Southern Andes & Cuenca

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

This morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Cuenca. Upon arrival you’ll meet your guide go on a walking tour of the beautiful colonial city of Cuenca. See the cathedral and main plaza, the flower market, a local Panama hat manufacturer, a ceramic workshop and a stroll along the banks of the Tomebamba River. After lunch in a local restaurant, visit Cuenca’s Central Bank Museum where many historical artifacts from the region are on display. You’ll also see the Canari (indigenous people) archeological dig and the lovely botanical garden. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. 2 hours; Elevation: 8,202 ft. Overnight at Hotel Casa del Aguila

After breakfast, your guide will take you north to the Ingapirca Inca Ruins for a walk around this lovely Andean region, part of which is classified as Ecuador’s Inca Trail. After lunch enjoy a guided visit to the fascinating Inca ruins themselves. Return to Cuenca for dinner. 2.5hrs; Elevation: 10,500 ft. Overnight at Hotel Casa del Aguila

This morning we head into the mountains outside of Cuenca to Cajas National Park. Our walk takes us past stunning glacial formations and through polylepis forests. This national park has over 200 paramo lakes and lagoons. We’ll enjoy a box lunch in our beautiful surroundings. Return to Cuenca for dinner at our hotel. Distance: 5 miles; Elevation: 12,450 – 11,500 ft.
Overnight at Hotel Casa del Aguila

We’ll visit another part of Cajas National Park today. Our walk will take us around an old glacial lake which sits at the bottom of a flat glacial valley, and through the Andean forests. A highlight is the wild ponies found in the valley. Lunch included. We’ll return to Cuenca where you can enjoy dinner on your own. Distance: 3.5 miles; Elevation: 11,1500 ft.
Overnight at Hotel Casa del Aguila

You’ll transfer to the airport, then fly to Quito, or continue your travels in Ecuador or other parts of South America. Fly home – or extend your stay in South America!