Cultural Tours

Then thinking in terms of culture, Ecuador is perhaps not the first country in Latin America that springs to mind. After all we do have a multicultural land which summarizes the total ways of living built up by several ethnic groups and transmitted from one generation to another. We do also have pre-colombian remains which constitute our rich prehistoric past. Campus concern to promote our cultural and archaeological heritage extends to every branch of Ecuador's cultural places. We are not only focusing on traditional Indian markets, andicrafts and well-known Inca ruins but also in less known archaeological sites with a fascinating scientific interest. When people refer to pre-colombian ruins, they automatically associate with the Inca world but Ecuador's rich past embraces a great number of pre-Inca cultures such as Cayapa-Colorado-Cara and Cañari. On our special tours we will visit the ancient remains of the Cochasqui adobe pyramids and burial mounds, remains of a pre-colombian culture of controversial origin. We offer as well archaeological hikes in the highlands. Places where you can reach only by foot. On all tours we have selected specialized guides, connoisseurs of our cultural world and experts in the field.

• Indian markets and Indian festivities (depends on the dates).
• Chordeleg and Gualaceo gold artist centers, Panama hat factories and ceramics.
• Shaman experience and petroglyphes in the Anaconda Valley.
• Visit pre-colombian Inca ruins such as Ingapirca, Cañari ruins, Pucaras, Cochasqui Adobe Pyramids.
• Archaeological day hikes such as Paradones Inca ruins, Inca trail in Cajas National Park, Cangagua fortresses.
• Colonial cities such as Quito and Cuenca.
• Museums.
• Colonial haciendas

day 1.	Arrival at Quito airport. Transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon excursion to the old colonial city of Quito.
day 2.	After breakfast visit of the Equator line and the anthropological museum. In the afternoon visit of the Inca ruins of Rumicucho. It was a sacred centre and a military stronghold. Drive back to Quito.
day 3.	Drive toward the north of Ecuador. We visit the mysterious pyramids of Cochasqui. These pre-colombian ruins are of a very important archaeological value. In the afternoon we visit the Cuicocha crater lake and Cotacachi craftmens centre. Overnight in the colonial hacienda Pinsaqui or similar.
day 4.	Visit of the famous Otavalo market, weaving workshops and lunch at a typical indian restaurant. In the afternoon drive back to Quito.
day 5.	Today we drive southward the Panamerican highway. We hike in the Cotopaxi National Park and visit the Inca ruins located at the foot of Cotopaxi volcano. In the afternoon we drive to the oldest hacienda in Ecuador to stay overnight.
day 6.	We set of for a visit of the colonial town of Latacunga and an excursion to the old hacienda Tilipulo. On our way eastward we stop at the Salasaca market and drive further toward the hacienda Manteles to stay overnight.
day 7.	Time to relax or to undertake a hike into the cloudforest close to the hacienda. Late in the morning we drive to Ambato for a visit of the birthplace of Juan Montalvo, one of the greatest writers of the 19th. century usually called the Cervantes of America We also visit the colonial hacienda of Juan Leon Mera, another prominent writer of the 19th. century. Drive to Hacienda Andaluza in Riobamba to stay overnight.
day 8.	At 7h00 we start an adventurous trainjourney, passing the Devil's nose and ending in Alausi. From here we drive to Ingapirca, the most relevant Inca heritage in Ecuador. Overnight in the hosteria Ingapirca.
day 9.	In the morning we visit the Ingapirca archaeological complex and in the afternoon we visit the colonial city of Cuenca. Cuenca is called the Athens of Ecuador due of its active cultural life. Overnight in a hotel.
day 10.	This last day we drive to Chordeleg to visit this important goldsmith and jewellery centre. In the afternoon an excursion to the Panama hat factory and in the late afternoon flight in Quito. Transfer to your hotel.