Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Quito's religious and cultural sights! Breathe in the colonial history of Ecuador as you walk the streets of Quito, where the local culture welcomes you with beauty and intrigue. On your walk, let your guide explain the city's culturally diverse history. 

Take a closer look at the heart of Quito: Independence Square with the Government and Bishops Palace, the Museum of the Cathedral and the Cathedral. On the way to San Francisco Square, visit the church of La Compañia, which has an ornate and richly sculptured façade and interior. Afterwards, get to know the church of San Francisco. You will also visit the city museum of Quito with interesting exhibits on the history and daily life of the quiteños.

The tour goes on to the Equatorial Line Monument also known as the “Middle of the World." Here you get a truly special experience to stand in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres simultaneously! The Equatorial Monument marks the spot where an 18th-century French scientific expedition led by Charles Marie de la Condamine established the exact position of the Equator.

The area has been built as a typical colonial town, with restaurants, gift shops and a Post Office with philatelic sales. Visit the monument and the Ethnographical Museum, which shows the history of the Indian cultures of Ecuador.

*On Sundays, the visits of the churches might be restricted due to religious services.

Visit Cochasquí, the largest Pre-Columbian archaeological site in Ecuador. The site with a remarkable view - which was helpful for astronomic observations - lies some 32 miles north of Quito in Pichincha Province at 10,100 ft above sea level. The purpose of the site is not absolutely clear, but on pyramid 13 it is obvious it served as an astronomic observatory. It is believed to serve as a ceremonial center for the ancient Quito culture. 

Fifteen pyramids and a minimum of 14 tombs are located on a roughly 210-acre area. Nine of the pyramids include ramps of up to 290 yards of length. Pyramid 5, of which the base was excavated, reaches a height of 16 yards. Most pyramids are completely covered with vegetation.

Discover the world-famous Indian handcrafts market in Otavalo with its central square Plaza de los Ponchos. The market sells unique and colorful bags, ponchos, tapestries and more made by the local indigenous people who have achieved economic prosperity as a result of their weaving skill.  Enjoy the unique variety of handicrafts at the giant market and take some new souvenirs with you. Otavalo is a typical indigenous city where tourists can see families wearing their colorful garments and speaking Quichua as their first tongue and Spanish as their second. 

Visit the small town of Cotacachi, known as Ecuador’s center for leatherworks. Stroll along the town's small streets and pop into one of the various shops to pick up a few souvenirs. Then head to Laguna Cuicocha, a caldera and crater lake at an altitude of 10,650 ft and a width of about 1.8 miles. The lake is named Cuicocha which in the Quichua language means the Lake of the Cuy (or Guinea Pig). In the center of the lake are two volcanic islands covered in vegetation and rimmed with totora, a type of reed.

Within 500 hectares of cloudforest protected by Hacienda Manteles in Patate, enjoy a short excursion where you can observe a great variety of birds. The best times for sightings are between 5am and 9am, depending on weather conditions and season.

Visit Baños and enjoy the incredible natural landscape known as the Gateway to the Amazon. Home to lush forests, steaming thermal springs, steep gorges, and 60 waterfalls, this Ecuador at its most thrilling and wild. Hike to the famous waterfall Pailon del Diablo (Devil's Cauldron), where the pebbled stairs wind down the waterfall in a dizzying optical illusion. Have lunch at a local restaurant in Baños town.