Few cities have a setting to match that of Quito, the second highest capital in Latin America. It is a city with many facets. The Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Trust site, is the colonial centre, where pastel-colored houses and ornate churches line a warren of steep and narrow streets. Here you can wander up and down a maze of steep cobbled streets as you admire the stunning colonial architecture. Some of its famous sites are the Plaza de la Independencia, the heart of the old colonial part of the city; Plaza San Francisco, dominated by its impressive church and monastery; Plaza de Santo Domingo, a fine colonial church; and el Panecillo hill, which is instantly recognizable by the statue of the Virgen de Quito at the top.

North of Quito, the capital, up to the border with Colombia we find an area of great natural beauty and cultural interest. The landscape is mountainous, with views of Cotacachi, Imbabura, Chiles and glacier-covered Cayambe, interspersed with several lakes. This is also a region renowned for its artesanía (handcrafts). Several villages specialize in their own particular craft, be it textiles, hats, woodcarvings, bread figures or leather goods. And, of course, there is the town of Otavalo, with its outstanding Saturday market - a must on everyone's itinerary.

Papallacta Hot springs is located east from Quito on the road that takes to the jungle, on the way you can enjoy the view of Antisana snow capped volcano and forest that bordered the thermal pools. Cotopaxi volcano (highest active in the world - 5897m) is at the hearth of this beautiful National Park and one of the prime tourist attractions in the country. To name but a few attractions.
TerraDiversa offers a large variety of cultural and adventure trips, as detailed below.

See:

Quito + Ecuador monument & lunch - Cable car (optional)
Folkloric ballet & dinner
City tour by night & dinner
Otavalo indigenous market
Cotopaxi National Park
Otavalo market + surroundings villages and lakes
Papallacta hot springs

Quito + Equator monument & Lunch - Cable car (optional)

Private, Daily, Full Day
Shared Basis, Daily, Full Day

The downtown of Quito shows us the urban jewel and its treasures of art and architecture. Quito's colonial quarter, the largest and best preserved of South America, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The stroll starts on the downtown visiting the main attractions such as: The Independence Plaza, The metropolitan Cathedral, The Presidential Palace, The Municipal Building, the Archbishop's Palace, the Temple of La Compañia de Jesus and its gilded interior.  Continue on to the Monastery of San Francisco, one of the great religious buildings of the New World.

Then continue to the Equator Monument, 25 Km north of Quito, which marks the exact Middle of the World, at latitude Oº, where you can stand with a foot on each hemisphere, visit the ethnographic museum and the colonial-style town inside the complex with main square, church, post office, bullring, cafeterias, restaurants and many gift shops and souvenirs.
The cable car or Teleferico is a special treat if you want to go up the Pichincha volcano. The view from the top is spectacular, covering the city of Quito, the surrounding valleys and snow capped volcanoes (optional).

Visit also:

Folkloric ballet & dinner
City tour by night & dinner
Otavalo indigenous market
Cotopaxi National Park
Otavalo market + surroundings villages and lakes
Papallacta hot springs

 

Folkloric ballet & dinner

Shared Basis, Wednesday, 3 Hours

Transportation to and from the main hotels is provided to attend a presentation of Jacchigua, a group of 60 exceptional dancers and musicians who stage a wonderful show of traditional dances and songs of Ecuador, based on ancient celebrations and myths.

The Quichua term JACCHIGUA means the infinite joy of the harvest, and this is how the Ecuadorian folklore Ballet Jacchigua gathers the richness of our popular culture, showing the world the ancestral traditions and customs of Ecuador, a pluricultural, multiethnic and plurilingual country. Casual evening dress - warm coat is needed.

Visit also:

Quito + Ecuador monument & lunch - Cable car (optional)
City tour by night & dinner
Otavalo indigenous market
Cotopaxi National Park
Otavalo market + surroundings villages and lakes
Papallacta hot springs

City tour by night & dinner

Private, Daily, 4 Hours

Drive into the old Colonial city for a sight of the romantic plazas and past the impressive public and religious buildings.  Quito is particularly splendid in the evening when illumination adds a special charm and mystery to its baroque architecture.  A mood settles upon you to take in the delights of an exquisite dinner.

Then we drive to one of the hills surrounding the city for a panorama of twinkling lights covering the valley below. Enjoy a leisurely dinner at one of the finest selected restaurants of the city.  Casual evening dress - coat is needed.  This tour does not include walking, as it is mainly a scenery tour. 

Visit also:

Quito + Ecuador monument & lunch - Cable car (optional)
Folkloric ballet & dinner
Otavalo indigenous market
Cotopaxi National Park
Otavalo market + surroundings villages and lakes
Papallacta hot springs

Otavalo indigenous market

Private, Daily, Full Day
Shared Basis, TuE, Sat, Full Day

The journey from Quito to the north shows us amazing Andean landscapes as we pass through important villages such as Calderón and Cayambe. Once in the lake province of Imbabura, we go the famous indigenous market. Otavalo is South America's most famous Indigenous market, and one of the most important centers of ethno-tourism. Its colorful Saturday market (also open everyday) features a dazzling array of textiles and crafts nicely decorated in many stalls full of ponchos, scarves, blankets, wall hangings, woven belts, hats, handbags and much. You might find not only products from Ecuador, but from all the Americas.

