Quito day trips & short tours

As Quito, the charming capital of Ecuador, is the originating point for the morning flights to the Galapagos Islands, we have designed a series of special programs, which are available before and/or after your cruise.

QUITO STOP-OVER

3 Days / 2 Nights - Daily Departures

The program includes transfers, a choice of accommodations at a first class or deluxe hotel and a full day excursion to one of the best Indian markets with lunch. For passengers unable to travel to Quito because of the high altitude (9,455 ft.), a slightly different program is available in Guayaquil (situated at sea level).

Quito colonial city tour

DURATION 3 HOURS, DEPARTURE DAILY

Drive through Quito's colonial city, we will visit the Legislative Palace, the Independence Square, the Government Palace. We will also visit the spectacular churches of Compañia and San Francisco. Finally, we will drive up to a hill for a spectacular panoramic view of Quito and surrounding mountains.

EQUATORIAL LINE TOUR

DAILY, 3 HOURS

We will visit the monument, and Inti Ñan solar museum. Afterwards, we will walk around the "Mitad del Mundo" a city dedicated to commemorate the messuring of the Equator line.

OTAVALO MARKET AND SURROUNDINGS

DURATION 1 DAY, DEPARTURE DAILY

We will personally pick you up at your hotel in Quito and drive you to Otavalo for a visit to the most famous artisan market in South America. We will visit five Indian communities and observe first hand the every day life of the Otavalo Indians and the making of all the typical handicrafts of the region. The Otavalo Indian weavers come from the villages of Peguche, Iluman and Quinchuqui. They are very friendly and as a bonus you will be able to buy their products cheaper and straight from the loom. Finally, we will visit the Cuicocha lake and the town of Cotacachi famous for its leather industry. Return to Quito. (lunch)

THE LONG RUN - ECUADOR´S LONGEST 1 DAY RAFTING TRIP

DAILY, FULL DAY

The ríos Toachi and Blanco are a fantastic introduction to the rivers of Ecuador. Flowing off the coastal side of the Andes they have some of the longest navigable sections of whitewater in the country. Combine this with the sights and sounds of the forest environment we pass through and you are guaranteed a day to remember.

Before setting off we will fit you with life jackets and helmets, give you a comprehensive safety briefing and train each crew in the paddling techniques needed to navigate our way down the river. Once on the river you can expect both the action of thrilling whitewater and the tranquility of drifting silently through tropical rainforests. So while you´re guaranteed to get wet you´ll also have the opportunity to be absorbed by the sounds of the forest and to see wildlife up close from our mobile "viewing platform".

MINDO VALLEY BIRDWATCHING

DAILY, FULL DAY

The bird list in the Mindo valley is enormous! We'll have the chance to see huge Tangara tanager flocks, and maybe even a Plate-billed Mountain Toucan, Toucan Barbet, or Cock-of-the-Rock.

We'll have a lunch in a special field of hummingbird feeders. This is the best hummingbird show in the world, as the species list for this location has 35 different kinds of hummingbirds on it! The highest one-day count is 24, and regular visitors include Andean Emerald, Green Violetear, Booted Racket-tail, Violet-tailed Sylph, Brown Inca, and a host of others.

After the hummingbirds, we'll take a hike down a forest road, birding our way back to the van before returning to Quito in the late afternoon.

COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK & VOLCANO

DAILY, FULL DAY

A very special day awaits you! Set out early to Cotopaxi National Park, enjoying breathtaking views of The Avenue of Volcanoes. Here your guide leads you on a walk around Lake Limpiopungo at the base of the volcano Cotopaxi and shows you some the area’s interesting vegetation and wildlife. We may see hawks, hummingbirds, ducks and even the Andean Condor! For those feeling especially energetic (and weather permitting) we will hike up to the Cotopaxi refuge at 15,800 feet!

With good weather, we will enjoy a grand view of Cotopaxi, one of the highest active volcanoes in the world at over 19,000 feet. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant not far from the entrance of the Park. We return to Quito in the afternoon.

PAPALLACTA HOT SPRINGS

MONDAY - FRIDAY, FULL DAY

Papallacta is a small village, located at 3300m high up in the Eastern Cordilleras on the road which leads into the Amazon jungle and boasts of the best Hot Springs in the country. On the drive there we also stop at a place where condors can occassionally be observed and later on at a pass of 4000m from where the majestic glaciers and high peaks of Antisana can be admired.

PASOCHOA & SANGOLQUI MARKET

THURSDAYS & SUNDAYS FULL DAY

We depart from Quito in the direction to Volcano Pasochoa, where our nature exploration begins. As we walk up hill through well marked trails we will enjoy the gorgeous views of the neighbouring peaks such as Antisana, Rumiñahui and Cotopaxi which present their best profile. We will hike on a easy going trail in search of Polylepis trees, hummingbirds and other birds. We descend in a green valley and continue to Sangolqui – Visit a traditional market on Sundays, smaller market on Thursdays. The animal market is especially fun.