The Route Of The Incas
Description
This trip starts out in the UNESCO heritage city of Quito, where you will enjoy a tour of the historical center, followed by a visit to the Equatorial Monument. Then travel south along the Avenue of the Volcanoes, visiting Cotopaxi National Park – home to the highest active volcano in the world, continuing to Riobamba where you will appreciate views fo the impressive Chimborazo Mountain. Then the trip ends in the colonial city of Cuenca.
- Duration: 5 days / 4 nights
- Start / End: Quito / Quito
- Activities: City tour of Quito, walking / hiking in Cotopaxi National Park, visit cloud forest of Baños, nature viewing, tour of Ingapirca, city tour of Cuenca
- Highlights: Quito City, Cotopaxi National Park, Riobamba, drive along Avenue of the Volcanoes, Ingapirca, city of Cuenca, countryside near Cuenca
- Season: All year
- Included: Bilingual guide, all visits and activities in itinerary, accommodation, meals mentioned in itinerary
- Not Included: Meals not mentioned in itinerary, flight from Cuenca to Quito, entrance fees to National Parks and museums, drinks, tips, personal expenses
- Prices: Priced on request
Included/Excluded
- Bilingual guide
- All visits and activities in itinerary
- Accommodation
- Meals mentioned in itinerary
- Meals not mentioned in itinerary
- Flight from Cuenca to Quito
- Entrance fees to National Parks and museums
- Drinks
- Tips
- Personal expenses
Tour Amenities
Tour Duration
Duration
Starting Price
From
Contact Us for pricing
Travel Style
Tour Type
Day by Day Itinerary
Arrival in Quito, pick up and private transfer to your hotel.
Overnight in Quito (B)
City Tour Quito and Equatorial Monument
At 9h00 meet your guide in the lobby. In the morning visit Quito’s colonial center and South America’s oldest capital (close to 500 years), with its narrow streets and hanging balconies. The tour can include the Independence Plaza flanked by the presidential and archbishop palaces; and La Compañia Church with its impressive gold leaf altar, is considered the most beautiful church in the Americas. We also have the opportunity to go up into a church’s tower, wherefrom we have a lovely close up view of the old city. Enjoy a
chocolate tasting at a local chocolate making shop. Then we drive to “El Panecillo Hill” for a panoramic view of the city and admire the 45 m. high (148 ft) statue
of the “Virgen de Quito”, the only Madonna with wings. Lunch at a local restaurant.
After that continue twenty five kilometers (15 miles) North of Quito to the Equator Memorial at latitude 0’00′, which marks the place where an l8th century expedition established the exact geodesic position of the Equator. Visit the monument, the ethnographic museum, and time permitting a visit to a private smaller museum and take part in an assortment of experiments demonstrating effects of being on the equator while on our Quito Equator Monument Tour.
Overnight in Quito (B)
Cotopaxi National Park
Leaving Quito to Cuenca, we drive south along the Avenue of the Volcanoes to the Cotopaxi National Park, home to the world’s highest active volcano at 5897 m (19347 ft). Here we can spot the Andean Teal, the Andean Coot, the Ecuadorian Hillstar endemic to Ecuador and the giant Andean Condor, with its 3m wingspan. Observe the low growing vegetation and typical plants of the Paramo and spectacular scenery. Depending on weather conditions and group interests, hike up to the snow line at approximately 5000 m (16400 ft).
We spend the night at an Hacienda in the area. (B)
This morning there is the opportunity to visit “El Palacio Real”, a very well run indigenous community where you can see how the women weave, visit the llama museum, or visit the native medicinal plant garden. You will also stop to visit Balbanera Church, the fist Catholic Church built in Ecuador in 1534. If there is time, and depending on interests a visit to Alausi town and a railroad view of “Nariz del Diablo” can be included.
Then continue to Ingapirca. Ingapirca is Ecuador’s most important Incan site, with the finest example of Incan stonework in Ecuador. Ingapirca was the Incan ceremonial center of the area and was built about 50 years before the arrival of the Spaniards. The guide will explain the historical significance of this complex with stone structures that surround the prominent sun temple. You will appreciate the mastery of the stonework, while enjoying the beauty of the surrounding hills and pastures.
Continue to the city of Cuenca
Accommodation at one of Cuenca’s colonial hotels. (B)
During this tour we have the opportunity to enjoy Cuenca’s scenic countryside, stopping off in villages where artisans have been creating for generations. In San Bartolome we meet craftsmen making handmade guitars with the most amazing wood inlay. We visit Chordeleg famous for ceramic pottery, silver and gold filigree jewelry, in Gualaceo one can stroll around the local market learning about the local fruit, maybe taste a typical dish. In Bulcay, a family dedicated to keeping alive the dying craft of pre-Columbian Ikat weaving, will show us how these intricate patterns are created, dyed and woven.
During this tour one can observe people weaving Panama hats and other straw items.
Accommodation at one of Cuenca’s colonial hotels. (B)
City tour of Cuenca
AM visit Colonial Cuenca. The Old Town is best visited on foot. Our tour takes you along the cobblestone streets admiring the historic buildings, hanging balconies, carved wooden doors, the craft fair and colourful flower market, the main plaza with the Old Cathedral, which has been converted to the “Museum for Religious Art”, and the magnificent blue-domed Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. See silversmiths at work and handicrafts of almost every kind. We end the tour with a visit to the “Panama Hat” factory.
