Ecuador & Its Authentic Flavors Tour

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN QUITO

Arrival in Quito, where you will be met at the airport by our guide and transferred to your hotel. Overnight.

DAY 2: THE SWEET FLAVORS OF THE CAPITAL OF ECUADOR

Quito is a labyrinth with treasures made by artisans of every trade. For example, Luis Banda, who works in the San Roque neighborhood, is perhaps one of the most well-known; he and his sweets, known as “colaciones,” are part of the city’s heritage.

Then you can visit a famous corner to find packages of roasted peanuts and sweet toasted corn covered by panela (unrefined cane sugar) and chocolate. The peanuts are known like “Garrapinañada” and the corns like “caca de perro”, dog poop.

The colonial site is considered one of the most beautiful ones in South America, you will walk through the Main Plaza, visit the Government Palace, the Cathedral and some of the most important churches built around the XVI and XVII centuries like La Compañía de Jesús that is one of the most beautiful and perfect churches, it is the finest example of Latin American baroque architecture, especially in its facade that is an amazing work of art carved out on Andean stone. The altars, pulpits, pillars, and arches are all covered with gold leaf.

Lunch in a local restaurant where you will be part of an interesting experience where you will taste a delicious “helado de paila” (ice cream) which is served by a “Cucurucho,” a traditional character of Quito’s traditions

Then you will continue to Pomasqui town, located close to the famous Equator Line, at just 45 minutes north of Quito, to visit an interesting museum in honor of the Andean Agave.

Here you will learn about the history of the Agave in Ecuador, its uses, and the benefits of this marvelous plant. At the end of this excursion, you will enjoy of a delicious tasting of the different 100% organic products that we can obtain from this plant like: the chawarmishqui, that is the juice of the agave, the Miske, Agave syrup, alcaparras (the flower of the Agave) and the famous tequila. Late afternoon, return to Quito.

DAY 3: QUITO- EXPLORING A LOCAL MARKET & COOKING CLASS

After an early breakfast, our guide and our expert chef will be waiting for you for an interactive market tour in Quito. We will learn about the incredible diversity of Ecuador's products and cuisine. After this interesting experience, you will return to your hotel, where you will enjoy a fun cooking class of delicious Ecuadorian seafood in honor of the Coast region.

In the afternoon, our guide will drive you to the Pacari store, where you will have a chocolate experience. You will know about the history and tradition of Ecuadorian chocolate, and also you will know the process of elaboration of the exquisite chocolates. Return to your hotel, overnight.

DAY 4: QUITO - COTOPAXI: ZUMBAHUA INDIGENOUS MARKET- QUILOTOA LAKE

Early in the morning you will depart to Cotopaxi province, you will travel to Quilotoa, en route you will stop in Zumbahua a special market that you only can visit on Saturdays, here it will be possible to see the people arriving with their products on lamas and some ones keep the tradition to exchange their products, this activity is called “trueque”.

This area is less developed than the rest of the country, and you can imagine how Ecuador was many years ago; people still coexist with nature in a very simple way.

Lunch is included in the Shalala community, where you will taste a delicious lamb barbeque option, a traditional dish of this area. In the afternoon, you will arrive at Quilotoa Lake, which is a water-filled caldera of 3 km (2 miles). This caldera was formed by the collapse of the volcano in an eruption that took place approximately 800 years ago.

The caldera has since accumulated a 250 m (820 ft) deep crater lake, which has an extraordinary turquoise colour as a result of dissolved minerals. Late afternoon, our guide will drive you to Hacienda El Porvenir, located close to Cotopaxi National Park, where you will dine and overnight.

DAY 5: COTOPAXI: FOLLOWING THE AMAZING PARAMO – CHIMBORAZO

After a delicious breakfast your horses will be waiting for you for a horseback riding trip visiting the surroundings of Hacienda El Porvenir, riding side by side with herds of wild horses and bulls, you will wear the typical clothes of the “Chagra” the person in charge of looking for the cattle like a cow boy. Also, you will enjoy the amazing landscape of the Volcanoes Avenue.

In case you are not interested in horseback riding, you will visit the hacienda and you will learn about the Chagras and their activities. Return to the main house, and then you will continue to the south, en route you can admire the impressive Cotopaxi volcano (5897 mts / 19347 ft).

You will arrive at Ficoa, a neighborhood of Ambato city, famous for its delicious cuy, where you will have the opportunity to taste this incredible meat, which tastes nice and is rich in protein, considered a pretty healthy food. Then you will continue with your trip to Chimborazo province, where you will dine and overnight.

