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Train
& Cultural Trips
Train
Tour over the spectacular Devil's Nose
(3 Days, depart: Tue. Thurs.& Sat.)
We
pass near Ecuador's 2nd highest mountain the Cotopaxi
volcano driving toward Riobamba through the Avenue
of the Volcanoes.
Our
goal is a charming hacienda Andaluza on the foot
slopes of the highest snowcapped mountain of the
country the colossal Chimborazo (6310 m).
The
next day we take the train from Riobamba towards
Alausi passing through colorful and painting like
landscapes surrounding the Chimborazo. This unique
experience finishes with the adventurous tour
descending the impressive Devil's Nose leaving
us unforgettable memories.
Afterwards
we will continue to the small but cozy and fascinating
town of Baņos, on the foot of the active Tungurahua
volcano, where we will spend the next day visiting
its renowned thermal springs and beautiful surroundings,
to return to Quito late on the afternoon the third
day.
Day-tours
from Quito
Don't
have much time? Quinde Expediciones offers a number
of day- tours that depart from Quito. Select
from the tours listed on this page, or, if the
tour you have in mind is not listed contact us
and we will arrange it for you.
Nature
Tours
- COTOPAXI
VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK (Daily; Lunch included)
Cotopaxi is the highest active volcano on earth
reaching 19,700 feet. Located 60 km south of
Quito, Cotopaxi National Park encompasses Cotopaxi
Volcano and 320.000 hectares of land teeming
with Andean wildlife, including a llama breeding
program run by the Cotopaxi Park Administration.
Lunch is served at nearby La Cienega, a 300
years old hacienda turned into country inn.
Note: Park entrance fee not included.
(20.000 sucres, aprox. 1 USD p.p.).
- PULULAHUA
CRATER TOUR (Daily box lunch included)
4 Km north from the equator monument we find
one of the biggest inhabited craters in South
America, now part of a geobotanical reserve
due to its bizarre vegetation and landscape.
These characteristics plus the crater dimensions
makes its visit a real highlight. We will descend
to the bottom of the crater (2500 m), starting
our hike from the place called "el mirador"
or the viewpoint located at approx. 2800 m.
Once inside the crater after passing by the
cultivated zone, we will be immerse in an Andean
Cloud Forest. Among others we will find orchids,
bamboos, medicinal plants still used by the
people living there, colorful butterflies and
birds. After a 4-5 hrs hike our transport will
be waiting for us near Manantiales, to take
us back to Quito.
- PASOCHOA
ANDEAN FOREST (Daily; Box-lunch included)
Pasochoa,
25 km south of Quito, is one of Ecuador's most
beautiful forests. Pasochoa boasts some 30 species
of trees and numerous epiphytes, including some
orchids. The forest is also home to more than
70 species of birds, including 12 species of
hummingbirds.
- PAPALLACTA
PASS TOUR (Daily, Box-lunch included)
East of Quito, across the Tumbaco valley, and
after the foothills of the Eastern Cordillera
lies Papallacta Pass. From Papallacta vistors
take in the awe inspiring view of glacial canyons
juxtaposed with cropfields, the paramo and scattered
patches of Andean forest. We stop to explore
the paramo and learn about its ecology, then
move on to the Cloud Forest to observe its many
birds and exotic flowers. After a picnic in
view of the beautiful Papallacta lake, we visit
the renown Papallacta thermal springs. Following
a refreshing dip in Papallacta's thermal waters
we return to Quito. Note: Thermal Spring entrance
not included ( 8000 sucs. p.p.)
- MINDO
TROPICAL RAIN FOREST TOUR (Daily; Box-lunch
included)
The Mindo Forest provides an unparrelled opportunity
to view flora and fauna, waterfalls, and wildlife.
The Mindo tour departs early from Quito and
heads northwest through the Western Cordillera
along rustic roads into the Cloud Forest and
then on to the Tropical Rain Forest area of
Mindo. Along the way we stop frequently to enjoy
the landscape and wildlife.
