Taste of Quito

Upon arrival in Quito, meet your driver/guide for a private transfer to your selected hotel. En route, your guide will tell you about wonderful Ecuador including local weather, the history of the country and places of interest. (D)

Begin your day with a unique tour made up of psycho-sensory experiences in which each of our six senses are involved, giving you a complete experience of the ancient places and typical meals of Quito. Enjoy a city tour of Quito that offers more than just postcard pictures in your memory. After lunch, your tour will continue north to the Equator line, where you can visit the “middle of the world” park and its monument. You may choose between the Ethnographic Museum or the Intinan Museum to visit before returning to Quito for dinner. (B,L,D)

This morning you will leave Quito with your private driver/guide, heading to the town of Otavalo, famous for its weekly artisan market. En route, you will stop at Calderon, a town known for marzipan doll, then continue through Guayllabamba where you can sample a local fruit known as cherimoyer. Next, make a short stop at San Pablo Lake before arriving in Otavalo. Here you will visit the textile market, located at the Plaza of Ponchos. Enjoy some time at your leisure to bargain and shop with the friendly Otavalenos. In the afternoon, visit a colonial hacienda where lunch will be waiting for you before heading to the small artisan village of Cotacachi. Return to Quito in the late afternoon or early evening for dinner. (B,L,D)

Plan to rise early for breakfast before departing Quito northwest toward Mindo. Your private driver/guide will take the old scenic road, famous for the many birds that can be spotted. Stop for lunch around midday then continue to Mindo where you will visit the exquisite orchid garden to see the many beautiful and diverse species of this delicate flower. In addition, Mindo is a prime place for bird watching as it is frequented by many hummingbirds and butterflies, as well. In the afternoon, return to Quito for a private transfer to the airport or train station to continue on to your next destination. (B,L)