Cotopaxi
 
 
Cotopaxi Excursions & Itineraries
Full day excursion south of Quito to the Cotopaxi National Park, an ecological sanctuary of 36,000 hectares surrounding the highest active volcano in the world. It is an ideal area to visit for nature lovers where you may see llamas, wild horses, deer, rabbits and frogs. There are various species of birdlife, including the majestic Andean Condor. You stop for lunch at Hacienda San Agustin de Callo. Return to Quito in the late afternoon.


QUITO - COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK - RIOBAMBA - TRAIN RIDE IN THE DEVIL'S NOSE TO ALAUSI

Day1. QUITO - COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK
Early pick up in the morning at our hotel by your driver and guide. After one and a half hour drive, you will reach to the entrance of the Cotopaxi National Park. Visit first the little museum to learn about the park: its nature, geology, history and eruptions of the centerpiece of the park; the Cotopaxi volcano (5897m). Continue our way into the park and stop at the Limpiopungo Lake at 3800 mts. Here we will make an acclimatizing walk while observing semi-wild horses, a variety of ducks and hummingbirds, the Andean gull and lapwing. Optional lunch at the Porvenir hacienda.
 

Arrive to the beautiful Hacienda San Agustin de Callo, located on the foothills of the Cotopaxi Volcano; this small hacienda is a very exclusive, family run hacienda with a rich and wealthy past. The hacienda houses an original Inca chapel as well Inka walls in some of their rooms. Opportunity to horseback riding. Overnight and dinner at Casa Inka (San Augustin de Callo - picture left)

Day2. COTOPAXI - SAQUISILI MARKET - RIOBAMBA
After a scrumptious breakfast, we will visit the Saquisili Indian Market, a traditional local market where we can observe first-hand our indigenous culture's ways of living and trading, a very interesting experience. Afterwards, drive to Riobamba known by Ecuadorians as "the Sultan of the Andes". Enjoy the great views of the majestic Chimborazo Mountain along the way which we will come across the way. Arrive to this beautiful town, capital of Chimborazo's province, home of many different fairs, old houses and museums. Overnight at Hosteria Abraspungo, beautifully located just outside Riobamba, in a quiet residential area. The hosteria is very spacious and offers lots of private playgrounds. The hosteria houses also a good restaurant. Dinner and overnight.
 
Day3. RIOBAMBA - TRAIN RIDE - ALAUSI
Early Breakfast. Prepare yourself for an unique experience on board the trans-Ecuadorian train, a ride through indigenous Chimborazo communities settled in the highlands. The train offers the possibility to ride on the roof! The views from here are truly spectacular!
You' will pass by typical Andean landscapes, green hills with many patchworks cultivated fields and small communities scattered on the hillsides with colorful dressed Indians and snow-capped volcanoes. After two hours, we will reach the village of Guamote and after another two hours we will get to Alausi. Then start the train adventure going down in the Devil's Nose switch backs, one of the most impressive feats of rail engineering in the world, and back to Alausi where your transportation will be waiting for you to continue the trip by road along the Andes towards the south.
 

Two day trip travelling along the 'Avenue of the Volcanoes to the Cotopaxi National Park. Cotopaxi which means "neck of the moon", is one of the highest active volcanoes in the world rising from a valley at about 2,750m to a height of 5,897m. The park surrounding the volcano is an ecological sanctuary of 36,000 hectares, particularly attractive for nature lovers, with the treeless vegetation of the Andean moorlands or paramo. You may see some of the fauna and birdlife of the highlands, which include the Andean gull, ducks, several species of hummingbirds and with some luck, the majestic condor. This excursion includes a visit to a local Indian market which one depends on the day of the week, the handicraft centre at the La Victoria pottery and Banos town..

Overnight at Hacienda Manteles, all meals included.

Please note that the entrance fee to the Cotopaxi National Park is not included.

COTOPAXI TO CUENCA

Day1. Pick up from you hotel and drive to Cotopaxi National Park, an ecological sanctuary of 36,000 hectares surrounding the highest active volcano in the world. It is an ideal area to be visited by nature lovers and where you may see llamas, wild horses, deer, rabbits and frogs. There are various species of birdlife. Enjoy a box lunch before heading to the city of Riobamba, known as "the Sultan of the Andes". Overnight at Hosteria Abraspungo or similar.


Day2. After a very early breakfast (05h30 am), you will be taken to the train station in Riobamba in search of a seat (on the roof) on the train. Start your adventure as you slowly ride through some of the most picturesque indigenous areas of the country, passing by Balbanera Chapel, the oldest Catholic chapel in Ecuador, until you reach the Alausi train station, here the train will pick up some more passengers. You will experience the journey of going from the high Andes to the lowlands through the Devil's Nose along a zigzag railroad throughout the mountains.
 
Head back to Alausi; time to enjoy a packed lunch. From there, drive to the Ingapirca Ruins (3100mts.). Ingapirca is the most important religious and political memorial site left by the Incas in Ecuador and the many pre-Columbian cultures that once dwelled in this area. As you walk around the ruins, it will be easier to imagine why this site was chosen by the Inca culture to settle a temple of such relevant value. One of the most impressive remains is the "Temple of the Sun", built in the famous Cuzquenian style but in a unique form, nowhere else found within the former Inca Empire. Drive to Cuenca and overnight at your selected Hotel.
 
Day3.By morning your guide will pick you up from your hotel to start the city tour through colonial Cuenca. Enjoy the walk along the cobble stoned streets and colorful squares with little local markets within the historical center, admiring the beautiful architecture of this charming city, declared a Cultural Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1999.
 

Visit the impressive new Cathedral on the central square and a local museum, which houses religious art. Continue towards the Tomebamba riverbank with its elegant overhanging buildings. Visit to a nearby archeological site of Cañari and Inca ruins is scheduled before you drive up to "El Turi", a great outlook that offers an amazing view of the whole city. Afterwards you can visit one of Cuenca's Panama hat fabrics, where you will witness how these famous straw hats are elaborated before exportation.

This tour can also be extended for 4 nights and end in Guayaquil ideal to connect with a Galapagos Cruise.