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Museums
and Cultural Tours
- QUITO
SCENIC TOUR (Daily)
Our Quito day-tour hits all of the Capital City's
hot spots. See the Legislative Palace, known
for its many murals. Then check out Old Town
Quito and experience the colonial charm of its
architecture. Walk through Independence Plaza
and head over to La Compania Church to view
its famed gold-leaf altars. Continue on to San
Francisco Church to see paintings of the famous
colonial artist Caspicara. And, don't miss El
Panecillo Hill for a panoramic view of the city
and its surroundings.
- QUITO
COLONIAL TOUR (Daily)
The Quito Colonial day-tour includes visits
to Museum of San Francisco, the House of Culture,
known for its primitive Musical Arts Museum,
and the Central Bank Museum with its famous
pre-columbian exposition.
- EQUATORIAL
MONUMENT AND RUINS TOUR (Daily; Except Monday)
Twenty three kilometres north of Quito sits
El Mitad del Mundo equatorial line monument.
The monument marks the place where an18th century
French expedition, led by Charles-Marie de la
Condamine, established the exact geodesic position
of the Equator. After visiting El Mitad del
Mundo we visit the nearby Inca ruins of Rumicucho.
- QUITO
CITY TOUR AND EQUATORIAL MONUMENT
QUITO SCENIC TOUR combined with EQUATORIAL MONUMENT
AND RUINS TOUR with lunch at a typical Ecuadorian
restaurant.
- COUNTRYSIDE
TOUR (Daily; Box-lunch included)
Spend the day taking in the valleys of Chillos,
Tumbaco, and Guayllabamba. The ever changing
landscape provides abundant opportunities for
those who enjoy photography. We stop frequently
to take photos and experience the beauty of
the surrounding country.
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Indian
Markets and Handicrafts
- SAQUISILI
INDIAN MARKET TOUR (Thursdays; Lunch included)
One and a half hours south of Quito is the town
of Saquisili, home to one of the most colorful
and complete Indian markets in Ecuador. Saquisili's
eight plazas offer a wide variety of handcrafts
at reasonable prices. Lunch is served at La
Cienega, a 300 year old restored hacienda.
- PUJILI
INDIAN MARKET TOUR (Sundays & Wednesdays; Lunch
included)
Ninety kilometers south of Quito sits the town
of Pujili. Pujili is a gathering point for many
Indigineous traders. The sight of the traders
leading their llamas through the streets loaded
with crops and other goods is more than picturesque,
it is a scene captured a hundred years ago and
shown today. Lunch is served at La Cienega,
a 300 year old restored hacienda.
- LATACUNGA
MARKET (Tuesdays and Saturdays; Lunch included)
The town of Latacunga is located south of Quito
and the Volcano Cotopaxi. Latacunga's colorful
market, filling five of the towns plazas, is
a photographer's delight.
- ZUMBAHUA
(Saturdays; Box-lunch)
The small indigenous village of Zumbahua is
perched in the mountains 65 kilometres west
of Pujili. Zumbahua is a typical mountain market
where llamas and riding horses are traded, along
with woodcarvings by local artesans and other
handcrafts . The journey to Zumbahua takes you
through rugged Andean terrain where you occasionally
catch a glimpse of a shepherd in the distance.
A visit to the crater lake Quilotoa rounds out
this tour.
- OTAVALO
COUNTRY TOUR (Daily; Lunch included)
On this tour we visit either Otavalo and Peguche,
both renown for their weavers and high quality
handcrafts that they produce. Following the
markets at Otavalo and Peguche, we continue
on to the town of Cotacachi which is known for
its fine, handmade leather products. Enroute
to Otavalo and as we travel among the towns,
you will see the fantastic mosaic of rural Ecuador.
Please note: When this tour is run on Saturdays
we visit the Otavalo instead of Peguche. The
rest of the tour remains the same.
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