21 Days Complete Ecuador Highlights

Welcome to Quito, the capital of Ecuador! Arrive at the Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO), where your driver will meet you to transfer to your accommodation in the city center, a one-hour trip. The entire city of Quito is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, standing at an altitude of 9,350ft (2,850m). It welcomes visitors with its picturesque plazas situated between mountain peaks. The city has an abundance of market stands, shamanistic healers, and fourth-generation hat makers, as well as a vibrant and sophisticated culinary and nightlife scene. Overnight: Quito Meals included: NULL

Today, after breakfast, your English-speaking guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you on a walking city tour. The colonial center of Quito was already named world cultural heritage by UNESCO in 1978 and is home to many beautiful, historic buildings and squares.  You will visit the Plaza Grande and the beautiful churches La Compañía and La Basílica, and walk down the oldest street of Quito—La Ronda. Later on, accompanied by your guide, we will head to a cooking class venue, which is located inside a Colonial house in the heart of Old Town Quito. Get ready for a packed day filled with incredible sights, tastes, and smells. And at the end of it all …. you will be able to enjoy the delicious meal you cooked.  Afterward, you will visit the equatorial monument, Mitad del Mundo, located just 26 km (16 miles) north of Ecuador’s capital city, Quito where French scientists determined the position of the central line many years ago. Ecuador is the place to come to stand on the Equator line, nowhere else on the planet is it easier to visit the Equator line or strike a pose with one foot in each hemisphere. Even Ecuador’s name was born of its location at latitude zero. You will visit the museum exhibits including a planetarium, ethnographic museum, art exhibits, a small-scale model of Quito city, an old train station, a beer museum, cocoa & chocolate exhibits, and a small chapel, for an unforgettable experience today. Overnight: Quito Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

During the morning hours, your guide will pick you up to hop on the cable car "Teleferico" which brings you up to 4.000 m on the Pichincha volcano. You can enjoy a spectacular view of the city and the surrounding mountains. If you want to, take a short walk, or just take pictures from different viewpoints.  Afterward, you will head to La Floresta, a traditional neighborhood in Quito for a walking tour. During this walk, you will be able to admire the urban art and creativity of local artists in attractive streets with cafes and restaurants. After enjoying this nice neighborhood, you will be taken back to your hotel for a well-earned rest. Meals included: Breakfast