The Quito to Cuenca tour ends with an afternoon flight to Quito. (B)
Explore Tours
This trip starts out in the UNESCO heritage city of Quito, where you will enjoy a tour of the historical center, followed by a visit to the Equatorial Monument. Then travel south along the Avenue of the Volcanoes, visiting Cotopaxi National Park – home to the highest active volcano in the world, continuing to Riobamba where you will appreciate views fo the impressive Chimborazo Mountain. Then the trip ends in the colonial city of Cuenca.
- Duration: 5 days / 4 nights
- Start / End: Quito / Quito
- Activities: City tour of Quito, walking / hiking in Cotopaxi National Park, visit cloud forest of Baños, nature viewing, tour of Ingapirca, city tour of Cuenca
- Highlights: Quito City, Cotopaxi National Park, Riobamba, drive along Avenue of the Volcanoes, Ingapirca, city of Cuenca, countryside near Cuenca
- Season: All year
- Included: Bilingual guide, all visits and activities in itinerary, accommodation, meals mentioned in itinerary
- Not Included: Meals not mentioned in itinerary, flight from Cuenca to Quito, entrance fees to National Parks and museums, drinks, tips, personal expenses
- Prices: Priced on request
Included/Exclude
- Bilingual guide
- All visits and activities in itinerary
- Accommodation
- Meals mentioned in itinerary
- Meals not mentioned in itinerary
- Flight from Cuenca to Quito
- Entrance fees to National Parks and museums
- Drinks
- Tips
- Personal expenses
Tour Amenities
Tour Plan
Arrival in Quito, pick up and private transfer to your hotel.
Overnight in Quito (B)
City Tour Quito and Equatorial Monument
At 9h00 meet your guide in the lobby. In the morning visit Quito’s colonial center and South America’s oldest capital (close to 500 years), with its narrow streets and hanging balconies. The tour can include the Independence Plaza flanked by the presidential and archbishop palaces; and La Compañia Church with its impressive gold leaf altar, is considered the most beautiful church in the Americas. We also have the opportunity to go up into a church’s tower, wherefrom we have a lovely close up view of the old city. Enjoy a
chocolate tasting at a local chocolate making shop. Then we drive to “El Panecillo Hill” for a panoramic view of the city and admire the 45 m. high (148 ft) statue
of the “Virgen de Quito”, the only Madonna with wings. Lunch at a local restaurant.
After that continue twenty five kilometers (15 miles) North of Quito to the Equator Memorial at latitude 0’00′, which marks the place where an l8th century expedition established the exact geodesic position of the Equator. Visit the monument, the ethnographic museum, and time permitting a visit to a private smaller museum and take part in an assortment of experiments demonstrating effects of being on the equator while on our Quito Equator Monument Tour.
Overnight in Quito (B)
Cotopaxi National Park
Leaving Quito to Cuenca, we drive south along the Avenue of the Volcanoes to the Cotopaxi National Park, home to the world’s highest active volcano at 5897 m (19347 ft). Here we can spot the Andean Teal, the Andean Coot, the Ecuadorian Hillstar endemic to Ecuador and the giant Andean Condor, with its 3m wingspan. Observe the low growing vegetation and typical plants of the Paramo and spectacular scenery. Depending on weather conditions and group interests, hike up to the snow line at approximately 5000 m (16400 ft).
We spend the night at an Hacienda in the area. (B)
This morning there is the opportunity to visit “El Palacio Real”, a very well run indigenous community where you can see how the women weave, visit the llama museum, or visit the native medicinal plant garden. You will also stop to visit Balbanera Church, the fist Catholic Church built in Ecuador in 1534. If there is time, and depending on interests a visit to Alausi town and a railroad view of “Nariz del Diablo” can be included.
Then continue to Ingapirca. Ingapirca is Ecuador’s most important Incan site, with the finest example of Incan stonework in Ecuador. Ingapirca was the Incan ceremonial center of the area and was built about 50 years before the arrival of the Spaniards. The guide will explain the historical significance of this complex with stone structures that surround the prominent sun temple. You will appreciate the mastery of the stonework, while enjoying the beauty of the surrounding hills and pastures.
Continue to the city of Cuenca
Accommodation at one of Cuenca’s colonial hotels. (B)
During this tour we have the opportunity to enjoy Cuenca’s scenic countryside, stopping off in villages where artisans have been creating for generations. In San Bartolome we meet craftsmen making handmade guitars with the most amazing wood inlay. We visit Chordeleg famous for ceramic pottery, silver and gold filigree jewelry, in Gualaceo one can stroll around the local market learning about the local fruit, maybe taste a typical dish. In Bulcay, a family dedicated to keeping alive the dying craft of pre-Columbian Ikat weaving, will show us how these intricate patterns are created, dyed and woven.
During this tour one can observe people weaving Panama hats and other straw items.
Accommodation at one of Cuenca’s colonial hotels. (B)
City tour of Cuenca
AM visit Colonial Cuenca. The Old Town is best visited on foot. Our tour takes you along the cobblestone streets admiring the historic buildings, hanging balconies, carved wooden doors, the craft fair and colourful flower market, the main plaza with the Old Cathedral, which has been converted to the “Museum for Religious Art”, and the magnificent blue-domed Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. See silversmiths at work and handicrafts of almost every kind. We end the tour with a visit to the “Panama Hat” factory.
The Quito to Cuenca tour ends with an afternoon flight to Quito. (B)
