Day 1: Arrival in Quito

Welcome to Ecuador! Our driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the city. - Hotel Sebastian

Day 2: Quito Colonial City Tour (BL)

We explore the colonial district in Quito, the largest and best preserved in Latin America. In the afternoon, we visit the Chapel of Man, the museum and residence of Ecuadorian artist Oswaldo Guayasamín which includes an interesting archaeological collection. - Hotel Sebastian

Day 3: Antisana Volcano Reserve (BL)

With some luck, Antisana is one of the best places to spot the Andean condor. We bring a box lunch or eat at a local restaurant just outside the reserve. We hike around the Mica Lagoon on the lookout for other bird species and sometimes deer. Spend the day inside the reserve searching for wildlife. - Hotel Sebastian

Day 4: Otavalo / Andean Healer (BLD)

We depart after breakfast and drive east to the Otavalo highlands. We stop at Quitsato Equator Monument. We will drive past San Pablo Lake and visit the town of Peguche, where we find artisan workshops - weavers & musicians. Also, we will visit an Andean healer and participate in a healing demonstration. - El Indio Inn

Day 5: Otavalo Markets (BLD)

In the morning, we visit the Otavalo markets, handicraft and food markets. In the afternoon, we go to Cotacachi and Cuicocha Lake. - El Indio Inn

Day 6: Otavalo / Papallacta Thermal Spa Resort (BLD)

We will visit a rose farm in Cayambe before we continue to Papallacta. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure. Optional spa treatments. - Termas Papallacta

Day 7: Papallacta  / Quito (BL)

We will explore some of the trails around the hotel and enjoy the hot springs. Afternoon return to Quito. - Hotel Sebastian

Day 8: Cable car / Evening Departure (B)

Ride the cable car up to 4100 masl / 13,450 fasl for an incredible view of Quito and the valleys, plus a short hike in the Andean grasslands. You have the afternoon at leisure before you are transferred to the airport for your evening flight.

Day 9:  Arrive Home

2 Culinary experiences offered in Quito. They take place at Galería Ecuador, a fine handicraft store.
 
Chocolatier for a day (45-60 min) $22 pp (group size 2 to 8)
Enjoy something for kids of all ages: an informal chocolate making class!  You first get an eye-opening briefing on the history and origins of cacao, the beans from where chocolate is made from.  This goes back thousands of years ago when the beans were so valuable that they were used as currency, up to our present times, where Ecuador has become the No. 1 producer and exporter of the finest aroma chocolate in the world.  We will use award-wining Pacari Ecuadorian cacao beans to make your own chocolate truffles, combining with other ingredients, such us dried fruits, cinnamon, nuts, cacao nibs, coffee, cane sugar, coconut sugar, chili powder, and more. Discover the chocolatier in you!
 
Traditional corn tortillas (45-60 min) $27 pp (group size 2 to 15)
We will use kitchen utensils from 18th century Quito to prepare your own traditional corn tortillas  Fill your delectable tortillas with cheese, onions and annatto (a rare spice from the Amazon used to give food a special color and tang), and cook them on a “tiesto” or adobe hot plate.  Next, we will grind organic roasted coffee beans and learn how to make a delicious cup of this aromatic brew using a “chuspa” or cloth filter. And to accent your tortillas, we will prepare a special chili sauce using a volcanic stone grinder to mix all of the ingredients – an ancient-old method still used by the more traditional Quiteño families.  Finally, enjoy a healthy Ecuadorian snack!
 
In order to stay within the time limit of the guided tour, if you add these activities, it would replace something in the classic city tour, so the length would not be extended. However, if you want to do both the full city tour and the extra activities, we can modify on request.