TOUR 1 “CUENCA” October 8^th – 10^th

Sponsored By The City Of Cuenca

City sightseeing tour through the city’s Historic Center: San Sebastian, a picturesque and traditional neighbourhood of Cuenca, where the Modern Art Museum is located; The Abdón Calderón Square (Central Square), the Flower Plaza, the Church of “Carmen de la Asunción”; the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, best known as the New Cathedral and considered one of the biggest churches in Latin America; the Cathedral of “El Sagrario”, commonly known as the Old Cathedral.

TOUR 2 “OTAVALO-COTOPAXI” October 8th – 11th

Sponsored By SURTREK DMC

COST: US$100

At the end of MITM Americas, at 15:00 hours, drive to the north zone of the country, especially the Otavalo city. The whole area is wonderful, full of impressive sightseeing and beautiful landscapes.

Continuation of the trip direction to the north of the country through the Volcanoes Avenue until reaching the entrance of the Cotopaxi National Park. By good weather, a spectacular view on the surrounding, snow-covered volcanos can be seen.

The Cotopaxi Volcano, is the highest active one in Ecuador. Hiking around the Limpiopungo Lake (3.800 m) in more or less 1 hour, depending or the weather conditions.

After that, drive a few minutes north to experience a typical Lunch.

TOUR 3 “THE AMAZON” October 8th – 11th

Sponsored By SURTREK DMC

COST: US$100

At the end MITM Americas, at 15:00 hours, travel north along the Pan-American Highway through astonishing mountain scenery to Papallacta.

This village is situated at 3.200m in the midst of an evergreen Páramo landscape and is renowned for its hot springs.

Relax in the scenic pools and see if you can spot the ice giant Antisana (5.758m).

Overnight stay in the hotel Thermas de Papallacta SPA Resort, where a great dinner will be served.

After breakfast, leave from Thermas de Papallacta to Tena and start an amazing tour deep in the jungle, until arrival to  Punta Ahuano, where the river canoe to La Casa del Suizo lodge will be taken. That is a magic and charming place in the middle of the jungle. It is a beautiful Amazonian refuge located on the shore of Ecuador’s majestic Napo River and a stone’s throw away from the eastern slopes of the Andes Mountains.

Perched comfortably above the riverbank and the small Quichua Indian village of Ahuano, surrounded by tropical rainforest environment.

The group will board a dugout canoe, and navigate 20 minutes down the waters of the scenic Napo River. The destination is Pangayacu, where during approximately three-hour walk through primary rainforest, visitors will have the opportunity to see actual hunting traps which were traditionally used by the local natives in the past.

The guides will demonstrate how they work and explain which type of animals was caught in each one. And of course, at all times we will be on the lookout for tropical birds, and point out important aspects of the surrounding vegetation.

The trail leads to the home of a Quichua. Indian family, whose garden contains many medicinal plants still commonly used today. Your guide will explain how they are prepared and used nowadays for the local people.

Lunch will be served in the forest on the river banks, the Hotel Chef will cook the best typical dishes for us. Later, the group must build a raft with Balsa wood to return to the Lodge.

In the Late Afternoon we will visit the Indian village of Ahuano, where we may learn about several aspects of traditional Quichua culture.

A local host will show us how to make chicha, a typical beverage (which of course all may taste), and demonstrate the spiritual cleaning rituals still practiced today throughout the surrounding community.

Finally, all may participate in a blowgun target-shooting contest – but don’t expect to beat the natives!

Early in the morning, after breakfast we will have a short trekking in the surroundings and after that we will continue to Quito.

Farewell dinner and accommodation at Swissotel.

TOUR 4 “GALAPAGOS ISLANDS” October 10th – 14th

Sponsored By KLEINTOURS DMC

Departure from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra (aprox. 2 and half hour flight). Passengers will be picked up at the airport by our guides and taken to the Itabaca canal, then cross to the Island of Santa Cruz and travel to Puerto Ayora.

Travelers can trek through the highlands of Santa Cruz and visit Cerro Chato, where you’ll be able to observe the famous giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Additionally, travelers can walk inside the dormant lava tubes.

