Cuenca to Quito 4 or 5 Day Tour with Chimborazo, Quilotoa, Baños and Cotopaxi.

A great option to discover the stunning scenery and highlights of the Ecuadorian Andes on our Cuenca to Quito (One way) private 4-day or 5-day tour. Alongside an experienced tour guide, explore top Ecuador's highlights including Cotopaxi volcano, Quilotoa crater lake, Pailon del Diablo waterfall, indigenous markets, and the Ingapirca Inca ruins. Your package is inclusive of accommodation and most meals for a hassle-free experience.

Highlights
- Enjoy a flexible and perzonalized private tour
- Learn about Ecuador's history, culture, nature and geology from your licensed guide.
- Optional excursion to Chimborazo, for an added fee.
- Upgrade to include accommodation in top hotels.

Itinerary

Day 1: Cuenca – Ingapirca – Alausi

Stop At: Ingapirca Archaeological Complex, Ingapirca Ecuador
From Cuenca we’ll travel 48 miles north direction to the Ingapirca archaeological site, it’s the largest Incan ruins in Ecuador which encapsulates the sophisticated Inca design, architecture, and engineering. You’ll discover how, the Incas merged their own community with the native indigenous called Cañaris. This is reflected in the two separate Temples of the Moon and Sun, dedicated to the beliefs of each culture.

Please notice the Ingapirca Ruins are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. We can still visit the site from the outside or we can propose an alternative activity instead.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Estacion Ferrocarril, Alausi Ecuador
Explore one of the most interesting areas in our country. "The Devil’s Nose Mountain". On this mountain the famous Devil's Nose Train was built. In its day it was considered one of the greatest feats of railroad engineering that the world had seen. Even-though the train is not operating at the moment, we will be able to enjoy the charming landscape on a half an hour hike in Pistishi community.
Duration: 45 minutes

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in Riobamba
Standard: Casa 1881 or
Superior: Abraspungo

Day 2: Devil's Nose Hike - Chimborazo - Riobamba

Stop At: Mount Chimborazo, Ecuador
We will visit Chimborazo Wildlife Refuge, this volcano is the highest peak in Ecuador and the highest peak in the world measured from the center of the earth. Here we can take a one-hour hour hike up to the second refuge nearly 16, 000 feet (4, 875 m) above sea level. It's also a great opportunity to do mountain bike activities down the slopes of Chimborazo to outings around rural villages along backroads, ranging from beginners to advanced bikers. (Optional activity for an extra cost, please contact us for more details). These activities are flexible and based to your interests and fitness.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Overnight in Riobamba or Baños

Day 3: Baños - Waterfalls Route - Treehouse

Stop At: La Casa del Arbol, Runtun village, Banos 010151 Ecuador
After a half an hour drive from Riobamba, we will take a short hike to visit the "Treehouse" where the National Geographic photo contest winner was taken.
Duration: 2 minutes

Stop At: CASCADA EL PAILON, De Septiembre Rio Verde 11, Banos 180301 Ecuador
Then we will continue our drive for about 45 minutes, making several stops along the waterfalls route, before reaching the “Pailon del Diablo” waterfall. After a two-kilometer hike we will reach this magical place, one of the top ten largest waterfalls found in Ecuador.
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
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• Lunch: At a local restaurant with a river view. The specialty is trout
Accommodation included: Overnight in Baños at category of hotel selected

Day 4: Baños - Quilotoa Lake - Latacunga

Stop At: Quilotoa, Quilotoa, Cotopaxi Province
We leave Baños and drive to Quilotoa on the Panamerican Highway, we will have the opportunity to enjoy the spectacular views of the Andes, Quilotoa lake, and the colorful landscape of the moors that surround it. Upon arrival, you can descend to the edge of the Crater Lake and return on horseback, or simply take a walk around the rim, and then get to know the lively local communities. In order to get in touch with local communities, a visit to a local indigenous market will be included depending on the weekday (Saquisili, Pujili, Sumbahua, etc.)

Then we will visit a local family of painters and also the Toachi canyon.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
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• Lunch: At a local restaurant in Quilotoa
Accommodation included: Overnight in Latacunga, exclusively included on the 5-day tour option.

Day 5: Cotopaxi - Drop off in Quito

Stop At: Cotopaxi National Park, Ecuador
Cotopaxi Volcano is 5, 897 meters high, it's the second-highest peak in the country, and elegantly adorns the Cordillera Real of the Ecuadorian Andes. We will enter the Cotopaxi National Park for a close encounter with the Paramo biodiversity and an ecological explanation of its importance.

After a short hike around Limpiapungo lake, we let the adventure begin! We will continue to the parking lot (4500 m.a.s.l) in order to ascend the First Refugee of the volcano (4810 m.a.s.l). You can rest and eat some hot soup at the refugee or continue the ascent to the Glaciers (depending on weather conditions). After a long day, we head to Quito.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
•
• Lunch: At local restaurant
No accommodation included on this day.

You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.