Avenue of the Volcanoes

Arrive Quito, Ecuador’s capital city. Meet your guide and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Quito

Today is spent exploring the the bustling streets and squares of Quito and its surroundings with your local guide. Visit its most important churches, such as the impressive Cathedral, majestic Compañía and iconic San Francisco. See the Congress building, visit the Old Town, and the “Panecillo” hillside, with its breathtaking views of the old and modern city surrounded by the rolling Andes Mountains. Travel to “La Mitad del Mundo”, where the monument is located at latitude 0º 0´0″, and provides for once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to straddle both hemispheres, or hop between the two in the blink of an eye. Lunch is served in a local restaurant. Overnight in Quito

You’ll depart Quito and drive to Cotopaxi National Park. Beginning at Lake Limpiopungo, you’ll walk through striking Andean landscapes, in the ever-present shadow of one of the world’s highest active volcanoes – the snow-capped, perfectly cone-shaped Cotopaxi. Enjoy a box lunch as you go. Overnight at Hacienda La Cienega

Distance: 6.2 miles; Elevation: 12,467 – 12,123 ft

Your path takes you through the dry paramo landscape, a high plateau in the Andes between the tree line and the permanent snow line of the Chimborazo Volcano, Ecuador’s tallest mountain. As you walk, enjoying impressive volcano views, there is the chance to see wild vicuña, a member of the camel family, and related to Alpaca. You may also see the Chimborazo Hillstar Hummingbird, which is endemic to this area. Your lunch will be in a cozy mountain lodge. Overnight at Hacienda Abraspungo

Distance: 1.8 miles; Elevation: 13,123 ft.

You’ll experience Ecuador’s most famous rail journey, along the Devil’s Nose route, an exhilarating ride which zigzags along the steep sided mountains of the Andes. After lunch in a local restaurant, you’ll continue to the Inca ruins at Ingapirca. This afternoon, we’ll arrive in the beautiful city of Cuenca. Overnight at Hotel Carvallo

This morning you’ll head into the mountains outside of Cuenca to Cajas National Park. Your walk takes us passed stunning glacial formations and through polylepis forests. This national park has over 200 paramo lakes and lagoons. A box lunch included. You’ll finish our day in Cuenca this afternoon. Enjoy dinner on your own at one of the many wonderful restaurants. Overnight at Hotel Carvallo

Distance: 4.9 miles; Elevation: 12,467 – 11,483 ft.

This morning you’ll meet your guide for a tour of the beautiful colonial city of Cuenca. Highlights include the old and new Cathedral, the Parque Calderon, the flower market, Plaza San Francisco, the handicraft market, a local Panama hat manufacturer, and the Turi look-out point for lovely panoramic views of the city. This afternoon and evening is at leisure. Overnight at Hotel Carvallo.

Transfer to the airport for your flight, continuing on to the US. Or extend your stay in Ecuador, or South America!