 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|||||
 |
||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
||||||
 |
||||||||||
 |
Galapagos Islands Birding the Highlands :: Ecuador: A Birding Miracle :: Family Birding Adventure :: The Magic Birding Circuit All Ecuador Itineraries Hotels and Transportation Book your Flight Newsletter Travel Resources Client Testimonials Carbon Offset Calculator Nature Store |
| Riobamba, Devil's Nose and Cuenca |
A trip through Ecuador's stunning Andean scenery and rich archeological
history-two spectacular parts of this small country. Visit the beautiful
colonial cities of Riobamba and Cuenca, set against the backdrop of mountain
peaks and valleys.Explore these mountains further with train rides and scenic driving tours, and a visit to Ingapirca, Ecuador's most important Inca site. You'll see everything from mountain-top lakes to Spanish-style churches to traditional handicrafts on this excellent cross-section of the Ecuadorian Andes.
Day 1 – Quito to Riobamba
The journey begins at Quito's old train station aboard the "Chiva Express" – a train car designed for enjoyment of the stunning panoramic views of the Andean scenery surrounding you, known as the Avenue of Volcanoes. We'll stop along the way at a market at where you can browse among native handicrafts before heading toward the highest point in the railway, the station at Urbina. Here, you'll visit a traditional hut to learn about the Andean way of life, as well as sample a traditional hot beverage called canelazo-made with alcohol and cinnamon, it's sure to warm you up! We'll end the scenic adventure in Riobamba where we'll have dinner at your hotel.L, D
Day 2 – Riobamba to Ingapirca to CuencaWe'll get an early breakfast and begin our trek at the train station, riding again through spectacular mountain views, past Riobamba's original site and the Church of Balbanera, Ecuador's oldest, to the town of Alausí. Here we' ll experience The Devil's Nose, a triumph of railroad engineering with a dramatic series of switchbacks down the mountainside. You can even sit on the roof to enjoy the ride, if you like. Afterwards, we'll travel by car to the ruins at Ingapirca.
Ingapirca, built of perfectly hewn stones, is Ecuador's most important archaeological complex and was built by the Inca and Cañari peoples. Elliptic in shape, this Sun Temple was used mainly for ceremonies and rituals, although it also had strategic and military purposes. The ruins include a cemetery, solar observatories, roads, storage areas, priests' chambers, and a town square. Once we've had plenty of time to explore the ruins, we'll continue south to the beautiful colonial city of Cuenca, where we'll check into our hotel and have dinner. B,L, D
Day 3 – Cuenca
You'll have the full day to explore historic Cuenca, a UNESCO World Heritage site filled with cobblestone streets, impressive cathedrals, and excellent museums. Originally settled in 500 AD, Cuenca was the second capital of the Inca nation after Cusco in Peru. The city was re-founded in 1557 by the Spanish conquistadors, and its colonial legacy lives on today.
We'll enjoy a walking tour of the colonial downtown area, followed by lunch in a nearby restaurant. Later, we'll visit a Panama hat workshop (all true Panama hats are actually made in Ecuador) and visit an ethnographic exhibit at the Central Bank Museum. B, L, D
Day 4 – Cajas National Park or Gualaceo Valley
Today we'll visit Cajas National Park, Ecuador's beautiful Lake District. The weather in these mountains is extremely unpredictable, so in the event that Cajas is inaccessible, we'll take a scenic driving tour of the Gualaceo Valley, enjoying Ecuador's stunning mountain scenery, crafts and culture. B, L
Cajas National ParkAs Ecuador's Lake District, this protected area at 10,000 feet above sea level is dotted with over 200 glacial lakes. The scenery is spectacular, making for excellent hiking and wildlife viewing. Forests of dwarf quinoa trees are home to beautiful hummingbirds like the Shining Sunbeam and Sparkling Violet-ear. We'll lunch on fresh trout from one of Cajas' cold lakes before returning to Cuenca for the flight back to Quito.
Gualaceo Valley
This scenic driving tour includes several cultural stops at small towns in the valley. At San Bartolome, you can watch artisans crafting and finishing guitars, and at Sigsig, see where the toquilla straw for Panama hats is harvested and readied for weaving. At Chordeleg, known for its pottery and jewelry shops, we'll pass through orchards and sugar cane plantations. Our lunch stop is at a riverside country inn, and after lunch we'll follow the river to the town of Gualaceo, known for its Sunday market and annual Peach Festival. We'll stop at the weaving town of Bulcay to look at fine shawls and scarves before heading back to Cuenca for the return flight to Quito.
| Riobamba, Devil's Nose and Cuenca | |
| Trip length | 4 days/3 nights |
| Departs | Tue, Thu, Sat |
| Per person cost | $797.00 (shared) $1323.00 (private) |
| Single supplement | On request |
|
|
| Prices based on two people sharing in 3-star accommodations. Four and 5-star accommodations available on request. International and domestic airfare not included. Pricing and itinerary are subject to change until booking is confirmed. | |
Staying on in Ecuador? Whether your interest is wildlife or culture, in a short extension tour you can experience more of the living heritage of this vibrant country. Day trips are also a great way to see Quito and the nearby sites. We can even arrange hotels and transportation.
 |
|
 |
|||
 |
| © 1995-2005 Tropical Nature Travel, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
Registered in the State of Florida as a seller of travel. Registration # ST-34614 |