Itinerary (5 Days)
Day 1. Quito: Transfer airport => Hotel. Accommodation
Day 2. Quito: City Tour- Colonial plazas, buildings and churches display a bizarre and fascinating mix of Spanish and indigenous styles. Visit an art gallery and the Panecillo hill (winged virgin) lookout. Entrance fees to churches are included. Middle of the world: Visit the Equatorial Monument and Intiñan Museum (optional); Accommodation
B
Day 3. Quito – Otavalo – Quito: North of Quito, visit the small villages of the northern Andes and the Otavalo Indigenous market, the most important in South America.
B
Day 4. Quito – Mindo – Quito: Northwest of Quito you will find the valley of Mindo and its cloud forest, with an extensive flora and fauna including medicinal plants, birds, butterflies, reptiles, and mammals. You may visit a Butterfly Farm or Orchid Garden, and if you take the cable car across the creek, you can walk and swim by waterfalls.
B
Day 5. Quito: Transfer Out.
B
Highlights
Andean Valleys The irregular topography of the Andes creates a beautiful backdrop for the passing rivers and snow-capped mountains.
Mindo A small place located in the cloud forest outside of Quito and full of activities and natural experiences: you may go tubing, hiking in the cloud forest, and swim under waterfalls, all while enjoying a primary forest with immense biodiversity and exotic bird species.
Mitad del Mundo Here you can stand on the equator! There is a large monument with an ethnographic museum, stores for shopping, and restaurants. The area also includes small museums, one of them holding an excellent miniature model of Quito. HOWEVER, modern GPS technology shows that the actual equator line is 240m away from the area, where you will find the Intiñan Museum.
The Otavalo Market A famous indigenous gathering, where local communities get together and share their social life and bring out their goods - such as woodcarvings, tapestries, wool sweaters, ponchos, Andean musical instruments, paintings, etc - for sale and trade. Many different forms of folk art can be appreciated and bought at low prices.
Quito’s Historical City Centre Colonial plazas, buildings and churches display a fascinating mixture of Spanish and indigenous styles. The city was the first place in the world to be designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978.
MINDO Located at a lower elevation than Quito, the climate is warmer. Wear a jacket you can take off at your convenience. Breathable clothing recommended. Comfortable shoes or hiking boots recommended (it may get muddy). It is a cloud forest and it is prone to rain, so a raincoat is also recommended. Bathing suit (just in case).
Details
Meet / Depart
Hotel of your choice in Quito, Ecuador.
Includes
2 Airport Transfers
Transportation
City Tour and visit to the Equator (LTE-QDT003)
Otavalo Market Tour LTE-QDT006
Mindo Full Day Tour
Cable Car & Waterfalls
Butterfly Farm
4 nights in selected hotel in Quito
English Speaking Guide
Meals as listed in the itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner)
Not Included
Meals not listed
Entrance fee to the Intiñan Museum
Anything not specified
