Avenue of the Volcanoes

<p>We depart in the morning from your hotel towards “Cotopaxi Volcano and National Park”, a volcano of 5.897-m-high (18.870 feet high) considered the highest active volcano in the world. An impressive sight to see if weather conditions are in our favor. During our stay at the National Park we will admire its natural environment, its Flora and Fauna with explanations from your naturalist guide. We will try to ascend to the refuge located at 4.810 m (15.392 feet high). We will also take a hike around Limpiopungo Lake which is located at the foot of the volcano to observe some birds of the Paramo region (Andean Grasslands). On a clear day the view of the volcano reflected on the lake surface is magnificent. We will have lunch in the National Park and will move south towards Baños town. On the way we will have some stops to enjoy the views of the volcanoes.</p>

<p>We have breakfast at the hotel and we will move east to visit the amazing route of the waterfalls where we have the chance to have a little ride on a gondola crossing the big Pastaza River to get a close view of one of the waterfalls called “Manto de la novia”. We will also visit another waterfall called “Pailon Del Diablo” or Devil’s cauldron in English. To get here we will have a hike along a forest path for around 45 minutes. We will return to Baños for lunch. In the afternoon we will go swinging on the swing at the end of the world and will continue to Riobamba city to spend the night.</p>

<p>Early in the morning we will go to Alausi town and the train station for our ride called “Devils Nose”. This is a section of track that due to the difficulty involved in its construction, claimed the lives of many workers. The name used originally by the locals in this mountain side was “the Condor’s Aerie”. </p><p>The Devil’s Nose crossing is made by the use of switchbacks: the train rumbles ahead past a junction, then backs down the next section, before going forward again. It was the only way to get the lumbering trains down the hill.</p><p>After this train ride we will have lunch at the town’s restaurant and we will continue towards Ingapirca Ruins. Ingapirca is the largest and best preserved archaeological complex in Ecuador. The name Ingapirca means “Wall of the Inca” and its construction combines the coppery brown of adobe used by Cañari culture with the bluish-green andesite stones brought subsequently by the Incas. It was built with millions of stones. These ruins stand out, both for the extraordinary work of masonry in stone blocks that make up its walls, as well as the originality appreciated in the design of its main structure, a tall and bulky elliptical platform known as the “Castle of Ingapirca”.</p><p>After our visit to the ruins we will continue to Cuenca to check in at the hotel. </p>

<p>The flowing day, we visit Cuenca city. First we will have a panoramic view of the city from “El Turi” view point before going to the center of the city to visit this colonial site. We will visit Plaza Calderón, The Cathedral, The Plaza of “las Flores“ and depending on the day of tour, if it’s Tuesday we will see the traditional “Cholas Cuencanas” performing spiritual rituals or “cleansing” to help people get rid of the bad energies affecting their health. (Chola Cuencana is the name given to the indigenous women in this part of the country)</p><p>After the city tour we will visit a Paja Toquilla (Panama) Hat factory to learn about the history behind these beautiful hats originally made in Ecuador. We have lunch and will transfer to the airport for our flight back to Quito. The accommodation is in Quito.</p>