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 will take a short drive to the workshop of 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 about 40 minutes north to the Pukyu Pamba community, a family run project, where we will enjoy a typical indigenous lunch. Before lunch we will take a short walk through a medicinal plants forest while a native medicine man discusses the uses of natural medicine. In the afternoon, we will experience a healing with a guinea pig (the Andean x-ray), where one of you will be diagnosed by the indigenous doctor, we drive back to our hotel in Quito (B/L/-).

DAY 4
After breakfast, we visit the high-altitude Antizana Reserve south of Quito. The private reserve includes the Antizana volcanoe, which has an elevation of 5705 meters. The reserve is rich in plant and animal life and features the legendary Andinist flower, or chuquiraguas. Tourists may also catch a glimpse of an Andean condor, which roosts in the area. Tour guests will have the opportunity to take a short walk in the reserve. We will stop for lunch at the reserves Hacienda. Overnight in Lasso, Hacienda la Ciénega, or similar (B/L/-).

DAY 5
Today we get a close-up view of Ecuadorian gastronomy and feast on the area's wonderful food, we will indulge in a meal popular in the highlands region of Ecuador, the Chugchucaras, which are potato and cheese croquettes with pork or chicken, also “colada morada”, “cuy” (guinea pigs) and more. We will visit the Salasaca community, where a Shaman / Healer will show us their special rituals to cure people’s diseases and receive another lesson in the uses of medicinal plants. Overnight at Hostería Abraspungo in Riobamba (B/L/D).

DAY 6
After breakfast we drive 30 minutes from Riobamba to the Condor Project in 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 will see the community's handicrafts, spend time learning about daily life and visit the women's weaving cooperative. The area around the community and 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 to the Cañari and Inca cultures. Overnight in Cuenca at Hotel Carvallo, Crespo or similar (B/BL/-).

DAY 7
Near Cuenca we will visit the Kushi Wayra project and spend the day with the community. We will experience life in the "mingas", a working collective, and enjoy a "pampamesa", a country picnic featuring the food of the region, including corn, oats, potatoes, rice, chicken and, of course, cuy (guinea pig). We will walk through the local forest and have another lesson in medicinal plants. After lunch we drive back to Cuenca and tour this colonial city that is often referred to as the Athens of South America. We will visit the Homero Ortega P. & Hijos Panama hat factory, and see the process by which the hats are made. Panama hats, by the way, are manufactured exclusively in Ecuadorian. 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. Overnight at our hotel in Cuenca (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. If you look closely, you will see beans and grain spread out by the side of the road, drying in the sun. Overnight in Guayaquil Hotel Hampton Inn, Oro Verde, or similar (B/L/-).

DAY 9 [and beyond]
If you wish, you can extend your Ecuadorian vacation with a tour of the Amazon jungle, a Galapagos cruise or a trip to Peru's famous Macchu Picchu ruins. You may also want to return to Quito or Cuenca for intensive Spanish language training, or you can take the saddest decision to go back home.
Please make arrangements in advance.

Price: $1800 per person in double occupancy

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