LAGOONS AND ANDEAN PARAMO

7 days / 6 nights

Discover the charm of the wonderful millenary primary forest of our paramo, the amazing landscapes of our Andes and its lagoons born inside inactive volcanoes, this whole experience will grant an unforgettable trip.

Day 1:  Arrival at Quito International Airport – Hotel

Transfer from airport to the hotel. 

Day 2:  Quito – Mitad del Mundo

Departing from the hotel early in the morning, we begin the tour driving to the north of the city to visit the Equatorial monument “Mitad del Mundo” (Middle of the World), situated at 0^o0’0” latitude where the French Geodesic Expedition according to planet calculations, designated the center of the world.  Visit the Intiñán Museum. After this visit, we will drive back to downtown Quito, making a stop at the Botanical Garden, a project for protection, conservancy and education for Andean flora of Ecuador. For lunch we will have a typical delicious menu, and then we will go to visit the colonial site of Quito and its churches and cathedrals:  the gothic Basilica, the Compañía de Jesús, the Convent of San Francisco, among others.  We will visit the Plaza Grande where is located the Presidential Palace, the Major’s Office, the Cathedral, and the Archbishop Palace.  Back to the hotel. Meals included:  breakfast, lunch

Day 3:  Quito – Mojanda Lagoon – Otavalo

Departing from Quito, we drive to the north crossing the valleys of Guayllabamba and Cayambe.  We can admire the beautiful landscapes all the way and after two hours, we reach the province of Imbabura that is also known as the Land of Lagoons. We will take the road that lead us to the Mojanda Lagoons, that are located at 3,720 meters above sea level inside a crater of an extint volcano, admire their crystalline waters and the wonderful Andean landscape that surround them. Then we will go back the Otavalo to visit San Rafael de la Laguna (on the shores of San Pablo Lake), a small indigenous community dedicated to the manufacture of totora products, a legendary plant that creates a useful ecosystem for the human being and the environment.  This plant is used as medicine, food, manufacture of roofs, furniture, handicrafts, rafts, among others.  Then we will visit the indigenous market of Otavalo, which is the most famous market and known for its handicrafts and woven goods, bags, hats, among other handmade products.  Overnight at a pleasant lakeshore hotel. Meals included:  breakfast, lunch

Day 4:  Cuicocha Lagoon – Condor Park – Peguche

Early in the morning, after breakfast, we will drive to the Cuicocha Lagoon, located at 3,068 meters above sea level, at the foot of the Cotacachi volcano and is part of the Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological Reserve.  This lagoon is considered one of the biggest lagoons of the Ecuadorian Andes and was created by the first eruption of the Cotacachi Volcano 3,000 years ago.  As a result of this eruption, two islands were created:  Yerovi, the smaller, and Teodoro Wold, the larger.  The lagoon’s name comes from the Kichwa indigenous language that means "Lago del Cuy" (Guinea Pig Lagoon) due to the guinea pig shape of the largest island in the middle of the lagoon. Then, we will visit the Condor Rescue Park that is a shelter for rescued birds, especially the magnificent Condor, and if the weather conditions allow us, we could have the chance to assist to a bird flight show. After this fantastic visit, we will go to the village of Peguche, known for traditional weaving and the handcrafted Andean musical wind instruments.  We will have there a delicious lunch at a folkloric typical unique restaurant of the area.  We will also visit the Peguche waterfall, a beautiful cascade of 18 meters height that originates in the Peguche River and is born to San Pablo Lake, where we will have the chance to enjoy of the natural landscape.  Accommodation in a beautiful eco-lodge in the mountains. Meals included:  breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 5:  Ibarra – Train ride – Salinas – Andean Eco-Lodge

After breakfast, we will visit the city of Ibarra to catch the train that descends into the warm valley of Salinas admiring the patchwork fields.  There the passengers will enjoy of an Afro-Ecuadorian cultural traditional dance and visit the Salt Museum.  Lunch at a local restaurant.  Then we will drive north until we get to a private reserve located at 3,581 meters above sea level.  This reserve searches the conservation of the last millenary Andean forest through ecotourism.  Accommodation at this amazing lodge.  At night, we will make a little walk to discover the charming forest while we listen legends of goblins and gnomes that come alive during the cold nights of the paramo. Meals included:  breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6:  Andean Paramo – Quito

For nature lovers, the Ecological Reserve of El Angel is a natural attraction due to its endemic flora, beautiful landscapes and multiple activities that you can do like hiking, horseback riding, admire rivers, lagoons and waterfalls. We return to Quito after lunch. Meals included:  breakfast, lunch

Day 7:  Hotel – Quito International Airport

Transfer out from the hotel to the airport.  End of tour.