DAY 6: CHIMBORAZO: PAQOCHA PROJECT – CUENCA

After a delicious breakfast, you will depart for the south of our country to visit a couple of local indigenous communities located in Chimborazo province, where you can experience the process of textiles with the Paqocha project. One of them is Jatari Campesino, where you can see how skillful women obtain the wool of lamas and alpacas, and then you can learn about the process of spinning the wool.

After this interesting experience, you will depart for the Palacio Real community, where the local people have developed small projects, one of which is the local restaurant, where you will enjoy a delicious lunch based on llama. In the afternoon, you will depart for Cuenca, with time to rest and walk close to your hotel, overnight.

DAY 7: CUENCA: DELICIOUS FLAVORS FROM THE HEART OF ECUADOR

The presence of corn is important in the preparation of many foods, such as the tamal, mote pata, mote pillo, and beverages such as chicha, rosero, morocho, and much more. You will have a full day to explore the wonderful Cuenca’s city.

You will walk through magnificent churches, beautiful old buildings with wrought iron balconies and carved wooden doors, flower and handicrafts markets, art galleries, workshops, and all the wonders that Cuenca, with its colonial style and pleasant atmosphere, offers to its visitors. Also, you will have the chance to taste the different special and typical dishes of this beautiful city. Overnight.

DAY 8: CUENCA – RETURN TO QUITO – SAN ISIDRO LODGE

After breakfast, you can continue enjoying and discovering the delicious flavors of Cuenca city. Lunch in a local restaurant, and then you will be transferred to the airport in order to catch your flight back to Quito.

At Quito’s airport,t our driver will meet you and take you to San Isidro lodge located on the east slope of the Andes.

DAY 9: SAN ISIDRO LODGE: COOKING CLASS: THE LOCAL FLAVORS OF THE AMAZON REGION

One of the ways to immerse yourself in a new culture is by trying the local flavors. The tasting menu at San Isidro lodge will take you through the history and traditions of our Andean and Amazonian cultures. Depending on your interest level, be hands-on, or simply observe… your choice!

This has become an increasingly popular activity at the lodge as it not only teaches our guests about the local products and how to prepare them, but also makes it possible to interact with folks from the surrounding communities who work with us. This delicious activity combines soups, main courses, a sorbet, and desserts. Some of the options that include this experience are: Guayusa leaf cocktail, cream of chonta palm fruit, served with crunchy chonta slices; naranjilla sorbet, crispy chontacuro, fish maito, etc.

After lunch, you will return to Quito, overnight in a hotel located close to the airport.

DAY 10: OTAVALO, PACHAMANCA: AN ANCESTRAL MEETING TO SHARE THE FOOD

Today you will travel to the north of Quito until you arrive in Otavalo. En route, you can stop in some places like Guayllabamba and enjoy the exotic fruits like the delicious chirimoyas and tangerines. Then, Cayambe, where you can try the delicious biscuits with cheese.

You will arrive in Otavalo, where our guide will contact one of the leaders of Kilago, who will drive you to one of the communities close to Cotacachi and will introduce you to your home stay families. Here you will spend the full morning with your family, getting to know each other and learning about the lifestyle of Otavaleños people. You will have the opportunity to harvest some products, feed the animals, and enjoy other daily activities of the people of this area.

Also, you will be part of the “Pachamanca,” which is an ancient cooking technique that consists of burying and cooking the food with burning volcanic stones. This process maintains the connection of the Pachamama (Earth mother) with the products that you are going to taste, all this activity takes around 3 hours.

In the afternoon,n you will have a short time to visit the Ponchos market, which is considered the most important indigenous market of South America; here you can find different and colorful handicrafts like rugs, tapestries, clothes, jewelry, etc. After shopping time, you will return to Quito overnight.

DAY 11: QUITO- GALAPAGOS EXTENSION OR INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT

After an unforgettable experience in Ecuador you will be transferred to the airport to catch your extension to the Galapagos Islands or an international flight home.

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.

PRICES INCLUDE: Private transportation, transfers airport-hotel-airport, bilingual naturalist guide, accommodation based on double rooms in all hotels (single supplement under request), lodges and haciendas included in the itinerary, all excursions described in the itinerary, meals as described in the itinerary, entrance fee to: churches and museums in Quito and Cuenca, Agave museum, horseback riding, Cotopaxi national park, Quilotoa lake, Paqocha project, local flight Cuenca – Quito; cooking class in Quito and San Isidro lodge

NOT INCLUDED: Travel insurance, meals not specified, soft and alcoholic drinks, tips, and personal expenses.

We also offer a 7-day 6-night tour.