Ecuador Essentials
MIDDLE OF THE WORLD
QUITO
MASHPI LODGE
OTAVALO MARKET
COTOPAXI VOLCANO
PAPALLACTA HOT SPRINGS
The beauty of the Andes features cloud forests, rainforests, and impressive volcanoes. Enjoy the local communities and their ancestral traditions. Meet the tropical paradise of Mindo, the colorful Otavalo Market, and the Cotopaxi National Park. Enjoy diverse cultures from the comfort of luxury haciendas, resorts, and hotels. Each journey promises an unforgettable stay.
7 Days / 6 Nights
Day 1 Arrive to Quito
Welcome to Quito! America’s largest, best-preserved colonial city. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1978, the city is considered the Cultural Capital of South America and is located on the equator in a valley at the foothills of the Pichincha volcano. (If interested in a day tour, please request in advance).
ACCOMMODATION: Illa Experience Hotel
Day 2 Equator Line / Río Blanco
You will be collected from your Hotel at 8:30 A.M. by Mashpi transportation. Then, you will meet the monument of 'The Middle of the World', which marks where the equator is. Then, you will go downhill towards Río Blanco, appreciating the changing wildlife. And finally, you will be directed to the exclusive Mashpi Lodge.
ACCOMMODATION: Mashpi Lodge
Day 3 Secret Wildlife of Mashpi
Beginning in the morning, you can enjoy Mashpi’s facilities and the different activities around the area. For example, you can enjoy the local waterfalls and swimming there, the Hummingbird Garden, or the Life Center’s butterflies. Enjoy the aerial Sky bike and the observation tower in the afternoon. And at night, you can attend many lectures on the local wildlife and the projects developed around the area.
ACCOMMODATION: Mashpi Lodge
Day 4 Otavalo Market
Going back to the Highlands and up north, we will drive to the famous town of Otavalo. There, you can stroll around the reknown Indigenous Market. You are free to buy any goods you find attractive. You can then discover the wonderful town of Cotacachi. There, you can admire the fine leather goods, learn about the beautiful town, or relax while drinking coffee. You will cap the day at La Mirage Garden Hotel & Spa with a warm Andean cocktail.
ACCOMMODATION: La Mirage Garden Hotel & Spa
Day 5 Cuicocha crater lake & Papallacta Hot Springs
On this day, you can enjoy the different Cotacachi Cayapas ecological reserve and appreciate its mesmerizing landscapes. Then we will go to Peguche, where you can have a unique cultural experience with communities in the heart of the Andes. In the Afternoon, we will head to Papallacta Hot Springs or 'Termas Papallactas' —a resort that perfectly balances comfort and nature.
ACCOMMODATION: Termas Papallacta Spa
Day 6 Cotopaxi National Park
After breakfast and a final dip in the hot springs, a drive south on the Pan-American Highway leads to Cotopaxi, the highest active volcano in the world. The national park, rich in plant life and fauna, features Inca ruins. The visit starts at the interpretation center, followed by a drive to Limpiopungo Lake. A short walk around the lake offers birdwatching and stunning views of the symmetrical Cotopaxi cone. The day concludes with a return to Quito for the last dinner.
ACCOMMODATION: Illa Experience Hotel
Day 7 Departure – End of services
We are at your disposition on your last day with us. You will be taken to the airport for your international departure and the end of services. Be sure to save your memories and souvenirs on this enchanted land, and as always, “buen viaje”!
Map
Highlights
- Quito a UNESCO World Heritage site
- Enjoy the Otavalo Market
- Equator Line
- Mindo
- Cuicocha Crater Lake
- Papallacta Hot Springs
- Cotopaxi Volcano
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The beauty of the Andes features cloud forests, rainforests, and impressive volcanoes. Enjoy the local communities and their ancestral traditions. Meet the tropical paradise of Mindo, the colorful Otavalo Market, and the Cotopaxi National Park.
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