Ecuador Wonders: Quito, Equator Line, and Mindo Full Day

Discover Ecuador’s Best Hidden Gems with This 3-Day Tour

Explore the beauty of Ecuador’s capital city, Quito, and Mindo’s lush forests on this 3-day adventure. Start with a Quito city tour that showcases its fascinating panoramas, churches, and cultural heritage. Visit Basilica Church, Plaza Grande, Compañía de Jesús Church, San Francisco Church, and Panecillo Hill. Then, head to Ciudad Mitad Del Mundo and Intiñan Museum to learn about the Equator line. The next day, discover the natural wonders of Mindo, including a butterfly farm, orchids, and an array of colorful hummingbirds. Take a journey through the forest area in a cable car and walk through the woods to visit Alambi Reserve and the Canopy. Relax at the end of each day at the charming Patio Andaluz Hotel. Book now and immerse yourself in the beauty and culture of Ecuador!

DAY 1: QUITO IN

Arrival: Mariscal Sucre International Airport Transfer to the hotel. (1 hour) Accommodation: Patio Andaluz Hotel www.hotelpatioandaluz.com -/-/-

DAY 2: QUITO CITY TOUR & EQUATOR LINE

Breakfast at the hotel. Quito city tour is perfect for seeing fascinating panoramas, churches, domes and roofs that have an important historical value. You will admire and learn about colonial art, architecture, culture, legends, and traditions. Quito, the capital of Ecuador, was founded in the 16th century on the ruins of an Inca city and stands at an altitude of 9.350 feet. Despite the 1917 earthquake, the city has the best-preserved, least altered historic Center in Latin America. The architecture and rich interiors, are pure examples of Quito School of sculpture, which is a fusion of Spanish, Italian, Moorish, Flemish and indigenous art. After four incredible hours exploring the Old Town, you’ll understand why Quito was the world’s first city named to UNESCO’s Cultural Heritage list. At the old town we are going to visit:

• Basilicia Church: is the Biggest Neogothic Church in South America. This religious construction was designed by the French architect Emilio Tarlier, who was inspired by the Parisian cathedral of Notre Dame.

• Plaza Grande: Plaza de la Independencia, colloquially known as Plaza Grande, is where Quito’s daily life and historic and national symbolism collide. In the center of the Plaza de la Independencia we find the monument to the Heroes of Independence that was built at the beginning of the 20th century, which symbolizes the triumph of the Republic against the Spanish colony. Around the Plaza you can visit the Carondelet Plaza and Archbishop’s Palace.

• Compañía de Jesús Church: is Quito’s most ornate church and a standout among the baroque splendors of the Old Town. Is a Jesuit church, and one of the most interesting and spectacular in Quito. From the outside the church is distinctive for its green and gold domes.

• San Francisco Church: It stands proud on one side of the main square in the old town of Quito. Was built on the site of an Inca temple, which means it stands slightly higher than some of the other buildings in the city. It is considered to be a baroque church, and one of the most important in the city. Throughout the church are both Catholic and indigenous symbols.

• Panecillo Hill: It is the most important natural viewpoint of Quito. The Panecillo is currently crowned by a giant aluminum sculpture of the «Virgin of Quito», created in 1975 by the Spaniard Agustín de la Herrán Matorras, which was based on the Virgin of Legarda or Virgin Apocalyptic; 18th century work by Bernardo de Legarda, one of the most important representatives of the Quito School. At the afternoon, you will visit: “Cuidad Mitad Del Mundo” and Intiñan Museum

1.) “Ciudad Mitad del Mundo” “Ciudad Mitad del Mundo” is the touristic, cultural, scientific and commercial smallest city of Ecuador. Its architecture is based on colonial style. An obelisk and a museum relevant to its geographical location were built at the Middle of the World site. All of this is found among the drastic landscape surrounded by nature and modern buildings. The monument is crowned by a metallic sphere that represents the Earth. It is named Equatorial Monument and it geographical orientation coincides with the four cardinal points and is located precisely at Earth’s midpoint — 0 degrees latitude, 0 minutes, 0 seconds.

