General

DAY 01: Transfer in Guayaquil

Our guide will meet you at the airport to welcome you and take to your hotel for check in.

Accommodation and overnight

 DAY 02: GUAYAQUIL CITY TOUR.

Drive to the downtown of Guayaquil and visit the turn of the century neighborhood of Las Peñas, You will pass the bustling riverfront and the Rotonda with a view to the Guayas river. Continue through one of the most important avenues in Guayaquil , the 9th of October Avenue to see Centenario Park , the largest Plaza in the city. Here the Great Central Monument topped by an L and surrounded by the founders of the country. Continue to Bolivar Park, the oldest and most famous park in Guayaquil. The Newest site to visit is the MALECON 200 and has been done in a completely modern style.

We will now enjoy a delicious Ecuadorian sea food at typical restaurant.

Accommodation and overnight

 DAY 03: COASTAL HACIENDA TOUR WITH LUNCH

This will be a unique opportunity to life , see and learn first-hand the way of living with their customs and traditions of the “Montubio Culture” of Ecuador’s coastal region. We will visit a Cocoa Plantation and learn about the chocolate processing plant. Ecuador is among the main producers of high quality cocoa in the world and the first exporter of bananas in the world -talk about a banana country! and taste fresh and delicious tropical fruits. In this Hacienda that has its own chocolate processing plant you will be able to appreciate each of the process’s steps, the sowing, the plantation, the harvest, the fermentation and the drying, arriving to the chocolate factory where you will savor this delicious product. For lovers of chocolate, this is the opportunity you can not pass up.

Accommodation and overnight

DAY 04: GUAYAQUIL- CUENCA VIA EL CAJAS

This tour is perfect for whom is looking to travel between Guayaquil and Cuenca without missing out on the opportunity to visit Cajas National Park on the way.

After a hike and exploring the beauty of this lacustre National Park, we wll take you to comfortable dining tent complete with tables, chairs and elegant accessories. Relax and enjoy your meal in a the calm and breathtaking scenery, taste the featuring special local and fusion dishes, that have been prepared by a professional chef thinking in delighting your senses. .

After this unforgettable lunch you continue enjoying the natural wonders of Cajas National Park with a short afternoon hike in a different area of the park before driving to Cuenca

Accommodation and overnight

DAY 05: CUENCA CITY TOUR

The beauty and atmosphere of colonial Cuenca is best experienced on foot. Our walking tour of the Old Town takes you 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 offers its visitors. After driving through some modern neighborhoods you will be treated to an incredible panoramic view of the city from the vantage point of Turi. Cuenca is considered the main crafts center in all of Ecuador our tour will conclude with either a visit to a ceramic art gallery, a Panama hat factory or an artist’s workshop.

DAY 06: QUINOA COOKING TOUR

This cooking tour is designed around quinoa, an ANDEAN natural product that contains a lot of nutrients. An ideal substitute for white rice, quinoa has a rich history in the Andes. You’ll start the tour with a visit to a local market in the historic center of Cuenca learning about this traditional ingredient and other Andean products, before moving on to a professional kitchen to learn to cook a variety of dishes that use quinoa. After the class you can sit back and enjoy the food you’ve prepared. The tour lasts about 5 hours in total. If you have any particular dietary requirements, please let us know when booking to tour.

Accommodation and overnight

DAY 07: CULTURE & FOOD

In this day we will visit Chordeleg to learn about the production of fine filigree jewelry as well as handmade ceramic pottery. Then we will go to Gualaceo , where you’ will have the opportunity to walk through local fruit and vegetable markets brimming with fresh products and taste delicious fruit grown only in Ecuador.

Next we will go to visit the home of a family to observe Ikat weaving, an ancient tie-dye process dating to pre-Columbian cultures used to make shawls and ponchos on antique looms using natural dyes extracted on site. Later we will go to Ecuagenera, the most important orchid growing laboratory in Ecuador.

Finally we will have the experience to be in contact with local people , tasting its local cuisine on route, such as hornado (slow-roasted pig), cuy (roast guinea pig), tortillas de maiz or choclo(hot corn pancakes), rosero (fruit punch), biscocho (biscuits) and wide variety of fruits you will find in the market. Return to Cuenca

Accommodation and overnight

 DAY 08: TRANSFER OUT CUENCA

Our guide will pick you up at the lobby of hotel to take you to Cuenca airport

TRANSFER IN QUITO

QUITO CITY TOUR (*)

UPON YOUR arrival we will be ready to live the experience of visiting the best preserved and largest historic center in SouthAmerica, Quito downtown, with an over-abundance of ancient thick-walled, tile-roofed colonial buildings, churches, museums, and more. We invite you to walk and visit the gold-gilded La Compañia de Jesus Church, the neo-gothic Basilica del Voto Nacional. Continue to the heart of the downtown to admire the Independence Square, the Presidential Palace, the Metropolitan Cathedral , the Archbishop’s Palace, the Municipal Building,. Continue to the church and monastery of San Francisco (1535), which is the oldest church in Ecuador. Besides you will go back in centuries visiting the oldest colonial street of Quito “ LA RONDA” where a typic drink called “ canelazo” will be tasted and we will not leave of this memorable old street without tasting the artesanal ice cream.

We will continue and go to one of the highest viewpoints of the city, “ Panecillo Hill”, that lets you admire Quito from north to South, and from East to West. In this great scenery you will take a delicious lunch Quito without doubt, will keep in your Memories for ever!

Accommodation and overnight

 DAY 09: TRANSFER OUT QUITO

Our guide will pick you up from lobby to take to International airport

DURATION: 09 Days

PERIOD: Daily

PACKAGE INCLUDES:

• Bilingual speaking guide
• Private transportation
• Accommodation at First class Hotels
• Market tour
• Cooking class with professional
• All Ingredients
• Set menu
• Excursions as detailed only
• Entrance to tourist sites

NOT INCLUDED:

• Meals not detailed
• Beverage, tips and personal expenses