7 days in the Andes: culture & nature revitalization tour

quito

Tag 1: Welcome to Quito!

Upon arrival, you'll be picked up from the airport and transferred to your hotel in the Ecuadorian capital. The historic center of Quito is one of the first World Cultural Heritage Sites declared by UNESCO. It is also one of the places with the highest concentration of churches per square kilometer in the world!

Quito - Otavalo

Tag 2: Take a tour of Quito

Did you know that Quito is known as La Carita de Dios ("The Little Face of God" in English) because of the high number of skilfully ornamented colonial churches and monasteries?

Start the day with a tour of Quito. Highlights include a visit to El Panecillo, which offers panoramic views of the city and surrounding volcanoes, and the Old Town, where you can participate in La Limpia (a spiritual ceremony or ritual from the Andes, used by certain ethnic groups for healing purposes to get rid of negative energies, relax, and achieve peace). This is a unique way to learn about the authentic culture, traditions, and cosmovision of Ecuador's ancestral Indigenous communities.

After the tour, pack up and make tracks for Otavalo, visiting the agricultural service city of Cayambe en route.

Otavalo - Peguche - Otavalo

Tag 3: Explore Otavalo's Indigenous market

Visit Otavalo’s artisan market on Plaza de Los Ponchos, where you can get a bargain on alpaca sweaters, ponchos, hammocks, and other souvenirs. This region is also famous for its woven textiles. Besides crafts, clothing and household items, exotic fruits, vegetables, spices, and meat are also traded here. 

Take a cooking class with an Indigenous Kichwa family - perfect for lovers of Otavalan cuisine. A local chef will guide you through the process, step by step until a final taste testing. Then, after lunch, enjoy live traditional Ecuadorian music. Did you know the highlands region of Ecuador is home to various styles of music, including sanjuanito?

Take a break from the busy surroundings with a trip to the Peguche Waterfall, sacred to the locals and known as a spot for shamanistic ceremonies. From there, you'll head back to your hacienda to spend a relaxing night.

Otavalo - Quitsato - Papallacta

Tag 4: Tour the gems of Quitsato

Enjoy breakfast before visiting the Quitsato Sundial, the only monument in the middle of the world located exactly on the Equatorial Line. Here you will find a huge solar clock, featuring marks for the solstices and equinoxes.

Next, pay a visit to Quitsato's agave garden, then continue to a gorgeous rose farm to marvel at the many varieties produced; your host will share interesting insights into this flourishing Ecuadorian industry.

Lastly, you'll journey to a resort dedicated to the volcanic hot springs of Papallacta, where you will spend the night feeling completely relaxed and content.

Papallacta - San Isidro Reserve

Tag 5: Soak in volcanic hot springs

Today, it's time to relax in nature! Visit the first-class volcanic hot springs of Papallacta, which offer both relaxation and curative properties for many physical ailments. These pools are located amidst ornamental gardens, filled with exotic flowers that are often visited by hummingbirds.

Just behind the thermal bath complex is a short trail, the Sendero de la Isla. It follows the mountain stream through the upper montane cloud forest, just below the treeline and the paramo. Take a walk to admire the local flora, including plenty of epiphytes such as bromeliads and wild orchids. Don’t forget to keep an eye on the sky! An Andean condor from the nearby Antisanilla Ecological Reserve might soar over. Of course, you'll have views of the Antisana Volcano to enjoy as you go.

After your walk, continue to the San Isidro Cloud Forest Reserve to spend the night in complete serenity.

San Isidro Reserve - San Jose De Puembo

Tag 6: Explore the beautiful San Isidro Reserve

The eastern side of the Andes hides a lush cloud forest that's home to an immense variety of species. Within the San Isidro Reserve, you may spot hundreds of bird species, many of which are endemic to the area. If you're lucky, you'll also spot rare mammals such as the black agouti, night monkeys, and the Andean tapir. Your accommodation here is surrounded with observation areas, perfect for birdwatchers and nature lovers alike.

From the main lodge, take a stroll to arrive at an area covered with delicate white flowers - you might spot multiple species of butterflies sipping nectar here. This beautiful expanse teems with life and beauty, making for a pleasant and photogenic walk in nature. The orchid garden is another highlight you won't want to miss, before packing up and returning to Quito.

San Jose De Puembo - Mariscal Sucre Quito International Airport

Tag 7: Farewell!

After breakfast, you will check out of your hotel and be transferred to Mariscal Sucre Quito International Airport for your onward flight. Have a safe journey!