b'DAY 01: DEPART FOR QUITO Afternoon, youll have free time to enjoy Ecuadorian chocolate or Board your flight to Quito, the capital city of Ecuador, at ancoffee in one of the cosy bars and restaurants the city has to offer. elevation of 9,200 feet (2,850 meters above sea level). It has been[ P ] Breakfast[ P ] Local Lunch[ P ] Indian DinnerLATIN & SOUTH AMERICAdeclared Heritage of Mankind by the UNESCO as recognition to its extraordinary architectural and artistic colonial heritage. DAY 08: CUENCACAJAS NATIONAL PARKGUAYAQUIL[ O ] Breakfast[ O ] Lunch[ O ] Dinner Leaving Cuenca on the way to the Coast region youll pass through Cajas National Park. Afterwards youll continue to arrive to the DAY 02: QUITO cosmopolitan city of Guayaquil. Drive around the city where Las On arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. Rest at leisure toPeas hill and its particular colourful houses will catch your eye.acclimatise to the high altitude.[ P ] Breakfast[ P ] Local Lunch[ P ] Local Dinner[ O ] Breakfast[ O ] Lunch[ P ] Indian DinnerDAY 09: GUAYAQUILBOGOTADAY 03: QUITO CITY TOURMITAD DEL MUNDO EQUATOR Depending on the flight time we catch our flight from Guayaquil to Today enjoy a full day tour to explore the many places of interestBogota, on arrival meet your representative and transfer to your in Quito. Visit Plaza de la Independencia, the Basilica Church andhotel to check in and relax.San Francisco Church, built in the 17th century. This afternoon[ P ] Breakfast[ O ] Lunch[ P ] Indian Dinnervisit Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World) and the EquatorDAY 10: MOUNT MONSERRATEBOGOTA WALKING CITY TOURmonument situated at 0 latitude. You also visit the Intinan SolarGOLD MUSEUMMuseum, where youll find scientific experimental aspects of beingAfter breakfast visit to The Monserrate, accessible by cable car or right at the Equator. Time permitting you can enjoy an optional tourfunicular to a magnificent vantage point of the town and valley at by going up the Quitos Sky railTeleferico and have a splendid viewa height of 3200 meters above sea level. Later take a walking tour of the surrounding mountains. around the historic centre of the city. Tour begins with Street Art, [ P ] Breakfast[ O ] Lunch[ P ] Indian Dinner then the church of El Carmen. On the way to the Plaza Bolvar, enjoy the Nario palace, home of the President of Colombia, and gardens in DAY 04: QUITOOTAVALOCOTACACHIthe heart of which is an astronomical observatory. The tour includes a Drive across the colourful valleys of Guayllabamba & Cayambe.visit to the Gold Museum is part of the Bank of the Republic.Observe the local produce of avocado & cherimoya fruit. Visit the Otavalo Craft Market, one of the most famous markets in Sudamerica.[ P ] Breakfast[ O ] Lunch[ P ] Indian DinnerHere youll find handmade handicrafts from all over Ecuador. Later,DAY 11: THE SALT CATHEDRAL OF ZIPAQUIRPEREIRAyoull drive to the valley of Cotacachi, famous due to its variousAfter breakfast, you go on a tour through La Sabana de Bogota to the leather items from small money keepers till high fashion jackets andtown of Zipaquira. Visit the underground Salt Cathedral, 180 meters shoes. After the short stop in the town youll advance to Cayapasbelow the surface. Late afternoon, transfer to airport for flight to Reserve, which is crowned by the inactive volcano Cotacachi wherePereira. On arrival in Pereira, transfer to your hotel. the crater holds the mystic Cuicocha crater lake. Some optional[ P ] Breakfast[ O ] Lunch[ P ] Local Dinneractivities can be done in this magical place, maybe a short hike or a boat ride around the two islets nested into the lagoon. Drive back toDAY 12: PEREIRAVALLE DEL COCORA (PHOTO SHOP)Quito for overnight stay. SALENTOPEREIRA[ P ] Breakfast[ O ] Lunch[ P ] Indian Dinner This morning you head towards Valle Del Cocora, along the way, DAY 05: QUITOINDIGENOUS MARKETBANOS appreciate the beautiful landscape. CHIMBORAZORIOBAMBAOnce you reach the Valley, take a walk into the cloud forest where You start this day early in the morning, first you visit one of the localwe will appreciate the biodiversity of fauna and flora. later you drive indigenous markets, either Pujil, Saquisil or Zumbahua (marketsto the typical colonial town of Salento, where you can take a walk have operational days). You walk around the market to discover newvisiting the Plaza de Bolivar with its colourful and typical balconies, fruits and vegetables which are trade with any kind of products evenart studios and the Cocora view point. Return to hotel for overnight small animals like chickens or the famous guinea pig or cuy. Backstay and dinner.to the bus to take the road, we head down into the Pastaza river[ P ] Breakfast[ O ] Lunch[ P ] Local Dinnercanyon to the so called Route of Waterfalls where we find CascadaDAY 13: COFFEE TOURMEDELLINde la Virgen, the Brides Mantle, Machay, Pailon del Diablo (theAfter breakfast we experience the Coffee tour. Later we drive towards Devils Cauldron) optional walk down to observe this waterfall fromMedellin for overnight stay. a breathtaking suspension bridge. Drive to the city of Riobamba[ P ] Breakfast[ P ] Local Lunch[ P ] Indian Dinnerpassing at the foothills of Chimborazo Volcano, the highest summit in Ecuador. Overnight in Riobamba. DAY 14: SANTA ELENAMETRO CABLEMEDELLIN CITY TOUR[ P ] Breakfast[ P ] Local Lunch[ P ] Local Dinner GRAFFITI TOURThis morning, the tour includes visit to Santa Elena, where you DAY 06: RIOBAMBAINGAPIRCACUENCA could buy some souvenirs and visit a flower farm, where you will Today after breakfast drive to Ingapirca archaeological ruins, thisknow about the evolution of the Silletero culture. Later drive back complex was an important religious Center and today is the standingto Medellin to start a social transformation tour with a visit to the proof of the Andean ancient societys development, such us theComuna 13 of Medellin where we can see its spectacular graffiti and Caaris and the Incas. On arrive at the city of Cuenca, check in andknow the history behind each one, later we will have a tour in Metro rest of the evening at leisure. Overnight stay in Cuenca. and Metro cable to finish with a panoramic tour through sites such as [ P ] Breakfast[ P ] Local Lunch[ P ] Indian Dinner Plaza Botero, Parque de los Pies Descalzos and Pueblito Paisa.[ P ] Breakfast[ O ] Lunch[ P ] Indian DinnerDAY 07: CUENCA CITY TOURPANAMA HATS FACTORYEnjoy the city of Cuenca, walking through its old and narrow streetsDAY 15: MARINILLAEL PENOL GUATAPE WALKING CITY TOURwill bring you back to the times of the Spaniard colony filled with artMEDELLINand legends. Our guide will accompany you during the city tour whichWe will be passing through the towns of Marinilla, where you will includes a visit to the strawhat factory, known as Panama hats.find colonial buildings and fervent religious traditions. Continue the Full itineraries available at www.sona.tours 123'