Ecuador Haciendas And Market Tour

ECUADOR HACIENDAS AND MARKETS TOURS

4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS

During this trip, you will have the opportunity to experience the atmosphere of the old haciendas of Ecuador and visit the Indian markets such as the famous Otavalo market, where you can find a plentiful variety of handicrafts.

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN QUITO, ECUADOR

Arrive in Quito and transfer to your hotel, welcome, and overnight.

DAY 2: QUITO – OTAVALO

After breakfast, you will depart the north of Quito until arriving at Hacienda Zuleta, a famous hacienda, which was the property of one of the most remarkable presidents of Ecuador and it is still owned by his descendants.

You can walk around the hacienda, admire the wonderful organic garden where you can learn about permaculture, and discover the origin of the lunch ingredients that you will enjoy later. Then you will continue to Condor Huasi, the condor rehabilitation project located 5 km from the house in a valley surrounded by native forest.

At Condor Huasi, the only reproduction, and liberation site licensed by the governmental condor protection agency in Ecuador, you will be able to observe the eight condors that are in captivity, and with some luck, you might see wild condors flying above you or even landing on the aviary. After this visit, you will return to the hacienda where a delicious lunch will be waiting for you.

In the afternoon you will continue with your trip to Cuicocha Crater Lake, on the route you will visit Cotacachi town known for its famous leather handicrafts. You will arrive at Cuicocha which is part of Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological Reserve.

This lake lies inside the crater of an active volcano surrounded by native vegetation. This place is considered a sacred lake and in a certain season of the year, the native people celebrate traditional rituals there, to purify and clean their souls. If time and weather permits we can walk through the trail that surrounds the crater (3 hours approximately) and enjoy the amazing view of Taita (Quichua word that means father) Imbabura, Cayambe mountain, etc. Late in the afternoon, our guide will drive you to Hacienda Pinsaqui where you will dinner and overnight.

(B.L.D)

DAY 3: OTAVALO AND ITS SURROUNDINGS

Early in the morning after breakfast, you will visit an animal market where the native people offer and buy their animals, here it is possible to find from a small guinea pig or a chicken to a big animal like a cow or a horse (Only on Saturdays).

After this fantastic experience, you will arrive at the famous Otavalo market or the Ponchos market that is considered the most important indigenous market of South America; here you can find different and colorful handicrafts like rugs, tapestries, clothes jewelry, etc.

Lunch in Hacienda Cusin another beautiful hacienda of this zone and in the afternoon you will go to Carabuela a small town close to Otavalo where you will visit an old master weaver who will explain to you about the traditional process that the Otavaleños use to make their handicrafts. Late in the afternoon return to Quito to your hotel.

(B.L)

DAY 4: QUITO – NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT

After an unforgettable expedition in Ecuador, filled with culture and nature you will be transferred to the airport to catch your flight.

(B)

END OF THE SERVICES

A NOTE ON THE ORDER OF THE ITINERARY:

Itinerary subject to change based on local conditions. It could be flexible according to the client’s interests.

***********************************************************

B- Breakfast; L-Lunch; BL- Box Lunch; D-Dinner

PRICE INCLUDE:

Private transportation, bilingual naturalist guide, accommodation based on the double room in all the hotels and haciendas detailed in the itinerary (single supplement under request), meals as described on the itinerary, entrance fees to Condor Huasi Project (Hacienda Zuleta), Cuicocha Lake (Cotacachi – Cayapas Ecological Reserve).

NOT INCLUDE:

Meals not specified, alcoholic drinks, tips, and personal expenses.