Avenue of the Volcanoes Tour Information :: ECTravel
discover the avenue of the volcanoes. from quito to otavalo and down to cotopaxi, riobamba and the devil's nose, banos and beautiful cuenca. tour information ecuador, tour, quito, otavalo, banos, quilotoa, devil nose, riobamba, cuenca, itinerary.
Discover the Sierra 11 Days | A beautiful tour around Ecuador's main highlights in the Sierra region. From Quito to Otavalo and down to Cotopaxi, Banos, Riobamba and beautiful Cuenca. Volcanoes, waterfalls, rainforest and history combined in one outstanding experience.
A magic journey around the Ecuadorian Andes on a route known as the Avenue of the Volcanoes. From legendary Quito, to traditional Otavalo. From the imponent Cotopaxi, to breathtaking Quilotoa. Down to exciting Banos(Baños), towards the Nariz del Diablo and Riobamba. An adventure that ends in the traditional and beautiful city of Cuenca.
FLIP PAGE CATALOGUE DAY BY DAY AVENUE OF THE VOLCANOES (ENGLISH) Click on center for Full Screen
Our tour starts in Quito, a vibrant city full of history and legends. It was the first city in the world to be declared human patrimony of mankind by the UNESCO. Founded on 1534, San Francisco de Quito is said to be built over an ancient Inca village. Architecture shows an incredible blend of cultures, which can be seen in places like the Basilica, a gothic church with local animals like dolphins, iguanas and turtles instead of gargoyles.
We continue our way towards Otavalo. The Otavalean are amongst the most influential indigenous culture. The folkloric market is an incredible experience of colours and fabrics. On this part of our tour over 40 indigenous people are involved directly.
A full day with an Otavalean family in their home in Iluman, is the perfect way to experience the culture first hand.
Otavalean musicians will perform live while we eat the delicious "fritada" that our hostess Ms. Estela has prepared for us. After desert dancers will show us the traditional inti-raymi and courtship dances. At the end of the day a shamanic demonstration awaits.
We continue towards the Cotopaxi Volcano, for some considered as the highest active volcano in the world (considering distance from the center of the earth) with 5897 masl. (19347ft). A beautiful day of mountain hiking and warm chocolate awaits. On the afternoon we head to a traditional hacienda for some lunch and horseback riding on the afternoon. A night on the hacienda will give us the rest we need for the adventure next day.
On the next morning we depart to the Quilota crater. A beautiful turquiose colored lake inside an active crater that has formed during thousands of years. At 3800 masl (12467ft) a challenging hike awaits for us. We will walk around the crater half way and enjoy magical views of the Andean "paramo". On our return a delicious meal in the local community restaurant is a perfect way to enjoy a traditional meal with a spectacular view.
Our next day is packed with adventure. Located on the skirts of the Tungurahua active volcano Banos is considered one of the top eco-touristic and adventure destinations in Ecuador. We start with The Manto de la Novia waterfall (Bride's veil) where we will take a small hike right down to the base! And the Pailon del Diablo (Devil's Cauldron) where we will hike down the rainforest and climb back up to the back of the waterfall.
Riobamba is a small town that is located close to the mighty Chimborazo Volcano. Its summit at 6310 masl. (20702 ft) is considered to be the furthest point from the center of the earth. After spending a night in an hacienda, we head to Alausi for one of the most scenic train rides in Ecuador towards the Nariz del Diablo (Devil's Nose). A ride through the Andes that is as exciting as it can get.
Important Notice: Due to irregularities in the train service company in Ecuador, departure on the train ride is not guaranteed. EC Travel does everything in its hands to provide our guests with this experience, however departures are often cancelled by the train company without any notice whether it is a private charter or a scheduled departure.
On the afternoon we will head to Ingapirca, one of the most important Incan remains in Ecuador. We will stay in an hacienda within the Ingapirca ruins and visit this magestic ruins on the next morning. On the afternoon we head to traditional Cuenca, another cultural patrimony of mankind, and visit its beautiful churches and historic center. At night we will head to a viewpoint of the city for our complimentary farewell dinner.
On our last day guests can choose to extend their experience to the Cajas National Park from Cuenca, or choose a beach extension for their next days. Other guests will continue to Guayaquil for departure to the Galapagos Islands, or to our Jungle Lodges in the Amazon Jungle. Passengers departing back to their home countries will return to Quito.
This section is under heavy update, please contact us at: respinoza@ectravel.com.ec for additional information.
