Crossing through high volcanoes in the Sierra after sightseeing in the capital, this amazing tour takes you beyond the boundaries of the dry Andes and into the relaxing humidity of the coast. You will visit the trendy city of Guayaquil, yet after a loop around its most impressive sights you will leave the urban coast and head for an adventure in the ocean.
(Shared tour - Departures on Sunday and Tuesday)

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Over 60 churches of impressive historical value adorn the capital and take you back to the time of the conquistadores. Views of the Cotopaxi volcano and later of the capital of the province. Take a close look as the flora changes around you moving down from the páramos to the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Breathe in the salty air of the Malecón on your way to the lively neighborhood of Las Peñas. Look out for dolphins as the last highlight of this magnificent trip.

Quito / Riobamba / Devil's Nose / Cotopaxi volcano / Dolphin watching at Puerto del Morro / Guayaquil

DETAILED ITINERARY

DAY 1: Arrival to Quito. Reception at the airport and transfer to the hotel.

DAY 2:  City Tour in Quito, Ecuador’s capital. This city is a combination of colonial and modern architecture, reason why it was declared Cultural Heritage of the World in 1978 by UNESCO. The churches constructed by the Spaniards during the colonization are the ones that stand out because of their impressive altars made of gold. Then you will visit the Middle of the World, where you will find a monument on the equatorial line which divides the world in 2 hemispheres.

DAY 3: The adventure starts with a bus ride to the station of Tambillo, where the "Chiva Express", a colorful one-coach train, like a bus on tracks, is ready to depart. A highlight of the trip is to 'ride the roof' with a panoramic view of the stunning Andean region of Ecuador. You will leisurely enjoy the ever-changing scenery as the "Chiva Express" advances along the ancient tracks. Stop for a snack at a dairy hacienda with cows, horses and llamas. Then the Chiva advances up and down the slopes of Cotopaxi volcano and the fertile Valley of Latacunga for a visit to a rose plantation and a taste of the products of the land (potatoes and broccoli picked that same morning). Continue by bus to Riobamba, and at the foot of imposing Chimborazo volcano, visit a Tagua workshop and warm up with a canelazo by the fireplace. Dinner and overnight at Riobamba.

DAY 4: After an early breakfast, transfer to the train station to board the "Chiva Express" for an astonishing ride, twisting and turning over the Andes, along bridging ravines and river gorges. Stop at Guamote, an Indian town, for a short visit to an Educational Center for Adults’ Development and Sustainability. Continue aboard the Chiva to Alausí, where a snack is served, and prepare to go down the Devil’s Nose switch backs, one of the most impressive feats of rail engineering in the world, and back to Alausí. Continue by motorcar to the station of Huigra and again board another "Chiva Express" to descend from the Andes to the coastal plains. On the ride to Bucay, you will experience - right before your eyes! - the transition from Andean ecosystems to the lush tropical coastal vegetation: bananas, oranges, pineapples, ginger and wooden farm houses on stilts. Box lunch en-route. Arrive to the town of Bucay and then proceed by road to Ecuador's largest city, Guayaquil.