Highland Treasures (North Andes)

We will start with a visit to the City of Cayambe where we will taste a traditional product from that region of the country such as the Biscuit, after a tour of a factory where this delicious sandwich is produced, we will go to Lake San Pablo where we can carry out activities and water sports at the foot of the Imbabura volcano that gives its name to its province.

Then we will visit the city of Otavalo, a community that invites its visitors to have a pleasant encounter with its people. Take some time to interact with vendors and experience as part of the culture of one of the oldest and most emblematic civilizations of Ecuador and the Andean region. Later we will go to the Cuicocha lagoon, a lagoon formed in the crater of a volcano, where we will have the opportunity to take a boat tour surrounding its islets. Finally we will have the opportunity to visit the town of Cotacachi known for its production of products made of leather.

Continuing with our route we will go to the “White City” Ibarra, a city that was completely destroyed in 1868 and later completely rebuilt. Where we will take a tour of its center and the most emblematic churches of the city.

In the afternoon we will continue to the Yahuarcocha lagoon (in Quichwa it means “blood lagoon” where we will proceed to do a water sport or enjoy the view of the lake from a vantage point, this lagoon is known for the motor racing circuit that surrounds it, where national and international automobile competitions take place.

The key word this day is “Relaxation”, to start the day we will have tours in which you can get in touch with nature, we will visit environmental reserves to interact with its flora and fauna.

During the afternoon you can immerse yourself in natural hot springs or simply enjoy the facilities to rest. At nightfall and after a light snack, we will take a night-time themed tour about “Legends and Goblins” to experience the magic and mysticism that the Andes Mountains keep.

In the morning we will leave our accommodation to go on a photographic tour to explore a cave that hides a river inside a mountain, at the end of our walk we will arrive at a waterfall with incredible energetic magnetism, where we can leave behind all worries to continue renewed with our adventure.

In the afternoon we will visit a nature reserve where we can do outdoor activities such as cycling or hiking to get into the vegetation, recognizing different native species of the Andean moorland, many of them in danger of extinction. At the end of our activities we will go to dinner at our lodging for the day.

After breakfast we will leave our accommodation to take a tour of the city of Tulcán, capital of the province of Carchi. We will visit its emblematic cemetery, known for its figures molded in cypresses, the garden work that decorates the entire place will leave you impressed.

When the afternoon arrives we will go back to the city of Ibarra where lunch will be waiting for us and then we will embark back to the city of Quito on a tour guarded by volcanoes in the Andes mountain range.