Highlands of Ecuador
Visiting Quito "Queen City of the Andes", Otavalo indigenous market and Riobamba
INCLUDED:
* Meeting and transfer service in all destinations in Ecuador. * Tours as noted including entrance fees with English speaking guides. * Seven nights hotel accommodations room taxes and service charges. * Ground transportation to Otavalo and Riobamba * Expresso Metropolitano from Quito to Riobamba or vice-versa. * Airfare from Miami to Quito via American Airlines. (see add-ons from more than 100 USA cities at the end of page) * Tips to airport porters only.
NOT INCLUDED:
Services not mentioned or Passport fees.* Departure taxes: when departing USA $232 (Inc. USA airport tax/security/fuel surcharges).* Meals except as noted in itinerary, tips to porters, guides and tour bus drivers. *Insurance
* As of Aug.01, 2007…..The new international departure tax in Quito will be USD40,80 per person, Guayaquil however will remain at USD26,00 per person.
* Meeting and transfer service in all destinations in Ecuador. * Tours as noted including entrance fees with English speaking guides. * Seven nights hotel accommodations room taxes and service charges. * Ground transportation to Otavalo and Riobamba * Expresso Metropolitano from Quito to Riobamba or vice-versa. * Airfare from Miami to Quito via American Airlines. (see add-ons from more than 100 USA cities at the end of page) * Tips to airport porters only.
NOT INCLUDED:
Services not mentioned or Passport fees.* Departure taxes: when departing USA $232 (Inc. USA airport tax/security/fuel surcharges).* Meals except as noted in itinerary, tips to porters, guides and tour bus drivers. *Insurance
* As of Aug.01, 2007…..The new international departure tax in Quito will be USD40,80 per person, Guayaquil however will remain at USD26,00 per person.
Details
- Tour Operator
- Tara Tours
- Offer
- Offer valid through 12/31/2008
- Duration
- 8 Days
- Escorted
- Escorted - No
| Day | Destination | Description |
| Day 1 | Depart USA | SUN. U.S.A-QUITO : Depart Miami, Los Angeles or New York for Quito, Ecuador. Airport reception and transfer to the Hotel Alameda or Dann Carlton for overnight. |
| Day 2 | Quito | MON. QUITO : Combined Quito City and Equatorial Monument Tour. Drive through this beautiful city and its colonial center. Possibly visit the Cathedral, Government Palace with a visit to La Compania Church with its ornate golden altars. Then off for a quick jaunt to the Middle of the Earth at the Equatorial Monument. This is your chance to be in two places at once! Straddle the line and you are in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres or stand directly on the equator and you are nowhere... latitude 0... Overnight at Hotel Alameda or Dann CArlton. (B) |
| Day 3 | Riobamba | TUE. QUITO/RIOBAMBA : Drive along the valley of los Chillos and then to the Pan-American Highway to Hacienda Hualilahua for a country breakfast.(The house has a collection of paintings of the 16th and 17th century. Continue along magnificent views of the Andean mountains and the Cotopaxi Volcano to Latacunga and visit their colorful indian market (or Saquisili on Thursdays). Then have lunch at a local country inn.. Continue passing by Ambato and Yambo Lake. Stop in Banos famous for its hot water springs and the miracle Lady of Agua Santa. Arrive in Riobamba. Overnight stay at the Hotel El Troje or Abraspungu. (B,L,D.) |
| Day 4 | Quito | WED. Riobamba-Quito : Early morning transfer to the train station to board the special "EXPRESSO metropolitan" railcar attached to the local train (or the Autoferro). Your refurbished railcar includes an English-speaking host, complete bar and galley to serve you a snack. The train departs at 6.00am riding through small towns and scenic mountain country to Alausi, then ride down the famous Devil's nose. A masterpiece of railway engineering. A zigzag carved out of the rock, which allows the train, by advancing and backing up, to descend about 1,000 meters to the station of Chan-Chan. In Chan-Chan, the bus will be awaiting for you to take you back to Quito. Lunch at hosteria La Andaluza located right at the foot of Massive Mount Chimborazo. Arrive Quito late afternoon. Hotel Dann Carlton or Alameda (B, L). |
| Day 5 | Quito | THU. QUITO : This morning you will visit the galleries of Eduardo Kingman and Oswaldo Guayasamin, two major contemporary artists in Latin America. Next. browse through the noted Folklore Museum founded by Olga Fisch, a pioneer of Ecuadors folk arts. This small museum contains a collection of historic ceremonial costumes and artifacts displayed with colonial antiques. Overnight at the Hotel Dann Carlton or Alameda. (B) |
| Day 6 | Quito | FRI. QUITO-OTAVALO : This morning your tour guide will pick you up for a 3 hour drive through dramatic country scenery to Otavalo, north of Quito. You will visit the Otavalo community and the nearby wood carving center of San Antonio de Ibarra and San Pablo Lake. Overnight at cozy and picturesque Hacienda Chorlavi. (B,L, D) . |
| Day 7 | Quito | SAT. OTAVALO-QUITO : Full day excursion to the colorful indigenous Market in Otavalo for excellent buys in local handicrafts. Visit the small city of Calderon famous for its bread dolls. After lunch return to Quito. Overnight at hotel Dann Carlton or Alameda. (B) |
| Day 8 | Return USA | SUN. QUITO-USA : Transfer to the airport. |
- Dates/Pricing
- Disclaimer
- ADD-ONS & VIA AMERICAN AIRLINES:
For same package add $140 from ORL,TPA, JAX, FMY and Zone 1; $190 from ATL; add $230 from BDL, BOS,BWI, EWR, NYC, PHL, RDU, WAS, + Zone 3 - - Add $290 from CHI, CLE, DTT; - Add $320 from DEN, DFW, HOU, MSY, SJU ZONE 2 & 4; Add $390 from LAX, SFO + ZONE 5; Add $410 from Zone 6. RATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME.
INSURANCE: Tara Tours Inc. strongly recommends that you purchased Travel Insurance. Insure America has designed a policy for Tara Tour's client. (Please see cost, inclusions on our Insurance Page).
