Duration: 10 days

Itinerary

Day 1 (includes lunch and dinner) Arrival in Quito. Pick up from airport and transfer to hotel. Depending on arrival time, lunch and free afternoon to rest. After dinner briefing about the program by our tour leader.

Day 2 (includes breakfast, lunch and dinner) After breakfast we leave Quito and drive towards San Pablo Lake (2 hours). On our way we will stop at Calderón, which is a small town outside Quito where the famous “mazapan dolls” (bread dough) are manufactured. We will learn how they are produced and with the help of talented ladies each of us will manufacture one mazapan doll. To manufacture the mazapan doll, we will use our hands to squeeze the dough, then we will mix the dough with water and give it the shape we want….(kind of like playing with playdough)…Then with the help of the ladies we will cover the figures with all the ornaments used for decoration of the dolls. We will continue our trip towards San Pablo Lake. The tour leader will describe the beautiful views of the Andes. San Pablo Lake will be our headquarters for visiting Otavalo, Cotacachi and the surrounding lakes. We will have a typical lunch which includes potato tortillas, pork, avocado, peanut sauce and boiled corn. Check in at a very cozy hotel at the Lake shore. In the afternoon we will visit the town of Ibarra where we will enjoy “helado de paila” (typical ice cream). We will return to the hotel for dinner.

Day 3 (includes breakfast, lunch and dinner) After breakfast we will visit Otavalo, the most famous indigenous market. We will experience a mix of exotic sounds and smells. Our guide will describe how hundreds of local artists offer their products in this market. We can learn about the process of manufacturing the handicrafts, while we have a conversation with the indigenous. We will use the sense of touch to learn the difference in quality between several handicrafts articles. Lunch in Otavalo and then we will head towards Peguche Village, where we will learn how to manufacture traditional wind music instruments. We will listen to each one of the instruments the indigenous use, and try to play them too. Return to hotel for dinner.

Day 4 (includes breakfast, lunch and dinner) After breakfast we will visit Cotacachi, which is the most famous town in Ecuador for leather products made by local indigenous people. We will drive back to Quito after lunch.

Day 5 (includes breakfast, lunch and dinner) After breakfast we drive to the Amazon. On our way we will cross two mountain chains and will drive though seven different climate floors. We will make our first stop at Papallacta. This is a place known for its thermal waters. We will enjoy the experience of getting in the thermal pools. In the afternoon we can also go for a guide hike, experiencing the beauty of the “Andean Paramo” (very high altitude), where the wind blows, and hits the unique vegetation of the Paramo. For the less adventures they can stay at the hotel and enjoy a relaxing massage. We will spend the night in Papallacta, enjoying a hot cup of coffee in front of the fire place.

Day 6 (includes breakfast, lunch and dinner) Today we will continue our trip to the Amazon. The trip includes a visit to an Environmental Communication Centre in the entrance to the Amazon Region, where we will be lecture about most important facts for the Amazon conservation. Arrival at Huasquila Amazon Lodge (accessible) welcome cocktail and briefing. Rest of the afternoon to enjoy the sound around the lodge (birds, crickets)

Day 7 (includes breakfast, lunch and dinner) After breakfast and we will visit an animal rescue center with local animals that have been recovered from illegal animal trade. If you wish we can safely experience the touch of different animals natives of the Amazon, such as boas, baby ocelots, monkeys. For the afternoon we will visit a typical indigenous community called Rukullacta. There we will learn about the way the indigenous from this area keep their traditions and at the same time have adapted to 21st century costumes. For the more adventure ones a shaman (indigenous doctor) will be ready to perform a “limpieza” (cleanning of the body and the soul).

Day 8 (includes breakfast, lunch and dinner) After breakfast we will drive back towards Quito. The afternoon we will have time to visit shops and markets or relax at the hotel. For the evening we will attend a typical ballet presentation where through listening to the music and touching their outfits you can sense the magic of this typical ballet.

Day 9 (includes breakfast, lunch and dinner) Visit to Quito’s Colonial Center, declared World Culture Heritage by UNESCO. Visit the churches and squares and get to know their history and most interesting facts. We will use small figure representation for each attraction which will be detailed by the tour leader. Visit to the Middle of the World monument, which is located on the Equator and where you can actually move between the southern and northern hemispheres in one second. We will visit the Inti-Ñam museum where we will witness some experiments that prove we are in the Middle of the World. After dinner we will give you a final overview of the trip with a presentation and explanation of all the pictures we have taken during the excursions. We will give every guest a CD with the pictures as a remembrance gift.

Day 10 (includes all meals before flight)

Departure

The price includes:

• All tours and activities specified in program
• Accommodations specified in program
• All entrance fees during tours and activities specified in program
• All meals specified in program
• Transportation specified in program

The price doesn’t include:

• International airfares and airport taxes
• Any expenses not specified in program (personal expenses, alcoholic beverages, souvenirs, laundry, etc)
• Equipment rental or supply (if necessary)
• Personal insurance
• Any medical expenses

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