The Andes & Devil's Nose Train Extension

Extension: Extend your experience with these add-on itineraries

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Itinerary

Day 1

On arrival in Quito Airport you are greeted and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day you are free to explore Quito, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site founded by a Spanish conquistador in 1534.

Swissôtel Quito

Day 2

Drive to Cotopaxi National Park to see stunning Mount Cotopaxi, an active volcano over 19,000 feet above sea level. Stroll around tranquil Lake Limpiopungo or visit the Salitre pre-Inca ruins; you might glimpse wild horses, condors and other wildlife. Enjoy lunch at an inn at the park and take a horseback ride at the hacienda.

Hacienda San Agustin de Callo   |   Meals: B L D

Day 3

Visit the region around Quilotoa Lake. Drive through fantastic Andean mountain landscapes to view breathtaking aquamarine Crater Lake. Enjoy lunch at the home of a local artist, and then continue to Riobamba.

Hosteria Abraspungo   |   Meals: B L D

Day 4

After an early breakfast, drive to Alausi and board a public train to view unforgettable scenery of the Andes, the Palmira Desert and the Devil’s Nose, as you marvel at the amazing feat of railroad engineering. Continue to Cuenca, stopping at Ingapirca, considered the most important complex of ruins in Ecuador. In Cuenca, check into your hotel, a beautifully restored 19th century mansion, for a relaxing evening.

Mansion Alcazar Boutique Hotel   |   Meals: B L D

Day 5

Visit the nearby Santa Ana Valley for local crafts such as ceramics, jewelry, Panama hats and guitars, stopping at Chordeleg, a town famous for its gold and silver filigree work. Then drive through green rolling hills, sparsely dotted with farmhouses and cows, far from hectic city life. Dine at a local hacienda before returning to Cuenca for your flight back to Quito.

Swissôtel Quito   |   Meals: B L

Day 6

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, and then transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Meals: B