Ecuador Travel - Sample itinerary for the Andes: Five days | andes

Andes

Sample itinerary for the Andes: Five days

San Francisco Square, Quito.

1st day: Tour of Quito

Discover the enchanting contrast between Modern Quito, with its tall buildings and wide streets, and the Historical Center, which is brimming with impressive churches such as the Cathedral, El Sagrario, La Compañía, and San Francisco, among others. Visit other historical sites, including the Plaza Grande and the Palacio de Gobierno (Government Palace). Look out over the colonial city from Panecillo Hill, where you will find the only winged virgin statue in South America.
In the afternoon, visit Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World), where you can stand on the Equator line, or look out over the entire city in a 15-minute cable ride up Pichincha Volcano at the “Teleférico de Quito”.

Otavalo handicrafts market.

2nd day: Quito – Otavalo – Cuicocha

Visit Calderón in the north of Quito, where craftsmen make figures out of marzipan (a local material). Enjoy the attractive Andean landscapes before arriving at the indigenous market in Otavalo, home to the world-famous ‘Poncho Fair.’ In the afternoon, visit Cotacachi, famous for the high-quality leather goods that are made there. Cotacachi is on the road to Cuicocha, a turquoise lake found within an ancient volcanic crater.

Cotopaxi National Park.

3rd day: Quito – Cotopaxi National Park – Riobamba

Travel from Quito to Cotopaxi National Park, home to the tallest active volcano in the world (5,897 m / 19,350 feet). Visit the archaeological center of El Salitre and take a walk around Limpiopungo Lake. Later on, visit the park’s interpretation center. In the afternoon, head to Riobamba, an interesting colonial city and the birthplace of Ecuador’s first Constitution in 1830.

Riobamba.

4th day: Riobamba – train – Ingapirca – Cuenca

Travel along the Panamericana highway, passing though some of the most picturesque indigenous areas of the Andes. Arrive at the train station in Guamote or Alausi to experience the adventure of traveling from the high Andes to the lowlands down the Nariz del Diablo (Devil’s Nose), an engineering masterpiece. Continue on to Ingapirca (3,100 m / 10,168 feet), one of the most important archaeological sites in Ecuador, and then head onwards to Cuenca.
IMPORTANT: The train normally runs on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

Puerta de la Ciudad (City’s door), Loja.

5th day: Tour of Cuenca – El Cajas National Park

Visit to one of the most beautiful colonial cities in Ecuador. Walk through the cobblestone streets and admire the charming wrought iron balconies and plazas brimming with flowers.
Visit the impressive new Cathedral on one side and the fascinating old Cathedral on the other side. See the colonial houses that line one of the four rivers of Cuenca: “El Tomebamba”. Visit a company that makes Panama hats. In the afternoon, visit El Cajas National Park, its paper trees (Polylepis), and some of the 232 different sized lakes among the steep mountains.

Comments (0)

Show/hide comments

Show/hide comment form

Write comment

Move

Ecuador and its four worlds

In this section

Summary

Blue footed boobie nesting.

Nature at its purest Galapagos is one of the most important national parks in the world. It has 13 main islands and dozens of islets and minor volcanic islands. This archipelago, 97% of which is protected by the government, is located almost 620 miles from the Ecuadorian coast and is characterized by its white-sand beaches, cactus forests, giant turtles, and colored birds – such as the blue-footed, redfooted and masked boobies, flamingos, and penguins. The Islands...

The city of Guayaquil seen from Santa Ana hill.

Where the green beaches meet the sea Beautiful beaches are found from north to south on the Ecuadorian Pacific coast. Alongside ports, fishing villages, and modern cities, dense protected forests grow with their gigantic and moist terracotta roots. The tallest mangroves in the world (64 meters / 194 feet) are found in the Majagual forest in the Cayapas-Mataje Ecological Reserve. In Machalilla National Park,...

Antisana volcano.

Avenue of the volcanoes In the mythical Andes mountains, there are volcanoes that are more than 16,400 feet/5,000 meters high and are permanently covered with snow and glaciers dating back to ancient times. The tallest active volcano in the world, Cotopaxi (19,350 feet/5,897 meters above sea level), is the perfect setting for charming villages and fertile valleys. Chimborazo (20,702 feet/6,310 meters above sea level) has five summits on flanks of rocks and an extensive Andean plateau. Cayambe...

Yasuni National Park.

From the Andean peaks to the Amazon Rainforest Visitors will find that Ecuador offers the easiest access to the Amazon. In just a few hours, visitors can travel from the Andean peaks to the jungle. Volcanoes such as El Sangay and El Altar, with their numerous and sharp peaks, can be seen from the exuberant and dense vegetation of the Amazon. Reserves and national parks are home to hundreds of bird and fish species. They are also home to tapirs, anacondas, boa constrictors, turtles,...