Quito to Cuenca 4 or 5-Day Tour with Cotopaxi, Quilotoa, Baños and Chimborazo

Explore Ecuador's Andes through the well known Avenue of the Volcanos from Quito to Cuenca (one-way) on our 4-day or 5-day excursion. Alongside a private tour guide, explore top Ecuadorian highlights including Quilotoa crater lake, Cotopaxi volcano, the Pailon del Diablo waterfall, indigenous markets, and the Ingapirca Inca ruins. Your package is inclusive of accommodation and most meals for a hassle-free experience.

Highlights
- Enjoy a flexible and perzonalized private tour
- Learn about Ecuador's history, culture, nature and geology from your licensed guide.
- Include an optional excursion to Chimborazo, for an added fee.
- Upgrade to include accommodation in top hotels.

Itinerary

Day 1: Quito - Quilotoa Lake - Indigenous Market

Stop At: Quilotoa, Quilotoa, Cotopaxi Province
From Quito we’ll travel south direction through the famous "Avenue of the Volcanos" to Quilotoa. On the drive we'll have the opportunity to enjoy the spectacular views of the Andes, Quilotoa lake and the colorful landscape of the moors that surround it. Upon arrival you can descend to the edge of the Crater Lake and return on horseback, or simply take a walk around the rim. In order to get in touch with local communities a visit to a local indigenous market will be arranged depending on the week day.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch: At local restaurant
Accommodation included: Overnight in Cotopaxi area at category of hotel selected

Day 2: Cotopaxi - Baños

Stop At: Cotopaxi Volcano, Tanicuchi Ecuador
Cotopaxi Volcano is 5, 897 meters high, it's second highest peak in the country and elegantly adorns the Cordillera Real of the Ecuadorian Andes. We will enter the Cotopaxi National Park for a close encounter with the Paramo biodiversity and an ecological explanation of its importance. After a short hike, let the adventure begin! We will continue to the parking lot (4500 m. above sea level) in order to ascend the First Refuge of the volcano (4810 m. a.s.l). You can rest and eat some hot soup at the refugee and/or continue the ascent to the Glaciers (depending on weather conditions).
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
•
• Lunch: At local restaurant
Accommodation included: Overnight in Baños at category of hotel selected

Day 3: Baños, Tree House and Waterfalls Route including Pailon del Diablo

Stop At: CASCADA EL PAILON, De Septiembre Rio Verde 11, Banos 180301 Ecuador
After a half an hour drive, we will take a short hike to visit the "Treehouse" where the National Geographic photo contest winner was taken. Then we will continue our drive for about 45 minutes, making several stops along the waterfalls route, before reaching “Pailon del Diablo” waterfall. After a two kilometer hike we will get to this magical place, one of the top ten largest waterfall's found in Ecuador.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Overnight in Baños or Riobamba at category of hotel selected

Day 4: Chimborazo Volcano Excursion - Riobamba

Stop At: Mount Chimborazo, Ecuador
From Baños, we will drive for about two hours to visit Chimborazo Wildlife Refuge, this volcano is the highest peak in Ecuador and the highest peak in the world measured from the center of the earth. There we have the chance to take a one-hour hour hike up to the second refuge, nearly 16, 000 feet (4, 875 m.a.s.l). This is also a great opportunity to do mountain bike activities down the slopes of Chimborazo to outings around rural villages along backroads, ranging from beginners to advance bikers. (Optional activity for an extra cost, please contact us for more details). These activities are flexible and based to your interests and fitness.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Overnight in Riobamba at category of hotel selected (4th night accommodation exclusively on the 5-day tour option.)

Day 5: Devil's Nose Hike - Ingapirca - Cuenca

Stop At: Estacion Ferrocarril, Alausi Ecuador
From Riobamba you’ll travel 60 miles south to the town of Alausi. There you'll experience one of the most interesting areas in our country. "The Devil’s Nose Mountain". On this mountain the famous Devil's Nose Train was built. In its day it was considered one of the greatest feats of railroad engineering that the world had seen. Even-though the train is not operating at the moment, we will be able to enjoy the same views on a hike.
Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Ingapirca Archaeological Complex, Ingapirca Ecuador
Then we will continue to Ingapirca archaeological site, it’s the largest Incan ruins in Ecuador which encapsulates the sophisticated Inca design, architecture and engineering. You’ll discover how, the Incas merged their own community with the Cañaris, native indigenous. After a we will drive to Cuenca. This is reflected in the two separate Temples of the Moon and Sun, dedicated to the beliefs of each culture. Then we continue our driver to Cuenca.

Please notice the Ingapirca Ruins are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. We can still visit the site from the outside or we can propose an alternative activity instead.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
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No accommodation included on this day.

You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.