2.) Intiñan Museum Since the year 1960, the Intiñan Museum in Quito has been a center for the promotion of the many aspects of Ecuador’s culture. This museum offers interactive exhibits on how the Incas determined the middle of the earth, plus interesting science experiments such as balancing an egg on a nail and why water rotates in opposite directions on opposite sides of the Equator and why it’s difficult to walk in a straight line along this imaginary line. Accommodation: Patio Andaluz Hotel www.hotelpatioandaluz.com B/-/-

DAY 3: MINDO FULL DAY

Breakfast at the hotel. Mindo is a tiny town set amidst some of the most beautiful and peaceful countryside in the entire country. It is a centre for both nature and for adventure activities. You are going to visit a butterfly farm where you will also be able to see orchids and an array of colourful humming birds. Mindo has a great biodiversity. The forest landscape is home to over 500 species of birds and 400 species of orchids. You cross the forest area in a cable car, located approximately 30 meters above the ground, then we will walk through the woods. We will visit: ALAMBI RESERVE: The garden of Alambi is an ideal place to enjoy nature you will find a refuge for hummingbirds, you can will see varieties of species. The Hummingbirds are the smallest birds and are the most characteristic group of Ecuador, in our country we have 124 species of the 320 in the world. CANOPY: It is a journey through 3 different cables, using safety equipment and in the company of a specialized guide, where you can enjoy the adventure and adrenaline that offers the sensation of flying between the mountains of the cloud forest of Mindo. BUTTERFLY GARDEN: its a butterfly breeding farm dedicated to the exhibition, reproduction and conservation of the butterflies in the cloud forest of Mindo. ORCHID GARDEN: Ecuador is home to more than 4000 species of Orchids. In fact, 1 out of every 4 plants will be an Orchid. Tour the Garden of Orchids to discover a few these amazing and beautiful plants. QUETZAL CHOCOLATE TOUR. In this experience, we will work together to roast, grind, and mix your own xocolatl, a traditional chocolate beverage. Together we will recharge our energy by working side-by-side to make this delectable chocolate drink. You will get the opportunity to pitch in or just observe as you learn how chocolate has been made and consumed as a beverage for thousands of years. Accommodation: Patio Andaluz Hotel www.hotelpatioandaluz.com B/-/-

DAY 4: QUILOTOA FULL DAY

Breakfast: at the hotel. After breakfast We will start the day driving south of Quito through the Pan-American Highway also known as “The Avenue of the Volcanoes.” We continue our tour, until it reaches the Toachi Canyon, it is a viewpoint towards a Toachi River canyon. This canyon has been produced by the eruptions of the Quilotoa volcano giving a spectacular view from the highest point of the canyon. In its interior it runs with a fall of more than 100 meters along the Toachi river that goes towards the Ecuadorian coast. After this visit we continue towards the Quilotoa Lagoon, on our way we will pass by the Tigua workshop and admire some impressive local artwork with impressions of life in the Andes. Quilotoa has a caldera with a diameter of almost 9 km has been formed inside its crater. This is the product of the collapse of the volcano, which occurred about 800 years ago. According to studies, the volcanic flow reached the Pacific Ocean. At our arrival to the Quilotoa Loop, we will appreciate an emerald green lake inside the crater of an extinct volcano with steep jagged cliffs. We are going to trek into the crater to the lake shore. Kayak on the lake (optional). Accommodation: Patio Andaluz Hotel www.hotelpatioandaluz.com B/-/-

DAY 5: QUITO OUT

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for your flight. B/-/-

END OF SERVICES

RATES IN US $ PER PERSON
Mainland Ecuador	SNGL	½ DBL
	$1.342	$751

Included:

Private transportation and tour with English speaking guide in Mainland Ecuador as described on the itinerary.
Meals as listed on the itinerary.
Entrance fees as listed on the itinerary.
Accommodation as listed on the itinerary.

Not included: