Day 1 - Highlands
Drive in your own jeep (and with private guide) to Antisana Ecological Reserve. Antisana is privately owned and regulated, with the goal of preserving native flora and fauna. It lies in the foothills of the 5,705-meter Volcano
Antisana. Once within the Reserve, you will hike to Pita Waterfall. After your hike,
relax with a picnic lunch. Then, continue your drive to San Agustín de Callo, a hacienda
whose walls are partially constructed from an Inca temple.
Day 2 - Baños
This morning your guide will take you horseback riding around San Agustín de Callo’s
extensive property, where you will be surrounded by the spectacular Andes Mountains.
Lunch at the hacienda, and then continue on to Hacienda Manteles, on the fringe of the Cloud Forest.
Day 3 - Riobamba
Today you will visit the small town of Baños, where you
will hike to some of the area’s famous waterfalls. Baños is also known for its
handicrafts workshops. Then, you’ll have the option of visiting the local zoo, built on
the slope of Tungurahua Colvano, with animals like eagles, jaguars, capybaras,
spectacled bears and lots of monkeys. In the
afternoon drive to Riobamba, one of the liveliest cities in Ecuador’s Central Highlands.
It has plenty of colonial charm with its cobbled streets, pastel buildings and stately
squares.
Day 4 – Cuenca
If you will be doing the Devils Nose train, you’re going to have an early morning when you depart
Riobamba to ride the roof of the train to Devil’s Nose. The
train passes through every climate zone, beginning in the
cool highlands, passing through the cloud forest and
ending in the hot coastal jungle. The train descends
caboose first and goes along a series of switchbacks with
thrilling twists and turns, offering spectacular views of
Chimurazo and an exciting descent down the 45-degree
gradient of the Devil’s Nose. Lunch and in the afternoon
make a short visit to Ingapirca Inca ruins before
continuing on to Cuenca for overnight in Hotel Santa
Lucía.
Day 5 - Cuenca
Your private gude will take you on a full day visit to Cuenca and the surrounding areas, with
lunch at a local restaurant. Cuenca is a beautiful, tranquil city with cobbled streets,
ironwork balconies and red-tiled roofs, dozens of fascinating churches and museums,
and excellent art galleries. Don’t miss the produce market, a weekly social occasion of
buying, selling and gossiping, and look for high quality souvenirs here, where they sell
Panama hats, leather jackets, embroideries, gold jewelry and ceramics.
Option : Fly back to Quito from Cuenca to continue on to Galapagos or
Day 6 – Guayaquil
You’ll leave Cuenca in the morning and stop for a short hike at El Cajas Lakes. Then,
after a picnic lunch, you’ll drive down from the Andes to the coastal city of Guayaquil. This drive is abosolutely stunning and it is the best way to see the entire climatic and geographic bio dioversity of Ecuador.Overnight before your morning flight to the Galapagos Islands.
