Cultural Quito from US$348

Description

Discover the cultural richness of Quito and its surroundings in an exciting three-night program. Explore Quito's charming Historic Center, visit the iconic Monument to the Middle of the World, and immerse yourself in Ecuador's vibrant culture with a stroll through the famous Otavalo indigenous market. This itinerary will take you to uncover the historical, artistic, and traditional treasures of this fascinating Andean region.

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3Nights

1Destinations

1Planned accommodations

Visiting

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Trip summary

2 Adults

Nights 3

This idea includes

Destinations 1

Accommodations 1

Quito

Day 1: Quito

Reception at the airport and transfer to the chosen hotel. Accommodation.

Day 2: City Tour and Middle of the World

In the morning, our guide will pick you up at your hotel to accompany you to explore the "Light of America," internationally recognized for having the largest and best-preserved historic center in Latin America. We start with an interesting tour visiting one of Quito's markets, where we will observe flowers, fruits, typical foods, and the daily life of the people who come to this market to do their shopping. We continue to the Basilica of the National Vow, considered the most important neo-Gothic architectural work in our country, where we can climb its towers, observe its gargoyles, and walk through its unfinished interiors, as the legend tells us. We advance to the Plaza Grande or Plaza de la Independencia, where the Government Palace or Carondelet Palace, the Municipal Building, and the City's Cathedral are located. After a few steps, we will arrive at the Church of the Society of Jesus, a jewel of Baroque architecture and an imposing example of Quito's colonial art. We continue to the Church of San Francisco, the first church built in Quito in the 16th century. Around the plaza, we will have the opportunity to savor one of the best chocolates made from fine Ecuadorian aroma cocoa. We continue to the Panecillo viewpoint, located at the top of the hill of the same name at 3,035 meters above sea level. It was formerly known as "shungoloma" or heart hill. Here, there is a large-scale aluminum replica (45 meters) of the Virgin of Quito, sculpted by the Quito artist Bernardo de Legarda, with the original displayed on the main altar of the Church of San Francisco.

Afterward, we will visit a museum that will tell us about the different types of effects caused by gravity, and magnetism that occurs on the equinoctial line. You will learn a little more about the cultures we have in the Amazon region. Finally, our guide will take you back to your hotel.

Day 3: Otavalo Market Tour + Cotacachi + Cuicocha

Our guide will pick you up at your hotel early in the morning, and we will head north until we reach the City of Cayambe, known for its "bizcochos," a type of baked biscuits accompanied by the so-called "leaf cheese" due to being wrapped in leaves for preservation. We continue our journey until we reach the Otavalo Market, where you can observe various handicrafts made by the skilled hands of the indigenous people of the area. Our next stop will be the town of Peguche, where we will visit a workshop of Andean instruments that the indigenous people skillfully create with their hands. Our tour continues to Cotacachi, a small and picturesque town famous for its leather goods. Here, our guide will suggest and give the necessary time for lunch (not included) and visiting the place. We will then visit the Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological Reserve, where the Cuicocha Lagoon is located, formed after a volcanic explosion thousands of years ago. After this visit, we will return to Quito.

Day 4: Quito

Breakfast at the hotel and free time until the flight. Transfer and end of our services.

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