After lunch in a typical restaurant or hacienda, we visit one of the small towns in the area such as Peguche, or Cotacachi, for witnessing the craft work of the local artisans as well as learning some of their culture and daily life style. A short hike around the Cuicocha lake is also a possibility during this trip.

Visit also:

Quito + Ecuador monument & lunch - Cable car (optional)
Folkloric ballet & dinner
City tour by night & dinner
Cotopaxi National Park
Otavalo market + surroundings villages and lakes
Papallacta hot springs

Cotopaxi National Park

Private, Daily, Full Day
Shared Basis, Thu, Sun, Full Day

The two Andean cordilleras that run parallel across Ecuador from north to south, offer a most varied topography: volcanoes and snow capped mountains, green valleys with impressive Colonial cities, quaint Indian villages, farmlands, haciendas, lakes and rivers of crystal blue waters.

Cotopaxi National Park is an ecological sanctuary of 36,000 hectares (88,920 acres) surrounding Cotopaxi, the highest active volcano in the world, special attractive for nature lovers, with the treeless vegetation of the Andean moorlands or páramo. Bird life includes the Andean gull, ducks, several species of hummingbirds and with some luck, the condor. Look directly up the magnificent Cotopaxi Volcano, rising 5897 meters (19,165 feet).

Once at the park, we will do some walking in the moor land zone and if weather conditions allow, we could reach the refuge and walk around there too. Lunch will take place at the very heart of breathtaking landscapes or at a hosteria or hacienda nearby before returning to Quito.

Visit also:

Quito + Ecuador monument & lunch - Cable car (optional)
Folkloric ballet & dinner
City tour by night & dinner
Otavalo indigenous market
Otavalo market + surroundings villages and lakes
Papallacta hot springs

 

Otavalo market + surroundings villages and lakes

Private, Any Day, 2d/1n

This trip allows guests to explore the fertile valleys around Otavalo, enjoy its landscapes of mountains, lakes and corn fields, its craft centres, and wonderful people. The province of Imbabura is one of the most popular destinations in Ecuador: a magical land of lakes, snow-covered mountains and terraced farmlands. For centuries, regional markets have played an important role in Indian life, providing regular gathering places for trade and socializing. The Otavalo Indian market dates back to pre-Inca times and is famous for its textiles woven on backstop and shuttle looms.

The first day, while heading north we offer a short visit to Calderon town, famous for dough bread dolls and biscuits. After this visit you will experience the dramatic change from highlands to desert as soon as you arrive to Guayllabamba valley (short sightseeing of the river canyon). Depending on the day of the week, we will visit the famous Otavalo market either on day 1 or 2 and spend the night at a local hacienda or hostal in the area. On the second day we explore the villages and natural sites around Otavalo, such as Cotacachi for leather goods, Peguche for textiles manufacturers and beautiful waterfall, Iluman, and San Antonio de Ibarra famous for woodcarving.

This trip is also designed for adventure lovers, as we have the opportunity to hike around the picturesque Cuicocha lake and do some local hikes connecting haciendas and local villages.

Visit also:

Quito + Ecuador monument & lunch - Cable car (optional)
Folkloric ballet & dinner
City tour by night & dinner
Otavalo indigenous market
Cotopaxi National Park
Papallacta hot springs

 

Papallacta Hot Springs

Shared Basis, Wednesday, Full Day
Private, Any Day, Full Day

Termas de Papallacta is one of the most attractively developed set of hot springs and spa baths in Ecuador, made to relax and enjoy nature in an unique and peaceful environment. It is just two hours east of Quito. Nestled high in the Andean Cordillera at the entrance of the Amazonian jungle, Papallacta features several hot thermal spring pools of different sizes and temperatures. Resort facilities include a first-class hotel and a restaurant offering local and international cuisine.

We depart Quito early morning and travelling on the Cinnamon Trail, the route the Spanish Conquistador Francisco de Orellana took in 1542, when he crossed the Andean mountain range in search of spices and gold, only to discover the Amazon River.  Upon arrival and a refreshing snack and fresh juices, we invite you to visit the Interpretation Center and then discover your adventurous spirit through a nature walk on marked paths alongside pristine mountain streams, observing the flora and fauna of the humid montane Andean forest of the Canyon Ranch, one of the entrances to the ecological reserve Cayambe-Coca.  After this pleasant walk, you feast on a delicious lunch featuring fresh trout from their own trout farm.

In the afternoon relax and soak away life's aches and pains. At Papallacta you will begin to feel the beneficial effects of the life-giving, diaphanous air which originates in a singular meeting of the Amazonian winds with the rocks, forests and water of the high Andean mountains. At the hot thermal spring pools experience the notable, restorative effects of the crystalline thermal waters (sulfate alkaline terreous). Submerge yourself in the warm water and take advantage of its curative properties in rheumatic, arthritic, digestive and respiratory processes. The water is odourless, crystalline and ever changing.

Visit also:

Quito + Ecuador monument & lunch - Cable car (optional)
Folkloric ballet & dinner
City tour by night & dinner
Otavalo indigenous market
Cotopaxi National Park
Otavalo market + surroundings villages and lakes