Wet landing. This beach is located on the north side of Santa Cruz Island. Here you will encounter many sea birds, marine iguanas, sea turtles, and have the opportunity to swim on the white sand beach.

Dry landing. Guests will encounter swallow tailed gulls and sea lions. This site is a major nesting colony of blue footed boobies, and has the largest colony of the magnificent frigate bird. Travelers will also spot both, marine iguanas and land iguanas.

Dry landing. Passengers walk to a saltwater lagoon behind the beach, where on occasions many pink flamingos can be observed, this trail leads up to Dragon Hill, which offers a lovely view of the bay. This is a nesting site for reintroduced land iguanas, and there is also a Holy Stick Forest.

Wet landing on a greenish colored sand beach. Visitors will hike from the black mangrove beds to a large, brackish lagoon, which holds one of the biggest flamingo populations in the Galapagos. This land features endemic plants such as Scalesia villosa, Galapagos daisies, white and black mangrove, and holy stick. Novice snorkelers can practice on the main beach with the playful sea lions. Please keep in mind this is an open-water activity, there is nothing to step on.

Dry landing. Visitors will learn more about the lava terrain and cross the inactive lava fields. Besides the sea lion colonies, this is a very important site for bird watching.  Various bird species such as the mockingbird of Española, Nazca booby and tropical birds can be spotted and observed from very close. A large colony of marine iguanas, lava lizards and rally light foot crabs can also be seen.

After a short trek visitors will encounter colonies of Nazca and blue-booted boobies. The nesting grounds sometimes overlap the trail. Visitors will also find Galapagos doves, hawks and swallow-tailed gulls and then reach the world’s largest colony of waved albatross. A major highlight is their mating season, from May through December. You will visit the famous blowhole, where water shoots into the air about 23m (75 ft).

Dry landing at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Passengers will visit San Cristobal breeding center and learn about the National Park’s breeding program with the giant tortoises. Passengers will observe some animals in their natural environment. Passengers will also have the opportunity to visit the town and go shopping for souvenirs, arts and crafts.

Passengers can chose either a ride in an outboard motorboat to observe the Galapagos fur seals, seabirds and marine wildlife or go snorkelling to see a variety of tropical fish, manta rays or even harmless white-tipped reef sharks.

Return to the Galapagos Legend, check out and transfer to the Baltra’s airport.

TOUR 5 OTAVALO ”CHASKI ANTAWA TRAIN & OTAVALO TREASURES” October 8^th – 9^th

Sponsored By KLEINTOURS DMC

COST: US$100

At the end of MITM Americas, depart from Quito and drive to Otavalo, the most famous and colourful in South America.

Markets are places to come together, shop, haggle and gossip, while locals trade foodstuffs, animals, utensils, pots and pans or textiles. For visitors, markets are a great way to get closer to Ecuadorians while bargaining over a sweater or a panpipe and enjoying the work of their industrious hands embodied in their diverse crafts.

At night, enjoy dinner at Peguche, famous for its wonderful textiles, where you can see weavers at their looms and admire local handicrafts. Also there will be a folclorik show and fireworks.

Accommodation at a colonial hacienda of the area.

Early in the morning we will drive to the roses plantations and will be able to learn about the process to grow the flowers. You will get free samples.

After this you will drive to Ibarra to take the Chaski Antawa Train (messenger train) that runs on the railway built at the beginning of the 20^th century, connecting the northern highlands to the tropical coast.

From Ibarra, the train climbs down to the warm, dry valley of Ambuqui through sugarcane plantations, magical landscapes, tunnels and crossing bridges that span canyons and gullies while enjoying a toast with champagne. The 26 km. ride to Salinas plunges from 2,200 down to 1,500 meters above sea level (7,216 to 4, 920 feet) in only about two hours.

Enjoy a unique lunch at Kleintours’ social project, the “Chaski Antawa Restaurant”, which is our way of helping the Valley of Salinas and its surrounding area become a tourist destination and raising the standard of living on its inhabitants. The menu was carefully selected and drawn up by the community using high quality standars.

In the way back, stop at San Antonio de Ibarra, and also you will learn how to make the typical ice cream of the area.