DAY 1
Upon arrival in Quito, the remainder of the afternoon and evening is spent relaxing in a first rate hostel.

DAY 2
Our tour commences with a visit to Quito's impressive colonial district. Here we experience fabulous examples of colonial art and visit some of the grandest churches in South America. After a typical lunch, we will visit the ethnographic museum at the "Middle of the World" monument, a few kilometers north of Quito. Here you are given the oppertunity to have a special ritual with a Shaman. Ironically, the modern designers of the "Middle of the World" monument miscalculated the equator by several meters, while the builders of the ruins were on the mark hundreds of years earlier. On our way to Otavalo for the evening we tour via some pre-incan ruins (B/L/-).

DAY 3
We depart early in the morning to the largest indigenous market in Latin America, at Otavalo. Here, we will explore a vast array of Andean handicrafts including; clothing, jewelry, artwork; armadillo shell guitars, wall hangings, handbags and hammocks. The market also features ceramic works, CDs of native pipe music and native food. Then we take a short drive to the workshop of a local weaver and watch as he weaves clothing on a Spanish treadle loom. He will also demonstrate weaving on the new automatic loom or weaving machine, which has become the loom of choice for modern Andean weavers. We then drive approximately forty minutes north to the Pukyu Pamba community, a family run project, where we enjoy a typical indigenous lunch. Before lunch we will take a short walk through a forest consisting of medicinal plants while a native medicine-man discusses the uses of natural medicine. In the afternoon, we all experience a healing ceremony with a guinea pig (the Andean x-ray), where one of you will be diagnosed by the indigenous doctor, to round up our day we drive back to our hotel in Quito (B/L/-).

DAY 4
After breakfast, we visit the high-altitude Antizana Reserve south of Quito. This private reserve features the Antizana volcano, which has an elevation of 5705m. The reserve is rich in plant and animal life famous for the legendary Andinist flower, or chuquiraguas. Tour guests have the opportunity to take a short walk in the reserve where Andean condors have been spotted on many occasions as they roost in the area. We will stop for lunch at the reserves Hacienda and spend the night in Lasso, Hacienda la Ciénega, or similar (B/L/-).

Andean farm

Ecuador Etnogastronomic Tour

DAY 5
Today we get a close-up view of Ecuadorian gastronomy and feast on the area's wonderful cuisine. We indulge in a meal popular in the highland regions of Ecuador known as Chugchucaras, these consist of potato and cheese croquettes with pork or chicken and “colada morada”, “cuy” (guinea pigs) and more. Shortly after this we visit the Salasaca community, home to a Shaman / Healer, he demonstrates the rituals involved in curing diseases and later illustrates the use of medicinal plants. We spend the night at Hostería Abraspungo in Riobamba (B/L/D).

DAY 6
After breakfast we drive thirty minutes from Riobamba to the Condor Project, a community situated in the high Andean central sierra. The project funds a school and provides lodging for volunteer workers from around the world, and for mountain climbers preparing to ascend the nearby volcano, Chimborazo, Ecuador's highest peak. In addition to visiting the school, we visit the community's handicrafts, spend time learning about daily life and visit the women's weaving cooperative. The area surrounding the community including the inactive volcano is a protected ecosystem of unique wildlife. In the afternoon we drive to the Ingapirca, Ecuador's most important pre-Columbian ruin, a monument built by the Cañari and Inca cultures. Overnight in Cuenca at Hotel Carvallo, Crespo or similar (B/BL/-).

Cuenca locals

Coastal bananas

DAY 7
Near Cuenca we visit the Kushi Wayra project where we spend the day with the local community and experience life in the "mingas", a working collective. Here we enjoy a "pampamesa", a picnic featuring local food of the region, including corn, oats, potatoes, rice, chicken and of course cuy (guinea pig). Following this we take a walk through the local forest and learn of the medicinal plants. After, we return to Cuenca and explore this colonial city, often referred to as the Athens of South America. While here, a visit to the Homero Ortega P. & Hijos Panama hat factory is made and see the process by which the hats are made. Panama hats, by the way, are manufactured exclusively in Ecuador. They were given their name during the construction of the Panama Canal, a century ago, when large quantities of the hats were worn by canal workers. We end a busy day with a meal at one of Cuenca's most elegant restaurants and spend the night in our Cuenca hotel (B/L/D).

DAY 8
After breakfast we depart for Guayaquil, Ecuador's major port and largest city. As we descend from the Andes, we pass vast haciendas producing bananas, coffee, mangoes, rice, sugar cane and of course cacao. Upon close inspection you will see beans and grain spread out by the side of the road, naturally drying in the sun. Overnight in Guayaquil Hotel Hampton Inn, Oro Verde, or similar (B/L/-).

DAY 9 [and beyond]
It is possible to extend your Ecuadorian vacation if you wish with a tour of the Amazon jungle, a Galapagos cruise, Spanish lessons or a trip to Peru's famous Macchu Picchu. The choice is yours.
Please make arrangements in advance.

Price: Please ask one of our trip advisors.