoon with its stunning view of Cotopaxi. After driving up to the car park at 4600 metres you will continue by foot to the José Rivas hut 200 metres higher. Later, you will take part in a traditional cooking class to prepare a typical dish of the Andes. Afterwards, you'll enjoy what you've made!

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This morning, you'll enter Cotopaxi National Park again and visit the Quilotoa Lagoon. The emerald-coloured Quilotoa Lake at 3854 metres lies in a still-active volcano, its colour is due to the presence of sulfur. If you wish, you can take a walk until the laguna or simply enjoy the view from the top of the crater. On the way to Riobamba, your next destination, you will stop in the area of Tigua where the speciality is the coloured paintings on sheep leather representing the life in the Andes.

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Today, you'll travel to Guamote and visit the Inti Sisa foundation to discover the projects, the kindergarten and where they teach sewing, computer and English. After that, you will drive through the mountains and learn more about Guamote's history, indigenous culture and traditions. You'll stop at a primary school and a traditional waver. Back in Guamote, you'll visit the market, one of the most authentic and colourful in Ecuador. You will spend the night at the Inti Sisa community, in Guamote.

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Today, you will participate in some agriculture activities with the community. You'll then continue your tour on foot into the community where you will engage with the locals, see traditional homes, enjoy authentic drinks and walk through the communities. After lunch in the community, you will visit the archaeological complex of Ingapirca, which is a very interesting archaeological site from the time of the Incas. Afterwards, you will return to the community to have a Quichua class.

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A truly Ecuadorian experience, today, you'll learn about some sacred spots in the mountains before you prepare for lunch at a pampa table. This is a unique experience unmatched among Ecuador travel. You'll learn about the ceremonies that surround this social gathering and its importance before dining.

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Today, you'll explore the city of Cuenca is a colourful and lively city with superb historic buildings was classified as a World Heritage by UNESCO in 1999. The best way to feel the warm colours of Cuenca is to walk around its paved streets, along the white houses with roman tiled roofs and flourishing wrought-iron balconies. You can visit the new and old cathedral and discover the colonial art treasures within its streets. You'll also visit a Panama hat workship, a speciality of Ecuador.

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Today, with your local guide, you will follow up Western Cordillera to El Cajas National Park from Cuenca where you will enjoy stunning views over the many lakes of this protected area. El Cajas National Park is home to 235 glacial lakes, connected by small rivers and streams. The park is home to archaeological sites, among several other sections of Qapaq Nan, the real Inca Trail, which connects the coast with the mountains and fells. After this walk, you'll continue to Guayaquil.